Los Angeles-born rapper and singer Doja Cat is back for blood and filling everyone in on the facts about her with a unique sound on her latest album “Scarlet.”
Doja Cat came-up in the media with high acclaim and worldwide affection. But recently, people are switching up on her after she buzzed her hair and publicly disgraced her fans for being “creepy.”
It infuriated Doja that critics are questioning if she is a good rapper. She is stepping back from pop songs and is providing the world with masculine-presenting rap songs with hints of slower R&B cuts in this album.
The lead singles, “Paint the Town Red” and “Agora Hills,” are significant songs, as they provide two contrasting angles of the album. “Paint the Town Red,” the number one hit, has a contagious Dionne Warwick sample, and the usage of horns adds so much to the song. The confidence that Doja shows off, even if she is hated online, is inspirational.
“Agora Hills” also has a sample of Troop’s “All I Do Is Think of You,” which is a disappointing use. The song contains some of the hokiest lines I have ever listened to, combined with her sluggish, annoyingly off-beat flow and singing is probably something I would not go back to. My life would have been just fine if I had not heard her reference to being in someone’s skin like Fortnite.
To say that this album goes hard is an understatement, you can just tell that Doja is heated over everything that happened to her within the past year. With tracks like “Demons” and “WYM Freestyle,” Doja does not stop flexing on all of her haters. These songs have insane percussion 808s and hi-hats that can destroy your eardrums on the aux cord.
As stated in “F**k The Girls (FTG),” when people online and within the industry, especially the women, are telling you online that you have sold your soul for clout, I think it is justified to clap back with the same amount of bitterness they give you.
The R&B cuts on this project,are infatuating. Doja Cat has mastered the ability to make romantic and sexual songs with beats that she can also rap on if she wants to. “Can’t Wait” and “Often,” being sensual songs, shift away from the main point of the album, but they are satisfying enough for the subject matter to be unnoticeable to the average listener.
“Skull and Bones” has the same vibe but is back with mentioning how the rumors are affecting her. At this point, she is so done and telling everyone to bug off, which I cannot be mad at.
It is hard to discuss this album without going into more detail on why Doja spent more than half of the album angered at those not fond of her life choices. I understand that sentiment and can defend her to an extent, as the way she wants to appear physically is no one’s business. But, you have to dig a bit deeper to see that the person she is dating, J Cyrus, has allegedly emotionally abused and groomed female moderators and fans of his Twitch stream. I find it necessary to mention this because while separating art from the artist can be easy for some music fans, boundaries have been crossed and cannot be ignored.
Doja Cat’s new release is a testament to her artistic evolution and resilience, even though it may not be without its imperfections. It’s a snapshot of an artist grappling with fame, criticism, and personal challenges, inviting listeners to engage with her music on multiple levels, both musically and socially.
