London’s O2 Arena turned into a headline-worthy concert moment when Alicia Keys stepped out with Black Coffee for the first ever live outing of their fan-beloved collaboration, “In Common (Black Coffee Remix).”
Keys joins Black Coffee for a first-time live performance
The unexpected duet unfolded during Black Coffee’s sold-out orchestral set at the O2 Arena. The Grammy-winning South African DJ and producer mixed Afro-house rhythms with live orchestral arrangements, choir performances, and multiple surprise appearances, building a night fans are unlikely to forget.
- The special guest moment arrived when Alicia Keys joined Black Coffee on stage.
- The pair delivered the first-ever live performance of “In Common (Black Coffee Remix).”
- The show combined Afro-house, live orchestration, and choir vocals, plus additional surprise guests.
Keys posts backstage and on-stage clips on Instagram
After the performance, Alicia Keys shared her reaction on Instagram, posting videos filmed both backstage and during the show. In one clip, she looked back on how long it has been since the track first arrived—and how meaningful it felt to finally sing it live with Black Coffee.
“Okay, this is our first time, Coffee and I singing, doing In Common ever since we created the song,” she said in the video.
She added that the night felt electric in London, praising the venue and the crowd’s atmosphere.
- She said it was their first time performing the song together live.
- She noted it had been nearly ten years since the track’s release before this live moment happened.
- She described the energy at the O2 as something she loved, saying the crowd seemed “out there flying.”
- She shared that the song is among her favourites and joked that she wished it lasted “like 10 minutes longer,” calling the short runtime “fire.”
Keys also expressed gratitude to fans for their support, thanking London directly and emphasizing how the surprise was part of what made the experience special.
“London, I love you so much! You always bring that fresh energy. Moments like this is what it’s all about! I loved surprising you, London! Big love to my brother @realblackcoffee for our very first performance of one of my favourite songs!”
The remix’s rise since 2016
“In Common (Black Coffee Remix)” originally came out in 2016. Since then, it has grown into a widespread favourite across Afro-house, R&B, and electronic music, bringing Black Coffee’s signature sound to an even larger international audience.
Black Coffee calls the sold-out night a “dream”
Black Coffee later reflected on the emotional impact of the sold-out show, thanking the crowd for helping create what he described as a dream experience. He also highlighted the combination of elements that made the performance feel personal—from the special guests to the orchestra and choir, along with the surprises woven throughout.
On Instagram, he wrote: “This past Friday has left me speechless. Every small detail put together created an absolute dream, from the special guests to the orchestra, then the choir & surprises sprinkled throughout. This one came from the heart, London. Thank you for joining me on this journey at the @theo2london,”
