From being bullied in the seventh grade to becoming a household name, Doechii has consistently risen to the occasion, bringing true storytelling and authenticity back to Hip-Hop. In recent years, the genre has shifted, with mumble rap reigning supreme and many artists delivering lyrics detached from their real-life experiences.

This reluctance to be transparent isn’t new. In a 2019 interview with Rob Markman, Future admitted that he refrained from disclosing his sobriety and decided to quit lean out of fear of how fans would perceive him.

“I didn’t wanna tell nobody I stopped drinking lean,” he told Markman. 

“I didn’t tell… because I felt like, then they gon’ be like, ‘Oh, his music changed because he stopped drinking lean. Oh, I can hear it when he changes…’ It just be hard when your fans so used to a certain persona, you be afraid to change.”

This fear of breaking out of industry-imposed personas—or, in some cases, stereotypes—has kept many artists from sharing their true selves. The pressure to maintain an image in Hip-Hop often makes vulnerability seem like a risk too great to take.

But Doechii is different.

When I met her at the BET Hip Hop Awards in 2021, I asked myself, “Who is this Doechii girl?” I interviewed her on the green carpet and asked her to introduce herself to the BET family. With unwavering confidence, she said, “My name is Doechii, and I promise you, you’ll never forget it.” And she was right. That night, she performed alongside Isaiah Rashad, and her presence was nothing short of electrifying—bold, eccentric, and undeniably authentic. I never had to ask who Doechii was ever again. 

Her EP title, “she / her / black b**ch,” is as striking as her artistry. When asked by REVOLT why she named her project that, she explained:

“I was watching one of [Diahann Carroll’s] interviews, and she said she wanted to be the first Black b*tch on television, and she said this years ago,” she shared. “I was so amazed… It’s an interesting way—not to mute it down or take insults—but you have to be a Black b*tch and resonate with it to understand it. That’s why I made it the project name.”

Fearless. Unapologetic. Authentic. These words define Doechii, now a Grammy Award-winning artist.

During her 2025 Grammy Awards acceptance speech, she radiated gratitude and confidence, emphasizing why she remains true to herself in her music:

"It feels like this is bigger than me. It’s just like… a little bit of art and authenticity wins. Vulnerability wins."

She continued, "I put my heart and soul into this mixtape. I bared my life. I went through so much. I dedicated myself to sobriety, and God told me I would be rewarded. And I have to thank God."

After expressing appreciation for her mother and her hometown of Tampa, Florida, she left the audience with a powerful message:

“Don’t allow anybody to project stereotypes onto you—telling you that you can’t be here, that you’re too dark, that you’re not smart enough, that you’re too dramatic, or too loud. You are exactly who you need to be to be right where you are, and I am a testimony.”

From her striking style to emotionally raw, thought-provoking lyrics, Doechii lays it bare in her music.

“Denial Is A River,” the third single from her Grammy-winning mixtape (because that’s how you know she’s that good), pays homage to Hip-Hop’s legendary storytellers—Slick Rick, Wu-Tang Clan, Lupe Fiasco, Lauryn Hill, and so many others. But beyond that, it offers a close look into the mind of the Florida native—her struggles, vices, and unrelenting honesty.

On the record, she details a revealing conversation with a former suitor, opening up about her battles in 2023. And just like that, she delivers one of the most recited lines of the year.

Doechii isn’t just here—she’s rewriting the rules of what it means to be an artist in Hip-Hop today.

There’s nothing fake about Doechii, and because of that, the 26-year-old will now be awarded Billboard's coveted Woman Of The Year award. 

You see where authenticity gets you? 

Take notes. Oh, and go stream “Alligators Bites Never Heal.”