Lauryn Hill headlined the opening night of Jazz in the Gardens 2025 on Saturday, March 8. During her performance of “Doo Wop (That Thing),” she brought out rapper Doechii as a surprise guest.
Doechii, who was already on the festival lineup, joined Hill on stage in a moment that highlighted their shared place in Grammy history. Hill was the first Black woman to win Best Rap Album, and Doechii is the most recent winner of the award.
After the performance, Doechii posted on social media, calling Hill her hero and thanking her for the opportunity. “This is the greatest honor Hip-Hop could give me,” she wrote. In another tweet, she admitted she had never been so nervous in her life, calling Hill a queen.
Before launching into her own set, which included “NISSAN ALTIMA,” Doechii called Lauryn Hill “the greatest artist of all time.” Hill closed her headlining performance with appearances from Wyclef Jean and her son, YG Marley.
Other highlights from the night included Beenie Man bringing out Mýa for a performance of “Girls Dem Sugar.” Toni Braxton also appeared, revealing that several members of her team were involved in a tragic accident with Angie Stone. She was joined by her sister Trina Braxton and dedicated “Breathe Again” to Stone, saying it was her favorite song.
