H-Town’s rap icon, Bun B has once again ignited a firestorm of anticipation and curiosity with his announced lineup for the upcoming RodeoHouston performance on March 7th.
The confirmed lineup boasts a diverse array of talent, including the smooth crooner Keith Sweat, Grammy-winning R&B sensation Coco Jones, the iconic ’90s group Jagged Edge, Ludacris, Houston’s new-school hitmaker Don Toliver and the incomparable gospel queen Yolanda Adams. This eclectic mix has sparked a wave of online chatter, with many rodeo attendees and social media users expressing confusion.
“I love Bun B, but this lineup is all over the place,” commented one user on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s like a family reunion where everyone brought a different dish.”
Another user posted a satirical flyer, juxtaposing Keith Sweat’s slow jams with Yolanda Adams’s powerful gospel vocals, captioned, “Bun B’s Rodeo: A Musical Journey Through My Mood Swings.”
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The online commentary is filled with humorous video and photo renditions of the music lineup. However, Bun B appears unfazed by the feedback. He’s a good sport with the online feedback and seems to enjoy the buzz.
“I would have paid to see Shabooze. I would also have paid to see artists that were featured on Beyoncé’s country album,” said rodeo attendee Jessica Franklin. “I’ve been really enjoying all of their music and I wish probably a little bit more diversity in the lineup.”
Franklin said she wouldn’t attend any of the concerts this year but still respects Bun B and his decision to mix hip-hop and gospel.
“I think it’s good. The history of gospel music kind of trickles down to all of the music genres that we have today so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it,” she said.
Damerious Prater, a rodeo attendee, prefers Lil’Wayne or Migos if they were still a group.
“I think the lineup Bun B is bringing, is pretty straight, but at the same time, I feel like it’s not really appealing to the younger crowd,” he said. “I feel like the people who already been going to the rodeo every year, you know, they go see the same people. This ain’t nothing crazy to expect, you know, people around my age, you know, I can see why people would, uh, ask why it’s a gospel artist.”
Another attendee, in passing, expressed a similar sentiment.
“If you’re going to do it, do it for the Trail ride community. You could have a rapper here and there along with R&B, but put some Zydeco in there,” the attendee said. “Put some soul artists in there like TK Soul or somebody, just switch it up a little bit. “So we are going to listen R&B and Ludacris and then start praising the God? Come on now everybody out here drinking and you gonna start appraising?”
In its fourth consecutive year, Bun B’s performances have become a cultural moment celebrating Black Heritage Day. Trill Burgers, a renowned Houston burger joint, has launched Trill Town, a dedicated space near the entrance featuring a variety of special-edition dishes, music, and merchandise inspired by the cult-loved restaurant.
Bun B can curate culturally significant moments that resonate with Houstonians and beyond. Regardless of the online commentary, one thing is certain: Trust the process.
