Doechii, Black Hair Connectivity, And Where To Get Some Good Feed-In Braids in Philly
Doechii is having a dream 2024. After a major performance with Tyler The Creator during his two-day festival, Camp Flog Gnaw, Doechii’s name and presence are being felt across the culture as her star continues to rise.
Doechii is having a dream 2024. After a major performance with Tyler The Creator during his two-day festival, Camp Flog Gnaw, Doechii’s name and presence are being felt across the culture as her star continues to rise. Her latest mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, is the talk of enthusiasts and hip-hop acolytes alike. Doechii is making commentary about Black culture, and that commentary isn’t just strictly restricted to her lyrics.
One subtle commentary she is making is on Black hair, particularly braids and braid culture. How many of us remember getting our first cornrows as little kids, whether simple straight-backs or more intricate patterns? How many little Black girls went to their mamas, their big cousins, their aunts, or someone in the community for a fresh set of braids? How many of us still proudly wear our cornrows, whether we have learned to do them ourselves (some folks are just talented in a way that I personally cannot fathom) or will pull up at our favorite braider to get some?
That is the subtle power of our braids, their commonality. That commonality of braids is a thread interwoven throughout Black culture. It spans the diaspora. It survived the Middle Passage. It has endured centuries, even millennia. The commonality of braids is connective. Our braids are communal. Doechii tapped into that commonality and community in her own performances.
For her Tiny Desk performance, Doechii and her entire band, from the accompanying singers to instrumentalists to the percussion, all wore the same braids. Wooden beads and all. A full band of Black women made music together, making art together, with their braids, together. Connective. Communal.
For her appearance on Stephen Colbert, the connectivity was even more obvious. Doechii and two dancers literally had their braids braided together. Throughout Doechii’s performance, while there were moments of individual expression by each performer, they remained connected throughout. They remained together throughout. On Instagram, she says as much. “I felt heavily inspired by the lineage of Hip Hop and how it contributes to who I am today. This is my first self-choreographed performance and one of the most important things I wanted to highlight was my connection to black women through Hip Hop.”
Doechii’s commentary on Black community and connectivity can be felt through hair. If you’re feeling inspired to get some braids, here are a few local spots here in Philly to get this same style.
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Whitney Roberts
Whitney Roberts is a Philadelphia writer, podcaster, and content creator featured by the NAACP, Wired, NBC, and more. She contributes to outlets like TheRoot and NPR, amplifying diverse voices and stories.
