Tampa, Florida has long been underestimated when it comes to its music scene. Despite being home to over 3 million people and having three major sports leagues in the area, the city hasn’t had a notable artist win a Grammy Award until now.
Doechii, born Jaylah Hickmon, is a proud Tampa native who recently took the music world by storm at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Her win marked a historic moment for the city’s music scene and has left many artists and industry experts in awe.
According to James Sandman, known as the “Godfather of Tampa Hip-Hop,” Doechii’s win is a testament to the talent that has been waiting to break through. Sandman spent two decades championing local artists on Tampa Bay airwaves, but even his efforts couldn’t bring about widespread success.
“It’s an unexpected, but huge moment for our city,” said Sandman. “We’ve had many talented artists in the past, but it just never clicked.”
One of the main reasons jook music, a style that originated in Tampa, has struggled to gain traction is its limited appeal outside of Central Florida. The genre is characterized by its high-energy beats and minimalistic production, making it perfect for dancing at clubs.
Despite this, many artists have still managed to make a name for themselves in the city’s metal scene, with bands like Death, Deicide, and Morbid Angel playing a significant role in shaping the sound of the genre.
Lashunda Flowers, lead singer of pioneering female electro hip-hop trio Yo! Majesty, believes that the entire music scene would benefit from working together. Her group had success at SXSW and Coachella, but eventually disbanded due to lack of support from local institutions.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers have already shown their love for Doechii, giving her a shout-out on social media after her win. The city’s music scene is now in the spotlight, and many are hopeful that it will inspire future artists to pursue success.
As Celph Titled, another influential figure in Tampa’s music scene, said: “Hopefully her winning and saying that will inspire local Tampa artists to try to achieve that level.”
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2025/02/04/doechii-grammy-tampa-music-jook