When The Newark Times first broke the news this past June that R&B royalty Dru Hill and Mýa were teaming up for a massive double-bill at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the block-party excitement across the Brick City was immediate.
Now, with the Friday, December 11, 2026 show date drawing near, the public buzz surrounding both acts has reached a fever pitch—fueled by critical album milestones, packed national tour stops, and a renewed wave of 90s nostalgia taking over airwaves and social feeds alike.
If you secured your seats early, consider yourself lucky. For everyone else, here is what has been happening in the culture since the initial announcement—and why December 11 inside Prudential Hall is shaping up to be the R&B event of the year.
Mýa’s Independent Triumph: Retrospect Hits the Charts
When we first reported on Mýa’s winter return, her tenth studio album, Retrospect, was one of the most anticipated independent drops of the year. Since its official release via her Planet 9 imprint, the album has become a critical and commercial victory for the Grammy-winning icon.
The synth-heavy, 1970s and 80s funk-infused project has drawn widespread acclaim for honoring soul history while pushing R&B forward. Its lead single, “A.S.A.P.”—alongside its high-profile remix featuring 21 Savage—climbed into the Top 20 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. Meanwhile, follow-up radio records like “Just a Little Bit” (featuring West Coast legend Too $hort) and fan-favorite tracks with Snoop Dogg, Joyner Lucas, and D-Nice have kept Mýa’s catalog in heavy rotation all summer and fall.
Live audiences on her current arena circuit have reported that Mýa’s stage show is as sharp, fluid, and vocally commanding as ever, seamlessly weaving brand-new Retrospect jams alongside millennial anthems like “Case of the Ex,” “Ghetto Supastar,” and “Lady Marmalade.”
Dru Hill: 50 Shows Strong and a Reunited 7-Man Lineup
On the group side, Dru Hill has spent the last several months proving why they remain one of the hardest-working live vocal ensembles in modern music history. The Baltimore-bred powerhouses have performed dozens of concerts across North America this year as part of their ongoing 30th-anniversary celebrations.
What makes their upcoming Newark stop uniquely historic is the rare seven-man configuration hitting the Prudential Hall stage. Featuring original vocal acrobat SisQo, founding members Nokio and Jazz, returning favorite Scola, alongside Smoke and Black (from the legendary group Playa), the group’s multi-part harmonies are hitting with studio-grade density.
Recent concert footage circulating online shows the group delivering high-octane, flawless vocal arrangements on classic slow jams like “Tell Me” and “Never Make a Promise,” as well as block-burning anthems like “In My Bed” and “How Deep Is Your Love.”
The Full-Circle Moment Awaits
Beyond their individual hot streaks, the true focal point for Newarkers remains the undeniable history between the two marquee acts.
Mýa’s breakout 1998 debut single, “It’s All About Me,” prominently featured Dru Hill, launching a multi-decade crossover brotherhood that lives on today. With both acts performing at the absolute top of their game in 2026, their joint stage appearance at NJPAC promises to deliver a full-circle moment that R&B purists will be talking about long after the house lights come up.
Updated Event and Ticket Summary
- Event: Dru Hill & Mýa Live at NJPAC
- Date: Friday, December 11, 2026
- Time: 8:00 p.m.
- Location: Prudential Hall, NJPAC (1 Center Street, Newark, NJ)
- Ticketing: Limited inventory remains. Secure tickets via the NJPAC Box Office, online at
NJPAC.org, or by phone at 888.GO.NJPAC.
