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On December 6, 2024, Doechii performed at NPR Music’s Tiny Desk, gaining nearly 9 million views.

On some random Thursday in January, I was cleaning my room and singing along to Kendrick Lamar when a song I had never heard started to play. Due to my unfortunate lack of Spotify Premium, I can only listen to about half of an album before “recommended songs” start to play. It’s usually frustrating—if I click on a specific album, I want to listen to that album—but this feature can open new music up to me that I otherwise wouldn’t have listened to. This random Thursday, Spotify did just that. 

The song that came on was “DENIAL IS A RIVER,” one of three singles on Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal. It immediately caught my attention, with the conversational format and unusual “breathing exercise” that finishes the song. I thought it was interesting, but I abandoned the song until I heard it again from a friend a few weeks later. That’s when I knew I had to explore Doechii more. Her subsequent Tiny Desk performance, to say the least, was spectacular. 

BOOM BAP 

Surprisingly, this was a track fueled entirely by traditional jazz instruments and production style. The song plays on topics of how many people underestimate her abilities as a woman in the rap industry, highlighting the effort she put into her music and the variety her music can have. This is evident in the lyrics, “Say it’s real and it’s rap / And it boom and it bap / And it bounce and it clap / And it’s house and it’s trap / It’s everything.” The song swings from smooth jazz to high-energy verses to lilting harmonies that Doechii and her backup vocalists sing to end the song. 

Halfway through, the song breaks, and Doechii says, “Hello, Tiny Desk!” waving with a cute smile. She then continues, frequently ad-libbing and scatting along to sax and vocalizations done by her band. 

Having never listened to “BOOM BAP” before this performance, I was thoroughly entertained.

BOILED PEANUTS

Doechii and her band transitioned immediately into “BOILED PEANUTS,” a track that elicits positivity and simplistic joy with the lines, “It’s a sunny day / The gang’s all here / No chip on my shoulder.” She continues to sing about her hometown on 2910 East Genesee Street in Tampa, Florida, as well as the unique aspects of growing up there, eventually earning her the nickname “Swamp Princess.” Her childhood home is described to be fairly drug-ridden, and as someone who speaks about her battle with addiction and eventual sobriety frequently, it’s inspiring to hear Doechii open up about a possible reason why she struggled so much.

“BOILED PEANUTS” made me think harder about my privilege and how lucky I am to grow up in an affluent area, never having to worry about my next meal.

DENIAL IS A RIVER

Doechii takes not even half a second to breathe before jumping into “DENIAL IS A RIVER.” When I first heard this transition, I audibly said, “Oh, that was smooth,” pausing to collect my thoughts after being distracted by such talented musicians. This is the song that began my Doechii obsession and her Tiny Desk performance of it did not disappoint. She managed to perfectly translate her style from produced and recorded to intimate and live.

This track illustrates Doechii’s journey from 2019 to today, the title playing on Wendy Williams’ quote, “Denial is a river in Egypt, your husband is gay!” This is quite fitting, given the song features her finding out about her boyfriend’s affair with a man through the words, “Took a scroll through his IG / Just to get a DM from his wifey / I open up the messages and had to hit the zoom / Turns out the girl is really a dude?” The song travels through her different musical releases, intercepted by her personal struggles in her relationships and mental health.

From the first verse to the breathing exercise that closes the song, “DENIAL IS A RIVER” is a show of Doechii’s capacity for lyrical genius and creative production, laced with her inspiring recovery from drug addiction. 

NISSAN ALTIMA

“NISSAN ALTIMA” is one of my favorite songs off the album, deservedly going viral on social media. This thirteenth track, in particular, is much faster than many others on the album, requiring Doechii to truly focus and tune in with the rest of her band. During each verse, she visibly concentrates, closing her eyes and nailing every inflection and breath at lightning speed with perfect cadence. One such verse demonstrates her well-justified confidence, specifically against those who doubt her. She sings, “I got haters, I got fans, I got stans in the stands / Do they love her or they hate her? Either way, they spendin’ bands.” She says that no matter what, there will always be people supporting her undeniable talent; regardless of the rumors they will try to spread or attempts they make at bringing her down, she will always be on top. 

A crew of eleven talented Black women in matching braids and beads will forever be iconic. This Tiny Desk Concert is a testament to not only Doechii’s talent but also what can happen when society gives Black women opportunities instead of holding them back, as we’ve been systemically doing for centuries. Alligator Bites Never Heal undoubtedly deserves the 2025 Rap Album of the Year.