The name on everybody’s lips is Doechii. Last night, the Tampa-born rapper earned a major accolade, becoming the third female rapper to earn Best Rap Album in Grammy history, after Lauryn Hill and Cardi B, respectfully. Doechii’s meteoric rise since she dropped her acclaimed mixtape, “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” has been something to behold, but her story is far from an overnight success (as she alluded to in her acceptance speech). We’re taking a look at Doechii’s career so far, from her debut singles and mixtapes to her epic Grammys moment that’s got everyone talking.
A Star is Born
Doechii got her start as a completely independent artist, dropping her self-funded mixtape in 2020 Oh the Places You’ll Go, which got the eyes of some pretty big labels, specifically from her viral single from the project, “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake.”
Reflecting on her beginnings, she told NYLON, “Oh the Places You’ll Go,’ that was me 100 percent independently. I spent every last dime I had on that project. I came up with all of the concepts. I hired the team. I bought the studio. I drove the U-Haul truck to go take the props out. I did everything by myself at that time.”
Signs to TDE
In 2022, after the viral success of her EP and some features with artists like Isaiah Rashad, Doechii signed with Top Dawg Entertainment, the label with some of the biggest artists in the game like Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Doechii became the first female rapper on the label when she signed with them in 2022.
“With TDE, we have the same vision about where I’m going and what I’m doing and they support it,” she told NYLON in 2022 shortly after signing with them. “It feels great to have that machine next to me, but I was prepared to be that machine with or without [them].”
Persuasive
Just months after joining TDE, Doechii dropped her biggest single yet, “Persuasive.” Over a slick dance beat, “Persuasive” was a glorious sneak peak of all that Doechii has to offer, killer rhymes, masterful creative vision and stellar dancing. Even three years later, “Persuasive” sounds brand new.
Reclaiming “Crazy”
Her next single, “Crazy,” upped the ante and then some. Once again over hypnotic dance production, Crazy saw the rapper taking on a term that has been weaponized against women for centuries: “Crazy.”
“Crazy is about un-contained power, creativity, and confidence,” she explained back in 2022. “People call you crazy when they fear you or they don’t understand you. So, when I use it in the song, I’m reflecting that energy back on them to show them themselves.”
A Song of the Summer Contender
2023 saw Doechii arrive with her biggest hit yet: “What it Is (Block Boy).” The 90s inspired track brilliantly interpolates the TLC hit “No Scrubs,” with Doechii singing of needing a little love from a “Block boy.”
The song peaked at 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was even nominated at the MTV VMAs for the Song of the Summer award. There was plenty more to come from Doechii, but with this hit, it was clear Doechii had what takes to be a true contender on the charts.
A 2024 Takeover
From the start of 2024, Doechii was not letting up, dropping some infectious singles ahead of her eventual mixtape. Songs like “Altar Ego” featuring JT, “MPH” and “Rocket” continued to show off Doechi’s versatility and vast musical knowledge. Little did we know that her biggest act was Waiting in the wings, a mixtape that would go on to become one of the most impactful debuts in years.
Alligator Bites Never Heal
Four years after that debut mixtape that launched her career, it felt as though Doechii had finally arrived with the release of her project, “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” A sweeping, almost genreless project, Doechii raps and sings of the creative process, her career, insecurities, hopes, dreams and everything in between.
The project earned immediate critical acclaim upon release, with Rolling Stone giving it 4 out of 5 stars. What would come after its release, however, was even more exciting, as the mixtape’s popularity only grew as Doechii tirelessly promoted the project with a U.S. tour, memorable performances, interviews, and more.
Denial is a River
If “Alligator Bites Never Heal” is the mixtape that launched Doechii into stardom, the single “Denial is a River” cemented her status as a newcomer to watch. It’s arresting and immediately infectious, as Doechii raps from a true diary entry from when she discovered her man was cheating on her with another man, referencing an iconic Wendy Williams quote (“Denial is a river in Egypt, your husband is gay!”)
The song went viral on TikTok, as fans marveled at Doechii’s flow and style. On the track, Doechii is in conversation with an alter-ego version of herself, with her even suggesting some breathing exercises by the end of the track. From front to back, the track is brilliant.
Tiny Desk and Colbert
Doechii’s support of her mixtape, specifically through creatively ambitious and thrilling live renditions of “Denial is a River,” helped make the rapper undeniable in the industry. From her lively Tiny Desk, her arresting Late Show performance to her rendition of the song with Issa Rae voicing her inner critic, Doechii proves she has seemingly endless tricks up herself, as she found a way to reinterpret and rediscover herself within her own tracks every single time.
A Grammy Victory Lap
And finally, the 67th Annual Grammy Awards arrived. Doechii not only took home one of the biggest awards of the night with Best Rap Album, she also shut the show down with a one-of-a-kind performance of her hit songs “Catfish” and yes, “Denial is a River.”
By the end of the performance, one thing is clear: Doechii is here to stay.
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