Alligator Bites Never Heal

I want to start talking about Doechii from one of the first songs I heard from her which was; “Everything You Needed” from her EP Coven Music Session, Vol. 1. On the track Doechii says “Pack up all your shit, were leavin’, Everything you wanted is within your bag,” Doechii is actively telling herself that it is time to go to chase her dreams and she has everything she needs with her to accomplish what she aims to do, “everything you wanted is everything you needed.” She tells herself that she wont be coming back, no running back, because everything you wanted is everything you needed. In the second verse she sings “Go’ head and put your Converse forward, make me proud and when people start to shout, make it worth their while, this is what you wanted, don't you back out now. Doechii’s drive and passion for music was palpable from her inception, and her Grammy win was an inevitable goal for her, she was determined to create her music and manifest a space and time for her and her music to thrive.

Alligator Bites Never Heal is a mixtape, the third in Doechii’s catalog, on it she talks about themes of anti-blackness, love, hope, despair, and faith as Doechii opens up about the various trials and tribulations she has had to experience in her career over the past three years. She begins the album starting backwards, on the track “STANKA POOH” opens the album saying “I’m dead, she’s dead, just another Black Lives Mattered And if I died today, I’d die a bastard, TikTok rapper, part time YouTube actor,” referencing her virality on TikTok during 2021 and her YouTube series she had created whilst growing up and following her dreams. Although while it sounds like shes downplaying her success, Doechii admits in verse two, that she’s “Just shootin’ the shit over some pretty production” but its still not enough it needs more, saying “who’s that creeping in my rearview? (Thirty-somethin’) concerned that her chance at fame is slipping as she ages, but it won’t.

On track 4 “DENIAL IS A RIVER” a river that leads to Doechii weaving us a story, telling us or her alter ego, about a time when she found out that a boyfriend had cheated on her with what ends up being another man and she tells this story as if she's talking directly to someone else like a therapist or radio host. She then moves on not dwelling on the hurt, and boasting her successes, getting signed to a label, making a platinum record, and earning a lot of money. Fast forward to 2023 though and Doechii lets us in, she needs a cleanse, a detox. In the interlude she sings “I can’t even fucking cap no more, this is a really dark time for me” saying “I’m going through a lot” and the voice responds “by a lot do you mean drugs” and Doechii being apprehensive to talk about it confesses “I mean, fuck, I like pills, I like drugs, I like gettin’ money, I like strippers, I like to fuck, I like day-drinkin’ and day parties and Hollywood I like doing Hollywood shit” and while all this feels good she admits “my self worth is at an all time low” and just when she thinks it cant get any worse her ex reappears only to break in her home and destroy her things. As she reminiscences about this she gets upset as the voice on the other end instructs her in a breathing exercise to calm down and end the track.

“WAIT” is track 9, on this track we see Doechii coming to an understanding, an acceptance of life showing up as a bag of opportunities rapping, “Life is just like a settlement, waiting for you to cash on it”, “like a bike, it doesn't move unless you pedaling” but she acknowledges that it’s less about who is better and more about who is blessing them, I feel like this can be both interpreted as a blessing from a higher power and as an opportunity given by someone who has greater influence and power in society. The music industry and many industries alike, thrive on connections, who you know and who gives you a chance to shine. In this same verse she goes on to assert that she’s hear to stay none the less.

Track 17 “FIREFLIES” see’s Doechii exposing her feelings of frustration with men in her life treating her like a child, not taking her seriously as a woman or a rapper, singing “Sick of niggas calling me childish,” but asserting that “All I gotta show is my mileage” knowing that her talent will show her skill. She then begins to open up further describing a sexual scene and tension between her and her lover singing “Clenching these walls till you’re calling my name” and admitting “I’m writing these songs till you hear my pain,” into the second verse she continues comparing her song or her voice to a love drug, “I make love to you.” In the second part of the song she sings of the fireflies pleading them to stay to guide her through the night. “Don't let me down, fireflies, keep the night ‘til its over, underground, overtime, keeping the light ‘til there's closure.”

Many of Doechii’s tracks on this Mixtape include references to other rappers and artists from Frank Ocean in the aforementioned track “FIREFLIES” saying “Thinking ‘bout you, no Frank shit” to “DENIAL IS A RIVER” where Doechii references 2Pac’s Hail Marie in the 3rd Verse saying “I ain’t a killer but don't push me” on the next track, “CATFISH” Doechii makes reference to Busta Rhyme’s iconic “Woo-Hah!” in the chorus. On the track “SKIPP” the intro itself is a sample from “25 Lighters” by DJ DMD and the phrase “Skip to my Lou” in the chorus, a reference to an old American folk song and dance, the word Lou originally Irish, word meaning Love. In the song “HIDE N SEEK” Doechii makes reference to “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” by Kendrick Lamar in the third verse singing “Please, tell me you wont kill my vibe.” and many more.

Alligator Bites Never Heal, won best rap album at the Annual Grammy awards this year, a category that only two other women have won besides, now, Doechii, and only one being a black woman. Doechii, using raps and rhymes, alliteration and hyperbole, expresses feelings and experiences she’s been bearing since 2021 and before. She is able to stand on the shoulders of those who came before her to sharpen her pen and share her inspiration. Her sentiments of hope formed from the despair of that time shines through each track showing her spirit and love for both writing and making music. While Alligator Bites Never Heal, they do build character, a scar filled with stories to tell and feelings to convey, conveyed perfectly in her own words, by Grammy award winner Doechii.