Doechii is moving with alacrity. Every step seems to accelerate her journey – whether it’s a photo shoot or a guest feature, the American rapper stamps out her identity, rising to a new level in the process.
Debut album ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal’ was greeted with huge hype, but – crucially – it’s also fostered an iron-clad longevity. Much more than some social media moment, Doechii is a true talent, operating on multiple levels.
Teased earlier this week, new single ‘Anxiety’ comes at a crucial time for the rapper. ‘Alligator Bites Never Heal’ has been clutched by fans, but she’s clearly ready to stretch a little, and see where she could go next.
As a result, ‘Anxiety’ crosses multiple lands. There’s a soul vocal, some revelatory lyricism, and hard-hitting flows, with a unique sample flip at the centre – yep, she’s re-tooled Gotye’s one-off 00s smash ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ as an ultra-funky bedrock for introspection.
The lyrics find Doechii crushed by expectation, dealing with problems both external and internal. She rhymes: “Fightin’ with my demons and my demons is winnin’ / I feel like don’t nobody ever feel how I feel…”
Cross-referencing Jacques Cousteau and abolitionist campaigner Harriet Tubman, Doechii throws name upon name, attempting to come to grips with her situation.
Often, the bluntest lines shine out – the crippling “You keep the fame, I just wanna get paid” for example, displays the paradox at the centre of the hype.
It’s also a personal moment. ‘Anxiety’ finds Doechii working towards self-forgiveness, embracing a rounded maturity that can be lost amid the brash glare of the spotlight. At one point she rhymes: “Made mistakes, ain’t no way to rewind / But fuck it, we get over shit over time…”
Another crucial step forwards, ‘Anxiety’ finds one of American rap’s brightest natural talents magnifying her skills.
Our mark? 8/10.
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