Filled with bangers both rugged and soulful, it tests Doechii's skillset as a rapper and a singer with a flexible range. While still showing her finding her style, her remarkable performances and sharp writing keeps her cutting through in 'She / Her / Black Bitch'.
Every time that Doechii starts to spit and sing, she lets her ferocious bars and perceptive musing peek through. Those two contrasts put her in the limelight, getting viral on TikTok, getting signed on TDE, and getting a spot on the XXL Freshman 2022 list. She always put out something from herself on each EP that she has barreled through so far, the variety of skills and topics she puts through differing production palettes allows her to shine through in different ways.
Her first EP under the TDE label, it shows more of what she’s always done in the past, but now feral, somber, and sensual. Bringing in different collaborators allows her to synergize with them really well as they mirror what empowered emotions she tends to bring to the table. Tight, crisp, and emotive, Doechii’s rebellious expressiveness bulldozes through wildly as she embodies the bullshit others have thrown at her.
The EP starts off in its most ferocious. ‘Swamp Bitches’ immediately toss itself into carnage, Doechii and Rico Nasty’s switch-ups and ridiculously sparking bars scratch through with the echoing synth, driving guitar, and bombastic and throbbing beats. ‘Bitch I’m Nice’ follows it up with a brief yet cutting flow from Doechii. Embodying her influence of Nicki Minaj with wordplay and bars that are direct and sharp as the tapping percussions, bass drum, and bass lines accompany Doechii’s remarkable performance.
It then swerves to somber emotions, showing the lonely bluntness amidst Doechii’s tough demeanor. ‘Bitches Be’ dips itself with alcohol, reflecting upon the rants of the people Doechii comes across. Jst Ray’s blurry vocals accompany Doechii’s own pissed-off attitude in her bars, where the driving guitars, organ swells, and stompy percussion lingers on the track. ‘This Bitch Matters’ reflects upon where she will go next, questioning her identity and pointing out her desire of feeling loved amidst her cold personality. A sentiment that comes through Doechii’s reserved singing and rapping as well as the quaint piano and bass touches amidst squelching synths and simple drum loops. The additional SZA feature on ‘Persuasive’ makes the original version stand out more, where the house grooves from the percussion and bass help out SZA and Doechii’s confident vocals stick the mesmerizing vibes even better. Just an excellent way to end the entire EP.
It’s certainly a breakthrough of topics and sounds Doechii has stepped upon for a couple of years now, but even still, she embodies certain influences in a way that shows her still growing in her own style. It’s mixed, where Doechii’s identity shines through with her own writing, but she carries her Nicki Minaj, Flo Milli, and Noname influence a little too close. Besides most tracks in the EP being great, ‘Bitches Be’ with its drooling melodic pacing sticks out like a sore thumb. It fits the narrative transition of somber emotiveness, but the melodies drag on weird places.
Doechii is now on her third EP yet it feels like it’s just her very first. She stamps on what she does well and doubles down on it much more, where her feral rapping and pristine singing are filled with refinement, so does her knack for clever bars and personal introspection built up for 4 EPs in. She knows what she is and what she does best, but the next step now is to find where she finds comfy in. A space where she will let anyone know what kind of artist she really is.
Favorite Tracks: Swamp Bitches, This Bitch Matters, Persuasive, Bitch I’m Nice
Least Favorite Track: Bitches Be