LOS ANGELES — A glass-walled truck motored its way into a strobing L.A. warehouse in April, careful to avoid the throngs of people who'd gathered for what they presumed to be a typical record release party. Behind that glass was a bare-chested young female rapper, sporting only silver body paint and thigh-high boots while flanked by a dozen women clad in nude bodysuits.
Doechii, 24, commanded the crowd's attention as she rapped the first verse from her woman-as-warrior single "Crazy" before strolling out of the truck and onto a stage alongside her ensemble. Toward the song's end, she sparred with a rod-wielding attacker whom she quickly dispatched, stealing the weapon and twirling it in the air before taking a menacing bow.
It was a thunderous introduction to Top Dawg Entertainment's newest aspiring star. But the plan had been to go even bigger.
