Doechii joins a very short list of artists who have received the K Dot stamp of approval.
Doechii has received the highly coveted Kendrick Lamar cosign.
On Thursday, October 17, K. Dot publicly crowned Doechii “the hardest out,” further solidifying her status in the rap game. Kendrick made the declaration in an Instagram Story that included the cover art for Alligator Bites Never Heal, Doechii’s mixtape that came out in August under the Capitol Records/Top Dawg Entertainment banner.
Doechii joined TDE in early 2022 as the imprint’s first-ever female MC. She spent the following two years releasing non-album singles and collaborative tracks with established artists like SZA, Kodak Black, and City Girls’ JT, but didn’t release a full-length TDE project until this year’s ABNH. But, as the saying goes, all good things take time.
Additionally, the “Not Like Us” rapper shared the new Cash App commercial featuring Doechii and comedian ExavierTV titled “The Barbershop,” on his IG Story. The spot, part of Cash App’s “That’s Money” campaign and directed by renowned filmmaker Calmatic, “highlights the power of strategic self-investment and the importance of sharing financial lessons learned along the way with others,” according to a press release.
Doechii’s 19-track project received favorable reviews from critics and landed on the Billboard 200. TDE boss Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith even compared the effort to Kendrick’s 2011 debut album, Section 80.
“She’s 1 of those ones 4sho !!!!” Top Dawg declared. “#TDE20 #TimelessClassicMusic.”
In the weeks following ABNH’s release, Doechii appeared on Joe Budden’s eponymous podcast and was asked if “there was an assumption that Kendrick would feature” on her debut album.
“I’ma say this: I don’t assume anything and I also don’t feel entitled to a Kendrick feature,” she said. “But I would absolutely love that. That’s the goal. I’m sure that for my debut project I’m gonna ask Top if he could ask Kendrick, or ask Kendrick myself and see what comes from that. But I’ma be real, I don’t think I have the record right now for that opportunity. I think I would have to come a certain way and I don’t think I’m ready for it.”
