Think of Lionel Ritchie and Lyfe Jennings as an unlikely pair? Think again. The two make a winning combo in the first episode of a new online show offered by AOL Black Voices.

The new music show called “The Bridge” is much like VH1’s upcoming “Bridging the Gap,” which features unlikely collaborations between artists. But while VH1 focuses on established artists of different eras working with a producer, AOL BV “pairs an established artist with a newcomer in a special performance.”

AOL’s first episode features five-time Grammy award winner Lionel Richie team up with legend-in-the-making/chart staple Lyfe Jennings for the Ritchie-penned Commodores classic “Easy.” At the top, Ritchie on that mellow-as-hell piano, says, “Get ready my brother,” to which a humble Jennings answers, “Get ready my brother.” All through the electrifying set, Ritchie does the encouraging, “welcome-to-my-house” real-recognize-real routine and brings the classic goods, but it’s Jennings’ killer street-stank riffs at the end of the song that punctuate how R&B has transformed over the decades. Later Richie belts out newer tunes “I Call It Love” and “Why,” while Jennings freaks his incredible tracks “S.E.X.” and “Goodbye.”

Additional footage includes a cut-up video interview where the two artists talk about a mess of topics ranging from their current albums to the importance of building business relationships. Check out the action now.

Photo: AOL