Back in 2016, Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, better known as Doechii, had uploaded her first track titled “Girls” to SoundCloud.Even though this track didn’t put her on the map to stardom, she would continue to put out two other pieces of music and a project titled, “Coven Music Session, Vol 1.”
After gaining popularity on Tiktok with her self-funded EP “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” she went on to collaborate with artists such as, SZA, Isaiah Rashad, David Guetta, Afrojack, Missy Elliot, and Bia. Eventually, she signed with Top Dawg Entertainment in a joint venture with Capitol Records, becoming the first female rapper signed to Top Dawg Entertainment. She would go on to release more music under Top Dawg Entertainment, like her single “Persuasive” and her EP She/Her/Black B—-. After releasing two singles and teasing multiple songs, on August 30, 2024, Doechii released her highly anticipated mixtape titled “Alligator Bites Never Heal.”
The mixtape starts strong with track one, “STANKA POOH.” With this song, Doechii reflects on how she’s been feeling about the risk and promise of wealth and fame. The song also talks about the feeling of getting older. On track two “BULLFROG,” Doechii allows her ego to come out and play. She speaks about herself in a boastful manner, about how tough, attractive, rich, and expensive she is. Throughout the track, she keeps listeners intrigued with the instrumental, consistent bassline.
“DENIAL IS A RIVER,” which title is referencing a clip of Wendy Williams saying “Denial is a river in Egypt, your husband is gay.” This song is also influenced by the boom-bap genre. She catches up on her life with the listeners, and talks about an ex who cheated on her with someone of the same sex. Her fifth track, “Catfish,” brings out her ego once again, which isn’t a bad thing, because she knows her worth, and she makes it a point to be bigger than the haters that she’s pointing out in this song: the haters who constantly switch sides “Doechii the Don, Doechii the dean, Doechii supreme, the Swamp Ruler.”
“SKIPP” begins with a sample from DJ DMD’s song “25 Lighters.” Lyrically, the song highlights how Doechii struggles with her self-assurance and finding and keeping balance in her life, “Suffer loss of vision but I’m focused”. “HIDE N SEEK”, is a song that explores the pressures of materialism, lack of confidence, emotional distancing, and financial accountability, that Doechii has experienced.
“BLOOM” opens and ends with a recording of a conversation about how Doechii deals with her personal life and her profession. Even though there’s only a little snippet of the track where there’s actual singing, Doechii provides the Lo-Fi beat with simple lyrics in the middle of a meaningful conversation.
“Wait” This song also features boom-bap elements on a Lo-Fi instrumental. Doechii sings and raps about how people feel the need to rush things in life and how they should be living in the present, not the future or the past.
“Death Roll” and “Profit” uses East coast influenced sounds and lyrically focuses on how Doechii has a lot to prove to herself and everyone around her. She plans to keep working on her career while reflecting on where she came from and how she got to this spot.
Her next track “BOOM BAP,” previously released as a single before the mixtape’s release, is heavily inspired by the hip hop style of the same name. This song is very creative lyrically, she references how people perceive her career and recent hit “What It Is” and says “Get Top on the phone, tell it’s a wrap,” referencing her label. And continues by saying, “Say it’s real and it’s rap and it boom and it bap-” “-And it’s house and it’s trap.” referring to the genres of the songs in this mixtape.
“NISSAN ALTIMA” also released as a single beforehand, is a more vulgar song lyrically, but is supported by a catchy beat the song captures her sense of self-empowerment and success in wealth and materialism.
“GTFO” is another boom bap beat and egotistical rap song but gives you a feeling of self-importance, not having time to deal with someone else and their drama. It captures the mentality of not caring about what other people want especially when they feel the same way about you.
“HUH!” She uses a boom bap inspired song which utilizes its hi-hat to keep the excitement that the heavy beat gives it during the verses. She talks about her wealth, status, superiority and her fashion style.
“SLIDE” She sings about her romantic and physical relationship with this person and how it has this grip on her, she loves the feeling of being desired and the power that the other person deliberately gives her. The beat is dance and house inspired. It isn’t a style of music that I would preferably listen to but it’s really catchy.
“FIREFLIES”, has two parts that capture being misunderstood, falling in love, and the desire for someone else, the cycles of love and hate relationships. But ultimately shows how these feelings deeply affect people.
On “BEVERLY HILLS”, Doechii talks about a previous relationship where she fell out of love and how he either needs to pick up the slack or one of them needs to go.
And finally the track that shares the same name as the mixtape title, “Alligator Bites Never Heal”. The song features another slower paced beat. Within this song, Doechii writes about the longing for the simpletest connection, personal growth and letting go of her people who mean a lot to her.
Summary:
The mixtape is prominently inspired by boom-bap, trap, house, and dance. It matches her writing style and creative genius. Although mixtapes don’t usually have a collective theme, Doechii gives you a key to her mind, allowing you to understand what has been going on with her recently and every song, collectively gives a feeling of struggling just trying to get by in life. Every song on the mixtape is easily enjoyable, she showcases her talents and adaptability when she changes her flow and delivery, multiple times in multiple songs.
Lyrics: 7.6/10
Instrumental: 8.9/10
Experience: 9.2/10
Quality: 8.2/10
Final Score: 8.5/10
