Doechii, also known among fans as The Swamp Princess, won her first Grammy last night for Best Rap Album in a male-dominated category. She joins the club as the third Black woman to win the award, after Lauryn Hill in 1996 and Cardi B in 2017.
History was made, and the award was huge, but what truly cemented its impact was the awe-inspiring words that Doechii shared during her Grammy speech about Black women and girls. According to The Cut, she stated, “I wanna tell you, you can do it. Anything is possible. Don’t allow anybody to project any stereotypes on you that tell you that you can’t be here, that you’re too dark or that you’re not smart enough or that you’re too dramatic or you’re too loud. You are exactly who you need to be, to be right where you are and I’m a testimony.”
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Captivating audiences with her dynamic flow, Doechii embodies bold fun and powerful play through her artistry.
The rapper has profusely expressed her love of Black women and frequently uses her platform to spread awareness and be transparent, especially in moments of collective vulnerability. We strongly encourage new listeners or long-time fans to listen to her song, Black Girl Memoir, an open love letter to Black Women and girls seeking solace.
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But what does Doechii’s win mean for the culture?
The fact that Doechii, an openly bisexual, dark-skinned woman, won a prestigious award despite the horrific comments made about her music online after her performance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert shows that she can’t and won’t be stopped. It’s not the first time The Swamp Princess was under attack either, as she recently mentioned in an interview with Gay Times that she has dealt with a lot of racism and homophobia growing up as a Black woman in the South. It wasn’t until she found a community of queer friends that she truly began to accept herself.
Doechii is a superstar vital to the music industry, but to Black queer people everywhere.
Doechii’s win teaches Black queer people to take up space with our heads held high, especially in spaces not designed for us. Her win also teaches us to ignore vicious stereotypes and to believe in our dreams even if no one else will.
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