Photo Credit: Erika Goldring/Getty Images

Bobby Brown and Keith Sweat, two of the greatest R&B singers of all time, will battle it out in the next Verzuz

Verzuz has announced its next match-up (and it’s not Beanie Sigel vs. N.O.R.E.)

Legendary singers Keith Sweat and Bobby Brown will face off in a Verzuz that will be part of Essence Festival 2021. The event will be going down on July 1st, at 8 PM EST.

SURPRISE CELEBRATION! See y’all THURSDAY! @OGKeithSweat vs @KingBobbyBrown. Honored to partner w/ @ESSENCE to bring you this special #VERZUZ.

Thursday 7/1 5PM PT / 8PM ET
WATCH on @Triller, @FITETV, VERZUZ IG, ESSENCE IG, or https://t.co/Kw19lPD0BD

Drinks by @Ciroc#EssenceFest pic.twitter.com/7P4ZouMoTl

— VERZUZ (@verzuzonline) June 30, 2021

Essence Fest is all-virtual this year. So it is still unclear if there will be a crowd for Keith Sweat and Bobby Brown’s matchup. (Or will they take it back to the split screen, IG days.)

This is the type of match-up that makes Verzuz special. Two legendary singers, with huge fan bases and impenetrable catalogues, picking their 20 best songs. Even though Verzuz started out mostly as a showcase for rappers there have already been a number of memorable battles that involved R&B and soul singers. There was the iconic Teddy Riley vs. Babyface match-up; Jill Scott and Erykah Badu’’s love fest; Patti LaBelle’s rendezvous with Gladys Knight; and SWV taking on Xscape. 

With Sweat and Brown, you have two of the most notable voices of the ’80s. Should be a treat. 

After the battle was announced, users on social media were spilt on who they thought would win the matchup:

If Bobby Brown brings out New Edition during the Keith Sweat #VERZUZ it’s over. pic.twitter.com/PHGsmG8q7u

— NUFF (@nuffsaidny) June 29, 2021

i’m taking bobby brown in the verzuz cause that guy soundtracked my childhood but keith sweat will bring it

— Craig Bro Dude (@CraigSJ) June 30, 2021

Keith Sweat was recording songs in Teddy’s project apartment. The bathroom was the recording booth. We was out here grooving to high quality jams that were created above a toilet. Keith is GAWD STATUS.

— Dee Phunk (@DeePhunk) June 30, 2021

Y’all know I’m one of the biggest Robert Barisford Brown advocates on this bird, but y’all counting Keith Sweat out like he ain’t Keith Sweat. Like he ain’t find, write for, and produce Kut Klose & Silk.
And like he and Bobby weren’t at the New Jack Swing starting line TOGETHER

— Naima Cochrane’s Burner Acct (@stillnaima) June 30, 2021

The last Verzuz matchup occurred over the weekend when Soulja Boy and Bow Wow faced off. Before that, you had Eve and Trina, in the first Verzuz that featured female rappers.