Feature Photo: Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com
Raised in the vibrant and often turbulent cultural landscape of Tampa, Florida, Doechii—born Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon—began crafting her own path long before the industry knew her name. Early exposure to performance came through her attendance at the Howard W. Blake School of the Arts, where she studied vocal performance. There, her artistry began to form around her natural talent for theatricality, rhythmic flow, and lyrical boldness. Tampa may not have been a hip-hop epicenter, but Doechii used it as a foundation to sharpen her distinct voice—one that would soon captivate listeners well beyond the borders of her hometown.
Doechii first entered public consciousness in 2018 when she uploaded her debut single “Girls” to SoundCloud. The song quickly found a niche audience, offering early evidence of her ability to balance biting delivery with melodic hooks. This was followed by “Spookie Coochie,” which furthered her reputation for high-concept performances and unapologetic self-expression. However, it was her 2020 independently released EP Oh the Places You’ll Go that shifted her momentum. Featuring the viral track “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake,” the project gained traction on social media, especially TikTok, and catapulted Doechii into the national conversation. The track’s autobiographical narrative, delivered in a classroom roll-call style intro, marked her as a rare voice—playful, personal, and razor-sharp.
That breakout moment attracted the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), the influential label known for launching the careers of Kendrick Lamar and SZA. In 2022, Doechii made history as the first female rapper signed to TDE. Her signing marked not only a career turning point but also a symbolic milestone for the label, bringing a new dimension to its roster. Not long after joining, she inked a partnership with Capitol Records, amplifying her reach and creative control.
Doechii wasted no time making her presence known under the TDE banner. She released the Bra-Less freestyle in March 2022, a raw demonstration of her lyrical agility and sense of identity. But it was her official single “Persuasive,” released that same month, that cemented her as a rising force in hip-hop and R&B fusion. A few months later, a remix featuring labelmate SZA turned “Persuasive” into a cross-genre hit, showcasing her ability to thrive alongside already-established stars without losing her unique voice. The track’s hypnotic production, layered with airy melodies and a house-inspired rhythm, provided the perfect canvas for Doechii’s sultry yet assertive vocal presence.
She doubled down on her momentum with “Crazy,” a single that stood in complete contrast to “Persuasive.” Where one was breezy and ethereal, the other was chaotic and primal—a cinematic, rage-fueled anthem accompanied by a performance art-inspired video that displayed her flair for avant-garde visual storytelling. Together, these tracks revealed Doechii’s genre-defying ethos and fearless approach to reinvention. She didn’t just deliver music—she delivered experiences.
In August 2022, she released her major-label debut EP, She / Her / Black Bitch, a title chosen deliberately to confront and reclaim negative stereotypes. The five-track project featured collaborations with Rico Nasty and Jst Ray, among others, and offered a multidimensional portrait of her artistry. Tracks like “Swamp Bitches” and “Bitch I’m Nice” juxtaposed vulnerability with bravado, humor with self-awareness. The EP was praised by critics for its daring soundscapes and refusal to cater to mainstream expectations, further solidifying her reputation as a boundary-pusher.
Doechii’s presence on the live circuit also played a major role in expanding her audience. In 2022, she performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, delivering a high-energy medley of “Persuasive” and “Crazy” that showcased her theatrical instincts and stage command. Later that year, she joined Doja Cat and other artists on tour, and earned an invitation to perform at high-profile festivals, including Coachella, where her set was noted for its creativity and intensity.
By 2023, Doechii had scored her first Billboard Hot 100 appearance with “What It Is (Block Boy),” a track that sampled TLC’s “No Scrubs” and featured rapper Kodak Black. The single blended nostalgia with a modern swagger, climbing into the Top 40 and earning gold certification from the RIAA. This commercial success didn’t dilute her artistry—instead, it confirmed that she could balance her experimental edge with pop sensibilities when she chose to. Her versatility proved to be one of her greatest assets.
In the wake of this breakthrough, she appeared in a variety of press outlets and was featured on magazine covers, all while continuing to assert control over her narrative. Critics began referring to her as the next major genre-blending talent, drawing parallels to Missy Elliott, Nicki Minaj, and Lauryn Hill—not because of similarity in sound, but for her refusal to be boxed into one style or archetype.
Outside of music, Doechii has become a vocal advocate for self-empowerment and creative freedom. Her visual aesthetics, often drawing from high fashion, surrealism, and Afrofuturism, are an extension of her artistic message. She has spoken out in support of LGBTQ+ communities and women’s rights, using her growing platform to uplift underrepresented voices and dismantle societal double standards.
Although her debut studio album has not yet been released as of mid-2025, anticipation continues to build. Each single she releases is met with critical attention and fan speculation, with the expectation that her first full-length effort will be as boundary-breaking as the rest of her catalog. Doechii’s careful curation of her public image, her multifaceted sound, and her commitment to originality position her for a career that could redefine mainstream music’s relationship with genre and identity.
Her influence has also begun to ripple into areas beyond entertainment. Fashion houses and major brands have tapped her for campaigns, recognizing her ability to connect authenticity with visual storytelling. She continues to work on new music while maintaining her independence as a creative visionary—never simply following trends, but constantly reshaping them to suit her purpose.
Doechii’s story is still being written, but her rise has already rewritten what it means to be an emerging artist in the post-digital age. With only one major-label EP and a string of singles, she’s built a reputation that rivals artists with multiple albums and years in the game. Her ability to challenge assumptions—about women in hip-hop, about Black identity, about genre limitations—has made her one of the most watched artists of her generation.
Complete List Of Doechii Songs From A to Z
- Afro Blues (Mike Escanor featuring Doechii) – Non-album single – 2020
- Alligator Bites Never Heal – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Alter Ego (with JT) – Non-album single – 2024
- Anxiety – Alligator Bites Never Heal (extended) – 2025
- Anxiety (Sleepy Hallow featuring Doechii) – Boy Meets World – 2023
- Balloon (Tyler, the Creator featuring Doechii) – Chromakopia – 2024
- Believe (Zacari featuring Doechii) – Bliss – 2024
- Beverly Hills – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Bitch I’m Nice – She / Her / Black Bitch – 2022
- Bloom – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Boiled Peanuts – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Boom Bap – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Booty Drop – Non-album single – 2023
- Bullfrog – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Catfish – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Crazy – Non-album single – 2022
- Death Roll – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Denial Is a River – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Doechii Potion – Non-album single – 2019
- Egypt (remix) (Westside Gunn featuring Doechii) – Non-album single – 2025
- Emma II (YZM, Ahri, Milli Moon featuring Doechii) – NuZxmbies – 2018
- ExtraL (Jennie featuring Doechii) – Ruby – 2025
- Fireflies – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Girls – Non-album single – 2016
- Girls Night Out (Babyface featuring Doechii) – Girls Night Out – 2022
- GTFO (with Kuntfetish) – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Hide n Seek – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Huh! – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- I Don’t Trust You! (Reason, Junii featuring Doechii) – Porches – 2023
- I Hate Your Ex-Girlfriend (Banks featuring Doechii) – Off with Her Head – 2024
- I’m His, He’s Mine (Katy Perry featuring Doechii) – 143 – 2024
- I, Myself & Me (Ab-Soul featuring Doechii) – Soul Burger – 2024
- Life Balance (Phaze Jones, Spirit.Gze featuring Doechii) – Its Hard to Explain – 2018
- MPH – Non-album single – 2024
- Nissan Altima – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Nosebleeds – Non-album single – 2025
- On My Way (PyroThePoet featuring Doechii) – Breakthrough 22 – 2020
- Pacer – Non-album single – 2023
- Persuasive (solo or remix with SZA) – She / Her / Black Bitch – 2022
- Phenomenal (Janelle Monáe featuring Doechii) – The Age of Pleasure – 2023
- Pro Freak (Smino, Fatman Scoop featuring Doechii) – Luv 4 Rent – 2022
- Profit – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Right Now (Jayprob featuring Doechii) – Non-album single – 2020
- Rocket – Non-album single – 2024
- Sayonara (YZM, Melanie featuring Doechii) – Rage – 2020
- Skipp – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Slide – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Spookie Coochie – Non-album single – 2019
- Stanka Pooh – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Stressed – Non-album single – 2022
- Till’ the World (Pee Wee Callins featuring Doechii) – Non-album single – 2021
- Timeless (remix) (The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti and Doechii) – Non-album single – 2025
- Trampoline (David Guetta and Afrojack featuring Missy Elliott, Bia, and Doechii) – Non-album single – 2022
- Universal Swamp Anthem – Non-album single – 2023
- Wait – Alligator Bites Never Heal – 2022
- Wat U Sed (Isaiah Rashad featuring Doechii and Kal Banx) – The House Is Burning – 2021
- What It Is (Block Boy) (solo or featuring Kodak Black) – Non-album single – 2023
- What’s Your Name? – Oh the Places You’ll Go – 2020
- Xtasy (remix) (Ravyn Lenae featuring Doechii) – Non-album single – 2022
- Yucky Blucky Fruitcake – Oh the Places You’ll Go – 2020
Albums
Alligator Bites Never Heal (2022): 20 songs
Singles, features, and guest appearances: 40 songs
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