Doechii – “DENIAL IS A RIVER” (Music Video)

The song has been a favorite since Alligator Bites Never Heal dropped towards the end of 2024, but now “DENIAL IS A RIVER” from Doechii has a visual component, and as someone who came of age at the tailend of MTV’s reign, it’s nice to see an artist take the time to make a video that has a sense of purpose and it’s just something they did just because.

For those in the know, Doechii has been your favorite artist’s new favorite artist. Sorry Chappell, but everyone from SZA to Paramore’s Hayley Williams are screaming accolades towards Tampa’s own Swamp Princess. She’s been around a handful of years now, dropping her debut mixtape, Coven Music Session, Vol. 1, back in 2019 and touring with the likes of Doja Cat in 2023. The same year she happened to take home Best New Artist at the BET Awards. Despite some pretty huge wins that year, “DENIAL IS A RIVER” paints it as one of her darkest. Which, there’s been a few low points in her life since breaking through and she displays them on the platter lyrically throughout this track. The video, however, is an homage to Black sitcoms.

Any and all millennials were able to clock the reference point from the sneak peek. Family Matters is on the Mount Rushmore of Black sitcoms, being a staple of ABC’s TGIF lineup it not only gave wholesome family-friendly content, but also Steve Urkel. While Urkel and Stefon (IYKYK) weren’t in the video, that didn’t stop this from being an entertaining ride from start to finish. The way the lyrics match up to the action in the video, but in an over-the-top, sitcom way was fun and helped balance out the weight of Doechii’s words making this video more like a “very special episode.”

The throwbacks to not only Family Matters but hints of Martin with the physical comedy, Moesha with the voiceover, and…I imagine Girlfriends and/or Living Single with the more balling bachelorette setting towards the end were all appreciated as someone whose heart is shaped like a television. However, the best part was at the end when the camera angle shifted into the POV mode, the same one Will Smith utilized in Bad Boys 4 – yeah, that was the moment. That’s the part that would have had Total Request Live audiences absolutely living in Times Square.

Doechii has been making noise since 2019, but the volume has been cranked up to an eleven since the release of Alligator Bites Never Heal, followed by a Tiny Desk, late-night appearances, and even a collab with Insecure’s Issa Rae. 2025 is Doechii’s year and we’re just living in it.

Doechii: “DENIAL IS A RIVER”
Music Video Release Date: January 3, 2025
Genre: Hip Hop
Reason to Sing & Watch Along: Creative Concepts & Heavy-Hitting Lyrics