Doechii Spoofs Classic Sitcoms In Star-Studded ‘Denial Is a River’ Music Video: Watch

2025 may only be two days old, but Doechii is already hitting the ground running.

On Thursday (Jan. 2), the ascendant Tampa rapper released the highly anticipated music video for “Denial Is a River,” a standout cut from her breakout mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal. Co-directed by Carlos Acosta and James Mackel, the “Denial” clip finds Doechii calling on classic Black sitcoms such as Family Matters — the trailer used the show’s beloved “As Days Go By” theme song — to recount the tumultuous last few years of her life and career.

The video — which follows Doechii as the star of her own autobiographical sitcom — includes appearances by actor-comedians Zack Fox and Rickey Thompson; Grammy-nominated TDE artists ScHoolboy Q and SiR; Billboard-charting artists Teezo Touchdown, Earl Sweatshirt and Baby Tate; and DJ Miss Milan. A few days ago, Doechii teased the “Denial” music video with a pair of skits drawing on soap operas and telenovelas that arrived amidst a string of performances at NPR’s Tiny Desk, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and Camp Flog Gnaw.

In addition to the new music video, Doechii will host a live stream titled “Denial Is a Stream,” which will kick off at 6 p.m. ET on Jan. 2 via her YouTube channel. The stream marks another buzzy promotional spot for “Denial Is a River,” following a Genius Open Mic performance alongside seven-time Emmy-nominated actress-producer Issa Rae.

After scoring her first Billboard Hot 100 hit in 2023 with the Kodak Black-assisted “What It Is (Block Boy)” (No. 29), Doechii released Alligator Bites Never Heal on Aug. 30. Since its release, the project — her first through Top Dawg Entertainment — has reached No. 82 on the Billboard 200 and landed on several Billboard staff year-end lists.

Doechii is looking to take home up to three Grammys when the ceremony airs Feb. 2; she’s nominated for best new artist, best rap album and best rap performance (“Nissan Altima”). Kaytranada‘s remix of her “Alter Ego,” a standalone 2024 single featuring JT, earned him a nomination for best remixed recording.

Watch Doechii’s “Denial Is a River” music video below.