By Amoré Barker
Where do we even start with Doja Cat? Always in the media. Forever controversial. As polarizing as she is popular. She has figured out the #1 cheat code to musical longevity and success. What is the cheat code? Make undeniable music! You can get away with almost anything as long as the music is undeniable. Throughout her career Doja has been known mostly as a pop star. Her looks and her catchy melodic singing strongly overshadow her rapping ability. Some have even questioned if she was a rapper at all.
With her latest album ‘Scarlett’ she addresses that and Whole lot more. On the song Demons Doja Cat brags "Lots of people that were sleeping say I rap now… I done took the spotlight and made 'em blackout.” Foreshadowing for sure. On the topic of her erratic behavior she retorts “Y'all can not believe I'm not a fiend and that it wasn't coke!” Doja Cat also touches on Devil worshipping whispers."Y'all been pushing Satan this and Satan that… But trust me baby God don't play with hate like that. So you gon' be real upset when he pick Cat to be the one up on them charts all over the map." The quotes are direct chomps at her critics. It's a tried and true formula. If you ever want to know what's going on with a genuinely authentic artist, watch the interviews for clues but you'll find the answers in the lyrics of their music.
Scarlett is a 17 track album of hard hitting baselines, 80’s/90’s break beats, infectiously melodic choruses, and most importantly a plethora of flows and dope lyrics. Make no mistake. Not only is Doja a rapper by the mid point of the album it’s apparent she may be the best mainstream female rap artists out. We could talk about the fact that we haven’t seen music videos this creative in Rap since the hey day of Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes We could talk about how she’s masterfully become the centerpiece in the national discussion on fandom versus extremists. Instead let’s talk about music. 17 songs no features is a tall task. But Doja goes for dolo and does it well. Every song introduces a completely new flow and a different style of productions. In an era where it seems most rappers want to be anything except the rappers that they are, Doja Cat has chosen to double down on Hip Hop. Emphatically making an album that is as much a declaration of her rap prowess as it is her love letter to Hip Hop.
Singles like Paint the Town Red and Demons show she’s a hit making rapper. Songs like 97, Skull and Bones, and F*ck the Girls, show she is not only a rapper but an MC to be taken seriously. And bangers like Agora Hills, Can’t Wait, and Shutcho show that she can put it all together and run Rap, if she so decides. This is a nearly flawless project. In one album Doja Cat has managed to change the narrative about herself. From ditzy Pop darling to legitimate rapper and superstar who does things her way.
There are shades of influences from Eminem, and “Nicki M” (as Doja calls her) but mostly what you get is a bonafide supernova of original style and talent. She may meld R&B and Rap even better than Drake. Which is clearly saying a lot. Effortlessly weaving between sugary sweet R&B/Pop hooks and a multitude of fly rap flows. Whenever she’s fully ready to stop playing nice, hand out ouchies, and snatch the crown for her rightful attention the Rap game is Doja Cat’s for the taking. We should all be prepared to see her go off!
Key Dope:
97
Agora Hills
Paint the Town Red
F*ck The Girls (FTG)
Skull and Bones
Shutcho
Balut
Can't Wait
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