Unforgettable Moments: The Best Outside Lands Performances Before Sundown on Day 1

The first day of Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park began with anticipation. This year’s highlight may not be the crowd favorites of summers past. Instead, everyone is buzzing about Doechii, a 26-year-old rapper from Tampa, Florida. Known for her bold lyrics, she calls herself the “new hip-hop Madonna” and “trap Grace Jones.”

Doechii, whose real name is Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, took the main stage just after 7 p.m. Her performance, titled “Doechii’s School of Hip-Hop,” showcased impressive choreography alongside eight backup dancers. After debuting this captivating show at Glastonbury earlier this year, she brought it to Chicago for Lollapalooza just days before Outside Lands.

Her act was nothing short of a spectacle. Think of a Super Bowl halftime show condensed into 45 minutes. Divided into five engaging lessons, she explored bars, flow, genre, scratching, and wordplay. Dressed in shin-high socks and black Mary Janes, she rocked a playful schoolgirl outfit that blended country-club vibes with quirky Florida flair. Her merchandise, like a $100 varsity cardigan, aligned with this unique aesthetic.

During her set, Doechii embraced her roots by calling herself the “Swamp Princess.” Her playful spirit resonated throughout the crowd, where inflatable alligators waved in the air. This love for her home state is captured in her breakout album, “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” which features an albino gator named Coconut on the cover. Interestingly, just a couple of miles from the festival, Claude, an albino alligator at the California Academy of Sciences, is turning heads. Officials hinted he might even join her in future performances.

Given the electric atmosphere, it’s clear that Doechii is on the rise. Influenced by hip-hop legends like Wu-Tang Clan and Nas, she commanded the crowd with confidence, especially during her powerful rendition of hits like “Denial Is a River.”

Part of her appeal lies in her versatility. She curated her set to make room for covers, blending Beyoncé’s “America Has a Problem” and Daft Punk’s “One More Time” into her own tracks. Moments like when she vogued with her dancers added extra flair and excitement. Her performance captured the social media buzz, with many fans flocking to platforms like Reddit to share their enthusiastic reactions.

From October 2022, when Doechii first took the stage in San Francisco, to now, her growth is evident. In just a year, she’s performed four times in the Bay Area, with plans to return in November.

Curiously, while others criticized the wealth gap during their sets, Doechii leaned into her brand, using the opportunity for promotion. Reportedly, she attracted over 18,000 registrations for her performance via the Outside Lands app, outpacing even headliners like Doja Cat and Tyler, the Creator.

As fans chatted online about the festival, many lauded Doechii as the highlight of the event, setting a high bar for the remaining performers. She remains a defining presence at Outside Lands 2025, and her trajectory suggests she’s only just beginning to make her mark.

For more updates about her journey, check out her official site here.

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