Kendrick Lamar may have defeated Drake in a unanimous decision earlier this year, but there is another artist he feels is currently the “hardest out.” On Thursday (Oct. 17), K. Dot took to Instagram to show love to TDE’s Doechii, an emcee that Lamar believes has a long-lasting star quality about her. The ever-elusive rapper posted a screenshot of Doechii’s critically acclaimed album, Alligator Bites Never Heal, declaring her the artist of the moment.
The Swamp Princess caught wind of the praise and reacted accordingly with a flurry of posts thanking Dot for his recognition. “Thank you Dot. You the greatest,” she typed on her IG Story. “Getting your flowers while you can still smell them .”
The Florida native kept the party going and uploaded a video of herself to TikTok reacting to Dot’s cosign. “Mood b/c THEE Kendrick Lamar just said IM THE HARDEST RAPPER OUT,” the video was captioned, with the rapper shadowboxing and seemingly gearing up for those ready to spar lyrically.
The 26-year-old rhymer recently discussed her relationship with Lamar on The Joe Budden Podcast. Doechii revealed that she obviously wants to work with Lamar on some music but doesn’t want to feel like she is “entitled” to a feature. However, the rapper admitted that she doesn’t feel ready for that level of collaboration just yet.
“I don’t assume anything and I also don’t feel entitled to a Kendrick feature but I would absolutely love that. That’s the goal,” she told the podcast. “I’m sure that, like, for my debut project, eventually I’m gonna ask Top [Dawg] 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 that.”
Doechii explains to Joe Budden that she doesn’t expect a feature from Kendrick Lamar just because they’re on the same label and have similar styles:
“I don’t feel entitled to a Kendrick feature.”
— The Female Rap Room (@girlsinrap) September 13, 2024