So it's a Friday and the day's almost over and my future mentor hits me up asking me if I'm busy on Sunday. I say no and so then he tells me he has some Babyface tickets for Sunday. The first thing that comes to my mind is that song, "When Can I See You Again" (I'm not sure why) and I'm thinking wasn't that like 93'? But like the hungry intern I am, I hop on it without hesitation and I immediately leave work and head out for the Island Def Jam offices to get those tickets. When I get them, I hit him up and he tells me they're floor seats. In my head I'm thinking exclusive interview, backstage passes, maybe even a photo-op. I'm suddenly feeling this Babyface concert a lot more.

Fast forward to Saturday and I'm suited up Neo-souled out, rocking a blazer, jeans, vest and a hat looking like a back-up of a back-up vocalist for Erykah, of Maxwell. My unidentified female companion hits me up and we head out to Manhattan all the way from Long Island in torrential rains on half a quarter tank of gas. We finally get there and I whip out the tickets like I just arrived in a Bently and we head into the theater.

I speak to the usher, telling her I'm at 5G as I look to the stage, fully expecting to be escorted to our seats on the floor. She turns and smiles at me for a second and tells me I got the seats right, but the wrong section (apparently the tickets were actually for the mezzanine). After a little explaining to my female companion, we get seated and take in the rest of the opening act. The performer's name is Ayo, and her flow is... different. She's from Europe and she has influences from everywhere; Reggae, soul, afro-beat, neo-soul and so on. I'm actually feeling her flow because she didn't really sound like anyone I've heard before (which is always a good thing).

9:07 pm

The lights go down, the band walks on and the true Babyface groupies (If you can call them that) begin professing their love for him in that in between time before the set even begins.

9:09 pm

I'm busy taking notes on my cell when out comes Mr. Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds himself, wasting no time, as he jumps right into the lyrics of "Knocking on Heaven's Door." He ends the set and ensures the crowd that the concert will not be all about his new album and then promptly breaks into, "For the Cool in You," which I surprisingly know.

9:20 pm

Right about now, he's caught the crowd's attention because when he starts singing "Never Keeping Secrets", amazingly he's utilizing the whole stage area and the blue spotlight is struggling to keep a hold on him like he's a soul-singing Flava Flav (which is just a weird visual).

9:25 pm

He briefly leaves the stage and lets the band do their thing. But not for too long as he comes right back singing "Whatever you Want", finally bringing out those amateur photographers and front row dancers that you know were just itching to get it in and just needed that right song.

9:45 pm

Then he completely hits me by surprise because he starts into all the songs he wrote in the 90's, which is ALOT. Who would have known that Babyface wrote every love song, or r & b ballad, in the 90's?

He comes hard with that Bobby Brown "Don't be Cruel" and doesn't let up as he moves through, that "Every Little Step I Take", to that "I Wanna Rock Wit You Baby", and then soothes the crowd (and my female friend, who's totally gone by this point, forgetting I'm even there) into that "Roni". He's even got that 92' Bobby Brown swagger down so well, I'm thinking he's about to pull one of those "dancers" out the crowd and start grinding on them.

9:52 pm

The lights go down and it starts getting real as he moves into that Boyz II Men "I'll Make Love to You" and then that "End of the Road" (at the end of which, I would have sworn I say some panties fly onto the stage).

10:00 pm

At almost 10 on the dot he moves into the female side of his song book as he kicks out that TLC "Digging on Me", and "Red Light Special" and out comes a female singer who helps him with selections from Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Dianna Ross and even Madonna.

10:15 pm

Finally, he gets back to the guitar and takes a DEEP breath and after a little time reaches back into his old bag with "Whose Gonna Love You Like I Do" to "Sunshine" and then of course to, "change the world", the song he co-wrote with Eric Clapton.

10:28 pm

He leaves the stage to loud applause, but even after he leaves, everybody seems to be waiting for something... and like a true professional he returns, takes a seat, and hits the one headliner that I was surprised I forgot about..."When Can I See You Again."

Truth be told, this was one of the better concerts I've been to in a while, because I realized how sweet the music was in the 90's. Babyface is hands down a master at what he does. He knew how to pull the crowd and more importantly, he knows exactly what the crowd wants. He was very intuitive to the audience and he packed a lot energy into a tight 120 minutes. He has definitely earned his reputation as a hit maker.