Sunday:

Imagine getting home at 3AM, but it feels like 4? “Oh yeah, it is 4AM. The clocks moved ahead for Daylight Savings Time,” I cringed. Honestly, it was all worth it though. Saturday Night in the Gardens was so dope. “I’ll just take it easy ‘Like Sunday Morning’,” I thought to myself; But Jazz in The Gardens had other plans with another full day of good food, good music, high energy, and a lot of culture. What better way to start off Sunday’s musical journey than with the 90’s. Dru Hill took the stage. They have a different look with members that I was not familiar with, but as long as the hits were still the same, I was cool with that. Also, it was good to see Jazz back with the group. One of my favorite acts for the day was Beenie Man. My guy came out on stage with a Red Crown, and blue valor cape. Beenie man made a statement that he IS Dancehall royalty and indeed “The King of Dancehall.” One of his biggest American Pop hits is “Girls Dem Sugar” and it would only be right if singer Mya joined him for this song, and to the crowds’ adulation, Mya came onto the stage as a surprise to everyone. I for one was happy to see Mya, and the years have definitely been good to her .  Beenie Man reminded us that Caribbean music is alive and kicking in Miami (and in all over the world), and next time he deserves more than 30 minutes on stage, and judging by everyone that was dripping with sweat in Miami’s 80 degree heat, I would agree.

I’m going to save my favorite part of the weekend for last because they actually was not the last act of the night, and skip over to Toni Braxton. Can I just say that, “Toni looks good. Good AF!” All I could think about as I am watching her grind on the stage is how her man is falling asleep on stage while Toni has this young kid caressing ‘all over her bawdy’ (in My Martin Lawrence voice). This was my first time seeing Toni Braxton live, and I didn’t know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised to see her dancing and giving a really good performance. Her singing never misses, but I just wasn’t expecting her to  give us Janet Jackson moves, and she was giving us both ‘Rhythm Nation’ Janet and ‘Velvet Rope’ Janet if you know what I mean.

PASS THE MIC LIVE

Now onto probably my ‘most favoritest’ part of the entire weekend. Yes, is said “favoritiest!”  Pass the Mic Live. First off, “You should have been here!” as I wave my finger at you like Eddie Murphy with his Ice Cream. But since you weren’t, let me tell you all about it. Pass The Mic Live is genius. DJ Cassidy took an idea that he birthed during the pandemic, turned it into a Viral phenomenon, and then had the smarts and wherewithal to create a live experience in Las Vegas (currently at Planet Hollywood). Even more genius was the person that got DJ Cassidy to bring this experience to Jazz in the Gardens. DJ Cassidy assembled what he called in his intro “The Rat Pack” of hip hop, and that is just how each artist came out on the stage. In the Black and White Intro, they are all dressed in white suits walking down the Vegas Strip. Move over Sinatra, Martin, Lawford, “Sammy baby”, Bishop, and Angie Dickinson you have been replaced with Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, and Remy Ma. Boy, let me tell you when they each hit the stage in white suits, spitting bars, it sent shockwaves of electricity in everyone’s body. DJ Cassidy brilliantly started off the show with a classic Sinatra song setting the stage. He quickly moved into hit songs throughout the decades (70s, 80, 90s) before settling on “The Show” by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, and that was the perfect way for the pair to emerge from the smoke. Rick The Ruler stood stoic while Doug E. Fresh taught us all the proper way to Dougie across the stage. After delivering one of Hip Hops hype dance songs, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh disappeared, and in their place entered Ja Rule. He started with 1 verse of his dis-track to 50 Cent (someone still a little salty), but quickly moved to one of his biggest hits, “Livin It Up”. Too bad Ashanti wasn’t there. Maybe she will one day join the 2025 Hip Hop Rat Pack. After performing “Livin It Up”, Ja Rule made his exit, and that opened up the stage for Fat Joe and Remy Ma. When that “Ante Up” beat dropped!…Whew lawd the entire audience just jumped. “I wish I could bring Pun back” “BLOUW”, everyone screamed. The team continued to deliver blow after blow, round after round as each of them continued to rotate on stage giving us all of their hits. At one point, the party kingpin of the Rat Pack Doug E. Fresh came on the stage and directed everyone to give their neighbor a hug, say hello. He then asked for total darkness. “Turn The Lights off,” he directed to the stage lighting crew. “Now I want everyone in the audience tonight to turn the lights on their phone.” Everyone obliged. DJ Cassidy then spun “Shine The Light On Em” and in ‘Simon Says’ or ‘Follow The Leader’ fashion, everyone shined their phone lights on each other. This quickly moved into “Happy Birthday” no matter if you were a Pisces or a Capricorn, we were celebrating life. The team ended the night with Slick Rick’s classic “Lodi Dodi” where just about everyone recited a verse or a portion of the song. At the end. They took their bows in Rat Pack style on the Jazz in the Gardens Stage.

EXTRA SEASON SALT…

Sunday wasn’t just about the music. It was also about paying homage to individuals that continue to address issues affecting the African American community. Such leaders as Tamika Mallory who received the Key to the city from Miami Gardens Mayor. Sunday was a day to reflect, build, and make proclamations for the future of residents in Miami Gardens and also for African Americans in America. It was also to affirm that although we are here celebrating Black Culture, we are also communing and making plans to move the culture forward!