Jaylah Ji'mya Hickmon (born August 14, 1998), known professionally as Doechii (/ˈdi/), is an American rapper and singer. After releasing her debut EP, Oh the Places You'll Go (2020), she rose to prominence on TikTok with the viral success of her song "Yucky Blucky Fruitcake" in 2021. She then signed with Top Dawg Entertainment in a joint venture with Capitol Records, through which she released her second EP, She / Her / Black Bitch (2022). Her 2023 single "What It Is (Block Boy)" (featuring Kodak Black) marked her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Doechii
Doechii in 2022
Doechii in 2022
Background information
Birth nameJaylah Ji'mya Hickmon
Also known as
  • Iamdoechii
  • Swamp Princess
Born (1998-08-14) August 14, 1998 (age 26)
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2016–present
Labels
Websiteiamdoechii.com

Doechii was awarded the Rising Star Award from Billboard Women in Music in 2023 and has received nominations for three Grammy Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, a BET Award and two Soul Train Music Awards.

Early life

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Jaylah Ji'mya Hickmon was born on August 14, 1998, in Tampa, Florida, where she was also raised.[1][2] She has two younger twin sisters.[3] She has described her upbringing as Christian.[4] In 2016, Doechii attended Howard W. Blake High School in Tampa and grew up performing ballet, tap dancing, acting, cheerleading, and gymnastics. She had plans to become a professional choral singer until a friend encouraged her to produce and release her music online as an independent artist.[5]

Career

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She started writing poetry and rap in high school, and was making music prior to 2014. Doechii released her debut song "Girls" on SoundCloud in 2016 as Iamdoechii.[6] Her project, Coven Music Session, Vol. 1, was released in 2019.[7]

Doechii's debut EP, Oh the Places You'll Go, was self-funded and released in 2020.[2] It was described by Rolling Stone as a mix of pop, dance, and hip hop.[8] "Yucky Blucky Fruitcake", a single from the EP released in September 2020, was inspired by her reading The Artist's Way and went viral on TikTok in 2021, earning her attention from record labels. Also in 2021, she released her second EP, Bra-Less; she was featured on Isaiah Rashad's song "Wat U Sed" from his album, The House Is Burning, which she performed with Rashad at the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards; and was an opening act during SZA's 2021 tour.[9][10][7] In March 2022, she was signed to Capitol Records by Chris Turner (A&R) and Top Dawg Entertainment, making her the first female rapper on the latter label.[11][12] That same month, she released "Persuasive", her first single published through Top Dawg,[13] and appeared as a featured artist on David Guetta and Afrojack's song "Trampoline", alongside Missy Elliott and Bia.[14]

In April 2022, she released the song "Crazy" with a music video.[15][16] Her second EP and her first major label release, She / Her / Black Bitch, was released on August 5, 2022.[17] Her July 2022 performance of her song "Persuasive" was nominated for Push Performance of the Year at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.[18]

Doechii performed at the 22nd Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2023.[19] Also in 2023, Doechii made her acting debut in Earth Mama, a drama film directed by Savanah Leaf.[6] In August 2024, Doechii released her mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal.[20] In October 2024, Doechii featured on Tyler, the Creator's album Chromakopia.[21]

Musical style

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Rolling Stone's Mankaprr Conteh described Doechii's rap delivery as "animated" and her song narratives as "quirky". Her music has frequently been compared by critics to that of Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliott, and Azealia Banks.[12] She has described her music as alternative hip hop,[2] and has cited Minaj, Lauryn Hill, Ye, and SZA as her major musical influences.[7][22][23]

Personal life

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Doechii resides in Los Angeles but lived in New York City for some time before the COVID-19 pandemic. Doechii is bisexual.[24] She also publishes YouTube vlogs about her daily life.[25] In a 2024 interview with Joe Budden, she disclosed that she recently became sober following a lifestyle of heavy drinking.[26]

Discography

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Mixtapes

Tours

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Headlining

  • Doechii - The Alligator Bites Never Heal Tour (2024)

Supporting

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2023 Earth Mama Trina [28]

Awards and nominations

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Organization Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
BET Awards 2023 Best New Artist Herself Nominated [29]
BET Hip Hop Awards 2023 Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist Nominated [30]
Billboard Women in Music 2023 Rising Star Won [31]
GLAAD Media Awards 2023 Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist Nominated [32]
Grammy Awards 2025 Best New Artist Pending [33]
Best Rap Performance "Nissan Altima" Pending
Best Rap Album Alligator Bites Never Heal Pending
iHeartRadio Music Awards 2024 Best New Pop Artist Herself Nominated [34]
Best New Hip-Hop Artist Nominated
TikTok Bop of the Year "What It Is (Solo Version)" Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards 2022 Push Performance of the Year "Persuasive" Nominated [35]
2023 Song of Summer "What It Is (Block Boy)" (featuring Kodak Black) Nominated [36]
MTV Europe Music Awards 2022 Best Push Act Herself Nominated [37]
Soul Train Music Awards 2022 Best New Artist Nominated [38]
Best Dance Performance "Persuasive" Nominated
Streamy Awards 2023 Sound of the Year "What It Is (Block Boy)" Nominated [39]
UK Music Video Awards 2022 Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video - International "Crazy" Nominated [40]
[41]
Best Choreography in a Video Won
Best Cinematography in a Video Nominated


References

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  1. ^ @doechii (August 14, 2020). "Cheers to 22 🤍 All I want for my birthday is for y'all to stream ALL my music! Tag me in your stories please 🥰 But if you're feeling like spoiling me CASHAPP $iamdoechii" – via Instagram.
  2. ^ a b c Rindner, Grant (March 21, 2022). "Doechii Is TDE's Newest Musical Maverick". Nylon. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "DIY Class of 2023". DIY. December 2022 – January 2023. pp. 32–35. Retrieved November 10, 2024 – via Issuu.
  4. ^ Vujić, Katja (July 14, 2023). "Doechii Can Act, Too". The Cut. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  5. ^ "Doechii to the Front of the Class The rapper from Tampa is about to be everywhere". Vulture. July 18, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Elibert, Mark (March 1, 2022). "Top Dawg Entertainment Reportedly Signs 2022 HipHopDX Rising Star Doechii". HipHopDX. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Seabrook III, Robby (August 20, 2021). "The Break Presents - Doechii". XXL. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Conteh, Mankaprr (May 12, 2021). "'Yucky Blucky Fruitcake': How Iamdoechii Is Keeping Cool With a Scorching Song". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  9. ^ Sacher, Andrew (March 19, 2022). "20 New Rap and R&B Songs Out This Week". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  10. ^ Inman, DeMicia (October 6, 2021). "Isaiah Rashad, Doechii, And Kal Banx Perform "Wat U Sed" At The 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards". Vibe. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  11. ^ Aderoju, Darlene (March 31, 2022). "Doechii Signs With Capitol Records: 'My Music Starts Right Here'". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Conteh, Mankaprr (August 5, 2022). "Doechii Is Rap's Pointed, Provocative Next Big Thing". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  13. ^ Bouza, Kat (March 18, 2022). "Doechii Celebrates Wild Nights, Getting High on New Single 'Persuasive'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  14. ^ Guttridge-Hewitt, Martin (March 8, 2022). "David Guetta and Afrojack drop track with Missy Elliott: Listen". DJ Mag. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  15. ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (April 9, 2022). "Doechii 'Crazy' Video Banned From Trending On YouTube Due To Nudity". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  16. ^ Madden, Sidney; Carmichael, Rodney; Bulgarelli, Gabbu; Leeds, Sam (March 30, 2023). "'I'm coming to y'all with no armor'". NPR. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  17. ^ Kearse, Stephen. "Doechii: she / her / black bitch EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  18. ^ Melas, Chloe (July 26, 2022). "These are the nominees for the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards". CNN. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  19. ^ Shannon, Kimberly Aleah,Delisa; Aleah, Kimberly; Shannon, Delisa (April 16, 2023). "Doechii on Latest Single 'What It Is,' Her Coachella Debut and New Music". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 26, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Mamo, Heran. "Doechii Announces 'Alligator Bites Never Heal' Mixtape on Her 26th Birthday: 'Happy Birthday to Me'". Billboard. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  21. ^ Monroe, Jazz (October 28, 2024). "Tyler, the Creator Releases New Album CHROMAKOPIA: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  22. ^ "Doechii, TDE's First Female Rapper, Is Ready For Her 'Pop Era'". Black Promoters Collective (BPC). February 23, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  23. ^ "The Joe Budden Podcast Episode 758 Three Level Scorer feat. Doechii". YouTube. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  24. ^ Dolan, Rebecca (October 3, 2022). "Doechii is persuasive". GQ.
  25. ^ Pinillos, Ebbony (May 24, 2022). "Doechii Proves She's Fit to Carry The TDE Torch at Rolling Stone and Meta's Creators Issue Launch Party". Rolling Stone.
  26. ^ "The Joe Budden Podcast Episode 758 Three Level Scorer feat. Doechii". YouTube. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  27. ^ "Doja Cat Announces 'The Scarlet Tour' With Support From Ice Spice and Doechii". Variety. June 23, 2023.
  28. ^ "'Earth Mama' Turns a Social-Issue Drama Into Something Heartbreakingly Special". Rolling Stone. July 10, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  29. ^ "The Nominees For 'BET Awards' 2023 Are Here!". BET. June 8, 2023.
  30. ^ Grein, Paul (September 7, 2023). "Cardi B & 21 Savage Lead Nominations for 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  31. ^ "Becky G, Doechii, Lainey Wilson and Kim Petras Among Honorees for 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards". Celeb Secrets. January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  32. ^ Complex, Valerie (January 18, 2023). "GLAAD Announces Nominees For The 34th Annual GLAAD Media Awards". Deadline Hollywood.
  33. ^ McClellan, Melissa Ruggieri and Jennifer. "2025 Grammy nominations live updates: Beyoncé leads the way". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  34. ^ Grein, Paul (January 18, 2024). "Taylor Swift Leads 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards Nods, With Jelly Roll, 21 Savage & SZA Close Behind: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  35. ^ "MTV VMAs 2022 Nominees Announced". Pitchfork. CN Entertainment. July 26, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  36. ^ Mier, Tomás (September 1, 2023). "Beyoncé vs. Taylor Swift at the VMAs: Queens Lead in Social-Voted Categories". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  37. ^ "See the Complete List of MTV EMA 2022 Nominees". MTV EMA. Viacom International Inc. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  38. ^ Seemayer, Zach (October 20, 2022). "BET Soul Train Awards 2022 Nominations: See the Full List | Entertainment Tonight". ET Online. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  39. ^ Spangler, Todd (July 24, 2023). "Streamy Awards 2023 Nominations Announced, MrBeast Leads With 5 Nods". Variety. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  40. ^ "UK Music Video Awards 2022: all the nominations for this year's UKMVAs". Promonews. September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  41. ^ "UK Music Video Awards 2022 winners announced". Shots. October 27, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.