Last Friday, The Recording Academy rolled out its complete list of Grammy nominees and one Tampeña made a really big splash. Tampa rapper Doechii is up for four awards including Best New Artist where she’ll compete with the likes of Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone, Khruangbin, and Raye (stylized in all-caps).

The 26-year-old born Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon is also up for Grammys in the Best Remixed Recording, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Album categories.

This morning, Doechii—who’s playing a very-sold-out homecoming show at Crowbar in Ybor City tonight—visited her alma mater, Howard W. Blake High School to speak with students, watch them perform, take part in a Q&A, and pose for photos, too.

Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Doechii at Howard W. Blake High School in Tampa, Florida on Nov. 12, 2024. Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Doechii at Blake High School in Tampa, Florida on Nov. 12, 2024. Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Dave Decker / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker
Credit: Photo by Dave Decker

Additional Slideshows

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...