Doechii: From Church Pews to the Grammy Stage
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DOECHII. COURTESY OF JOHN JAY.
Doechii is one of the most influential rappers in the game right now. Her 90s-coded inspiration and crafted sound throughout her discography has us eager for more.
In the last few years, she’s made an incredible name for herself. As the Billboard 2025 Woman of the Year and 2025 Grammy-winner for Best Rap Album, there’s no denying her superstardom.
“All of my artistic values and training came out of my church”
Doechii, real name Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon was born on August 14, 1998 in Tampa Florida. She knew from a young age that performing was her destiny. Her grandparents gifted her a music kit when she was young, and that inspired her to take up music. She spent six days a week singing gospel music and dancing in a Christian marching band.
Doechii struggled to fit in at school and faced severe bullying and homophobia growing up. In only the sixth grade, she was having suicidal thoughts. She opened up, saying “...it pushed me into living. I’m actually grateful that it happened, because now I know why I’m here, and I’ve never lost that.” That summer, she reinvented herself as Doechii–who we know as the incredible musician she is today.
The Path to Digital Stardom
Doechii started freestyle rapping at Howard W. Blake School of the Arts in 2016. She graduated with a diploma in vocal tech and classical choral singing. In 2020, she released her solo EP Oh The Places You’ll Go, and the track “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” went viral on TikTok. Top Dawg Entertainment noticed her talent and she was the first female rapper to sign with the label in 2022. But nothing says Doechii like her latest persona, the “Swamp Princess” and breakthrough mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal.
Embracing Sexuality and Sobriety
DOECHII, AS ALTER EGO RICARDO. COURTESY OF SARAH PARDINI.
Growing up, Doechii didn’t feel comfortable being outwardly gay as a Black woman from the south, until she went to art school. “Once I had gay friends, it was like ‘OK, I can be myself, I’m good.’” Today, she’s openly in a queer relationship and expresses her sexuality in her songs, like “NISSAN ALTIMA” and “Alter Ego.” In September 2024 in an interview with Paper Mag, Doechii got dressed in another alter ego, Ricardo: An eight-pack, mustache-wearing drag king. “Since they [comments online] keep saying I look like a man, I’m gonna f*cking give them a man.” She loved the experience, saying she wanted to try drag for a while.
Sobriety is a prominent theme in Doechii’s new album. She expressed how hard it is to go sober in the music industry, because where there’s music, there’s alcohol and drugs. Alligator Bites Never Heal was written in a single month, after Doechii unpacked how substance abuse was getting in the way of her creativity. “That’s why my project sounds like it does…it’s not coming from liquor, it’s not coming from a party environment, it’s coming from me.”
Redefining Rap
ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL COVER ART. COURTESY OF TOP DAWG ENTERTAINMENT.
Doechii’s most authentic self shines through the sound of Alligator Bites Never Heal (and yes, she’s holding a real alligator!). She reveals her theatre-kid roots in her track “DENIAL IS A RIVER” that follows moments in her life in a raw but humorous way. In an interview with Genius, she tells us the track is written like a journal entry, while infusing classic hip-hop storytelling with inspiration from Eminem and Nicki Minaj. She took a risk, ignoring her label and avoiding industry formulas with this project–which worked exceptionally well. She shows her dance skills with her live hip-hop choreography, which is so electrifying to watch!
Doechii was the third woman to win the Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2025, behind Cardi B and Lauryn Hill–making history!
This is exactly what the music industry needs right now. Doechii is an inspiration to the world through her authentic personality, extra-queerness, and sobriety!
Listen to my favourite performance of “NISSAN ALTIMA”!
Kayla Latulippe is a level 3 Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. Though she’s still learning, she feels most powerful when connecting with her indigenous (Mi’qmak) heritage. If she’s not studying, she’s indulging in some kind of art–music, writing, photography, painting, and most notably–drag. She was introduced to Canada’s Drag Race in 2020, which skyrocketed into an unhealthy obsession with all things drag, so much so that she started a fan page. Life is a drag, so we know, but she still makes the most of it.