Doechii is a true genre-bender who effortlessly shifts between hip-hop, pop, R&B, and even more experimental sounds — creating a sonic universe that feels entirely her own. And yet, things weren't always great for the rapper, who opened up about the meaning and origin story behind her stage name in a new cover story.
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In a new interview with Dazed, Doechii reflected on the journey that led to her becoming who she is today: the recipient of a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album — the third woman in history to win this category. Alas, the story behind the Doechii stage name and persona involved personal struggles and intense bullying throughout middle school.
"Doechii wasn't born until years later," the artist told Dazed. "This was around sixth or seventh grade. I was bullied so bad that I was becoming somebody else for someone else's comfort. It f*cked up my head, because I always knew I was 'that girl.' I always knew I was dope as f*ck. My taste level was very high when I was young. I wasn't into the sh*t that everybody else was into. Not to say they weren't into cool sh*t, but my sh*t was just cooler."
She continued, "I was in a position where I thought about killing myself because the bullying was so bad. Then I had this realization: I'm not gonna do that, because then they're gonna all get a chance to live, and I'm gonna be the one dead, and look at my taste! Nobody wants that. I don't want that. That's not the life I want to live."
"I had gotten down to a point where I was thinking about taking my own life because of what other people thought about me," Doechii explained. "[But then] I realized, 'OK, what do I really think is important? What do I want here?' I had that realization pretty young, and that birthed Doechii."
Doechii also spoke candidly about how bullying minimized her into a smaller version of herself, making her feel like she had to tone down her confidence, interests, and personality to fit in.
"When people bully you, they want you to feel ashamed of yourself. They want you to feel insecure, to feel bad," she recalled. "They want you to feel ugly, like, 'B*tch! You shouldn't have that confidence. Look at you, your dark skin, you're ugly, you're stupid, you're weird. Why are you wearing that? You should not feel this confident and be looking like that.'"
Doechii added, "That's how they wanted me to feel, and I was starting to become that person. Like, 'Oh, maybe I shouldn't be acting like this, [or have] this confidence. Maybe I shouldn't be wearing these things. Maybe I shouldn't be listening to this type of music. Maybe I shouldn't be going to these places.' I was in gymnastics and sh*t when it wasn't cool."
"I was becoming less of myself to make them more comfortable, to fit the box that they wanted me in, and that wasn't truly who I was," she concluded. "I was brilliant, and I've always been stunning."
With sharp punchlines, unpredictable flows, and a delivery that commands attention, Doechii doesn't just rap and sing… she truly performs. Whether delivering rapid-fire bars with electrifying energy or weaving in ethereal melodies, she is here to redefine the concept of a versatile artist in today's music landscape.
Now, Doechii is here to stay despite what any of the haters say — and it looks like she's getting the last laugh.
Doechii's Alligator Bites Never Heal mixtape/album is available on all music streaming platforms.
