"New" Artist of the Month for May 2026
Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, better known as Doechii, is a popular rapper and singer. She was born on August 14, 1998, in Tampa, Florida. Both her father and uncle were rappers, so she grew up surrounded by music. As a child, she participated in dance and acting courses and planned to be a choral singer when she was older. She started to release her own music after receiving encouragement from her friends, releasing her debut song Girls in 2016.
Her debut EP, Oh the Places You’ll Go, was self-funded and came out in 2020. Doechii continued to release music as a teenager and gained recognition after her songs went viral on TikTok. In 2022, she signed with Capital Records, becoming the first female rapper to sign with Top Dawg Entertainment the same year. She has since released 2 more EPs, Bra-less in 2021, and She/Her/Black Bitch in 2022. Her latest mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, was released in 2024.
Doechii is also known for her collaborations with other popular artists like Janelle Monáe, Tyler, the Creator, and Katy Perry. She has also been nominated for numerous awards, like the NAACP Image Awards Outstanding New Artist, Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album, and Outstanding Album. She won a Grammy for Best Rap Album in 2025.