The Millennium Tour took over Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on March 21, delivering a high-energy dose of nostalgia that proved millennials, who are now in or approaching their 40s, are far from slowing down.
Headliners Bow Wow, Omarion, and Trey Songz led a powerhouse lineup featuring Plies, Lloyd, Ying Yang Twins, RSVP, Nivea, and a special appearance from Rick Ross, turning the arena into a celebration of early-2000s music culture.
The Black Promoters Collective produced the event with seamless precision, ensuring smooth transitions between acts. The staging for each set was eye-popping and provided ticket buyers the fantasy experience they wanted— transporting them back to their two-way pages and My Space accounts.
The four-hour spectacle felt more like a massive throwback party than a traditional concert.
Nivea set the tone right at 8 p.m., (though battle rapper Remy Ma was able open up for the stars) by performing “Laundromat,” “25 Reasons,” and “Complicated.”
But when the opening chords of “Don’t Mess With My Man” hit, the crowd erupted, proving that 2002 is still fresh in their memories.
Singer Lloyd came on all grown up. No longer rocking long hair, he had a fresh cut. His tenor was still there, as he belted songs like “You” (featuring Lil Wayne), “Get It Shawty,” “Lay It Down,” and “Tru.”
The Ying Yang Twins hit the stage transforming the Barclays into a club scene straight out of the A. The guys have clearly aged, with grey hairs showing on their crowns, but that did not age their performance. They ripped the stage with the energy of men half their age (or their former selves.”
“Whistle While You Twurk” got things moving, but when “Get Low” blasted through the speakers, the energy in the room skyrocketed. Even a Lil Jon cameo on the big screen had fans yelling “YEAHHH!” like it was 2004 all over again.
RSVP—Ray J, Sammie, Bobby Valentino, and Pleasure P—continued the nostalgia trip, proving their 2022 Verzuz-formed supergroup was a winning idea. Ray J, ever the showman, had the audience eating out of his hands singing his hit, “Sexy, Can I,” while Pleasure P had fans singing along to “Did You Wrong.” Bobby Valentino took a classic R&B approach, handing out roses and delivering an a cappella version of his “Mrs. Officer” verse, while Sammie reminded everyone of the ringtone era with “Kiss Me Thru The Phone.”
There were a few highlights from their sets, including the guys all playfully during choreography. Another one was when the former Mista singer had brought out a minature white piano and played while he warbled and his other brothers sang.
But then Brandy’s brother showed his star power. When it was time for him to sing “One Wish,” he came down the aisle on stage left, singing, while taking selfies and causing girls to go crazy trying to grab him. His bodyguards were there to keep him safe.
Plies brought his signature Southern charisma with “Bust It Baby” and “Shawty,” throwing in some playful banter with the crowd, including shouting out white girls for his song, “Becky.”
Then Rick Ross arrived, commanding the stage with Maybach Music staples like “B.M.F.,” “Hustlin’,” and “John,” while also introducing newcomer Nino Breeze, bridging the gap between eras.
Then it was time for Bow Wow. Still every bit the “it” guy he was as a kid, he sprinted across the stage with the same energy that made him a teen sensation.
Hits like “Fresh Az I’m Iz,” “Bounce With Me,” and “What’s My Name” had the audience on their feet, while “Shortie Like Mine” and “Like You” brought a wave of nostalgia. One fan on X summed up the moment perfectly: “Bow WOW is exactly who he thinks he is.”
The crowd went wild when he performed “Shortie Like Mine” and heard Ciara’s voice break through the Barclay air, she was not there, but he performed solo the hit, “Like You.”
Omarion followed with his signature precision, delivering “O,” “Ice Box,” and “Post to Be” alongside a dynamic six-dancer routine. He even mixed in a few B2K classics, further fueling the crowd’s energy.
Trey Songz closed the night with a balance of sultry slow jams like “Neighbors Know My Name” and high-energy anthems like “Bottoms Up,” ensuring the audience left on a high note.
The generational divide was on full display when a 23-year-old Gen Z attendee turned to a friend and asked, “Wait, Bow Wow has rap songs? I thought he was an actor.” Meanwhile, the millennial crowd was fully locked in, embracing every moment of nostalgia without missing a beat.
While ‘90s R&B acts often get the most recognition, this tour made it clear that the 2000s hitmakers deserve their due. The fans who once covered their walls with posters of these artists have grown up, but they haven’t outgrown the music that defined their era. And just as Gen X continues to show up for New Edition, millennials proved they’ll always ride for their generation’s icons. Four tours in, the Millennium Tour isn’t just a nostalgia trip—it’s a testament to an era that still resonates, and a fanbase that isn’t going anywhere.