It was Moosa, the president of TDE, Doechii’s label, who presented the Disruptor of the Year award to the Swamp Princess. He introduced his appearance on stage with a touching speech where he expressed his pride to see that the whole world was beginning to recognize the extent of Doechii’s talent. He also said that we are witnessing the rise of a superstar and he is absolutely right.
Doechii then took the stage to accept the famous award and gave a poignant speech in which she expressed her love for Hip-Hop culture and the alumni who built this legacy. She also explained that Music allows her to express herself about her experience as a black woman and that she hopes to inspire other artists to make their art heard with truth, strength and vulnerability:
“Thank you everyone for this. I started rapping in high school, and from the beginning, I felt a deep connection to the roots of Hip-Hop and the intellectuals who built that legacy. Music has always been a way for me to tell my story. A way to talk about everything I’ve been through and learned, through the eyes of a black woman. I have often had moments of doubt, and sometimes I struggle to get my vision across. But what has always kept me going is staying focused on my story, my truths, and my love for Hip-Hop. For me, Hip-Hop is the most powerful way to tell your story, especially those that are not immediately heard or understood.”
Doechii also took the time to give her interpretation of what it means to be a “disruptor”, a key moment in the speech because it marks the artist’s commitment to continuing to be herself in an industry that doesn’t always understand it:
“And I hope my music inspires other artists to speak their truths, with strength, but also with vulnerability. We are the future of this genre, and when we have the courage to show ourselves as we are, we keep the heart of Hip-Hop alive while pushing it to the next level. Finally, I want to address all the young people and future icons who are working hard to make their art heard. Very often, being a disruptor means being misunderstood, but still having the audacity to create despite everything. So, I hope that seeing me live my dream gives you the boldness to be incredibly beautiful. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
