A special Juneteenth edition of Verzuz is bringing us a battle of the pianos.
Alicia Keys and John Legend will be facing off on Instagram Live and bringing us their best hits, according to Highsnobiety.
The battle series has brought us entertainment since March amid coronavirus lockdowns, reports Rolling Stone. Started by Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, Verzuz has seen legends go head-to-head, with the court of public opinion deciding the winner. Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Babyface, Teddy Riley, T-Pain, Lil Jon and more have hopped on Live to prove their discographies are top tier.
A duel between the two R&B singers has been in the works for a while now. The “All Of Me” singer appeared on Nick Cannon’s radio show in May to discuss the possibility of a matchup with Keys.
When Cannon suggested Legend appear on the battle series and go against Keys, the 41-year-old agreed and said “that’d probably be the best thing and honestly I think we would do it … like a dueling piano thing.”
The Voice judge said he admired Verzuz for the way the series isn't just showcasing singers, but producers and writers as well.
“Because the producers and writers, what’s so cool about it, is you didn’t maybe know they produced this song, or know they were behind that. For us, for me and Alicia, you know it’s our song because we are the front person for them, we were on the radio singing them,” Legend said.
Per the rules of Verzuz, the two singers will go 20 rounds while viewers debate in the comments and on social media, according to Vulture. People are already placing their bets on the vocalists and foreshadowing who they think will come out on top.
John Legend gonna slaughter Alicia Keys in that Verzuz
— Spin Griffey (@SpinGriffey) June 13, 2020
John Legend is my boy, but there’s no way he can top Alicia Keys in a #Verzuz. Since releasing Songs in A Minor (2001), she’s given us a lot of hit songs with different sounds. pic.twitter.com/ftCGG3Bb0m
— Jermaine Watkins ✍???? (@JermaineWatkins) June 13, 2020
John Legend finna EAT Alicia Keys up when he plays ‘Christian Dior Denim Flow’ https://t.co/3x5xPgNWQ5
— Ronald Isley (@yoyotrav) June 13, 2020
a classic. Alicia won #Verzuz
pic.twitter.com/CwsUCIo6CR— ???? (@DiaryOfKeysus) June 13, 2020
Whoever comes out victorious, it’s sure to be a great time because the two Grammy winners have already proven they’re a great duo.
Alicia Keys and John Legend are actually hilarious together. Check out their Carpool Karaoke! ???? #Verzuz
pic.twitter.com/1BW078a6cY— ???? (@DiaryOfKeysus) June 13, 2020
As we celebrate the emancipation of the last remaining enslaved people in Texas, we’ll be treated to some healing music and ethereal vocals.