Lauryn Hill brought out a surprise guest to perform “Doo Wop (That Thing)” during her recent set at the Jazz in the Gardens Music Festival in Miami. “I want to introduce y’all to another sistah,” Hill told the crowd before welcoming Doechii, the 2025 Grammy winner for Best Rap Album.
The unexpected pairing was a highlight of the festival, blending the bold energy of contemporary hip-hop with the timeless soul of a music icon. The performance is especially significant as it takes place during Women’s History Month, spotlighting two powerful female voices whose impact transcends generations.
“The performance was electric,” said longtime Doechii fan and Howard University junior Zauri Morgan. “Watching Lauryn Hill start performing live again in 2023 — plus the huge push Doechii has been receiving from the music industry — was electric.”
“Even though I wasn’t there in person, seeing the video of two dark-skinned, Black Grammy Award-winning women taking the stage and showcasing hip-hop was monumental.”
Jazz in the Gardens has long been known for showcasing diverse talent across R&B, soul, jazz and hip-hop. However, the collaboration between DoeChii and Lauryn Hill offers something uniquely powerful. Hill, whose 1998 album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” continues to inspire artists worldwide, has long been hailed as one of music’s most influential figures. Meanwhile, DoeChii’s genre-defying style has earned her acclaim as one of hip-hop’s most dynamic new voices.
“Thank you Miss Lauryn Hill,” Doechii shared on social media after the performance. “Thank you. My heart is so full. She is my hero. This is the greatest honor hip hop could give me. Praise God … my entire body is vibrating with joy right now. I’ll never forget this day! EVER!”
As March marks Women’s History Month, following the end of Black History Month, the performance celebrates the power of Black female voices in shaping the music industry.
As the first female artist to win five Grammy Awards in a single night, Lauryn Hill’s groundbreaking success paved the way for women in hip-hop, R&B and beyond — just as Roberta Flack did for her, she explained in a recent tribute to the late singer and Howard alumna.
DoeChii’s rise, marked by her recent Grammy win and evolution of notable performances on NPR Music’s “Tiny Desk Concerts” and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” reflects the continued need for female artistry in mainstream music.
“Lauryn Hill’s music shaped how I approach storytelling in my own work,” DoeChii shared in a recent interview. “Her fearlessness and vulnerability inspire me to push boundaries.”
Vida Poyner-Chillious is a reporter for HUNewsService.com.
