What was your standout performance from the Grammys? We were certainly treated to an evening of incredible talent, from Sabrina Carpenter’s hilarious nod to Goldie Hawn during her Short N Sweet medley to Benson Boone’s wild acrobatics while performing his smash hit Beautiful Things. Our favourite though? Well of course, it has to be Doechii.
The three-time Grammy nominee took home her first Gramophone this year, winning Best Rap Album, for her third mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal. Her performance of Denial is a River and Catfish will surely go down in Grammys history, proving her title of Hip-Hop Disruptor of the Year (as awarded by Variety in 2024) was beyond worthy.
For those familiar with Doechii’s career you’ll be surprised to note that many are only just discovering her supreme talent. Alas, allow us to induct you…
Who is Doechii?
Doechii, 26, is an American rapper who was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, into a very musical family. Her father and uncle were both rappers, with the former known as Snatcha Da Boss. ‘I thank God that I'm blessed to experience that with my daughter 'cause there's nothing me and her can't talk about,’ her father told Buck Wit Me earlier this month, noting she was drumming before she could even walk. ‘It's deeper than rap ... that father-daughter bond, it's a true thing.’
Her mother, Celesia Moore, was heavily involved in the church with Doechii explaining that she grew up in a very religious household. She has younger tin sisters, and grew up practicing ballet, tap dancing, cheerleading and acting – an all-round talent!
How did Doechii become famous?
It’s no surprise then that Doechii started writing poetry and rap in school, releasing her debut song aged 18 (in 2016) on SoundCloud under the name Iamdoechii. Her first major project came three years later, with the release of her first mixtape Coven Music Session, Vol 1, then one year later her debut EP Oh the Places You’ll Go which she self-released and funded.
By 2021, she had earned her first viral sound on TikTok, with her single Yucky Blucky Fruitcake, and started conversations with record labels. In 2022, she signed to Capital Records and Top Dawg Entertainment - the first female rapper ever for TDE. Her subsequent feature on David Guetta and Afrojack’s Trampoline (alongside Missy Elliot and Bia) also pushed her popularity into the mainstream – the single Persuasive, from her second EP and first major label release, nominated for her first MTV Music Video award.
By 2023, she was performing at Coachella and last year, her third mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal, was released to critical acclaim. It was dubbed ‘one of the year’s most fully realized breakout albums’ by Mankaprr Conteh for the Rolling Stone, while Pitchfork called it ‘her most ambitious and musically diverse release to date, [meeting] the pressures of success with defiance and irreverence.’
Doechii’s best songs and performances
Now, the Tampa rapper (which is where her other rap name Swamp Princess comes from, FYI), is a Bonafide sound-generator on TikTok. Clips from Denial is a River in Egypt have been used on the app over 100,000 times, generating millions of likes.
But it was her Grammys performance of the song, alongside Catfish, that really stood out – which you can watch here. https://www.grammy.com/videos/doechii-denial-is-a-river-catfish-performance-2025-grammys
Another? Her Tiny Desk Concert through NPR Music which has built over nine million views in just a month.
But her most popular songs on Spotify are also Nissan Altima, What it Is and her feature on Tyler, The Creators Balloon.
Why does Doechii wear face tape?
You’ll have noticed that Doechii regularly appears with visible face tape, just one part of her experimental looks that are redefining fashion in the same way she redefines rap. Face tape, for the uninitiated, is used to lift the face and create a ‘fox eye’ effect – but most often choose to hide the tape under makeup or hair. Doechii, however? She’s an out and proud face tape user, explaining on TikTok that she does it for one hilarious reason: ‘The face tapes are there on purpose because… it’s c*nt.’
Who is Doechii’s girlfriend?
Doechii, who identifies as bisexual, recently opened up about her relationship in an interview with Gay Times saying ‘I have always known that I loved women. I’ve been very, very aware from an early age’ and telling The Breakfast Club her relationship is ‘wonderful’.
That said, she has not publicly named her girlfriend nor made any public appearances with her. Alas, you’ll have to follow her on Instagram and hope we one day get a ‘hard launch’.