The 2025 Jazz in the Gardens (JITG) Music Fest was a two-day celebration of Black music in all its glory.
Held in Miami Gardens on March 8-9, New Edition, Toni Braxton, and Ms. Lauryn Hill headlined the affair with other featured acts including Wyclef Jean, YG Marley, Doechii, Busta Rhymes, Samara Cyn, Beenie Man, Xscape, Coco Jones, Kem, Tye Tribbett, Dru Hill as well as Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Slick Rick, and Doug E. Fresh under DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live! banner.
On the first day of this year’s event, Coco Jones captivated the audience with her live performances of “Here We Go (Uh Oh),” her Grammy-winning ballad, “ICU,” and her newest release, “Taste.” Xscape brought their three-part harmony to centerstage and even invited a fan to join them in an unforgettable, nostalgic moment.
During Hill’s Diaspora set, Busta Rhymes, Samara Cyn, Foggieraw, and Mannywellz all brought their incomparable energy to the forefront before the Miseducation singer reunited with her Fugees brethren, Wyclef Jean. Before they closed out the night, she brought out Doechii, who joined her in performing “Doo Wop (That Thing).”
From one Best Rap Album Grammy winner to another, the moment was a dream come true for Doechii.
“Thank you Miss Lauryn Hill. Thank you. My heart is so full. She is my hero,” the rising phenom tweeted after the set. “This is the greatest honor Hip-Hop could give me. Praise God [brown heart emoji] My entire body is vibrating with joy right now. I’ll never forget this day! EVER!”
Hill also brought out her son, Zion Marley, to serenade the crowd with “To Zion” and her other son, YG Marley, performed his original song “Praise Jah in the Moonlight.”
The second day catered more to R&B. Kem, who described himself as an “equal opportunity entertainer,” invited three different men to stage. One of them being white sang “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and the crooner also paid homage to the late Angie Stone.
Beenie Man surprised the audience with Mýa during his first American show in decades. Dru Hill brought Jazz back to perform the crowd-favorite, “Never Make A Promise.” Toni Braxton surprised attendees with her sister, Trina, as they delivered a heartwarming tribute to Angie Stone and New Edition closed out the weekend with a vibrant blend of solo hits and collective classics.
We can’t wait to see how they top this next year. Check out more photo highlights below.
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New Edition
Image Credit: Robin James/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Beenie Man, Mýa
Image Credit: Detiko Cox/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Lauryn Hill, Doechii
Image Credit: Robin James/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Toni Braxton
Image Credit: Eduardo Rojas/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Lauryn Hill
Image Credit: Robin James/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Wyclef Jean
Image Credit: Eduardo Rojas/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Doechii
Image Credit: Eduardo Rojas/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Xscape
Image Credit: Walik Goshern/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
YG Marley
Image Credit: Eduardo Rojas/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Coco Jones
Image Credit: Eduardo Rojas/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Uncle Luke
Image Credit: Eduardo Rojas/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Doug E. Fresh
Image Credit: Eduardo Rojas/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
DJ Cassidy, Ja Rule, Remy Ma, Fat Joe, Doug E. Fresh, and Slick Rick
Image Credit: Eduardo Rojas/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Samara Cyn
Image Credit: Walik Goshern/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Wyclef Jean, YG Marley
Image Credit: Walik Goshern/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Beenie Man
Image Credit: Detiko Cox/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Lauryn Hill
Image Credit: Walik Goshern/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Joc
Image Credit: Walik Goshern/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Tye Tribbett
Image Credit: Eduardo Rojas/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Remy Ma
Image Credit: Detiko Cox/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Busta Rhymes
Image Credit: Detiko Cox/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
New Edition
Image Credit: Robin James/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Bobby Brown
Image Credit: Robin James/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Ralph Tresvant
Image Credit: Robin James/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
Ricky Bell
Image Credit: Robin James/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest -
New Edition
Image Credit: Eduardo Rojas/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest