From: Tampa, FloridaGenre: Hip-HopFor fans of: Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, SZA, Doja Cat Doechii, one of hip-hop’s most thrilling new stars, has something to say. This self aware Tampa, Florida-native speaks with the wisdom of a woman who has lived a lot more life than just 24 years. And much like the day she walked into church at four years old, asked for the mic, and proceeded to sing, it’s music that is her first language. “I’m inspired by influences in emotions, in things and scenes, in visuals, and colors. Feelings and environments, and things around me,” Doechii offers up when asked about her influence. One listen to Doechii’s music reflects that she is present. Every song sounds like she is there, unapologetically, with her listener. “I want to stimulate my audience and engage them in every single way that I can,” she says. “The whole experience has to continue to tell a story and push the narrative forward.” That’s precisely what she did with the breakthrough song “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” back in 2020. Describes Doechii, “I didn’t sugarcoat anything with that song. I didn’t make it pretty.” The lead off single from her second EP Oh The Places You’ll Go confirmed that Doechii was indeed a colorfully confident disrupter destined to make waves and shake up hip hop. “I’m a maximalist. I’m gonna do the most with everything. That’s just me.” In 2022, Doechii announced she was joining forces with TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment), the label behind legends like Kendrick Lamar. “The legacy is so important to me,” Doechii says of TDE. “I’m in a really beautiful position to where I am the first female rapper on TDE, so this particular legacy starts with me. Kendrick has opened up the doors as a man, but as a female rapper, I’m touching new spaces and fanbases for the label.” In March, Doechii dropped the captivating single “What It Is.” Each version of the song, one solo and one featuring fellow Floridian Kodak Black, have taken on a life of their own and become her biggest hits to date. Safe to say “What It Is” made for an impactful start to an exciting new era from Doechii and the sky’s the limit for what’s to come.
