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Denial Is a River

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"Denial Is a River"
Single by Doechii
from the album Alligator Bites Never Heal
ReleasedJanuary 14, 2025
Recorded2024
Genre
Length2:39
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • IanJames
  • Hamhock
  • Banser
Doechii singles chronology
"I Hate Your Ex-Girlfriend"
(2024) 		"Denial Is a River"
(2025) 		"Nosebleeds"
(2025)
Music video
"Denial Is a River" on YouTube

"Denial Is a River" is a song by American rapper Doechii from her third mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal (2024). It was released to rhythmic contemporary radio as the mixtape's third single on January 14, 2025.[1] It was produced by IanJames, Joey Hamhock and Banser. The song's instrumental was originally published to YouTube by Ian in 2022 as an MF Doom inspired beat.[2]

Content

[edit]

The song incorporates Doechii's therapist alter-ego,[3][4][5] to whom Doechii herself narrates the hectic and often troublesome conditions of her own life, such as failed relationships involving her being cheated on,[3][4][6][7] milestones of her career,[6] a drug addiction she developed in Hollywood (which she defends),[4][6] partying there, periods of burnout[7] and depression,[4] and the overall struggle to balance her career with her personal life.[7] At the end of the song, Doechii tries a breathing exercise[5][8] that her therapist suggests and hyperventilates rhythmically amid the scratching in the background.[5]

Critical reception

[edit]

The song was well-received by music critics. Ana Lamond of Clash wrote the song "unveils Doechii at her best, a detailed storyteller who leads with a playful, nostalgic pomp."[7] Kyann-Sian Williams of NME called it proof that "Doechii is a witty, comical songwriter who can tell you vivid stories with little effort, and this approach allows that side of her to shine".[3] Reviewing Alligator Bites Never Heal for Rolling Stone, Conteh Mankaprr remarked "The standout is 'Denial is a River,' in which Doechii gives an Oscar-worthy performance as both herself and a therapist of sorts in an immaculate display of her quirks, relatability, and tenderness."[4] AllMusic's Andy Kellman stated, "The humorous if vulnerable 'Denial Is a River' is storytelling on the level of MC Lyte and Slick Rick with late-'80s production touches to match."[9] Zachary Horvath of HotNewHipHop praised Doechii's introspective lyrics "all while being dynamic and comical in her vocal delivery."[6] Grant Jones of RapReviews described the song as "characterful" and an "updated" and "more personal" version of the song "Word Association" by 7L & Esoteric and the breath control exercise in the outro as "highlighting her knack for crafting catchy off-the-cuff moments."[8]

Music video

[edit]

Doechii released two trailers for the official music video in December 2024,[10][11] the first of which used the theme song of the sitcom Family Matters, "As Days Go By".[10] The video premiered on January 2, 2025. Co-directed by Carlos Acosta and James Mackel, it stars Doechii in her own autobiographical sitcom.[12] It opens with a title sequence parodying that of Family Matters as Doechii enters the house. She catches her boyfriend (played by Zack Fox) cuddling with a man (played by Rickey Thompson) on her couch and throws him out of the house in the same manner as Jazz from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. After that, new decor is added to the living room; Doechii hangs a photo of herself, Top Dawg Entertainment founder Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith and label president Moosa Tiffith on a wall. The room is full of her friends and intruded by music industry executives, who are driven out by Doechii and her group. In the next scene, the green walls of the living room have been painted red and the room is now furnished with more expensive-looking items, including a line of plaques on the back wall.[13] The clip transitions from old to modern style cinematography[13][14] and zooms out to show Doechii on set, with previous sets as seen in the trailers besides it, and being watched by a studio audience. Later, her nose bleeds and the set of her new living room explodes, leaving Doechii alone in the wreckage.[13] The video features cameos from Baby Tate, DJ Miss Milan, Earl Sweatshirt, H Wood, Schoolboy Q, SiR and Teezo Touchdown.[11][12][13][14]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Denial Is a River"
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 18
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[16] 3
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 54
Global 200 (Billboard)[18] 76
Greece International (IFPI)[19] 72
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 21
Lithuania (AGATA)[21] 81
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 94
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 13
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 16
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[26] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[27] 55
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[28] 10
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[29] 20

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Crossover: Your Radio Chart Previews". Hits. January 10, 2025. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  2. ^ Ian James (2022-12-16). [SOLD] MF DOOM Type Beat - "Golden". Retrieved 2025-02-07 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ a b c Williams, Kyann-Sian (August 30, 2024). "Doechii – 'Alligator Bites Never Heal' review: a candid sonic diary of struggle and resilience". NME. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e Conteh, Mankaprr (August 30, 2024). "Doechii Reigns Supreme on 'Alligator Bites Never Heal'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Goldberg, Lily (September 5, 2024). "Doechii: Alligator Bites Never Heal Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d Horvath, Zachary (August 31, 2024). "Doechii Makes A Statement With "Alligator Bites Never Heal"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d Lamond, Ana (August 30, 2024). "Doechii – Alligator Bites Never Heal". Clash. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Jones, Grant (December 10, 2024). "Doechii :: Alligator Bites Never Heal". RapReviews. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  9. ^ Kellman, Andy (August 30, 2024). "Alligator Bites Never Heal - Doechii | Album". AllMusic. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Mier, Tomás (December 26, 2024). "Doechii Drops 'Family Matters'-Inspired Trailer for 'Denial is a River' Show". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  11. ^ a b Bernstein, Elaina; Fairbrother, Logan (December 29, 2024). "Doechii Drops Second 'Denial Is a River' Show Trailer". Hypebeast. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  12. ^ a b Denis, Kyle (January 2, 2025). "Doechii Spoofs Classic Sitcoms In Star-Studded 'Denial Is a River' Music Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d Mankaprr, Conteh (January 2, 2025). "Watch Doechii's Life Literally Blow Up on 'Denial is a River Show'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  14. ^ a b Nevares, Gabriel Bras (January 2, 2025). "Doechii Is A Bona Fide TV Star In New Music Video For "Denial Is A River"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  15. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  16. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  17. ^ "Doechii Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  18. ^ "Doechii Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  19. ^ "Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) – Week: 05/2025". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  20. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  21. ^ "2025 6-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  22. ^ "Doechii – Denial Is a River" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  23. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 7, 2025. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  24. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 6, 2025" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  26. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  27. ^ "Doechii Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  28. ^ "Doechii Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  29. ^ "Doechii Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
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