Florida born rapper and songwriter Doechii has cemented herself in the history books of the greatest rappers with her latest album Alligator Bites Never Heal. With 19 songs, no features, and a story to tell, Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon has changed the rap game.
“This category was introduced in 1989 and two women have won: Lauryn Hill, — THREE WOMEN HAVE WON: Lauryn Hill, Cardi B, and Doechii,” Doechii said opening her acceptance speech.
She had two Top 100 songs on Billboard this year with Nissan Altima and Denial is a River along with a feature on rapper Tyler the Creator’s song, Balloons. Back in 2023, she was first featured on the Top 100 with her song What it is (Block Boy) which featured Kodak Black.
Doechii had been making music since 2016, but before that she was a YouTuber who posted things from singing covers to self help, while vlogging the journey to reach her star-studded potential. When you scroll on her YouTube it doesn’t take long to get to her vlogs as she was posting them only three years ago with her latest one titled, “Moving to LA with the team.”
One YouTube video of Doechii’s that’s been making the rounds is called “I got fired today.” The video shows Doechii snacking on chips, bluntly breaking the news to her watchers. For only being a minute and 19 seconds long, Doechii establishes herself a go-getter and proves that she has a strong head on her shoulders. “Either way Imma be straight. I think tomorrow, I’m just going to go to a whole bunch of studios and ask if they have any internships open.” (She said?)
Seeing her in this difficult situation while being so composed trying to figure out how to turn this into a better situation is inspiring. She’s a prime example of getting right back on the horse doing what she needs to do to succeed. “I have nothing to lose. I have no place, I have no job, I have no children, who gives a f—k. Who cares! I’m just gonna do it. I’ll let you know how that goes.”
And so it went. Now in 2025, Doechii received the Grammy for Best Rap Album. Her speech was nothing short of powerful as she brought her mother alongside her to accept this award.
“I put my heart and soul into this mixtape. I bared my life. I went through so much. I dedicated myself to sobriety. And God told me that I would be rewarded and he could show me just how good it could get.”
She continues by thanking those that have supported her through her career and gives a mention to the swamp saying “There’s so many people out there who probably don’t know who I am. I call myself the Swamp Princess cause I’m from Tampa Flori-DA.”
There was no lack of emotion during Doechii’s speech and that’s one thing I admire most about her. Everything she puts out is from the heart and she has such a raw realness from the way she speaks to how she holds herself.
Flustered with all the things she wanted to say with this moment on stage, Doechii ends her speech commenting “I know there is some Black girl out there, so many Black women out there that are watching me right now and I want to tell you: You can do it. Anything is possible. Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you that tell you you can’t be here. Or 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. Praise God. Goodnight.”
I have a deep admiration for Doechii and how she is so unashamedly herself. As a Black woman, I’ve never felt so emotionally represented until listening to Alligators Bites Never Heal. She is poetic in her flow and the music serves as a delightful enhancer to her melodic rap. She’s unique in how she utilizes expression by doing things like breathing exercises mid song and having a conversation with her conscious both of these featured in Denial is a River.
Her album as a whole reflects her soul as the themes around it are very Floridian; ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL, BULLFROG, BOILED PEANUTS all being references to her home state. NISSAN ALTIMA and BEVERLY HILLS can be correlated to her time in Los Angeles. The rest of the album gives her the freedom to express the inner workings of her mind, her view on herself, and everything that had led up to this monumental moment.
