By Amina Kane
October 24, 2025
Photo: David Jaelin
Class is in session. Grammy Award-winning artist Doechii stopped in Charlotte at Bojangles Coliseum Thursday night for her first headlining Live From the Swamp Tour. Following a monumental year in which she won Best Rap Album for her mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal, the 27-year-old rapper and singer proved why she stands out not only as an elite lyricist but also as a performer rivaled by few touring artists today, blending a stage show that pays tribute to hip-hop while incorporating elements of theatrical drama.
Texas native and Top Dawg Entertainment producer-turned-artist Kal Banx opened the show, displaying his range with a few introspective moments while performing songs from his debut album, RHODA. Joined by DJ Joaqu.n, Banx — standing in front of just black curtains with only a mic stand — guided the audience through a mix of his best tracks. At one point, he paused to acknowledge his brother and sister-in-law in the crowd, a tender moment that added warmth to his set. Having produced tracks for the likes of Isaiah Rashad, Schoolboy Q, Denzel Curry, and multiple songs on Dreamville’s Revenge of the Dreamers III, Banx showcased his rap prowess as another multi-dimensional artist on the TDE roster.
As chants for Doechii rippled through the arena, visuals took over, displaying images of the rapper in front of a chalkboard with Live From the Swamp written on it, signaling that class was in session. Seductively crawling on top of a desk in the video, at 9:45 p.m., she emerged from a massive boombox, which served as her central stage backdrop. Standing atop a mobile school desk, she spit the lyrics to “Stanka Pooh,” the intro track to Alligator Bites Never Heal — also co-produced by opener Kal Banx.
Every syllable and breath landed with razor-sharp precision as Doechii delivered her first lesson of the night. A devoted student of hip-hop, she paid homage to the genre’s foundational golden-era tracks, weaving her flow through instrumentals that interpolated songs like Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M.” and Nas’ “The World Is Yours.”
She then introduced her “student,” DJ Miss Milan, as the bass from “Boiled Peanuts” rattled the speakers and the crowd settled in. Elevated up to the second story of her boombox stage structure for the first time, lyrics to Jay-Z’s “Can I Live” served as a transition to the next track, as Doechii quipped, “Um, Charlotte, someone left their lights on outside, it’s a Nissan Altima.” The song introduced her twin sisters, who serve as her backup dancers on tour, as Doechii showcased her impressive dance choreography — a rare sight in modern rap.
A video of dancers voguing, narrated by legendary ballroom commentator Kevin JZ Prodigy, introduced her collaborative hit with JT, “Alter Ego,” as the arena erupted with fans jumping and waving their phone lights while she hit every hip-swiveling move and runway pose. The energy was electric, with the crowd feeding off the dance-pop beat and ballroom-inspired flair.
Doechii performed her hit “Persuasive,” then DJ Miss Milan treated the audience to a scratch session before Doechii returned for “Slide,” cruising around in her automated school desk equipped with a camera so fans could get a closer look on the big screens. She flaunted her vocal chops and shouted out Beyoncé, weaving in the track “Blow”– one of several nods to Queen Bey, whom she opened for on the Renaissance World Tour in 2023. From twerking to Trina’s “Pull Over,” incorporating hip-hop pioneer Doug E. Fresh’s iconic voice, fusing Nas’ “Oochie Wally” for “Spookie Coochie,” and performing her “America Has a Problem” freestyle, Doechii honored the artists who came before her while showcasing her own influences, with Beyoncé at the top of that list.
“Nosebleeds,” her post-Grammy release inspired by Kanye West’s 2005 acceptance speech, “I guess we’ll never know,” had her bathed in a sea of red lights, delivering another lyrical lesson with fierce energy. For “Crazy,” Doechii performed atop school desks with audience members seated on stage, including one lucky fan receiving a provocative lap dance.
Doechii opted for a rock rendition of “Anxiety,” offering a fresh take on one of her most popular tracks while incorporating the original vocals from Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” which the song samples.
After taking a few minutes to unwind and connect with audience members — from the front row to those in the “nosebleeds”– Doechii performed an intimate version of “Death Roll.” As “Boom Bap” began, she briefly paused to ensure a fan was okay before resuming the show. Elevated to the second story, a camera captured her while projecting the audience behind her on the big screens, creating a striking visual perspective.
“CATFISH” was another standout moment, with Doechii showcasing her rap mastery on a track featuring a hook that echoed the energy of Busta Rhymes’ “Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check.” Smoke billowed from the boombox as the crowd rocked their hands in unison, fully immersed in the performance.
As a black-and-white version of the “Denial Is A River” music video featuring Zack Fox played on the screen, DJ Miss Milan joined Doechii for some of the set’s most theatrical moments, bringing the song’s themes of relationships and personal struggles to life. Sliding across the stage with props like a luxurious long white boa alongside her twin sisters, the performance built to a climax with a synchronized breathing call-and-response between Milan and Doechii, leaving the audience enthralled.
Before closing with “Wait,” she offered words of affirmation and encouragement, reminding fans that they, too, can achieve their dreams. She welcomed her sister on stage to sing a part of Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature,” creating a fun moment of genuine familial warmth. Kneeling in gratitude, the spotlight shining on her, the final lesson appeared on the screen: “The more you learn, the deeper you understand yourself and the world around you. You are the final lesson, and this lesson never ends.”
Doechii took a moment to honor everyone who made the night possible, acknowledging her mother, the audio and lighting teams, the production staff, her twin sisters, and, of course, DJ Miss Milan, while also paying tribute to her adoring fans — affectionately known as the “Swamp.”
The boombox portal closed as the crowd began to exit, until “Nissan Altima” brought Doechii back for an encore. Joined by her twin sisters and DJ Miss Milan, she was lifted by a security guard and carried into the audience, mingling with fans one last time before the final curtain fell. Class was officially out of session, and on this tour, Doechii proved she’s not only schooling her fans on hip-hop but setting a new standard for rappers and touring artists.
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Setlist:
“STANKA POOH”
“BULLFROG”
“BOILED PEANUTS”
“NISSAN ALTIMA”
“AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM”
“ExtraL”
“Alter Ego”
“Persuasive”
“SLIDE”
“Spookie Coochie”
“Nosebleeds”
“Crazy”
“Anxiety”
“Stressed”
“DEATH ROLL”
“BOOM BAP”
“GTFO”
“CATFISH”
“Swamp Bitches”
“DENIAL IS A RIVER”
“Balloon”
“WAIT”
“FIREFLIES” (Instrumental)
Encore:
“NISSAN ALTIMA”
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