Doechii made history at the 2025 Grammys, becoming the third woman to win Best Rap Album since the category’s creation in 1989. As she accepted the award, Doechii seized the opportunity to deliver a poignant message, as so many have done before her. “I know that there are so many Black women out there that are watching me right now, and I want to tell you: You can do it. Anything is possible,” she said. “Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you that tell you that you can’t be here—that you’re too dark, that you’re not smart enough, that you’re too dramatic, or that you’re too loud. You are exactly who you need to be to be right where you are, and I am a testimony.”
Her speech, which immediately went viral, embodies the part of Doechii that has contributed significantly to her meteoric rise—she is an advocate. She speaks out for young Black girls, artists, the LGBTQ+ community, and her hometown of Tampa, Florida. During the same speech, the rapper took her chance to call out, “Labels! Go to Tampa! There’s talent there, okay?” Doechii, who started releasing music on SoundCloud, is exhibit A. Blending rap, pop, and Afrobeat influences, she has created a distinctive style that resonates with her now global audience.
