Doechii is officially the third woman to ever win the Grammy for Best Rap Album, along with Lauryn Hill and Cardi B. This was a historic win for Doechii, as it was for women everywhere. In her acceptance speech, she highlighted the importance of valuing and loving yourself, specifically dedicating her words to young black women.
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“Anything is possible,” Doechii said. “Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you, to tell you that you can’t be here, that you’re too dark, or that you’re not smart enough, or that you’re too dramatic, or you’re too loud. You are exactly who you need to be to be right where you are, and I am a testimony right now.”
Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, otherwise known as Doechii, has a long history with music; both her father and uncle were rappers. Throughout high school, Doechii wrote poetry and began rapping. In 2014, she had started making music and by 2016, she took to SoundCloud to release her first song “Girls” under the name Iamdoechii. Having planned to become a professional choir singer, the rapper soon switched directions after a friend encouraged her to pursue music independently. Along with music, Doechii grew up participating in acting, sports, and ballet.
In 2020, Doechii self-released her debut EP Oh the Places You’ll Go. he song “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” went viral on TikTok, garnering a lot more attention on social media. This put her on the map, and she released her second EP the following year. As she gained popularity, she started working with other artists and eventually was signed by Capitol Records to Top Dawg Entertainment in 2022.
Since 2016, Doechii has released many songs and projects, including three mixtapes and two EPs. After almost a decade of writing music, Doechii came out with her most successful project yet Alligator Bites Never Heal in August 2024. The mixtape spans 47 minutes and features 19 different tracks, taking you through a theatrical journey of creative lyricism and rich beats.
Doechii throws out quick bars and her lyrical cadence swims in and out of the instrumentals, threading a cohesive string throughout the first four songs. The first tracks are bass-heavy and punchy, following tempos I find reminiscent of 90s hip-hop: bands like The Pharcyde, A Tribe Called Quest and even some hints of Doom. Her lyrics tell self-contained stories and reveal Doechii’s experiences and anxieties, creating an intimacy with the listener.
As the mix progresses, pieces of Doechii’s exaggerated character come alive, with songs like “DENIAL IS A RIVER” and “BOILED PEANUTS,” laying the ground for the satirical darkness often showcased in older hip-hop. In “CATFISH” there seems to be a peak in aggression which leads to the distinct switch in style between “SKIPP” and “HIDE N SEEK,” where Doechii transitions into smoother vocals—drawing from R&B more than hip-hop. In the following tracks, Doechii uses vocal layering and gentle beats to create a velvety softness to her sound.
By the last third of the mixtape, it is ever apparent that Doechii is not afraid to be unserious. She’s able to code switch to match whichever version of herself she wants to represent at any given time. This gives her the ability to paint the picture of whoever she wants to be to her listeners, track by track. Throughout the mixtape, Doechii uses soundbites of her conversations with various people to break up the sound, as heard on “BLOOM.”
All in all, Alligator Bites Never Heal is one of the best albums I’ve heard in the past year, and I recommend you all to go listen to it. Doechii defies the borders of genre effortlessly, creating a world of her own. With each track dipping into something completely different and reigning it back just enough to keep everything cohesive. Jumping between pop melodies, sensual R&B vocals, heavy hip-hop beats and keeping the flow of her bars all the while. She has an ability to create specific energies for each track, the vibe of each staying within themself and never tainting the next one. Part of what makes this album so seamless is her ability to take you on a tour through the world of Doechii, never getting stuck in one sound or feeling.
Finally, I give this album a 10 out of 10, and I’ve been listening to it ever since starting this review. I give my congratulations to Doechii on her win, and I hope to see more from her in the future.
