Everyone has been most creative during this time of quarantine when we all are stuck to our phones for the latest updates. The same creativity can be experienced in the field of entertainment or relevant. The best things we’ve been watching are Instagram Lives from our favorite artists, producers, or DJs. We were blessed to watch Neyo versus Johnta Austin, Scott Storch versus Mannie Fresh, and T-Pain versus Lil Jon. As new Verzuz battles big or small kept happening all over Instagram, the one that trumps them all was between Teddy Riley and BabyFace.
On Saturday (April 18), the highly anticipated battle between Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Teddy Riley on Instagram Live didn’t turn out as expected. However, after an extremely rocky start that included countless sounds and technical issues on Riley’s side, the battle is being put on hold once again.
Issues with the audio, specifically from Riley’s side, halted the face-off between the two legendary producers that attracted more than 400,000 viewers. It looked as though Riley was all set for a concert, unlike Babyface, who was sitting in a studio. Almost as soon as Riley and Babyface started their battle, fans were quick to point out the New Jack Swing legend’s technical issues. That may have been Teddy’s downfall because all viewers could hear was playback & echoes whenever it was his turn to play a song. Many people tried telling him to fix them in the comments of the live video but to no avail.
People on Twitter didn’t hesitate to share their two cents about the matter, as they vent their frustrations, as well. The comments were riddled with sarcasm about the two producers’ age – Babyface being 62 and Riley is 53 – and so not being able to use the Instagram.
Comedian ‘Lil Duval’ posted on his Instagram, saying Teddy Riley should just use his iPhone to simply record rather than trying to set up a concert.
Singer Toni Braxton was live-tweeting during the whole debacle, at one point saying that watching the live feed felt “like watching old folks use Jitterbug phones.”
Comedian Kevin Fredericks posted a parody of Teddy’s performance, emphasizing the playback and how Riley may have had a dance concert prepared.
The battle was initially supposed to start at 9 p.m., but by 10 p.m., it was apparent the audio needed to be fixed, so they stopped and told viewers to come back at 10:30 p.m. But moments after 10:30 p.m., Babyface suggested it’d be better to postpone the battle. “Tonight was extraordinary… it’s only right that we postpone this thing and do it at a time when there aren’t any technical difficulties, and everybody can hear the music the way it needs to be heard,” Babyface said in an Instagram video.
This is the second time that Riley and Babyface’s IG Live battle has been postponed. Babyface announced this battle on his birthday last week, and it was initially scheduled for earlier this month for Sunday, April 5. But due to Babyface and his family coming in contact with COVID-19., it got delayed. However, Face later revealed that he was recovering from Coronavirus at the time, and last night we saw two legends going head to head.
After witnessing all of the technical malfunction, as well as the two’s IG Live ending abruptly after the application’s mandated hour break, both Swizz Beatz and Timbaland — who are the creators of the VERZUZ battles — went on Live themselves to reveal the news. “Bear with us, keep your outfits ready…” Swizz said. He then added that there was a possibility that the show may even go on very, very soon. “Maybe they’ll fix it tonight, maybe they’ll fix it tomorrow. But, we’re going to come back immediately…” The legendary producer added, “S**t happens.”
Before ending his and Timbo’s Live, Swizz closed, “We’re going to fix this little glitch, we’re going to come back, & we’re going to turn all the way up.” The culture needs this battle to happen. So, hopefully, third time’s some luck.