Doechii’s Profile: From Struggles to Grammy Winner at 27, The Female Rapper Who Recently Shined with Jennie
Who is Doechii?
Doechii is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter who first gained widespread attention when her 2020 track “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” went viral on TikTok. Since then, she has continued to dominate social media with hits like What It Is (Block Boy), further cementing her place in the industry. Her latest track has taken over TikTok and Instagram Reels once again, especially after the release of its highly praised music video.
Biography
- Real Name: Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon
- Date of Birth: August 14, 1998
- Nationality: American
- Hometown: Tampa, Florida, USA
- Label: Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE)
- Instagram: @doechii
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Coming from a family of rappers, both her father and brother, Doechii was exposed to hip-hop at an early age. During high school, Doechii set her sights on attending Howard W. Blake School of the Arts, where she explored ballet, singing, cheerleading, and gymnastics.
Doechii started by posting covers and original songs on YouTube and SoundCloud in 2016. She released her first single, Girls, that year under the username Iamdoechii.
In 2016, she released her first self-written song on SoundCloud. By 2020, her single “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” gained traction on TikTok, catapulting her into the spotlight. Between 2022 and 2023, she went viral with “Persuasive” and “What Is It” (Block Boy). Her career took off after signing with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), the label behind stars like Kendrick Lamar and SZA.
Struggles with Unemployment and Substance Abuse
Breaking into the music industry was not easy for Doechii. Like many young artists, she had to create her own opportunities in the highly competitive American entertainment industry. In a personal video once posted on her YouTube channel, she revealed, “Today, I got fired from my job. Thank you, God.” At one point, she struggled with unemployment, substance abuse, and alcoholism.
Doechii has been open about her bisexuality, a topic that led to discrimination in her hometown. Despite facing hardships at a young age, she refused to let them define her. She has since committed herself to music, distancing from alcohol and drugs. In an interview, she stated, “My projects don’t come from alcohol, drugs, or parties. They come from nights of working barefoot in the studio, my eyes rolling back in exhaustion.”
A Grammy Win at 27
2024 became a breakthrough year for Doechii with the release of her debut album, Alligator Bites Never Heal. The album, deeply personal and reflective of her struggles, resonated with listeners. Tracks like Denial is a River, which details her battle with depression and addiction, gained widespread acclaim.
The album received a score of 79/100 on Metacritic, while Rolling Stone praised her versatility and R&B influences. Doechii described her rap style as the “new hip-hop.”
Her hard work was rewarded when “Alligator Bites Never Heal” won Best Rap Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards. She triumphed over heavyweights like Eminem and J. Cole, becoming only the third female rapper to win this category, following Lauryn Hill and Cardi B.
From a small-town girl battling addiction and unemployment to a Grammy-winning artist, Doechii has come a long way. U.S. media predicts that following her Grammy win, her influence will only grow.
A Powerful Collaboration with Jennie
Doechii recently teamed up with Jennie on ExtraL, the third single from her debut album “Ruby.” As a rising Gen Z rapper with a sharp flow and trendsetting style, she proved to be an ideal collaborator.
Together, Jennie and Doechii empower women to break societal norms and chase their dreams. Their seamless partnership has taken social media by storm, with ExtraL’s music video surpassing 1.7 million views within three hours of release. With her fierce verse, Doechii reinforced her reputation as a formidable rapper, complementing BLACKPINK’s main rapper flawlessly.
With a Grammy win under her belt and collaborations with global superstars, Doechii has solidified herself as one of the most exciting new voices in hip-hop. As she continues to push boundaries and redefine the genre, the world eagerly watches to see what she does next.