Doechii knows how to put on a performance — but more importantly, she knows how to tell a story.
The Florida-born artist is coming off a massive year. Though making music for almost 10 years, she recently achieved a meteoric rise after the commercial and critical success of her third album, “Alligator Bites Never Heal.”
The album, released in August of last year, won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, making her the third woman in history to win Best Rap Album — and at only 26 years old.
In a set that showcased her artistry and storytelling, the rapper’s Lollapalooza performance proved the Grammy win to be well-deserved and cemented her legacy as a generational artist.
There wasn’t an empty space at the T-Mobile stage Saturday evening as people eagerly awaited the start of the set.
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“Settle down, settle down, time to take roll call,” said a voice ringing from the speakers as a thundering beat echoed into the audience.
As an ethereal sound filled the air, a swarm of backup dancers moved around into an arrangement of desks that adorned the stage alongside a massive set of speakers.
The jumbo screens lit up with the words, “Doechii the Don, Doechii Supreme …”
“I think we are maybe missing one more,” the voice said before Doechii’s pre-recorded voice cut in. “The swamp ruler.”
The setup of speakers opened, and Doechii slid into a desk, rapping the opening lyrics of “STANKA POOH,” met with screams from the audience.
“Let’s start the story backwards,” she deadpanned, immediately commanding the crowd’s attention, people shoving to the front of the crowd to get a closer look.
Following her extravagant introduction, she didn’t waste any time playing some of her most popular songs like “NISSAN ALTIMA,” her vocal delivery fiery as the beat boomed under her.
The jumbo screens switched from prerecorded segments to live videos of the blazing choreography, adding another layer of detail and intricacy to the performance.
“Lollapalooza, let’s have a good motherf—ing time,” she shouted to the crowd. Based on the classroom set and storyline, Doechii danced around the stage in sharp movements, donned in a bikini top and a denim skirt, her first outfit of many throughout the show.
Grammy Award-winning DJ Miss Milan accompanied Doechii on the stage, creating a dynamic mix of both Doechii’s original music and well-known songs from other artists. The combination of club beats, Doechii’s lyricism and technical skill, created a performance that transcended any of the previous sets of the day.
Referencing the Met Gala umbrella controversy, Doechii’s backup dancers shook multiple black umbrellas in front of her, her voice ringing out, “Another f—ing umbrella, now! And another one now!”
As the beat dropped and the umbrellas lifted, City Girls’ JT appeared on stage to screams from the audience, immediately rapping the beginning of “Alter Ego,” the 2024 single from the pair.
The two danced around the stage in sharp movements, their choreography perfectly synchronized as Doechii swung her braids around like a lasso.
As the club beat of “Alter Ego” seamlessly transitioned into “Gypsy Woman” by Crystal Waters, drones flew over the crowd, the jumbo screens showing the masses of people that spanned all the way across the T-Mobile field.
From the second the award-winning rapper stepped on stage to the very end of her set, she commanded the audience’s attention, putting on an extravagant production that could have made her a worthy headliner.
Captivating choreography, multiple outfit changes and an intricate set design turned Doechii’s set into more than just a performance, but a testament to the rapper’s music and artistry.
