Arts & Entertainment Guide › Pop

LL Cool J, Monica and Dru Hill at the Ice Cream Summer Fest

Molson Amphitheatre
909 Lakeshore Blvd. W. , Ontario Place • View on map »
416-870-8000

In his 1996 slow-jam “Hey Lover,” LL Cool J confessed to having daydreams about “tonguing you down with vanilla ice cream.” While there’s no indication that this line is how the Ice Cream Summer Fest got its name, it’s nonetheless fun to imagine that the lothario-like MC will make this offer to all of the attendees. The pioneering rapper headlines this bill of R&B stars who are more than slightly past their prime. Monica first hit the big time in the mid-’90s with hits like “Don’t Take It Personal” (which featured some assistance from LL Cool J) and “The Boy Is Mine,” a duet with fellow R&B starlet Brandy. Monica’s star wattage has dimmed since then, but the forthcoming Lessons Learned could put her back in the spotlight. The chances for a comeback by vocal quartet Dru Hill are considerably slimmer, seeing as the Baltimore group was less noted for its own hits than for launching Sisqo, the singer of “The Thong Song.” Having reunited for this summer tour, Sisqo and his bandmates will undoubtedly ensure that no one leaves the show without being tongued down.—Jason Anderson