Aside from the immediate delight that comes from seeing two of the biggest names in rap in one show, there is a pleasing asymmetry in Doechii and Kendrick Lamar performing together. Fame is still new enough for Doechii, rap’s “swamp princess” and most rapidly ascending star, that her rapid-fire lyrics mostly revel in the pleasures it offers and announce her ambitions for greatness. Lamar, on the other hand, has achieved new heights with tracks that detail his weariness and irritation with the trappings of fame – mainly all the pretenders and hangers-on who don’t treat rap seriously (yeah, Drake) and don’t deserve to cower in his shadow.
It seems inevitable that Lamar and Doechii will collaborate at some point – they haven’t yet, but they’re both connected to Top Dawg Entertainment and Lamar has praised her as “the hardest out there” (start praying now for whoever they turn their sharp tongues on).
