Meet Doechii, a best new artist nominee

Singer-songwriter and rapper Doechii‘s ascent has been as steady as her flows.

The Tampa, Florida native has long been a star to watch, from her 2019 compilation “Coven Music Session, Vol. 1” to breakout 2023 single “What It Is (Block Boy).”

But it was the 26-year-old’s critically acclaimed 2024 mixtape, “Alligator Bites Never Heal” — a lyrical exhibition that is equal parts contemporary R&B (“Slide”), introspective “real hip-hop” (a trope Doechii has fun with on “Boom Bap”) and braggadocious rap (“Nissan Altima,” “Catfish”) — that earned Doechii her first three Grammy nominations, including best rap album and best new artist at the 2025 awards.

Doechii faces stiff competition from meteoric powerhouse Chappell Roan, pint-sized “Espresso” hitmaker Sabrina Carpenter and “A Bar Song” breakout Shaboozey, along with Benson Boone, Khruangbin, RAYE and Teddy Swims. But the rapper-singer has some impressive co-signs.

Former Top Dawg Entertainment labelmate Kendrick Lamar has given her props, calling her “the hardest out” upon the release of her latest drop. In 2023, she opened for both Beyoncé on her record-breaking Renaissance World Tour and Doja Cat on her Scarlet Tour.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

The former would go on to name Doechii (as well as Memphis MC GloRilla) as one of her favorite rappers right now, while the latter said of Doechii’s place in the music industry: “We need you.”

Not to mention, she boasts standout features on Katy Perry‘s “I’m His, He’s Mine” (debuting the song in a risqué performance at the VMAs) and a high-octane verse on Tyler, the Creator‘s “Balloons.”

The self-proclaimed “Swamp Princess” also delivered a set of viral live performances in late 2024 — at Tyler’s Camp Flog Gnaw, on NPR’s Tiny Desk and an interpretive (and self-choreographed) performance of her tracks “Denial is a River” and “Boiled Peanuts” on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” — that made casual fans into believers.