Ear Candy: Doechii redefines the future of hip-hop with unforgettable sound

Lily Cole 

Editor 

In the pursuit of new music to listen to this year, I stumbled upon an NPR TinyDesk concert on YouTube. I’m no stranger to TinyDesk concerts–some favorites being Laufey and The Marías. But when I watched Doechii perform, she blew me away. The look on my face when she opened with “BOOM BAP” was priceless. My jaw was on the floor and I ran into my sister’s room to show her who I just found. We’ve literally been on a Doechii kick ever since. 

Doechii, also known as Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, the self-proclaimed “Swamp Princess,” rose to prominence with her 2020 release, “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” a mixtape about childhood and tween life. Since then, she has gained fame with her 2024 album, “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” and, more specifically, with a 2021 song that went viral on TikTok from “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake.”

With critics comparing her to the likes of Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliott, Doechii puts her own spin on rhythms and rhymes. Some standouts from “Alligator Bites Never Heal” are “DENIAL IS A RIVER,” “CATFISH,” and the popular “NISSAN ALTIMA.” 

Doechii’s sound is unique. Her raps resemble poetry, and paired with her stage presence and the realness of her music; she brings a breath of fresh air to the mainstream music scene. 

She’s on point throughout each of her songs. She is unapologetic, empowering, and emotional. Her complex raps paired with her melodic tempo are something to strive for. Her music is playful, with quirky production and a sense of humor that comes through in delivery and lyrics. 

She describes her sound as alternative hip-hop, drawing inspiration from big names like Lauryn Hill and SZA. Ironically, SZA and Doechii are the only two female artists to be signed with Top Dawg Entertainment, an independent record label specializing in hip-hop and R&B artists. Recently, she was featured on Tyler, the Creator’s new studio album, Chromakopia, in the song “Balloon.” 

Doechii is nominated for three Grammys this year: Best Rap Album (Alligator Bites Never Heal), Best New Artist (Alligator Bites Never Heal), and Best Rap Performance (“NISSAN ALTIMA”). 

I, for one, want to see her win Best New Artist, hopefully beating out some pop stars who have had their time in the spotlight, like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan.

If you’re looking for a little more upbeat and defiant sound, Doechii is the way to go. She will not disappoint. I think the best way to end this little review is by using Doechii’s lyrics from “DENIAL IS A RIVER.” 

But we ain’t got time to stop / the charts need us (and they do).

And they really do, Doechii. The charts need you.  

Editor’s Note: This post was updated to include the full ending of the article.

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