Doechii, the 26-year-old rapper from Tampa, Florida has finally released her highly anticipated debut full-length project, Alligator Bites Never Heal, two years after signing a joint deal with Capitol Records and Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). The album is a rich reflection of her Florida upbringing and personal journey, characterized by a unique blend of styles that she refers to as “editorial rap.”
The rollout of “Alligator Bites Never Heal” included a weekly visual series titled “SWAMP SESSIONS,” which featured stripped-down, raw visuals of Doechii rapping in various locations around Florida, including on top of cars, in scrap yards, and on the very streets she grew up on. These visuals served as a backdrop for some of the mixtape’s tracks, further immersing listeners in the swampy, soulful environment that has shaped her music.
“Alligator Bites Never Heal” is a 19-song that gives fans a little bit of Florida, blending her fearless Floridian roots with a variety of musical styles. Early tracks on the mixtape, such as “Boiled Peanuts” and “Denial Is A River,” showcase her rapping skills over engaging boom-bap beats, somewhat similar to rappers such as Logic, Nas, and Westside Gunn though with a playful delivery closer to Kendrick Lamar. The lead singles “NISSAN ALTIMA” and “BOOM BAP” have already set the tone for the project, although it’s notable that her previous hits like “Alter Ego” featuring JT and the 2023 summer smash “What It Is” are not included in the album.
In a heartfelt Instagram post following the album’s midnight release, Doechii encouraged her fans to use her music as a source of strength during tough times and to imagine better days ahead. She credits her success and signing to her relentless curiosity and courage, which she says play the biggest roles in her artistry. As she expresses in the song “DEATH ROLL,” she thrives on the fearless flow of her ideas: “I love the way my ideas flow when I’m not scared.”
Doechii’s “Alligator Bites Never Heal” is a confident and cohesive debut, offering a lot of soulful sonics and sharp lyricism that solidifies her place as a rising talent in the hip-hop world.
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