Doechii has faced accusations of being an “industry plant” as her hard work over the years begins to pay off in a major way. Accepting the 2025 Woman of the Year honor at Billboard’s Women in Music event on Saturday (March 29), the Grammy-winning artist addressed her critics, making it clear that her success is a direct result of her talent and dedication.
“I cannot believe it was just two years ago I stood on this stage right here and accepted the Billboard Rising Star Award,” Doechii said during her acceptance speech. “I had literally performed so hard I danced my shoes off and had to hop up to the mic. And here I am. That moment reflects how I approach my career – always go full out, always go hard and always be fab.”
She went on to emphasize the importance of creatives, especially women, in the industry: “We are the creatives, we are the executives and we are the innovators who are just as central to this industry as the men. Clock it! And I want everybody to hear me clearly when I say that it is not a button, it is our brains. It is not a machine, it is our leadership. It is not a conspiracy, it is our vulnerability. And it is not an agenda, it’s God!”
Tyler, The Creator, a known fan of Doechii, recently expressed his admiration for her in an interview with Nardwuar. He recalled discovering her through YouTube, after being blown away by her tracks like “Catfish” and “Nissan Altima.” “I was like, ‘What is this? Damn, this girl’s pretty as hell,’” Tyler said. “I just kept going and kept going and kept going.” He later reached out to her, and they eventually collaborated. Tyler praised Doechii’s talent and expressed joy over her Grammy win.
Doechii’s respect for Tyler is mutual; during a September interview, she named him as one of her favorite artists. When asked about her current playlist, she mentioned artists like MF DOOM, Westside Gunn, Tyler, The Creator, and JAY-Z, noting how she recently discovered the depth of JAY-Z’s discography. “Hearing his growth?! Wow, so incredible. He’s so cool,” she said.
