Alicia Keys and John Legend are both legends in the music industry for what they have been able to accomplish in R&B. So it made sense when the John Legend vs Alicia Keys Verzuz battle was proposed early on when these battles started. It took a while for it to come together, but they figured that a Juneteenth celebration would be a good time to roll this out.
Alicia Keys made her debut in 2001 with the classic album, Songs In A Minor. She has released 6 albums since, and plans to release her 7th album, a self-titled project, later this year. Alicia Keys is a 15 time Grammy Award winner
John Legend made his solo debut in 2004 with his debut album, Get Lifted. He has released 6 albums, including his most recent album, Bigger Love, which was released on Juneteenth, the same day of the battle. John is a rare EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony Awards) with 11 Grammy wins.
The John Legend vs Alicia Keys Verzuz battle also marked the premiere of the Verzuz battles on Apple+ TV and on all Apple Music platforms.
Like we have done previously with these Verzuz battles, here’s a round by round break down of the John Legend vs Alicia Keys battle.
Other Verzuz Battles:
Ne-Yo vs. Johnta Austin | Mannie Fresh vs. Scott Storch | T-Pain vs. Lil Jon | Dj Premier vs. RZA | Babyface vs. Teddy Riley | Jill Scott vs. Erykah Badu | Nelly vs. Ludacris | Beenie Man vs. Bounty Killer | 112 vs. Jagged Edge
| Kirk Franklin vs. Fred Hammond | Fabolous vs. Jadakiss |
DMX vs. Snoop Dogg | Rick Ross vs. 2 Chainz | Brandy vs. Monica
The battle began with a joint performance of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song,” both playing piano.
Alicia Keys went first to begin things.
Round 1: Baby Cham featuring Alicia Keys – “Ghetto Story Remix” vs. Lauryn Hill (John Legend on piano) “Everything Is Everything”
Winner: John Legend
Who knew that was him on piano! (Legend was a 19 year old college student)
Lauryn Hill (John Legend on piano) “Everything Is Everything”
Round 2: Alicia Keys – “Underdog” vs. Slum Village featuring Kanye West & John Legend – “Selfish”
This one is a bit harder because this is a new Alicia Keys single and the Slum Village song was a great record that we enjoyed when it was first released. While Alicia has a great new song, it has to go to John here.
Winner: John Legend
Slum Village featuring Kanye West & John Legend – “Selfish”
Round 3: Alicia Keys – “Karma” vs. John Legend – “Get Lifted Intro”/”Used To Love U”
Winner: John Legend
“Used To Love U”
Round 4: Eve featuring Alicia Keys “Gangsta Lovin'” vs. John Legend – “So High”
Absolutely unfair. Another single from that Get Lifted album. He’s getting his hits out early before Alicia Keys plays anything from her debut.
Winner: John Legend
“So High”
Round 5: Alicia Keys & Usher “My Boo” vs. John Legend – “Ordinary People”
Might be the biggest single from that debut album for John. “My Boo” was a bop, but it can’t beat this song…
Winner: John Legend
“Ordinary People”
Round 6: Alicia Keys “Empire State of Mind” vs. Common featuring Kanye West & John Legend – “They Say”
Winner: Alicia Keys
“Empire State of Mind”
Round 7: Alicia Keys – “Teenage Love Affair” vs. John Legend – “Heaven Only Knows”
Two more forgettable songs from both artists. But I would think Alicia Keys visual makes it a bit more memorable.
Winner: Alicia Keys
“Teenage Love Affair”
Round 8: Alicia Keys featuring Drake “Unthinkable” vs. John Legend – “We Do It Again”
The first certified hit Alicia Keys played! John Legend came back with another song from Once Again… which, won’t cut it.
Winner: Alicia Keys
“Unthinkable (I’m Ready)”
Round 9: Alicia Keys – “If I Ain’t Got You” vs. John Legend – “This Time”
See above round.
Winner: Alicia Keys
“If I Ain’t Got You”
Round 10: Alicia Keys – “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart” vs. John Legend featuring Ludacris – “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”
Winner: John Legend
John Legend featuring Ludacris – “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”
Readers Might Also Like:
Round By Round Break Down of The Ne-Yo vs. Johnta Austin Battle on Instagram
Ryan Leslie Sacrificed A Lot To Settle His Lengthy Legal Battle, But He’s Doing Alright
![[FIRST LOOK] Meet The Cast of Tubi's New Original Series, 'Demascus'](https://parlemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/FIRST-LOOK-Meet-The-Cast-of-Tubis-New-Original-Series-Demascus-560x420.jpg)