A sitcom set. That Prince of Bel Air reference. An addictive prose. Despite the year that Doechii has had with her critically-acclaimed mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal, nothing could have prepared us for her ‘Denial is a River’ music video. In a succinct 2.47-minute clip, the Florida-born rapper delivers comedy, theatrics and a riveting story that only makes us want more. Bonus points for the stroke of genius that comes through that hilarious breathing exercise that quickly swerves into a rhythmic beat.
It’s fairly clear how Doechii has fastidiously earned herself four Grammy nominations. Whilst she might have already had hits like the groovy R&B track ‘What It Is’ and ‘Alter Ego’, it is certainly through Alligator Bites that cements her arrival as an artist in own league. A breath of fresh air in the year that delivered a slew of pop songtresses—riddled with sad girl pop/flirty girl pop—Doechii’s scramble of ramblings underscores the potential she holds as a rapper, singer as well as a storyteller.
What’s formidable is that since Alligator Bites is marketed as a mixtape, the songs within march to its own beat—and upon further dissection, it feels like a compilation of Doechii’s intrusive thoughts holding the reins. In this case, a tracklist that expounds on the artist’s diverse musical range—from smooth R&B in ‘Beverly Hills’ and ‘Bloom’ to a new hybrid take on hip hop via songs like ‘Boiled Peanuts’, ‘Stanka Pooh’ and ‘Nissan Altima’. The latter declares Doechii world domination: “I’m the new hip-hop Madonna, I’m the trap Grace Jones”. And it’s only after you get to the end of the mixtape that you see some truth in that statement.
So she has a way in the recording studio, this we know. But what puts Doechii in a class of her own, is her ability to translate all of that sass, collectedness and vulnerability in a stage performance that hasn’t been orchestrated before. Way before ‘Denial is a River’’s music video made its rounds, came the legend that was Doechii’s live performance on Stephen Colbert. A self-choreographed dance cum skit that involved Doechii alongside two dancers. Tethered by their moves and by their braids, the five-minute clip sees the trio execute seamless transitions and synchronisation as Doechii flexes her vocal range and breathwork whilst spitting bars and dipping down. It’s a class act through and through, far superseding the bounds of what we’ve seen so far on award stages or Superbowl stadiums, if you will.
Her upcoming performance at this year’s Grammy Awards will undeniably be one to watch—and hopefully a night that too holds wins (yes, plural) for the emerging star. If we had any say in it, her flowers are way overdue.
