Doja Cat

Doja Cat Headlines 2024 Coachella Music Festival

Doja Cat electrified the audience as she headlined the first weekend of the 2024 Coachella Music Festival in Southern California on April 14. The 28-year-old artist’s performance featured guest appearances from prominent artists including 21 Savage, A$AP Rocky, and Teezo Touchdown. Her setlist prominently showcased tracks from her latest album, Scarlet, with a special highlight being the collaboration “Masc,” performed with Teezo Touchdown, which was recently released as part of a deluxe edition of the album.

During her dynamic performance, Doja Cat delivered songs such as “n.h.i.e.” alongside 21 Savage and “URRRGE!!!!!!!!!!” with A$AP Rocky. The show was visually stunning, featuring multiple outfit changes and theatrical elements, including a skeleton dinosaur, backup dancers adorned in yeti costumes, and even a mud wrestling ring. However, fans noted the absence of two of her most popular hits, “Say So” and “Kiss Me More.”

As one of the festival’s headliners this year, alongside Lana Del Rey and Tyler, The Creator, Doja Cat is set to take the stage again on April 21. This marks her second performance at Coachella, following her appearance in 2022.

Who Is Doja Cat?

Doja Cat, a Grammy-winning artist, is celebrated for her genre-blending music that spans rap and pop. Born Amala Dlamini on October 21, 1995, in Los Angeles, California, she has captivated audiences with hits such as “Say So,” “Paint The Town Red,” and “Kiss Me More,” featuring SZA. Doja Cat’s musical journey began in her teenage years, when she started releasing tracks on SoundCloud, catching the attention of producer Dr. Luke. At just 17, she signed with his record label in 2013, marking the start of her professional career.

Her debut EP, Purrr!, was released in 2014, followed by her first studio album, Amala, in March 2018. The viral success of her song and music video “Mooo!” in August 2018 significantly boosted her popularity. Since then, she has released three additional albums: Hot Pink in 2019, Planet Her in 2021, and Scarlet in 2023. Her track “Kiss Me More” earned her a Grammy Award in 2022, solidifying her status in the music industry.

Real Name, Parents, and Brother

Doja Cat’s real name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini. She was raised primarily by her mother, Deborah Sawyer, a painter and clothing designer, along with her older brother, Raman. Her father, Dumisani Dlamini, a South African actor and dancer, has had limited involvement in her life; they have yet to meet in person but maintain virtual correspondence. Recently, Doja Cat has faced familial challenges, particularly involving her brother. In January 2024, her mother filed for a restraining order against Raman, citing allegations of physical and verbal abuse. A judge granted a five-year restraining order to protect Sawyer, but denied a similar request for Doja Cat.

Where Is Doja Cat From?

Doja Cat was born in Tarzana, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, before moving to Rye, New York, shortly after her birth. She lived in New York for five years before returning to California. Between the ages of 8 and 12, she resided at Sai Anantam Ashram, a Hindu commune in Santa Monica, California, led by Alice Coltrane. While living there, she learned the Bharatanatyam dance style but found the commune’s restrictions challenging.

Reflecting on her time at the ashram, Doja Cat noted, “It was very restraining. My brother liked it… but for me, it was just like, ‘I can’t eat what I want to eat. I can’t really do kid stuff.’” After leaving the ashram, the family returned to Tarzana, a period that proved formative for her artistic development. She wrote her first song at the age of eight, revealing her early passion for music.

With a background in ballet, tap, jazz, and breakdancing, Doja Cat later attended a performing arts high school, where friends encouraged her to explore her vocal talents. She began self-training in singing and creating music using GarageBand. By the age of 16, she dropped out of high school to focus on her music career, having already begun recording raps over existing beats on platforms like SoundCloud and YouTube.

Songs and Albums

Early Music Career

Doja Cat’s musical journey began on SoundCloud, where her unique sound caught the attention of producers Yeti Beats and Dr. Luke. At just 17 years old, she signed with Dr. Luke’s label, Kemosabe Records, in 2013. The following year, she debuted her EP Purrr!, featuring the single “So High,” which hinted at her potential to attract a dedicated fanbase.

In an interview with HotNewHipHop, Doja Cat acknowledged her diverse influences, including “white indie music,” TLC, Lil’ Kim, and Aesop Rock, along with notable artists like Missy Elliott, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Busta Rhymes, and Lauryn Hill. She elaborated on her eclectic musical style, stating, “I do not consider myself a rock star. I have made pop music. I’m currently making rap, soul, and R&B music with jazz elements,” in a conversation with V Magazine.

March 2018 marked the release of her debut album, Amala. Although the album faced commercial challenges, peaking at No. 138 on the Billboard 200 over a year post-release, Doja Cat reflected on it candidly, stating, “A lot of people liked Amala, and that’s great. However, I don’t think it was a finished album.” She admitted to being distracted by a party lifestyle at the time.

However, it was her viral video for “Mooo!” in August 2018 that captured mainstream attention, earning praise from artists like Chance the Rapper and Katy Perry. “I knew that it was goofy. It’s very blatantly a joke. But I also wanted it to musically sound good to people, and it does,” she explained to Rolling Stone in 2021.

Mainstream Success: “Say So” and “Kiss Me More”

Following the viral success of “Mooo!”, anticipation grew for her sophomore album, Hot Pink (2019), which included hit singles “Say So” and “Streets.” The remix of “Say So” featuring Nicki Minaj earned Doja Cat her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2020. The album also garnered her a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2021 Grammy Awards.

In June 2021, she released her third studio album, Planet Her, which became her most successful project to date, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and earning a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. The album featured popular tracks such as “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA, “You Right” with The Weeknd, “Need to Know,” “Woman,” and “Get Into It (Yuh).” Her collaboration with SZA won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2022. As of April 2024, Doja Cat has received a total of 19 Grammy nominations.

In May 2022, she released “Vegas” for the soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, sampling Big Mama Thornton’s classic “Hound Dog.” Her next album, Scarlet, was released in September 2023, featuring successful singles such as “Paint The Town Red” and “Agora Hills.”

Beyond her solo work, Doja Cat has made notable collaborations, including the 2021 hit “Best Friend” with rapper Saweetie and a remix of Ariana Grande’s “34+35” in 2020.

Her distinctive musical style has garnered her a global fanbase, and she continues to evolve as an artist. “I’ve rapped since the beginning, and I really couldn’t even sing that well to begin with—I got a lot better,” she shared with Elle. “I use my voice as a tool to create these worlds, and it’s fine if people think that I can’t rap.”

Personal Life: Relationships and Controversies

Who Is Doja Cat Dating?

Doja Cat has maintained a relatively private personal life, though she is rumored to be dating comedian Jeffrey “J” Cyrus, with the couple first spotted together in New York City in November 2022. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar in August 2023, she expressed her views on love, stating, “I love love. I’m possibly a serial dater. I definitely have had that in me a little bit. But right now I’m in a different place in my life where I am very committed and very much in love in a different way than before.”

She has previously been linked romantically to singer Jawny and rapper French Montana, although she has clarified that her relationship with French Montana is primarily professional and amicable.

Controversies

Doja Cat’s career has not been without controversies, particularly regarding her use of a homophobic slur and her association with producer Dr. Luke.

Homophobic Slur

In 2018, Doja Cat faced backlash for a past tweet in which she used a homophobic slur directed at members of Odd Future, stating, “I called a couple of people f––ts when I was in high school in 2015 does this mean I don’t deserve support?” After public criticism, she apologized, saying, “I apologize for the derogatory terms I’ve used in the past and no one should be discriminated against for their race, religion, or sexual orientation.”

In a July 2019 interview, she emphasized, “That I am hateful of everybody… I don’t discriminate against anyone. Not for any race, sexual orientation, religion anything at all. I love people.”

Doja Cat addressed her controversial online persona again in a December 2020 interview with Paper magazine, noting that her humor sometimes crossed lines, which contributed to misunderstandings.

In May 2020, she came under fire for a 2015 song titled “Dindu Nuffin,” which many found offensive, leading her to remove it from platforms after the backlash.

Working with Dr. Luke

Doja Cat has also faced criticism regarding her professional relationship with Dr. Luke, who has a controversial history due to his legal battles with singer Kesha over allegations of sexual misconduct. Although Kesha’s lawsuits were settled, the association has led to public scrutiny of Doja Cat.

In a 2021 interview with Rolling Stone, she stated, “I haven’t worked with him in a very long time,” while acknowledging that some of his credited work on her songs may not be entirely accurate.

Fan Drama

In July 2023, Doja Cat sparked controversy on social media for comments regarding fans using her real name, which many interpreted as disdain. In a December 2023 interview, she clarified her stance, asserting, “You’ll never see a direct quote of me saying I hate my fans. Not once… I do like to play with that as a meme.” She emphasized that her humor may not resonate with everyone and that she does not feel responsible for their interpretations.