Share This Article
The Swamp Princess made her return to New York City as part of her “Live From The Swamp Tour” with a night that blended music, art and movement.
Ahead of her sold-out performance at the Theater at Madison Square Garden on Monday night, Doechii — born Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon — curated an immersive pre-show experience called “A Night in the Swamp” at Ploume NYC, in collaboration with Verizon.
Doechii’s Curated Pre-Show Moment
The invite-only event was powered by #VerizonAccess and brought together verizon customers (who were able to claim tickets to this experience within the verizon app), influencers, media, and industry insiders for an exclusive VIP experience inspired by Doechii’s signature Swamp aesthetic. From green-themed decor and fog lights to alligator placements and nature-inspired florals, every element embodied the Tampa-born rapper’s bold and creative vision.
Guests enjoyed a premium open bar featuring themed cocktails and small bites. The music fit the vibe perfectly, including tracks by Doechii’s TDE labelmate Kendrick Lamar and some of her own hits spun by DJ Karl Banx, the 27-year-old’s hit producer.
“We’re always looking for ways to reward our customers. This collaboration is a prime example of the unparalleled access and interactive experiences Verizon Access delivers in the world of music and culture. We’re incredibly proud to partner with such an innovative artist and bring her Swamp to life during this exclusive event,” a Verizon spokesperson said in an emailed statement to EventNoire.
After the pre-party wrapped up, guests made their way to the Theater at Madison Square Garden, carrying the energy from Ploume to the sold-out arena. Fans were dressed in plaid mini skirts, pantsuits, collared shirts, and ties, and other looks reminiscent of Doechii’s own edgy style, waiting for the Swamp Queen to make her appearance.
The swamp takes over MSG
As the lights dimmed, concertgoers erupted into chants of “Doechii! Doechii!” A video played in the background showing the rapper in a classroom, writing “Live From The Swamp” across a chalkboard. Moments later, we hear the sound of a bell ring out, and the crowd screams as her name echoes over the opening track. She emerged standing on a school desk before taking a seat and rapping the lyrics to “Stank Pooh,” the opening track from her 19-song mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal.
She then smoothly transitioned into “Bull Frog,” with the opening verse from Wu-Tang Clan’s “C.R.E.A.M. (Cash Rules Everything Around Me,)” a nod to New York City and the legendary Staten Island hip-hop group, before Doechii began rapping her own lyrics while balanced on the mobile school desk.
She then turned the energy up, paying homage to Queens rapper and emcee Nas, with “The World Is Yours” while introducing her tour producer and New York native, DJ Miss Milan, before launching into “Boiled Peanuts,” one of the standout tracks from the mixtape. In another nod to NYC, Jay-Z’s 1996 song “Can I Live” played during the three-minute set change, before Milan hyped the crowd up to welcome Doechii back out for her hit song “Nissan Atima.”
She then transitioned into the “America Has a Problem” freestyle, while a video played in the background of her and male dancers voguing in homage to the LGBTQIA+ community. She followed with her next hit, “Alter Ego,” featuring rapper JT of City Girls, which was released in March 2024.
Doechii had the theater feeling like a Friday night New York City club with the upbeat “Alter Ego,” before introducing Milan once again to segue into “Persuasive,” which peaked at #33 on Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. Milan also shared some great affirmations with that crowd during the song before Doechii returned with other fan-favorite tracks like “Slide,” “Nosebleeds,” “Crazy,” along with top-charting hits “Anxiety” and ‘Denial is a River.”
Doechii admitted she hadn’t planned to include a New York City stop on the tour—she visits often, after all—but ultimately made an exception for the city that gave her her first real crowd, her first true fanbase, and her first big break.
“I will always be indebted to New York City, and I love you guys so much,” she said.