Doechii is an artist I have always been intrigued by and wanted to look into more. I was first introduced to her when coming across her single ‘Stressed’ on TikTok a couple of years ago. This track certainly drew me in and put Doechii on my radar, as its bright and smooth sound and Doechii’s audacious flow really made ‘Stressed’ stand out. Doechii burst onto everyone’s radar when her song ‘What It Is?’ went viral. It was one of my top singles from 2023. Everything about ‘What It Is?’ is fun; from the light Pop-Trap instrumental to Doechii’s vocals and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, ‘What It Is?’ is the kind of light and breezy banger that can bump up the energy of any function. Back in March of this year, Doechii dropped another excellent single that I just could not get enough of. ‘Alter Ego’ with JT was on repeat for months on my Spotify after being introduced to it. It is easily one of my top singles of the year so far, and it got me pretty excited to dive more and more into Doechii’s music. Over the last few months, Doechii has dropped a few more pretty enticing singles. To me, none of them quite capture the magic of ‘Alter Ego’(although one of them is mentioned below because is still super lit), but these singles do still have a ton of quality and show a few different sides to Doechii’s artistry and made me want more. Trying to capitalize on the success she has been seeing over the last couple of years, Doechii recently released a new mixtape through TDE, which is titled ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL. This project has been getting a good amount of hype, and it has put Doechii firmly on the map as a new force to be reckoned with in Hip Hop. Below, I wanted to highlight some of my favorite songs from Doechii’s new mixtape ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL, then I will give some thoughts on the project as a whole to close things out. Please let me know in the comments what your favorite songs were from Doechii’s ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL and also comment on how you feel about this mixtape as a whole!
BULLFROG
As I have looked into Doechii’s music more and more and tried to see what she is about, it has become clear to me that she has a ton of distinct influences and styles. When I first listened to ‘BULLFROG,’ which is the second song on the record, I immediately thought of Missy Elliott. To be honest, almost everything about this song makes me think of Missy. The instrumental definitely has a feeling that is reminiscent of the music Missy was making early in her career. Particularly, I think of songs like ‘Supa Dupa Fly.’ The instrumental for this track is gritty and deliberate. The groovy bassline and guitar riff that drive the melody and the timing of the drums has that retro Virginia Funky Hip Hop sound that is so distinctive and and fun. Doechii’s rap performance on ‘BULLFROG’ is pretty low and smooth. She raps with a level of forcefulness that one can feel, but with a level of calmness that somehow makes the song all the more foreboding. ‘BULLFROG’ is a song where Doechii wears her influence on her sleeve, and that is okay because it is very entertaining for what it is.
DENIAL IS A RIVER
Like the first track I picked for this record, ‘DENIAL IS A RIVER’ has an unmistakable 1990s influence to it. It is ironic to me that there is a song later on the record called ‘BOOM BAP’(it was actually one of the singles released in anticipation of the mixtape), because this track has such a Boom Bap feeling to it. Everything about this instrumental makes me think of late 1990s Hardcore Boom Bap artists like the Wu-Tang Clan or Mobb Deep. The melody for this song, which is driven by a simple piano riff with a filter on it that sounds like a horn, will give anyone the stank face when it comes on. The beat for this song is pretty smooth and fluid but hits just hard enough to give the song emphasis. Doechii’s rap performance on this one has the kind of sing-songy storytelling flow that is so reminiscent of the way rappers in the 1990s used to rap. Weirdly, her flow almost makes me think of Will Smith, which is pretty interesting. Lyrically, ‘DENIAL IS A RIVER’ is a super cool song as well. It feels like a therapy session, where Doechii is telling someone about all of the problems on her mind, such as drugs, relationships, and overall rage. ‘DENIAL IS A RIVER’ is a track that fans of classic storytelling Boom Bap music would absolutely love.
CATFISH
‘CATFISH’ is probably one of the most simple tracks of the project, and it is also one of the more intense and gritty ones. Although the instrumental for this one is pretty barebones, it still hits so hard. There is not much of a melody for ‘CATFISH.’ There is a bluesy whistling tone that comes in and out of the background; this whistling, as well as some twinkling synths that come in and out, make up the whole of the melody. The beat for ‘CATFISH’ is not the most intricate one you will hear, but it does pound. The snares that drive this tempo as super abrasive, and the bass will rattle your speakers. As harsh as the instrumental is, Doechii’s rap performance feels all the more intense. She raps with a rash, in-your-face flow and tone that gives this song so much attitude. With her rap performance, Doechii takes the bold feeling of the instrumental and amplifies it. ‘CATFISH’ may not be one of the more sophisticated songs on this record, but it is certainly very impactful.
WAIT
If you know me or just follow this blog, you probably know that I am always a sucker for a smooth old-school R&B cut ‘WAIT’ is a track that more than scratches that itch for me. There is something about this kind of music that will always draw me in. ‘WAIT’ has a laid-back, groovy R&B instrumental with a Y2K feeling to it. When I hear this instrumental, it brings me back to the music of Aaliyah or the early music of Alicia Keys. The melody for this track is so warm and atmospheric. It has a filter that makes me feel like I am floating through space. The beat, which is petty lowkey and smooth, adds to the soothing feeling of this track. Doechii’s rapping on ‘WAIT’ is solid(I do enjoy her rapid-fire flow a lot on this one), but the thing that stands out about this track is Doechii’s sultry singing vocals. Her tone is so sweet and light, giving this track such an inviting feeling. ‘WAIT’ has a pretty different sound and style from pretty much anything on the album before it, and it shows a side to Doechii I appreciate and would love to hear more of.
DEATH ROLL
Like ‘WAIT,’ which directly precedes it, ‘DEATH ROLL’ has one of the most relaxed instrumentals of the album. The instrumental for this one truly feels like it is just in the background, as there is not a ton of substance to it. The song is driven by a groovy, straightforward guitar riff that is complemented by some synths that come in and out. The beat for this one has a pretty unornamented sound as well, and it fits the easygoing feeling of the instrumental well. Because the instrumental is so effortless, the focus is put on Doechii’s vocals, which I really dig. Doechii raps with such a smooth and engaging flow on ‘DEATH ROLL;’ the way she rides the beat makes this song very captivating. I also enjoy the singing bits that come in and out, as they give the song texture and life. ‘DEATH ROLL’ may be one of the most unadorned songs on the record, but it still stands out because of Doechii’s vocal talent.
NISSAN ALTIMA
As I mentioned in the intro, there was one single Doechii put out from this record before it came out that almost captured the essence of the iconic track ‘Alter Ego.’ That single is ‘Nissan Altima.’ To be honest, the overall sound of ‘Nissan Altima’ honestly reminds me a lot of ‘Alter Ego.’ Both songs have this raucous energy that will command anyone’s attention when they come on. This song has an upbeat Dance music sound that feels like a fusion between fast-paced R&B Hip Hop and downtempo House music. The tempo and melody definitely feel inspired by House, but the arrangement of the drums has a modern Dance Hip Hop feeling. As great as this instrumental is, Doechii’s rapping on this track is even better. Doechii showcases everything about what makes her a potentially great rapper on ‘NISSAN ALTIMA.’ Her ferocious and quick flow makes this song so exciting, and her quirky lyricism stands out as well. NISSAN ALTIMA’ is a larger-than-life banger that makes me think Doechii has the moxy to become one of the next great artists in Hip Hop.
GTFO FEAT. KUNTEFISH
‘GTFO’ has an underground feeling to it that is honestly very unlike anything else on this record. It is easily one of the most hard-hitting songs, that is for sure. ‘GTFO’ has an intense Trap sound that really stands out. The melody for this track is very scarce and foreboding. It is provided by a singular piano riff that sounds like it came straight out of a horror movie. There is a synth that sounds like a siren that comes in and out as well, adding to the menacing feeling of the track. The bass on ‘GTFO’ totally pounds, making this song feel so huge. As entertaining as this instrumental is, the vocals from Doechii and Kuntefish are even better. Both of them rap with intricate flows and interesting tones that give this song so much life and add to its in-your-face feeling. ‘GTFO’ is an awesome Trap banger that I could totally see end up going viral.
SLIDE
‘SLIDE’ is probably one of the quirkiest songs on the record. It is also one of the most inviting. The synths that drive the melody for this one are somehow harsh and charming at the same time. The tone of these synths is very bright and colorful. They are distorted in a way that gives them a grainy quality that is pretty textured and rough(in a cool way). The beat for ‘SLIDE’ has an upbeat Garage music tempo that will get anyone dancing when they hear it. ‘SLIDE’ contains one of my favorite vocal performances of the record, which is honestly saying a lot because Doechii does her thing throughout it. I really enjoy hearing this light and silky tone from Doechii, and her range adds some life to the track. ‘SLIDE’ is a fun club banger with a bit of toughness to it that makes it stand out from other tracks with a similar feeling.
Doechii is an artist who has shown a lot of potential for a long time. She has this spark that sticks out and makes it seem like she is destined to be a star. To be honest, based on the variety of music she has gone viral for so far, I did not know what to expect from ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL. I think it is very safe to say that her potential certainly shines throughout this record. ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL is a super eclectic project where Doechii showcases the many different sides of her artistry. She goes all over the place on this mixtape. It is impossible to know what to expect next, as the mixtape feels like a winding road. Sonically, the instrumentals are extremely diverse; there is something for so many types of Hip Hop listeners on this album. Doechii proves how unique and wide-ranging of a vocalist she is all over this record. She exhibits a plethora of rap flows and tones that prove her major talent as a rhymer, and she demonstrates multiple times how talented of a singer she is as well. This mixtape is also full of witty, interesting lyricism where Doechii demonstrates her writing chops. I have seen comparisons between this record and the legendary TDE release Section 80 from Kendrick Lamar, and I can see where people are getting this idea. That debut for Kendrick was also sort of all over the place but had so many nuggets that indicated he was special. On ALLIGATOR BITES NEVER HEAL, Doechii shows that the seeds of something truly great are planted; it makes me very pumped up to see where she goes next and how she progresses.
EAST SIDE VIBES 