Jeremih & Teyana Taylor Shake Up NYC’s Playstation Theater With Silky R&B Vibes, Energetic Guests

Jeremih, Teyana Taylor, and DaniLeigh brought their R&B melodies and a string of surprise guests to the Later That Night Tour stop at Playstation Theater on Monday night.

DaniLeigh shook up the stage first, sporting her signature cozy wear: an oversize flannel suit, fresh-out-the-box Nikes and a cropped hoodie. The viral dancing newcomer — who gained recognition with her “In My Feelings” Challenge rendition — gifted listeners with her feel-good debut EP Summer With Friends. And a conventionally hard-to-please crowd of New Yorkers sang every lyric to her earworms “All I Know” and “Play.” Alongside the pirouettes of two backup showgirls, an unreleased tune DaniLeigh hashtagged #bluechips on social media seduced onlookers with ease.

Later, DaniLeigh flaunted her eye-catching moves and  launched herself into a dance break over 6ix9ine’s platinum-selling track “FEFE.” The songstress’ footwork turned general admission into a free-for-all before she demanded the crowd “Make some noise!” Relishing the venue’s enthusiasm, she hummed, “My lil bebe/ Change your price tag/ There’s an upgrade,” but her mic began to fade. Even so, DaniLeigh didn’t miss a beat and pushed harder as the DJ ran back her latest track, “Lil Bebe,” closing her brief-but-lively set.

After 20 minutes of the PlayStation Theater’s blended reggae rhythms and hip-hop, hometown starlet Teyana Taylor allowed her band to set things off with “No Manners.” In NAMILIA motocross gear and torpedo bralettes, Taylor and three female dancers sashayed for a chaotic crowd. Lowering herself into a seductive crouch, the Harlemite riffed through her Fabolous-assisted “Broken Hearted Girl.”

As she purred out, “Dreams of fuckin’ an R&B chick,” Taylor’s fans responded, “I heard your little bars about my cleavage,” to the vocalist’s obvious amusement. The Caribbean-tinged “Put Your Love On” and the Kanye West-featured track “Hurry” inspired twerking from behind Taylor’s mic stand. In no time, she sprinted out of sight behind a curtain. Rain appeared on the jumbotron to a sultry instrumental and Taylor’s dancers twirled umbrellas, shifting the mood.

“We always do boys, let’s do a girl,” she commanded while re-emerging in a black latex trench coat. “Oh, shit! I want her,” Taylor signaled toward supermodel Winnie Harlow. Chairs were placed on the platform for them to sit. “3 Way” is arguably Taylor’s most controversial offering to date. So she poetically illustrated just that — even kissing Harlow for her gazing devotees.

Taylor powered through an enticing medley of past and present bops — “Just Different,” “Gonna Love Me” and “Issues/ Hold On” — then paused for a confessional. “Thank you so much for supporting me, album or no album. You believed in me. It’s crazy I did not know when my album dropped. They said, ‘Well, how the hell is she going to tour? Her album is only 22 minutes,'” she laughed cueing the heartfelt dedication “Never Would Have Made It.”

As a video of her daughter played, Taylor began to cry. Then the famous toddler, Junie, made her way across the stage, and fans raved. Continuing into a verse that was removed from K.T.S.E., the siren’s baby sang along. She lovingly kissed her mother, waving goodbye. Most appropriately, “Rose in Harlem” knocked, proving to be a powerful finale for the G.O.O.D. Music songstress.

Well-known for his lusty songwriting, headliner Jeremih took the stage with his debut single “Birthday Sex.” “I need to know if you want to hear some new shit or some old shit,” he questioned. His spectators screamed, “Old!,” setting up the danceable track “Down on Me.” Spotlighted behind the man of the hour were four curvaceous muses. “This feels like my second home. You mind if I bring one of my homies from out here?” Jeremih asked.

The hard-nosed “GUMMO” jolted, and 6ix9ine pounced forward, making a feverish entry. Fueling an ongoing feud, the MC rapped, “I pull up with a stick; I let that shit hit/ Shout out Chief Keef,” and held the microphone above the crazed assemblage. But once the “TATI” record played, 6ix9ine left. Soon, the Ty Dolla $ign-backed tune “All Mine” transitioned one of Jeremih’s dancers into a suggestive airline skit. “Planez” seamlessly soundtracked a floating airplane backdrop.

Jim Jones’ husky flow boomed over the collab “Nasty Girl,” and Jeremih beamed as the rapper jumped in to perform. Street anthem “Certified Gangstas” made heads nod, but the “We Fly High (Remix)” inspired airball gestures from wall-to-wall. As Jones held two fingers up, Jeremih seamlessly segued into Meek Mill’s sensual “Dangerous.”

Reaching down toward flailing women, the singer/songwriter belted out “OUI (You & I)” with one last gift: live musicianship. Sliding behind a keyboard, Jeremih played a verse of “Lovers and Friends” by Lil Jon into DJ Khaled’s smash “Do You Mind.” But a passionate contribution to the single “Hold You Down” is what revved Jeremih’s band up.

Calling out his “day one fans,” the entertainer and wobbling dancers made sure “Don’t Tell ‘Em” created a pivotal moment. Soaking in the excitement, Jeremih jumped into the crowd, while bodyguards scurried behind him. To finish strong, his new Ahmad Lewis-sampled release “The Light” sounded off while he passed out roses. Jeremih exited promising showgoers his dual album MihTy with Ty Dolla $ign would “be here soon.”

By Bianca Alysse Mercado for Billboard.com  

Images: Billboard