Kanye West and Top5 believe Doechii is an "industry plant" on live stream

Kanye West and rapper Top5 created a lot of controversy after they made bold statements regarding emerging artist Doechii. Top5 and West talked about her during a live Twitch broadcast on April 25, 2025, referring to her as an "industry plant."

According to them, she received assistance from the music industry to promote her career rather than develop organically by herself. The stream also featured comments regarding other artists such as Kendrick Lamar and SZA.

The phrase "industry plant" was defined in the stream. It referred to artists who appear to blow up fast because they have good backing from labels and media. It could make it difficult for fans to believe that their success is real or manufactured. Though Kanye and Top5 shared their opinions, numerous viewers perceived the stream as controversial, and hence it was banned a short while after it began.

Although Kanye and Top5 said so, Doechii has been receiving success and accolades in her career. She had a strong debut on the Billboard Hot 100 with her track Anxiety. She was also just recently called "Woman of the Year" by Billboard. Nevertheless, not all people do not share the same opinion regarding whether her success is real or forced by the industry.

West was talking to Top5 over a call, and he passed a comment on Doechii, saying:

"Who is Doechii? Is that how you say her name? Doechii?"

Top 5 on the other end of the call ended up calling her an 'industry plant' and said:

"They act as if things are miraculously happening for them based on their talent (via blog coverage, media coverage, MTV playing their vids, etc). The reality is a low risk/high reward situation for labels looking to build the next 'new star.'" Top 5 said

Why is the "industry plant" label controversial?

The concept of an "industry plant" is not new. It is something many use when an artist becomes successful quickly without the normal long struggle. Fans often feel deceived if they think the artist's success is not organic. It can cause distrust in the artist, even if they are genuinely talented.

For Doechii, others have accused her of being an "industry plant" previously. Her rapid ascent and significant media backing, according to detractors, indicate industry assistance. Others maintain that she worked hard for years on her career and earned her success.

The term can be harmful because it often ignores an artist’s hard work. It can make it seem like success only comes from label support, even when the artist has true skill. Doechii’s achievements, such as Billboard awards and chart success, show that she has gained a strong fan base.

Read More: What happened between Young Thug and Gunna? Feud details explained as internet thinks 'Money on Money' is a shot at Gunna

How has Doechii responded to Industry Plant claims?

To date, she has not directly publicly commented on Kanye and Top5's remarks. She has discussed her background in previous interviews. She explained how she worked for years before getting mainstream recognition. She also mentioned overcoming numerous challenges at the beginning of her career.

Her success includes major milestones. Her song Anxiety had one of the highest debuts of her career on the Billboard Hot 100. She was also named "Woman of the Year" by Billboard, a major achievement that shows how far she has come.

Trending

A lot of her fans remain supportive. They are of the view that she owes her success primarily to talent, creativity, and diligence. Others remain skeptical and ask themselves how much of her ascension is genuine.

Read More: Joe Jonas says he’s ‘chronically online’ as he teases new music at private event

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback