Verzuz, the hit Instagram Live series that became popular early on in quarantine last year, is returning to its remote roots as COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the country. On Friday, the Verzuz Instagram page announced its next battle will see its participants, R&B singers Ashanti and Keyshia Cole, perform separately in order to “protect the artists and everyone who works with us in putting the shows together.”“This has been an emotional week,” the statement read. “In addition, as COVID-19 numbers continue to increase, safety is a top priority for us. Launched by Swizz Beatz in March, Verzuz began as a series of musical matchups — DMX and Snoop Dogg, Ludacris and Nelly, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, etc. Their “Legends of the Bay” installment drew more than 800,000 viewers across Instagram Live, Apple Music, YouTube and Facebook.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 08, 2021 19:48 UTC