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Doechii is making history at the 67th Grammy Awards. The 26-year-old rapper took home her first award of the night, and her first ever Grammy, in the Best Rap Album category for her mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal. Even though she was the first award recipient of the night, Doechii delivered the best acceptance speech of the night so far, dedicating her win to her mom and Black girls everywhere.
Doechii accepted the award wearing a custom Thom Browne look that featured a hip-contorting structured pant — a very on brand choice for her aesthetic. But what truly had the crowd enlivened was her speech: Doechii spoke life into the audience, specifically the young Black women watching her at the Crypto.com Arena and at home, reminding them that the world needs more of their truest selves.
“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 he would reward me and show me just how good it could get," Doechii said tearfully while holding her award on stage. "I know there is some Black girl out there — 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. Don't allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you, tell you that you can't be here, that you're too dark, that you're not smart enough, that you're too dramatic, you're too loud. You are exactly who you need to be… and I am a testimony.”
Doechii also shouted out her home city of Tampa, Florida as a reminder that great talent is in every corner of the world, not just in major hubs. “There's so many people out there who probably don't know who I am,” she stated. “I call myself the Swamp Princess because I'm from Tampa, Florida. There's so much culture in Tampa. Whenever people think about Florida they only think about Miami, but Tampa has so much talent. Labels go to Tampa!"
The proud Floridian is only the third woman in Grammys history to ever win Best Rap Album — she now sits with Lauryn Hill and Cardi B, forever cementing herself in rap history. Only a few minutes after her win, Doechii shut down the Grammys stage with an electrifying performance of her hit tracks, “Catfish” and “Denial Is a River.”
Just two days into Black History Month, Doechii is showing the world just how special it is to be a young, talented Black girl who is unabashedly showing up as herself, refusing to be meek or silent about what she has to offer the world. This speech and this moment is proof: the world needs more and more of Doechii's musical magic. Watch her speech for yourself below:
