Who is the superstar bicon that is trending right now?
BY BELLA FRANCIS, IMAGE VIA ALBUM COVER, PHOTOGRAPHER JOHN JAY
Over the past few weeks, American rapper Doechii has soared into stardom. A year ago, she came onto the music scene with a her first hit tracks, and industry experts were eager to see what the dynamic performer would do next. Today her star is shining bright, having amassed over a billion Spotify streams, three Grammy nominations, and millions of followers across social media.
But who is she, and what sets her apart in the rap game?
SAY HER NAME
How did Doechii get her stage name? Originally born Jaylah Hickmon, she decided to create an alter ego for herself when faced with bullying back in the sixth grade. In 2022, she told Vulture magazine: “Jaylah might’ve been getting bullied, but I decided Doechii wouldn’t stand for that shit. My whole attitude was different. It stuck.”
But why the name Doechii? I don’t think even she has a clear answer for that, telling Vulture “it literally just came to me”.
WHAT SETS HER APART?
Doechii has been a breath of fresh air in the rap industry, carving an identity for herself that is not just memorable but raw and authentic. Although her music is playful and energetic, it’s layered with deeper themes of self-discovery, gender, race, and mental health. She combines this with an eclectic dress sense and creative performances that stick in your head for weeks.
One such performance was her recent appearance on the Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Showcasing the tracks Denial Is A River and Boiled Peanuts, Doechii and her two dancers moved in syncopated, precise movements, connected by their long braids. Doechii took to X to explain that the performance was intended to highlight her connection to black women through hip-hop.
SWAMP QUEEN
Doechii is originally from Tampa, Florida. This is alluded to in her album titled Alligator Bites Never Heal and her fanbase name “The Swamp”.
She grew up in the Church while attending performing arts school, which eventually led her to immersing herself in Tampa’s underground music scene. This helped her foster the diverse music taste that makes her songs so dynamic and musically captivating.
A PROUD BICON
Back in October, Doechii told the Gay Times: “I always knew I was gay. I’m currently bisexual. I am with a woman now and I have always known that I loved women. I’ve been very, very aware from an early age.”
She explained that being Black and Southern both hindered her ability to be proud of her sexuality: “I didn’t feel as comfortable until I started surrounding myself with more gay friends. I also grew up in the Church, which is not to say that every religion denounces being gay, but it wasn’t accepted in the religion that I was in, in my environment.”
“Once I had gay friends it was like ‘OK, I can be myself, I’m good, I can feel safe, this is normal, I’m fine, everything is ok.’ I have those same friends today and will have them for life.”
Her fanbase is also largely made up of the LGBTQIA community, and when asked why she exclaimed:“We just have great taste! I think that’s why a lot of my fans are gay, because we have great taste and we get it.”
A BRIEF HERSTORY
Doechii released her debut track Girls on SoundCloud back in 2016. She continued to post on the platform until her breakthrough in 2020 with the release of her song Yucky Blucky Fruitcake. The attention from this hit led her to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2021, making her the first female rapper to be signed to the legendary label that also reps Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Since joining TDE, Doechii’s momentum has been unstoppable. Her 2022 EP, She / Her / Black B***h, was praised for its bold themes and sonic versatility. Similarly, her mixtape and first full-length project, Alligator Bites Never Heal, has earned her three Grammy nominations making her the first female rap artist to earn a Best New Artist and Best Rap Album nomination for a mixtape.
DIVA magazine celebrates 30 years in print in 2024. If you like what we do, then get behind LGBTQIA media and keep us going for another generation. Your support is invaluable.
