Photos provided by Andy Keilen and Walik Goshorn / Black Promoters Collective

On their own, New Edition, Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton are each R&B meets pop A-listers, so when the three multi-platinum acts who defined much of the 1980s, ’90s and 2000s were united by the Black Promoters Collective, it was an iconic inaugural combination.

There wasn’t a ticket to be had around almost 360 degrees of the United Center, where for three hours, a melting pot of ages and cultures found “The New Edition Way” Tour truly revolutionizing the live experience.

Besides a thoroughly thrilling production worthy of making the very last row feel just as much a part of the performance as the floor, the entire evening swapped out traditional openers and closers to play out like an extended mixtape.

In fact, everyone joined forces to debut the brand new collaborative party of “We Going Out Tonight,” a sentiment that would continue as Boyz II Men’ broke into “Motownphilly” and Braxton brought the bounce of “He Wasn’t Man Enough For Me.”

Headliners New Edition, boasting the complete line-up of Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins (Boyz II Men’s mentor), Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill maintained the lively mood, applying smooth vocals and suave steps to “If It Isn’t Love,” “You’re Not My Kind Of Girl,” “Hit Me Off” and “N.E. Heartbreak.”

The hit list was absolutely staggering as the rotations resumed, from Nathan Morris, Wanyá Morris and Shawn Stockman’s seamless Boyz track “Please Don’t Go” to Braxton, who’s bravely battling Lupus, soaring across “You’re Makin’ Me High,” alongside Gill’s “Fairweather Friend,” Brown’s “Don’t Be Cruel,” Bel Biv DeVoe’s “Do Me!” and Tresvant’s “Do What I Gotta Do.”

The climaxes persisted thanks to “Breathe Again” and “Un-Break My Heart” by Braxton, “I’ll Make Love To You” and “On Bended Knee” courtesy of the Boyz, plus Gill’s “My, My, My,” Tresvant’s “Sensitivity” and literally dozens more.

Later on, New Edition appeared together again to reclaim the retro classics “Mr. Telephone Man,” “Candy Girl” and “Cool It Now,” building up to the new jack swinging beats of Brown’s “My Prerogative” and BBD’s “Poison,” featuring all the fellas gathering for a “can’t get it out of my head” finale tuned in perfect harmony.

For additional information on New Edition, Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton, visit NewEditionOfficial.com, BoyzIIMen.com and Instagram.com/ToniBraxton.

For a list of upcoming Black Promoters Collective concerts, visit BlackPromotersCollective.com.

Upcoming shows at the United Center include Rascal Flatts (Feb. 6); Disney On Ice (Feb. 12-15); Andrea Bocelli (Feb. 25); Konstantinos Argiros (Mar. 7); Cardi B (Mar. 21); Shane Gillis (Apr. 3-4); Twice (Apr. 6-7); B2K and Bow Wow (Apr. 23); Lewis Capaldi (Apr. 25); Demi Lovato (May 1); Katt Williams (May 2); Peso Pluma (May 7-8); A$AP Rocky (May 27); Summer Walker (May 29); Megan Moroney (Jun. 2-3); Rosalía (Jun. 20); Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire (Jun. 26); “Weird Al” Yankovic (Jun. 27); Alex Warren (Jun. 29); Windy City Smokeout (Jul. 8-12); Meghan Trainor (Jul. 15); Rush (Jul. 16, 18, 20 and 22); Ariana Grande (Aug. 3, 5 and 6); Doja Cat (Oct. 3) and Matt Rife (Oct. 25). For additional details, visit UnitedCenter.com.

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