Doechii has always moved with confidence, authenticity, and an unapologetic sense of self. Recently, the Grammy-winning rapper went ten toes down on “Hot Ones” about her viewpoint on dating, insisting a “huge red flag” is “a straight man.”
“Like, I mean, strike one, you’re a man,” she joked with DJ Miss Milan before doubling down, “and you’re heterosexual.”
This wasn’t breaking news. Doechii has been upfront about her bisexuality since her 2020 breakthrough hit, Yucky Blucky Fruitcake, where she rhymed, “I think I like girls, but I think I like men/ Doechii is a dick, I never fit in.” She has never shied away from her identity, using her platform to uplift the LGBTQ+ community while redefining what it means to be a queer woman in hip-hop.
Doech, who is usually seen rocking some sort of sexy or skin-tight fit, seemed to have let her male audience down with that statement. Straight men flooded social media, particularly X, with outrage, proving once again that when women, especially Black women, set firm boundaries, the male ego shatters. The usual homophobic, misogynistic rhetoric came flying, with many twisting her words into something far more diabolical than a simple dating preference.
Her DJ, Miss Milan, wasted no time defending her on social media, posting: “At this point, you all just want a reason to overreact because now ‘preferences’ is a problem because she doesn’t want to date straight men lmao.” She reminded the haters that Doechii has always been open about her sexuality and that her fanbase is largely LGBTQ+.
Frankly, hip-hop has a history of being unfriendly to queer artists. From the ’80s and ’90s, when rappers had to conceal their identities to thrive, to the slow progress we’ve seen in recent years, it’s evident that the culture still has ways to go. It doesn’t help that social media gives everyone a voice!
Doechii has never been ambiguous about her identity. In a 2022 British GQ interview, she admitted she only felt comfortable talking about her sexuality in her music when she surrounded herself with other queer people. “I always knew that I was queer and bisexual,” she said. “But I didn’t really feel comfortable talking about it because nobody around me was gay.”
She’s since made it her mission to rap about her desires, experiences, and truths with zero censorship. Whether it’s her explicit bars on Tyler, the Creator’s “Balloon,” or her Grammy-winning mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal, Doechii is pushing boundaries and refusing to let the industry put her in a box.
Let’s not forget that Doechii has had her own struggles navigating relationships. On Denial Is a River, she rapped about an ex-boyfriend cheating on her with another man. When questioned about it on The Breakfast Club, she clarified that his sexuality wasn’t the issue; it was the dishonesty and betrayal. Nowadays, she’s happy in a relationship with her girlfriend, thriving in a space where she can be herself.
At the end of the day, Doechii owes no one an explanation. Her dating preferences are hers alone. If you’re a straight man who’s offended, it’s time to do some self-reflection. Because the reality is, she was never checking for you anyway.
In related news, Doechii recently had a full circle moment by meeting her idol, the legendary Lauryn Hill. Stepping onto the stage to greet the hip-hop icon, Doechii was overwhelmed with gratitude and later took to Instagram to share the experience.
“The first full-length album I ever listened to was The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. My mom would play it from top to bottom every day on my way to school for years 🤎,” she wrote.
She explained how Hill’s music influenced her artistry and personal growth: “I would sing your songs as if I wrote them, imagining myself on stage. Each song deepened my love for music and my curiosity to write raps. My favorite lyric in Doo Wop is ‘don’t be a hard rock when you really are a gem’—that stuck with me anytime I wanted to ‘get even’ or harden my heart towards those who wronged me.”
For Doechii, Lauryn Hill wasn’t just a musical influence; she was a guide. “I carried your principles with me during my coming of age. And I carry them with me now at this current stage of my career, your lyrics are close to my heart.”
She closed her heartfelt message with pure reverence: “Thank you, Miss Lauryn Hill. This is the greatest honor hip-hop could give me. Praise God.”
