Halloween At The Swamp

Smoke rolled across the stage and spilled into the crowd, where fans arrived dressed as video game characters, movie icons, and other familiar pop culture figures. Standing above the audience on a giant speaker stood Doechii, dancing through the wafting smoke to Stressed. As the music rose, the singer let out a loud scream and the audience screamed back. When the roar finally began to settle, the rapper stopped at center stage and looked out over the crowd.

“You all sold this B&$%* out” she shouted. “Happy Halloween Swamp!”

Her greeting was more than a holiday nod. Swamp is the name she uses for her fanbase, a reference rooted in the humid environment of her hometown of Tampa, Florida. It is also the title of her current tour, a 14 city run moving through North America during October and November called Live From The Swamp.

Born Jaylah Hickmon in Tampa, Florida, Doechii began releasing music online as a teenager, building a following through early YouTube uploads and self released projects that showcased both her writing ability and her interest in blending rap with theatrical performance. Her breakout moment came with “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake,” a cleverly written introduction to her life that caught fire on social media and brought widespread attention to her talent. The success led to a growing buzz that eventually reached Top Dawg Entertainment, where she made history as the first woman to join the label.

Live From The Swamp is a showcase of Doechii’s evolution as an artist. The show pulls from her 2024 critically acclaimed mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal as well as the singles that have highlighted her versatility. Doechii is a relatively new artist, so her catalog is not deep, but the swamp is deeper than it appears. She moves between songs with ease, shifting from lyrically dense rap to light, melodic pop without losing momentum.

While she may be a new name to many, her growing catalog reveals an artist with more skill and confidence than her years in the industry might suggest, and her stage show proves it. From start to finish, Doechii bounced across the stage without a hint of fatigue. She spent the evening racing across the platform, climbing the tall speakers that framed the stage, and sliding down the connected ramps in full command of the room. The show offered far more than a simple one to one performance of her catalog. Many of the songs were reworked with samples and references to artists like Mary J Blige, Outkast, Nas, Jay Z, Crystal Waters, Missy, and others. And with the Houston stop falling on Halloween, the added layer of costume pageantry gave the night an extra spark.

“I be so mad because ever since I dropped, I been on tour every Halloween” laughed Doechii as she directed the cameras toward the audience. “I never get a chance to dress up but I see you all out there. Quick, someone get the camera on MF Doom over there.”

The Anxiety singer then spent the next few moments pointing out costumes in the crowd, including Frozone and an audience member dressed as her single Spookie Coochie.

Just as her music suggests an artist beyond the age of her catalog, Doechii’s live show is polished and thoughtfully crafted. Whether performing through clouds of smoke, trading back and forth with her DJ, or singing alongside the music videos projected on the screens behind her, she keeps the audience in the palm of her hand throughout the evening. Houston’s own Monaleo was even part of the show, seated at a long table on stage with other fans as Doechii performed while displaying a POV camera feed to the audience.

Live From The Swamp unfolds like a world pulled from Doechii’s imagination, rich with character, energy, and a spirit that feels both rebellious and joyful. The show is layered with detail, color, and personality, never losing sight of the connection between artist and audience. It leaves a mark not through grand finales, but through the lasting feeling that something original took place. There is a bright future for the swamp princess.

Setlist

STANKA POOH
BULLFROG
BOILED PEANUTS
NISSAN ALTIMA
AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM (Beyoncé cover)
ExtraL (JENNIE cover)
Booty Drop
Alter Ego (Doechii and JT song)
Persuasive
SLIDE
Spookie Coochie
Nosebleeds
Crazy
Anxiety (Rock Version)
Stressed
DEATH ROLL
BOOM BAP
GTFO
CATFISH
Swamp Bitches
DENIAL IS A RIVER
Balloon (Tyler, The Creator cover)
WAIT

Encore:
Pacer (Snippet)
Wat U Sed (Kal Banx and Doechii cover)

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