The rapper reflects on her journey from a bullied child in Florida to a Grammy-winning artist commanding the stage.
**Doechii on Her Fast-Track Rise to Fame: Glastonbury Headliner and Grammy Winner**
**Doechii on Her Fast-Track Rise to Fame: Glastonbury Headliner and Grammy Winner**
Doechii reveals her strategy for global music domination as she prepares for a major performance at Glastonbury.
In 2023, Doechii, the stage name of Florida-born artist Jaylah Ji'mya Hickmon, set ambitious goals, announcing that she was three years into a five-year plan to ascend the music industry ranks. Speaking to Billboard, she declared, "By year five, I want to be at my peak," aspiring to reach a level of continued excellence reminiscent of Beyoncé's Sasha Fierce era. Fast forward to 2025, and she stands transformed into a Grammy Award-winning "woman of the year," poised to deliver one of the most anticipated headlining acts at the Glastonbury Festival.
Determining her rise has been non-linear; many point to her captivating performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last December, which showcased meticulous choreography as she performed tracks like "Boiled Peanuts" and "Denial Is a River," hinting at her tumultuous personal life. Others highlight her subsequent Tiny Desk Concert, which was filled with artistic energy and allowed her to flaunt the talent that propelled her to stardom.
Throughout this journey, Doechii's performances resonated during significant moments, culminating at the Grammys where she won best rap album, only the third female artist to do so. With a heartfelt message aimed at young black, queer women, she insisted on breaking stereotypes during her acceptance speech, and further impressed audiences with high-energy choreography reminiscent of legends like Michael Jackson and Bob Fosse.
Originating from a "heavily Christian" household in Tampa, Florida, Doechii existed under a cloud of bullying as a child, prompting her to create her artistic persona at an early age. Her breakthrough came while attending Tampa's Howard W. Blake School of the Arts, where her involvement in diverse creative programs allowed her to flourish. After abandoning ambitions of becoming a chorister, her friends pushed her to explore songwriting, leading to her Soundcloud debut in 2016 and the release of her first single in 2018.
Success didn’t come overnight; while her single “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” gained recognition, it was the subsequent track “Persuasive,” acknowledged by figures like Barack Obama, that catapulted her to new heights. After facing temporary setbacks, her mixtape "Alligator Bites Never Heal" garnered critical acclaim, leading to her exhilarating performances that fused technical rap with poignant narratives.
As she plans her debut album, hints suggest it will explore her character's evolution since "Alligator Bites." Though some anticipated its release during Glastonbury, perfection takes time. Regardless, her performance is set to be monumental, with Doechii affirming, "Will she ever lose? Man, I guess we'll never know." As she readies herself for Glastonbury, it's clear that Doechii's journey is just beginning, and fans can expect a powerful showcase.
Determining her rise has been non-linear; many point to her captivating performance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last December, which showcased meticulous choreography as she performed tracks like "Boiled Peanuts" and "Denial Is a River," hinting at her tumultuous personal life. Others highlight her subsequent Tiny Desk Concert, which was filled with artistic energy and allowed her to flaunt the talent that propelled her to stardom.
Throughout this journey, Doechii's performances resonated during significant moments, culminating at the Grammys where she won best rap album, only the third female artist to do so. With a heartfelt message aimed at young black, queer women, she insisted on breaking stereotypes during her acceptance speech, and further impressed audiences with high-energy choreography reminiscent of legends like Michael Jackson and Bob Fosse.
Originating from a "heavily Christian" household in Tampa, Florida, Doechii existed under a cloud of bullying as a child, prompting her to create her artistic persona at an early age. Her breakthrough came while attending Tampa's Howard W. Blake School of the Arts, where her involvement in diverse creative programs allowed her to flourish. After abandoning ambitions of becoming a chorister, her friends pushed her to explore songwriting, leading to her Soundcloud debut in 2016 and the release of her first single in 2018.
Success didn’t come overnight; while her single “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake” gained recognition, it was the subsequent track “Persuasive,” acknowledged by figures like Barack Obama, that catapulted her to new heights. After facing temporary setbacks, her mixtape "Alligator Bites Never Heal" garnered critical acclaim, leading to her exhilarating performances that fused technical rap with poignant narratives.
As she plans her debut album, hints suggest it will explore her character's evolution since "Alligator Bites." Though some anticipated its release during Glastonbury, perfection takes time. Regardless, her performance is set to be monumental, with Doechii affirming, "Will she ever lose? Man, I guess we'll never know." As she readies herself for Glastonbury, it's clear that Doechii's journey is just beginning, and fans can expect a powerful showcase.
