JITG 2025 is one for the ages
Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival (JITG)2025 was one for the ages! It had everything – from Jamaican dancehall legend Beenie Man performing on United States soil for the first time in more than a decade and surprising fans with American singer Mya for their single “Girls Dem Sugar”, and seeing red-hot rapper Doechii heat up the stage a mere two days before being named Billboard Woman of the Year.
From R&B powerhouses to hip hop legends, reggae royalty (of course, Beenie Man donned his crown and regal purple for his set) – the 18th music festival was an unforgettable experience.
Ms. Lauryn Hill and New Edition bookended the two-day City of Miami Gardens festival closing out the show each night at the 18th JITG Music Festival at Hard Rock Stadium.
Hill’s curated diaspora calling set closed out day one. Hill opened with classics from her Grammy-winning and only solo album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” before she turned it into a family affair when “To Zion” played and her firstborn Zion Marley took the stage, followed by another son YG Marley and his hit “Praise Jah in the Moonlight.” Hill’s curated set included a crowd-pleasing performance from Busta Rhymes who delivered his signature rapid-fire flow and also featured up and coming artists – Samara Cyn, Foggieraw and Mannywellz.
Hill, the first woman to win Best Rap Album at the Grammys introduced Doechii – the most recent woman to take home that honor and who two days later was named Billboard Woman of the Year. Doechii lit up the stage with an electric high-energy performance.
Hill also enjoyed a reunion with Fugees band member Wyclef Jean for the killer evening close. They performed “Killing Me Softly” a tribute to the late Roberta Flack, “Killing Me Softly” and “Ready or Not” to close out day one in a spectacular fashion and set the tone perfectly for Sunday’s day two.
New Edition’s performance was nothing short of legendary. They had fans in lockstep with them word-for-word, as they delivered a perfect mix of group hits and solo hits. BBD, Johnny Gill and Bobby Brown each took a turn in the spotlight showcasing their individual artistry, and came together to give fans the best of the group performing as one.
Coco Jones fans loved that she delivered her latest single “Taste”, “Here We Go”, and “ICU” – and Tye Tribbett brought the gospel.
Xscape proved to be pure nostalgia. The legendary R&B group cycled through a dynamic setlist from their first hit, “Just Kickin’ It” to the soulful “Do You Want To”. Every moment of Xscape’s performance was pure magic, and reminded fans why we love this girl group.
The soulful Kem took his connection with the audience off stage, as he waded into the crowd and involved men to sing along with him. He also paid homage to the late Angie Stone.
And then the king announced that he was there. Resplendent in royal purple garb with a crown on his head as he sat on his throne, Beenie Man took to the stage for the for his first performance in 13 years on American soil. He led off his 30-minute set with “Who Am I (Sim Simma). To the delight of fans, Mya was a surprise pop up for “Girls Dem Sugar”.
For Beenie Man, performing on the JITG stage was “nice”.
“Being back was great. Trust me. I haven’t been here in 13 years. This was my first show since then. The 30 minutes I appreciate because at one time I got no minutes.”
Beenie Man had the crowd on its feet for his entire set. Their reaction, he said, “touched him to my heart; touched me to my core, and I was really appreciative of it.”
Toni Braxton delivered her velvety vocals as par for the course. She dazzled with her flawless delivery and captivated with her effortlessly stunning performance. Stone also paid tribute to the late Angie Stone and delivered a soul-stirring rendition of “Breathe Again” and shared that it was one of Stone’s favorites.
Braxton turned out to be the calm before the tour-de-force that was New Edition, which perfectly capped JITG 2025.
Dru Hill was the perfect group to showcase the fact that old school R&B vibes never gets old and is always appreciated.
While DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic Live! was an epic showcase. Ja Rule commanded all eyes during the set that cycled through Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh.
