Hypewoman DJ Miss Milan On Her Hunger For Raising Up Hip Hop, Spectacle, And The Art Of Live Performance

The self-proclaimed “Fairy Vibemother” and hypewoman DJ Miss Milan is returning emcee culture and spectacle back to rap. Alongside her musical soul-and-tour-mate, Doechii, Miss Milan possesses a spiritual connection with music. “We started performing together at the AFROPUNK [festival],” Miss Milan says on Zoom from NYC. “So the fact that we’ve grown so much since then and just doing what we’re doing now is just a show and tell at this point.” At 27 years old, Milan Stoute is reviving the OG style of a live DJ performance with rap artist, Doechii. Reminiscent of the early 1990’s era of hip hop, Doechii and DJ Miss Milan share a relationship similar to the likes of Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff or even when DJ Spinderella would hype up the crowds with Salt-N-Pepa. “Be fun,” Milan adds. “You actually can enjoy coming to a rap show. It doesn’t always have to be heavy. It can be fun and lighthearted too.”

DJ Miss Milan and Doechii’s friendship is based on trust infused with some kismet. In 2018, the pair met when Milan was helming DJ sets for Justine Sky and Saweetie. Doechii came onto the rap scene during this time signing freshly with TDE, shortly after DJ Miss Milan shot her shot at Doechii, then the rest became history. They each share an East Coast background, (being from Tampa and New York), and have deep respect for one another’s taste in music. Their Tiny Desk performance and 2025 Grammy’s stage performance debut showed to the world that two young Black women raising each other up will certainly lead to greatness. On Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal, “Denial Is A River” is a sobering track where Miss Milan cartoonishly raps to Doechii’s most personal insecurities during a live set. Although this is a heavy track, DJ Miss Milan adds her cheeky flair to the song and evident to their past performances, she gets the crowd standing up and hyped every time. 

The female MC and DJ Miss Milan caught up with AFROPUNK to speak on her close friendship with Doechii, integrating the heritage of hip hop into her DJ prowess, and being a part of Serato’s Women’s History Month campaign.

AP: How is it being the ultimate “Fairy Vibemother” and leading the rejuvenation in hip hop of the famed 90’s era DJ-and-artist dynamic?

DJ Miss Milan: it is not something that we’re necessarily starting. It is more so something that we are upholding, if you will, because the culture of hip hop, the essence of it is the DJ and the emcee. Doechii being the artist and me being the DJ, we are giving our ode to hip hop, as well as being very much a part of the culture. This is just something that comes naturally to us because as two black women, hip hop is something that is our birthright. When we’re performing, we’re just making sure that we’re doing what we love. We’re giving hip hop its flowers as it rightfully deserves.

AP: What bonded you both together musically?

DJ Miss Milan: Both of us are super hungry. When I started working with Doechii, it was literally right before her announcement to sign with TDE. She is somebody that I personally discovered, some years back and was just so intrigued with her artistry. At that level of where I saw her and when I heard her, I just shot my shot, if you ever [need] a DJ, let me know. Something in me knew this girl is magical and I attract light because I am a light myself. It was just divine timing because we both were at that cusp of being super hungry in wanting to elevate our personal careers and seeing each other’s light, talent, and gifts that we have to offer shine. It was just an instant attraction and the very first time we worked together was literally magic. 

AP: When you guys first performed “Denial Is A River,” did Doechii specifically ask you to take on the other sobering perspective of the song?

DJ Miss Milan: She is definitely the only person that pens her own lyrics. She definitely is the creator and songwriter behind “Denial Is A River,” but she is such a character in what she does. For this particular song and performance, me being her DJ and support, when we rehearsed it for the tour, it just made sense for me to play the therapist. It gives a playful type of experience when we’re performing it. We do this cute little back and forth, and then we go into the breathing techniques. It all adds an extra essence to the performance and brings the song to life.

AP: What women DJs in Hip Hop have inspired you to carve your own path?

DJ Miss Milan: Emcees like Missy Elliott, for sure. She is the mother of all mothers, to be honest with you. She set the tone and definitely was somebody who beat the odds as far as being a woman in this industry and being a Black woman truly pushing and creating her own standard. Queen Latifah, Lil Kim, and to give ode to the newer rappers — the Nicki’s and the Megan’s of the world. Of course, Doechii. It feels really good to see the evolution of women in rap and knowing that we have so many different flavors to us and we can do anything and do everything. 

AP: With your cultural background and origins in New York, what genres of music really captivated you and inspired you to take on the role of being a DJ especially in a male-dominated craft?

DJ Miss Milan: In my personal DJ journey, discovering Serato itself and the fact that it’s been a part of my personal upcoming and my personal career as a DJ, the genres that I really did frequently listen to more often were hip hop and R&B. I never wanted to stay just in one box because music to me is just universal and there are so many different sounds and genres of that nature. I’m of Caribbean descent, my grandparents were immigrants to this country and coming from countries like Barbados and Jamaica and Guyana. It is just important to highlight that as well too. So playing around with dancehall, reggae, soca, calypso, and really having an open format and palette when it comes to DJing. 

AP: What do you think is a unique aspect about being a woman in the DJ space?

DJ Miss Milan: It is definitely a unique experience. I feel like women DJs…no offense, kind of do it better. Women have such a nurturing and intuitive range of emotions. We feel the music instead of just playing the music. Whenever I’m DJing for people, I feel the songs that I’m playing and really enjoy myself. It is just the overall experience of what we have to offer that just makes it unique in itself.

AP: When using DJ tech like Serato in your sets to cue up tracks and create mixes, how do you make sure to keep level-headed during huge moments of crowd uproar?

DJ Miss Milan: Level-headedness doesn’t exist during those moments. We’re going to be honest, it doesn’t exist in those moments just because you’re feeding off of the energy of your artist or the crowd themselves. In the moment, I’m just matching the energy of where we’re at or even giving more energy to where we’re at. We’re all hype.

AP: How does Doechii match your energy as a DJ and vice versa?

DJ Miss Milan: We’re definitely very, very, very similar. She is the artist and the rapper and me being the DJ, we have to match each other’s energy or I carry it for her. We definitely come off like twins on stage. Anybody that has seen us perform together would definitely see why we are the perfect pair for each other. I am able to play the music and hit a count at the same time, it really does matter. It adds an element to the performance and I see it being appreciated because it has been done before in hip hop. Seeing everything from the lens of two actual Black women artists in this culture doing it. We are giving people nostalgia, but at the same time we are giving them some newness.

AP: What is your favorite aspect about live performance?

DJ Miss Milan: I get to turn up beforehand as in I get to do my own personal DJ set. That is when I personally am utilizing Serato and truly just experimenting with new transitions and trying new routines for the crowd to get them hyped. I enjoy everything. It all leads into the greatest show on Earth.

AP: Are you prioritizing creating art more with Doechii or planning on how you are going to tackle the headlining festivals you will be doing together?

DJ Miss Milan: Rehearsals, of course. Preparing for those by doing our very best and being our best means we have to be prepared. We’re hitting our rehearsals and doing our planning and you guys will definitely see.

AP: How do you conceptualize the way you approach being each other’s hype woman or does your friendship thrive on trust and spontaneity more?

DJ Miss Milan: A lot of it comes from her, I give my input when it comes to the music aspect of things and anything that I have any parts in. It is usually a very big trust process at first. We both come into agreement and then we just run with it. Our relationship is that she trusts my opinions on things that she wants to do and I run the plays with her just to execute it at the level that she wants it to be done. 

AP: Why do you think artists should lean on their DJs more during performances to enhance the crowd and spectacle of the live experience?

DJ Miss Milan: It makes for a good show at the end of the day. You really get to experience two perspectives. It just looks fire and it looks really good where I’m seeing you do your thing and also the DJ has your back. Similar to the dynamics of the legendary Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff or Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella. Now, of course, DJ Miss Milan with Doechii. It all just makes for entertainment and we’re all coming out to be entertained.