Issa Rae plays Doechii’s inner voice in Genius’ performance of “DENIAL IS A RIVER.”
The Florida native has been putting on a string of unique, creative performances recently, and her appearance on the Genius Open Mic stage was no exception.
Issa Rae started by asking Dortch what she had been doing since our last conversation. Doechii then seamlessly launches into the song, in which she reflects on an ex-boyfriend who cheated on her with a man.
Later in the performance, Ray delivered an Insecure -style monologue.
“I just thought this was a perfect opportunity for us to take a moment to understand what happened to you,” she said. “You know, this guy cheated on you, and…”
Doechii – denied being a river
Following her viral Grammy-nominated mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal, which appeared on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show and NPR’s Tiny Desk, she collaborated with Issa Rae.
Earlier this week, the Grammy Museum hosted a special spotlight event for Swamp Princess to celebrate her mixtape. The project is up for three awards, including Best Rap Album, the first time a female artist has won the mixtape award.
Killer Mike attended the event with Doechii, calling her “the leader in rap right now.”
“You’re not a rapper who aspires to be, you’ve become an artist,” he declared. “You choose rap to tell a story, but visually, [the cover of Alligator Bites Never Heal] Very noticeable.
Killer Mike added: “It’s definitely a testament to me that the South gave birth to artists like you.”
“Killer Mike names Doechii a “current leader in rap” for “Alligator Bites Never Heal” at Grammy Museum Spotlight event. The mixtape is nominated for a 2025 Grammy for Best Rap Album .The South keeps winning!
— Chasethatclout (@chasethatclout) December 20, 2024
Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar recently crowned Doechii as “the toughest person alive,” while Beyoncé listed her as one of her current favorites.
After such a stellar year, Doechii is gearing up to release her first official studio album in 2025.
“All I can think about is this album,” she told Variety earlier this month. “So I’m just looking forward to making more hits, making more music and achieving more goals. That’s it.
