Doechii’s “Denial is a River” isn’t just a viral hit, but a popular meme template, with the rapper’s strong, simple lyrics and cinematic music video proving a potent combination.
Who Is Doechii?
Born Jaylah Hickmon, Doechii grew up in Tampa, Florida (which is why she goes by the name “Swamp Princess” on social media).
At just 11 years old, Hickmon decided to adopt the persona “Doechii,” telling Vulture that the name “literally just came to me.”
In a relatively short time period, Doechii has experienced a stellar rise in fame. Just 5 years ago, Doechii famously posted a melancholic YouTube video announcing that she’d been fired from her job.
“So I got fired today,” Doechii said in the video. “Either way, Imma be straight. I think tomorrow I’m just gonna go to a whole bunch of like studios, and like, ask if they have any internships open. At this point, I have nothing to lose.”
Today, at 26-years-old, she’s an award-winning artist, having won the Best Rap Album award in the 2025 Grammys.
In 2021, Doechii went TikTok-viral for her track “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake,” but her “Denial is a River” track from her third mixtape, “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” proved a perfect meme template.
‘Denial Is A River’ Floods The Internet With Memes
Doechii’s song is a story, a conversation between her and her therapist alter-ego about her downward spiral, after being cheated on by her bisexual boyfriend.
The peak of the music video sees Doechii face the camera and sing about the joys of intoxication, admitting an uncomfortable truth—it feels good to be bad.
I mean, f*ck, I like pills, I like drugs
I like gettin’ money, I like strippers, I like to f*ck
I like day-drinkin’ and day parties and Hollywood
I like doin’ Hollywood shit, snort it? Probably would
What can I say? The shit works, it feels good
And my self-worth’s at an all-time low
The music video is seemingly made for the internet, full of funny, relatable lines expressed via a satisfyingly upfront, upbeat delivery. At time of writing, it boasts 31 million views on YouTube.
On X (Twitter), users parodied Doechii’s lyrics and a meme was born.
Soon, the meme simplified, accompanied with a screenshot of Doechii’s music video to express the joys they find in life. Rather than their wicked vices, most used the meme to show love to their most wholesome pleasures.
Doechii herself even responded to a meme that inverted the format, with the commentator declaring that they hated everything, even drawing angry eyebrows on the rapper’s face.
Doechii’s blunt, witty lyrics and narrative songwriting style all but guarantees that she’s going to create another viral hit—expect to see her music inspire more memes very soon.
MORE FROM FORBES
Read the full article here
