Music And Miami: 10 Standout Moments From Jazz In The Gardens 2024
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Miami Gardens has a lot more coming in the coming years, teased Mayor Rodney Harris.
Nate Veal Photography/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest
Jazz In The Gardens 2024 was an experience unlike any other. From Eric Bellinger, Tamia, and Teedra Moses to Jeezy, Trina, and Trick Daddy, Hip-Hop and R&B’s elite took over Miami Gardens at the 17th annual two-day festival.
Moses, who’s best known for her hit single “Be Your Girl,” spoke with VIBE about her longevity, especially after experiencing a resurgence when Kaytranada remixed the record.
“It’s just a blessing. That’s the thing,” she explained. “I am a person whose first musical interest was Hip-Hop. I like sampling stuff like that a lot. So, when I realized that someone liked my music enough to get with me and say, ‘Hold on, I want to do it in a different way with you.’ I appreciate that because if it wasn’t for that, that record wouldn’t still be going. I go to clubs, and I’d be listening to all this modern music, and then all of a sudden, my song comes on. It’s really, really cool.”
Mayor Rodney Harris praised the work Jazz In The Gardens has done for the city and took pride in its hospitality and how it counteracted the negative narrative that may be associated with South Florida.
“It’s something that we’ve worked on and it has changed a great deal,” he told VIBE. “The crime rate here in the city of Miami Gardens has decreased. We are thriving. We’re one of the top cities in Florida— if not the top city in Florida— as far as revenue is concerned. Economic growth continues to take place in the city of Miami Gardens and we’re a predominantly Black city. So, we thank God for being in a position where we can help our own.”
In addition to Jazz In The Gardens, Hard Rock Stadium is also home to the Miami Dolphins, the Miami Hurricanes, the Miami Tennis Open, and Formula One. In 2026, it will host the FIFA World Cup and Mayor Harris hopes that the Super Bowl will return to the city in the coming years.
Below, we recap our favorite moments from this year’s Jazz In The Gardens, which included the return of Jazmine Sullivan, the spotlight given to background vocalists, Pass The Mic Live!, and more.
Jazmine Sullivan’s Return
Image Credit: Jr Mead Photography/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest
Jazmine Sullivan took the stage in her first performance since the deaths of her mother and grandmother and blew everyone away with her soul-stirring vocals.
Though she was “scared as sh*t” to be on stage, she credited God for giving her the strength to continue. “Even through my pain, my tears, I’m grateful,” she said emotionally. The crowd embraced her warmly as she glided through her dynamic discography with live renditions of “Girl Like Me,” “Insecure,” “Let It Burn,” “Bust Your Windows,” “Holding You Down (Goin’ In Circles),” “Tragic,” and “Pick Up Your Feelings.”
Omarion Spotlighting His Background Vocalists
Image Credit: Nate Veal Photography/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest
After heating up the stage with a medley of his B2K classics and solo hits, Omarion took a moment to cover SZA’s “Snooze” with his background singers, Corey Mekell and Candace Wakefield. Like he does at most shows, he granted both singers a moment in the spotlight to display their gifts.
For Mekell, this was a moment he was grateful for.
“A burden has been lifted, only because I’m finally in my dream right now,” he told us. “This is my day-to-day. It’s not a nine-to-five anymore. It’s [also] refreshing because I grew up idolizing [Omarion]. You know what I’m saying? And to really be in this moment, it is still surreal. I pinch myself every day. So the fact that he wanted me to be here, and not only just to illuminate him, but to give me a moment to be illuminated. To be around an artist that has so much success as he does, it’s like it doesn’t feel real. It doesn’t feel real, man. And I just appreciate him just giving us that opportunity and just sharing his light with us.”
Mekell also teased that he and Omarion will be collaborating soon, so stay tuned for that masterpiece.
The Wrath Of Jaheim
Image Credit: Nate Veal Photography/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest
Jahiem took a quick break from the Love Hard Tour to serenade the crowd with his catalog of love songs including “Put That Woman First,” “Just In Case,” “Anything,” and “Finding My Way Back.” Despite his performance seeming void of any issue, he was distracted by some sound problems and took a minute to voice said concerns.
“My ears is too loud. The s**t is crazy. I can’t even hear myself,” the crooner said aloud. He then called out the sound guy, similar to the infamous clip of Beyoncé saying to the lighting team as she danced, “Somebody’s getting fired.” In Jaheim’s case, he instead declared that someone would be getting docked in pay. “I gotta put them on blast. F**k that,” he expressed. “Y’all not gon’ make me look bad. I’m not a rapper.”
The Mics Were On
Image Credit: Nate Veal Photography/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest
Both Eric Bellinger and Teedra Moses opened the day on the smaller stage that were broadcasted to the main stage, but truthfully, they should’ve been over there from the beginning.Bellinger commanded the stage in celebration of his Rebirth series. He first drew us in with his 2013 jam, “I Don’t Want Her.” Moses showcased that time is a social construct as she lured viewers with her siren presence before we all collectively sang her 2004 hit, “Be Your Girl”—both the original and the Kaytranada remix.
Marsha Ambrosius brought the vibes over from London to South Florida with her infectious hits like “Say Yes,” “Butterflies,” and “Hope She Cheats On You (With A Basketball Player).” Tamia took us back to the innocent days of the early 2000s with her ballads, “Officially Missing You,” “Still,” and “Stranger In My House.” Before we knew it, she had us doing the complex footwork from her infamous “Can’t Get Enough” line dance.
October London somehow managed to smoke a cigar and take sips of cognac throughout his performance without missing a beat (or a note). He even enlisted the help of The Shindellas for background support. His set definitely transported the audience back to the soul of the ‘70s.
Fantasia, Her Star Power, And A Fan
Image Credit: Nate Veal Photography/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest
After dominating the big screen with her award-winning portrayal as Celie in The Color Purple, Fantasia returned to her first love and had the crowd eating out the palm of her hand. She teased, “I just did this little movie, but tonight I’ma do some music for y’all.”
Dressed in custom Good American that had onlookers envious of her homegrown curves, Fantasia threw down vocally as we collectively sang along to “Truth Is,” “When I See U,” “Hood Boy,” a riveting rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” and a special tribute to Tina Turner. As the sweat dripped from her forehead, Fantasia took a moment to express her gratitude with the audience. “They said I would never make it back, but I’m back and better than ever,” she shared. “I win again.”
Nate Veal Photography/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest
She was later joined by a fan for an impromptu battle of the knees with the vibrant attendee shocking Fantasia with her moves.
DJ Cassidy’s ‘Pass The Mic Live’ Regional Celebration
Image Credit: Nate Veal Photography/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest
Not only did DJ Cassidy‘s Pass The Mic Live honor Hip-Hop, it also paid tributes to the regions across the nation that contributed to the evolution of the genre.
Before his special guests hit the stage, he commemorated the fourth anniversary of Pass The Mic. He expressed, “Tonight is a celebration. A celebration of soul, a celebration of life, a celebration of love. So, let’s get this celebration started.”With the help of Lil Kim repping Brooklyn, T.I. repping Atlanta, Too $hort repping The Bay, and Uncle Luke repping Miami, each rapper brought something special to the stage. $hort had us rapping his favorite word and Uncle Luke brought out dancers who were hitting moves we’ve seen on P-Valley. Kim brought the magic, while Tip brought out whatever we liked. A time was had.
Miami’s Finest Popping Out For Their City
Image Credit: Nate Veal Photography/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest
DJ Nasty’s “Welcome To The Crib” set repped Miami to the fullest with special guest appearances from Trina, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross, Michael Sterling, and more. This was the portion of the festival dedicated to the city and as a first-time visitor, each artist put Miami on the pedestal, causing it to live up to the hype.
Moments later, Trick Daddy was awarded with the key to the city in a surprise ceremony.
Kirk Franklin Brought Church To The Stage
Image Credit: Nate Veal Photography/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest
Kirk Franklin had us running all through the pit in his debut performance and he bounced around, directing his singers with his melodies from heaven. He also ran into the crowd several times to connect with the audience on a more personal level through hits including “Brighter Day,” “Looking For You,” and “Love Theory.”
Franklin declared that he didn’t want to see the saints giving him a “cute praise” and joked that they’d getting funky for Jesus. Later, he brought the saints to the stage for a jam session that made a captivating benediction to the evening. However, if you’ve ever seen the gospel icon live, none of this would surprise you.
Summer Walker Put On A Show
Image Credit: Nate Veal Photography/Courtesy of JITG Music Fest
Since Summer Walker started working with Teyana Taylor on her stage presence, the benefits of that partnership have become obvious. The “Girls Need Love” singer came onstage on a round, silk bed which did a full 360-degree spin for a minute as her dancers captivated the crowd with their sensual moves. Holding us in a trance for every minute of her closing set, Walker cascaded through her hits including “Broken Promises,” “Playing Games,” “Over It,” and “Body.” It’s clear that Summer knows her strengths and is ready to have them on display.
The Celebrity Guests In The Audience
Image Credit: Mireya Acierto/Getty Images
Among the attendees, we spotted the likes of LL Cool J and Al B. Sure! enjoying the festival. Naturally, LL was seen getting headsprung as Rick Ross and Trick Daddy rocked the mic during DJ Nasty’s set and it was even rumored that he would make a guest appearance during Kid Capri’s set. However, he stayed in the shadows. Al B. Sure! was seen during the serenade portion of the show as Summer Walker, Jazmine Sullivan and Maxwell took over the stage.
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