PROVIDENCE — The Atlanta-based vocal group 112 helped bring the tradition of the romantic-soul vocal group into the hip-hop generation, and last night at the Providence Performing Arts Center, it continued to meld the two musical forms. The classic sweet harmonies of Q, Slim and Daron blended with bumping beats; the ties were undone, the shirts untucked, the mikes hand-held, the dance steps a little loose. And while the songs were mostly of the clean-cut romantic variety, there’s the occasional touch of nasty.

Starting off strong with a responsive and tight live band, the trio (down from the quartet of their hit-making heyday) concentrated mostly on the moments where love is either confirmed (“Only You,” “Missing You”) or it dies (“Let This Go,” “It’s Over Now”). While many of the songs started off with the same kind of brittle electronic percussion that was on the original recordings, their drummer often switched over to genuine snare drum after a few verses, which gave the sound an organic push.

“We sing for the ladies,” Q explained after a few songs, and while that was readily apparent from the get-go, this signaled a string of same-sounding ballads that dragged down the momentum. The segue from “Cupid” into “God Knows” was deft, and the extended, seemingly improvised, ending of the latter song had its moments, though it could have been trimmed (but then it wouldn’t be an improvisation, I guess). But “Right Here for You” and “Player,” working the devotion/breakup dichotomy once more, were two ballads too many.

Perhaps ironically, things picked up when Q and Slim did their respective solo singles, “Crazy Crazy” and “So Fly” (it’s a year of solo releases for the group, with another group record coming later). The former is a solid up-tempo hip-hop thumper with a strong melody; the latter switches effectively between a bare beat in the verses and pillowy chords on the choruses.

The solid playa-infidelity anthem “You Already Know,” from the group’s latest record, 2005’s Pleasure & Pain, took it from there, and “Dance With Me” wrapped things up, save for an oddly placed set-ending metal-funk jam from the band.

While the three have plenty of vocal chops (Daron’s falsetto was particularly impressive), sex appeal is clearly a key to the live show, and while there was plenty on display, it couldn’t completely cover up the similarity of the compositional style throughout.

The show was opened by a mélange of local hip-hop talent and a fashion show whose best moments came at the hands of local rapper Chachi and the deft hip-hop quartet Who Dem? Ace redeemed the pedestrian beginnings of his set with a riveting, nearly a cappella (only a saxophone backed him) account of his battle with cancer.

The show was part of the Providence SoundSession Festival, which concludes tonight in Waterplace Park and at the Providence Black Rep.

rmassimo@projo.com