When the Grammys took place over the weekend, people expected the same things: wild outfits, wondrous music, and “Wow! Did they just say that?”
All of those things happened, but then female rap artist Doechii got up and made history, winning Best Rap Album of the Year and thanking God for her sobriety.
She was awarded Best Rap Album of the Year for her album “Alligator Bites Never Heal.” Doechii, 26, is from Tampa, Florida, playfully calls herself “the swamp princess.” In a serendipitous moment, she accepted the award from Cardi B, a sort of passing of the torch in the genre among the future of women’s rap music.
From a song, “Girls,” that went viral on SoundCloud in 2016 to the 2025 Grammys, she became only the third woman to win the award, following Lauryn Hill of the Fugees and Cardi B, who won in 1989 and 2019, respectively.
To win the award, Doechii needed to overcome considerable competition from J. Cole (“Might Delete Later”), Common & Pete Rock (“The Auditorium, Vol. 1”), Eminem (“The Death of Slim Shady”), and Future & Metro Boomin (“We Don’t Trust You”).
“I put my heart and my soul into this mixtape. I bared my life. I went through so much. I dedicated myself to sobriety, and God told me that I would be rewarded and that he would show me just how good it can get,” she added, holding back her tears. “And I have to thank God. I need to thank my beautiful mother for coaching me.”
Doechii, whose real name is Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, was also nominated for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance. Critics took her third mixtape seriously, bringing her to the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. Showing the power of God in her life, Doechii took the spotlight off herself and placed it on others.
“I know there is some Black girl out there…I wanna tell you: You can do it,” she exclaimed to a standing room only. “Anything is possible. Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you that tell you that you can’t be here, that you’re too dark or, that you’re not smart enough, or 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’m a testimony! Praise God!”