Verzuz Cheat Sheet: SWV x Xscape

SWV and Xscape are two of the most beloved R&B girl groups of all time, and on 8 May, they’ll have the chance to celebrate each other—and the era they conquered—as participants in Timbaland and Swizz Beatz’s esteemed Verzuz series. In a face-off fit for a scene from New Jack City, the groups will go song for bodyroll-inducing song to put on for their respective home cities. Though SWV, or Sisters With Voices, hail from NYC and Xscape from Atlanta, the music they both made rang out in high school gymnasiums across America during the slow-dance portion of any prom of that era. As contestants in a “battle”, you’d be hard-pressed to find more apt opposition for SWV’s “Rain”, “Weak” and “You’re Always on My Mind” than Xscape’s “Who Can I Run To”, “Just Kickin’ It” or “Understanding”. SWV and Xscape knew how to make being in love sound special. Get reacquainted with their catalogues by way of the official SWV x Xscape Cheat Sheet playlist, as curated by Apple Music host Lowkey.