Keyshia Cole brought love and joy to Chicago with her absolutely beautiful 20th Anniversary The Way It Is Tour show at Chicago’s famed United Center on Saturday July 5, 2025. Showing how much she has grown as not only an artist, but performer 20 year’s after her acclaimed and classic debut album, The Way It Is. Keyshia had a huge heart on stage as one of the beautiful and thoughtful props she had and a phone booth that lit up before she hit the stage. For what was a memorable night in Chicago full of plenty of surprises that showed why Chicago has been one of Keyshia Cole’s biggest supporters for two decades.
The night starting off with GRAMMY Award-winning singer and songwriter, Elijah Blake, opening things in a white suit with a red tank top and dress shoes. Showing why he is not only one of the best singers and songwriters in all of music right now, but also one of the best crooners you will hear. As he started off with his classic single, Black & Blue, before also going into more current records of his such as Ghostbuster, Westside Story and Sugerwater & Lime. Elijah would then ask who was in the building for Keyshia Cole and if they were to make enough noise for her to hear him going into Keyshia and his collaboration, Wonderland, from Keyshia’s album, Woman to Woman , that he wrote on several songs for. Letting everyone in the crowd know before he was, Elijah Blake, the artist. That he is a songwriter for several of everyone’s favorite R&B artists. Which he said, “I wrote this at 15-years-old. If you are a real R&B fan then you know this one.” Before going into Trey Songz’s very popular, Jupiter Love, he he helped write from Trey’s very critically-acclaimed 2009 album, Ready. Telling everyone to sing along if they knew the song. Then saying how if there was any Rihanna fans. How he was also able to contribute to this Rihanna album before his album came out. Then going into the very popular, No Love Allowed, from her critically-acclaimed 2012 album, Unapologetic. Elijah would take off his suit jacket as along with his guitar player he got the packed crowd at the United Center up and moving to dance along as he performed his very feel-good latest single, Work It Out. Telling the crowd how when their parents or older people had songs when they were younger that were feel-good R&B songs that made everyone want to dance and feel good. Was what he wanted that feel of with this newest record and single of his. Elijah Blake would also go into his very stellar record, Call Me When You Get There. Where standing at the mic he was able to really show off his beautifully soulful smooth amazing vocals prowess. Before going into and rocking out with his backing guitarist to the more Rock-infused, Is Everybody OK? As his guitarist rocked out, Elijah telling the crowd how to not be surprised when you see a young black boy rocking out and how they invented rock and roll. “This our sh*t.” Elijah also telling the crowd how he had a record that went really crazy in Chicago and seeing if anyone remembered it. That it was arecord called, I Just Wanna… that was with and featuring DeJ Loaf. If anyone at the UC remembered it to sing along with him. Elijah Blake showing overall with his performance what a great not only singer and songwriter, but vocalists and performer he is too. Which is why he was a perfect choice as one of the openers for Keyshia’s tour that everyone should already know, but if they didn’t now they will and can see why he has been among my favorite artists over the last decade plus. That I am glad I finally got to see live too.
Chicago’s very own homegrown R&B great, Jeremih, would come out to perform next after a brief intermission at the United Center. His DJ getting the crowd warmed up before he brought Jeremih out. Asking the crowd, “Where are we at?” As he played the famed Chicago Bulls player introduction music, while everyone in the crowd screamed, “Chicago.” His DJ then saying, “Coming from the Southside of Chicago. I said coming from the Southside of Chicago. I am talking about Morgan Park one time. What up? Hey J, you hold me dawg. Let’s get right straight to the vibes.” One of Jeremih’s backup dancers starting to come out with him decked in a black Chicago Blackhawks alternate jersey and black fur hat coming out right behind her to the stage. As he started performing his classic J. Cole featured single, Planez. The packed crowd singing along as he quickly also went into other classic singles of his such as, Down On Me and Impatient. Before he then went to a piano on stage to start playing the opening of his most known hit single that really catapulted him to stardom, Birthday Sex. Saying how it really helped change his life, the crowd singing it super loud before he even started performing it himself. Jeremih would also ask, “We are in Chicago, right?” Before bringing out as a surprise guest to perform Chicago’s very own Shawnna. As she performed her hit single, Gettin’ Some, that the whole crowd erupted rapped and sang along to. Jeremih with his backup dancers then closing out his pretty solid performance with some of his other well known singles such as, Oui, Hold You Down and Don’t Tell ‘Em.
After a brief intermission another one of Chicago’s very own, Tink, would come out in a black leather jump suit and matching black leather hat. As she went through several of her hit records such as CAP, Cut It Out, I Like, H20, Tongue Tied and Treat Me Like Somebody. Tink’s very emotional and moving performance of the latter to end her pretty mostly beautiful set. Really allowing her the most of any to really show off her very beautifully smooth vocals. As well as what a great singer, performer and vocalists she is and was the perfect way to close out her set right before the main attraction, Keyshia Cole, was getting ready to come out not long after that.
Keyshia Cole after a 30-minutes or so final intermission getting ready to come out after the stage was set up with all her props that included a giant heart in the middle of the stage and a phone booth off to the side. That continued to light up for several minutes before a message from a friend who didn’t follow her dreams was playing on the phone about how everything was going to still be in her hometown of Oakland and how Keyshia needed to. As the message said, “But what you need to do is pack your car. Focus on yourself. Get on that road and follow your dreams.” Part of Oakland legend Too $hort’s classic hit single, Blow the Whistle, playing in the background in the beginning of the message. To give it some of that Bay Area hometown flavor from Keyshia too. The phone booth stopping lighting up and several montages of Keyshia’s hometown and her journey playing on the big screen on stage. As her backup dancers one by one started to come to the stage and Keyshia Cole herself in a very beautiful pink matching dress outfit emerged at the top of the heart on stage with her drummer playing right on the left side of the stage. As Keyshia and her dancers danced on the heart and they all came down to the main part of the stage with her performing, Guess What. Her and her dancers shaking their assess on the one side of the stage before they all went to the middle of the stage. Keyshia then going into and belting out her hit single, (I Just Want It) To Be Over, before going into her hit lead single, I Changed My Mind, from her classic debut album, The Way It Is. Her backup dancers on the bottom of the heart on stage recreating the classic argument scenes from the classic music video to the record. Keyshia then giving a brief speech on how much Chicago has shown her loveand had her back since her debut album and she started at the House of Blues Chicago performing to now being able to perform at the United Center. Right before she appropriately went into, Love, I Thought You Had My Back. That she told everyone in the packed stadium crowd to sing along with her if they knew the words. Me, my sister and the rest of the crowd singing along with Keyshia before she then went up to the top of the heart on the stage laying down on a couple pillows of several pillows setup there. As she sang, Superstar, while her key player played on the side of the stage. Keyshia then bringing all the emotions out as she performed her beautifully emotional record, You’ve Changed. Her guitar player playing next to her on the main front part of the stage as she then went into, Down and Dirty. Right before Keyshia went into her hit single, I Should Have Cheated. Everyone in the crowd with as much passion as her singing along. Keyshia saying how since we were in Chicago she had a surprise too.
Keyshia Cole being lowered back to the bottom underneath of the stage before Chicago’s very own, Chance the Rapper, came out with a surprise performance of his hit single, No Problem. Also performing his just the day before released new single with Lil Wayne & Smino, Tree. As Chance then left, a montage video on the screen on stage would then start playing a video of how much Keyshia grew as an artist and person during the next stage of her career. Her rebirth and how it wasn’t just music, but a declaration. Where she “spoke louder, loved harder and lived with no apologies. From this point on. It is all about self-expression, freedom and fearlessness.” The stage starting to light up with Keyshia in bright lights as she came out in a black and white leopard jacket with matching top, short shorts and thigh high matching boots. Clapping with her backup dancers on the heart on stage before going into her very fun hit club single, Last Night. That the whole crowd clapped and sang along to before Keyshia then went into belting, Enough of No Love. Keyshia back on the main front part of the stage letting the crowd sing the lyrics to her hit single, I Remember. Before she started singing and performing it too. Keyshia then really getting the crowd to sing along with her as she sang the beautifully emotional lyrics to, Heaven Sent. Taking the coat off as she asked for the crowds help to sing along as she went from the left to the right and middle part of the stage. Really belting it out before then telling the crowd, “Now I want to thank you for a second. I told you thank you. Now I gotta thank God, alright. If you got something to thank God about today. I want you to put your hands together for me and come on.” The packed sold-out UC crowd then like Keyshia and her backup dancers in the middle of the stage, clapping their hands as she belted out the lyrics at the end and a shining church like image played on the screen in the back of the stage. As Keyshia belted out, “I want to thank you.” Before then going into her classic Monica collaboration, Trust, and then belting out her stellar single, Trust and Believe. Keyshia would also go into her very memorable hit singles, Shoulda Let You Go and the very club banger, Let It Go. That really had the crowd going and singing along with her. Keyshia then leaving the stage for what appeared to be the end of the performance or was it? Her backup dancers sitting by the phone booth that was lighting up again. As they chatted about how that couldn’t be all. Before Keyshia then suddenly appeared on the right side of the crowd with her and Chance the Rapper singing in the crowd Keyshia’s beautifully amazing loving hit single, Love. That section of the crowd having a moment they will cherish and love by being able to say they sang with Keyshia and Chance actually singing, Love, right next to them. While me, my sister and the rest of the sold-out packed crowd at the United Center also sang along for the perfect way to end such a memorable and amazing night and show that all who were in attendance will really cherish and love, the way it is, forever.