On a typical Wednesday, ties and button-ups stay behind desks and glowing computer screens. But this Wednesday evening, they spilled into Gallagher Square, filling the venue with a stylish crowd of young adults dressed in edgy academia, like a scene straight out of a stylized coming-of-age film. The air smelled faintly of sweet, artificial vape clouds and carried a chill, but within the dense crowd dancing, hyping each other up, and taking pictures for Instagram, it was hardly noticeable. The buzz rippling through the venue could only mean one thing: the Swamp Princess had arrived.
Doechii’s name has been inescapable over the past year. After winning Best Rap Album at the 2025 Grammys for her sophomore release Alligator Bites Never Heal, she embarked on her Live From The Swamp tour in October, making a one-night stop in San Diego to bring the swamp to us.
But before she schooled us, Dallas-born rapper Kal Banx took the stage. Despite being new to touring, he radiated charisma, keeping the crowd moving and asking us to make noise for everything from vulnerability to Italian food. Banx balanced effervescence with vulnerability, opening up about returning to San Diego after his mom passed in the city, and thanking the community for their support. That heartfelt moment led into “Chicken,” a song about navigating a relationship while his mom’s health declined, named after her childhood nickname, Chicken Legs.
Then it was time for Doechii to introduce herself to the class. Black-and-white clips of Doechii in a classroom flickered on the screens, and the crowd’s anticipation rose until she emerged from the center of a massive record player, taking a seat at a school desk. Opening with “STANKA POOH,” a bright spotlight highlighted her pinstripe briefs, blazer, and beige bustier as the words “Lesson One” appeared on the screen.
From there, Doechii’s energy never faltered. She rolled across the stage in her desk during “BULLFROG,” commanded the crowd to put their hands in the air during “BOILED PEANUTS,” and rapped furiously during “NISSAN ALTIMA,” showing off her incredible breath control. She paid homage to her inspirations, weaving in sound bites from Charli XCX and Michael Jackson, and delivered a jaw-dropping cover of Beyoncé’s “AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM.”
The strobing stage lights amplified her electrifying performance, creating an immersive ambiance that felt uniquely attuned to her brand. Fan favorite collaborations also made the setlist, including “ExtraL,” with BLACKPINK’s JENNIE, “Xtasy” with Ravyn Lenae, and “Balloon,” from Tyler, The Creator’s Grammy-nominated CHROMAKOPIA.
Doechii and frequent collaborator DJ Miss Milan shared the stage, feeding off of each other’s energy. Miss Milan handled ad-libs and crowd interaction, complementing Doechii’s gritty and fierce rapping. In a moment referencing last year’s Grammy win, Doechii stood atop her record player for “Nosebleeds,” wooden pointer in hand. She followed that up with “Crazy,” inviting fans onstage, and showed off her vocal prowess and versatility with “Anxiety,” embellishing the final chorus with sustained notes and runs.
During “DENIAL IS A RIVER,” her breakout track from 2024, she rapped through a therapy-style dialogue with DJ Miss Milan. I had seen that performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and NPR’s Tiny Desk, but nothing quite compared to witnessing it live.
Before performing her closer, Doechii asked the crowd to put their phones away, and her Swamp dutifully abided. She closed with “WAIT,” a track that I immediately added to my playlist after the show. Then, ever the icon, she slid down a giant metal slide, joked that that was the smoothest slide she had experienced all tour, and let the audience choose the encore. When the crowd erupted into enthusiastic screams of “PLAY YUCKY,” she launched into “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake,” getting the whole crowd moving one last time.
Rather than slipping offstage in a dramatic flash of lights, she lingered a few minutes after the show to sign fans’ merch, a small but telling gesture that really summed up Doechii’s authenticity. From the first moment she stepped on stage, it was clear: not only is Doechii talented, but she’s genuine, magnetic, and uniquely captivating. It’s a night that reminded me how transcendent live music can feel, and one that will stay with me for a long time.
