History was made at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards as rapper Doechii won a Grammy for “Best Rap Album”, making her the second black woman solo artist to ever take home the award for “Best Rap Album”. Her album, “Alligator Bites Never Heal”, was recognized for its creativity, powerful lyrics, and unique sound, making her album standout in this year’s nominations.

This win is a major moment in hip-hop, a category where women especially black women have often been overlooked despite their major efforts in making their music. The Best Rap Album category has been around since 1996, Lauren Hill was the first woman and black woman to win a Grammy for Best Rap Album and won for her group “The Fugees”. It wasn’t until 2019 where Cardi B became the first black woman solo artist to win a Grammy for her album “Invasion of Privacy”.

A Historic Moment

Doechii accepted the Grammy with an emotional and inspiring speech, recognizing the importance of her background.

“This is bigger than me. This is for every Black woman who has ever felt ignored in rap,” she said. “We have always been here, shaping the culture, and now the world is finally listening.”

Her speech was followed with loud applauses and cheers in the Crypto.com Arena, where this years Annual Grammys was held. Many fellow known artists and fans congratulated her win on social media to congratulate her, calling her win long overdue.

The Future of Women in Hip-Hop

For years, rap’s biggest awards have gone mostly to male artists. Rap-artists like Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, and Nas have won Best Rap Album, but women in hip-hop have rarely received the same recognition.

Many believe this moment shows that the Academy is finally starting to recognize the impact of female rappers have through their music. Hip-hop has changed throughout the years, and women are now leading the charts, influencing many, and proving that hip-hop is for everyone.

Doechii’s win could open more opportunities for women specifically black women pursuing their music in hip-hop/rap to get the recognition they deserve. In recent years, artists like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, and Ice Spice have shown that female rappers exist and are impacting the music industry one song at a time.

At the end of her speech, Doechii left the crowd with a powerful message:

“To every Black woman in rap, keep going. We’ve been here, and we’re not going anywhere.”

With this win, Doechii has made history not just for herself, but for every Black woman.