Album Review: Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii
This mixtape by Doechii is a culmination of her experiences with her rapping finesse, showcasing the evolution from those humble beginnings to becoming one of TDE’s promising stars.
Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Doechii, real name Jaylah Hickmon, started from humble beginnings, where her passion for performance and music was nurtured in local talent shows and YouTube uploads. Her early work was characterized by a raw, unfiltered expression of her experiences, blending rap with melodic elements, which set the foundation for her distinctive style. Her big break came when she featured on Isaiah Rashad’s “Wat U Sed” track in 2021. This collaboration was focal, introducing her to a broader audience and catching the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), one of hip-hop’s most respected labels.
Following her signing, Doechii released “Persuasive,” a track that not only highlighted her ability to weave between singing and rapping but also caught significant attention for its smooth, seductive vibes, eventually getting a remix with SZA, another TDE heavyweight. This track was crucial in building anticipation for her future projects, demonstrating her potential to showcase her musical influences into something uniquely her own.
Then came “What It Is (Block Boy),” which became a commercial success, going platinum and further cementing her place in the music scene. This track blended playful lyrics with a catchy beat, appealing to a wide audience and showcasing her ability to create hits that resonate on the charts and the streets. This period was also marked by her creative “Swamp Sessions” series, where she released freestyles and visuals that connected her with her roots and growing fanbase, displaying her artistic growth and commitment to her craft.
With its intriguing title, Alligator Bites Never Heal, and the thematic elements inspired by her Floridian background represent her life’s battles and victories. The aforementioned “Swamp Sessions” track(s) are featured here with “Bullfrog,” which again, displays provocative lyricism and confident delivery, “Catfish,” as Monte Booker switches his signature sound for traditional hip-hop beat that Doechii can employ alliteration and internal rhymes, and “Nissan Altima” by paying homage to her Florida roots (evidenced on this mixtape) and positioning herself as a dominant figure in the rap landscape, drawing comparisons to iconic performers: “I’m the new hip-hop Madonna, I’m the trap Grace Jones.”
As it opens with “Stanka Pooh,” she presents stream-of-consciousness lyrics with provocative social commentary.
“Let’s start this story backwards
I’m dead, she’s dead
Just another “Black Lives Matter!”
And if I die today, I die a bastard
TikTok rapper, part-time YouTube actor”
Throughout the verses, Doechii employs a demeanor delivery, touching on themes of identity, success, and mortality with wordplay and metaphorical language, such as “I’d swallow my pride before I choke on my greed.”
“Boiled Peanuts” has her rapping in gritty realism with moments of levity. The drums hit harder than E. Honda from Street Fighter (and yes, the Nicki Minaj influence runs rampant), and this proximity of the mundane and the severe continues throughout the verse, with references to designer fashion (“Gator skin coat”) alongside mentions of addiction and struggle. The next track, “Denial is a River,” unfolds as a confessional dialogue, with Doechii recounting her experiences in another stream-of-consciousness style. She touches on themes of betrayal, success, substance use, and self-worth, all delivered with her signature blend of vulnerability and bravado as the song structure on a 90s hip-hop boom bap tip mimics a therapy session, interspersed with interludes that ground the listener in the context of the conversation.
Speaking of boom bap, there is a song titled “Boom Bap,” produced by Camper with scratches from DJ Miss Milan, and it’s not what you think: The song plays out like a satire where she addresses critics who pigeonhole her abilities, asserting her multifaceted talent. With clever wordplay and an unapologetic attitude that follows the same vein, “Profit” sums up Doechii’s fierce drive and refusal to be boxed in. The song is filled with vivid imagery, from the gritty opening lines “Dirted up on my fingernails, blood on my top hat” to the allusions to her rising success: “I’m makin’ six now, Six figures now, my shit’s bigger in your sink now.”
Besides letting the people know that Doechii is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the bars, she also shows her melodic side with songs like the upbeat “Slide,” “Beverly Hills,” and the bass-heavy “Huh!” but the hook doesn’t stand out that much. TDE does not play about their talent, and with her commercial mixtape on the label and some fine-tuning, Doechii could be one of the next big things in the game. As she made it from the swamps of Florida to the global stage, Alligator Bites Never Heal delivers an authentic dive into Doechii’s world.
Great (★★★★☆)
Favorite Track(s): “Denial Is a River,” “Profit,” “Nissan Altima”
 | A guest post by
|