Avery Kelley 
Breakthrough artist Doechii is a rapper, singer, songwriter, innovator, and the self-proclaimed “Swamp Princess”. Best known for her song “What It Is,” she has quickly risen to fame and has been named one of the most innovative on-the-rise artists in the music industry. But how did her rise to fame begin?
Doechii, born Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, has been a performer since birth, growing up as a ballet and tap dancer, cheerleader, and gymnast in Tampa, Fl. But her artistry has always rooted back to music, originally aspiring to be a professional choral singer. In high school, she began writing poetry and raps, releasing demos produced by her friends on SoundCloud. In 2020, she released her debut EP Oh The Places You’ll Go, which was completely self-funded. After the release, her single “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” went viral on TikTok sparking international attention from listeners and perking the ears of record label executives.
In 2022, she was signed to Capitol Records and Top Dawg Entertainment, making HISTORY as the first female rapper on the label. Soon after, she released her hit track “Persuasive” with SZA and appeared as an opener during Doja Cat’s Scarlet Tour.
However, the run didn’t stop there. In the summer of 2024, she released her third EP Alligator Bites Never Heal, an alternative hip-hop album embodying her lively, animated, and narrative music style. Each song shares a story, exploring the topics of confidence, industry pressure, self-awareness, and self-growth. This project received outstanding critical appeal and allowed Doechii to reach an audience wider than ever.
After racking up award after award, she is now officially Grammy nominated, being nominated for the categories Best New Artist and Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal and Best Rap Performance for her single “Nissan Altima”.
Her innovative style, creative wordplay, and unapologetic flow, make her stand out the most. She has dedicated her entire career to not following trends, but making quality, authentic art for everyone to enjoy and learn from. She shares with Vulture “Trends die, platforms die, but not good music. You’ll never catch me doing fluff.”
She has recently wrapped up her Alligator Bites Never Heal Tour across the U.S., and plans to release her FIRST album in 2025. Rumor has it that she could be a part of the Kendrick Lamar and SZA national tour beginning in April.
Doechii is a force to be reckoned with. Continue to look out for her future projects!
By Avery Kelley
Instagram: @askaveryk / Twitter: @averykels
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