Doechii reigns over Grant Park, announces upcoming tour: Lollapalooza review
Lollapalooza is officially “Doechii-Palooza.”
The Grammy-winning rapper teased the term on Instagram a couple days before Saturday's performance. After delivering a tour de force that was equal parts rap clinic, theatrical production, dance extravaganza and fashion show, the self-proclaimed swamp princess transformed not just the T-Mobile Stage, but Grant Park into her own world. The festival would be wise to rebrand.
Commanding an audience that likely rivals Chappell Roan’s record-breaking crowd last year, Doechii tore through “Nissan Altima,” “Anxiety,” “Denial is a River” and other hits at breakneck pace. She also brought out a special guest, rapper JT, of City Girls, and announced a forthcoming tour, with dates to be revealed at livefromtheswamp.com.
Not just a top-tier entertainment production, Doechii’s show was a love letter to hip-hop, a celebration of queer communities and culture and an inspiration for Black women and girls who dare to be different.
“My favorite song from her is ‘Black Girl Memoir,’” said Sage Colvin, 22, of Champaign, who arrived at the stage a few hours early for the set. “That song speaks to young Black women who have been in her shoes. … She also speaks to any weird Black girls out there, and she tries to tell us to never forget who we are, try to be as outstanding as we can be, always be outside of the box, and always be ourselves.”
Another fan, Montiara Davis, was dressed in a matching gray shirt and skirt that she said was inspired by one of Doechii’s famous looks. “I like her representation for Black girls and how different she is with her music, especially for Black female artists,” said Davis, 18, of South Chicago.
The third woman ever to win “Best Rap Album” at the Grammy Awards, Doechii is cementing herself as a fresh new voice in hip-hop. But she is very mindful of those who paved the way.
Her Lollapalooza set was structured in a play format titled “Doechii’s School of Hip-Hop.” Each act was a lesson, and the set design included a giant boom box, playground slide and school desks that Doechii and her dancers engaged with throughout the show. She also incorporated musical excerpts paying homage to Missy Elliott and Doug E. Fresh, among others.
Wearing her signature braids, jean shorts, a fur-accentuated top and striped gloves, Doechii showed off her skill and signature dexterity as a dancer. At one point, she joined her dancers in a voguing battle, paying homage to the history of ballroom culture in the queer community. “Where my gays at?” she shouted during the show.
Doechii even poked fun at herself, referencing the viral video of her complaining about not having enough umbrellas during her outfit reveal at the Met Gala this year.
Onstage at Lollapalooza, it was JT who emerged from behind the umbrellas to perform their “Alter Ego,” duet, which was featured on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
No stranger to criticism on social media, Doechii has fallen victim to the trend of music fans labeling up-and-coming artists “industry plants,” or musicians who are pushed by record labels even though they appear to be self-made.
Davis said she has heard this perspective on Doechii, but just chalks it up to jealousy.
“If you have the talent and you’re as good as Doechii is, then you deserve what you have.”
More than the tens of thousands of Lollapalooza attendees would probably agree.
Doechii Lollapalooza 2025 set list
Stanka Pooh
Bullfrog
Boiled Peanuts
Nissan Altima
America Has a Problem
Alter Ego
Persuasive
Spookie C - - - - - -
Nosebleeds
Crazy
Anxiety
GTFO
Catfish
Denial is a River
Boom Bap