Teletubby 138,500 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 “I never learned to superstar from a textbook,” Doja Cat snarls towards the end of “Attention”, a song that’s all at once a boom-bap showcase, an R&B slow-burner and a canny summary of her against-the-odds success. Those who remember Doja’s breakthrough (a viral 2018 joke song, “Mooo!”, whose DIY video had her shoving french fries in her nose in front of a homemade green screen) probably wouldn’t have predicted that a few years later, the girl in the cow suit would be a household name. But for Doja, being an internet goofball and a multiplatinum pop star aren’t just compatible, they’re complementary—a duality attuned to her audience’s craving for realness. With her fourth album, Scarlet, the maverick adds “formidable rapper” to her growing list of distinctions. In since-deleted tweets from April 2023, Doja made a pledge: “no more pop,” she wrote, following up with a vow to prove wrong the naysayers doubting her rap skills. Scarlet makes good on that promise, particularly its first half, a far cry from the sugary bops on 2021’s star-making Planet Her. Instead she hops between hard-edged beats that evoke NYC in ’94 or Chicago in 2012, crowing over the spoils of her mainstream success while playfully rejecting its terms. “I’m a puppet, I’m a sheep, I’m a cash cow/I’m the fastest-growing bitch on all your apps now,” she deadpans on “Demons”, thumbing her nose at anyone who conflates glowing up with selling out. And on “97”, the album’s best pure rap performance, she embraces the troll’s mantra that all clicks are good clicks, spitting, “That’s a comment, that’s a view, and that’s a rating/That’s some hating, and that’s engagement I could use.” Behind the provocations, though, is an artist with the idiosyncratic chops to back them up. That’s as true in Scarlet ’s lusty midsection as it is on its gulliest rap tracks: No one else would interrupt a dreamy love song (“Agora Hills”) to giggle in Valley Girl vocal fry, “Sorry, just taking a sip of my root beer!” (No one, that is, but Nicki Minaj, Doja’s clearest influence, who paved the way for women who juggle art-pop with hip-hop bona fides.) As catchy as it is contrarian, Scarlet offers a suggestion: Maybe it’s Doja’s willingness to reject the premise of being a pop star that makes her such a compelling one. On the album’s sweetest track, “Love Life”, she takes in her view from the top—still the weirdo her fans met in a cow suit but more confident in her contradictions. “They love when I embrace my flaws/I love it when they doin’ the same,” she raps softly. “I love it when my fans love change/That’s how we change the game.” "Paint the Town Red" contains a sample from "Walk On By" by Dionne Warwick "Ouchies" contains a sample from "Come On" by Luke "Agora Hills" contains a sample from "All I Do Is Think Of You" by Troop "Can't Wait" contains a sample from "Impeach The President" by The Honey Drippers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
River 107,181 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 There is a cat in scarlet His fart felt like a kiss Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
InTheCloset 17,804 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 I hope she releases a Cupcakke remix of Wet Vagina Where's the spunk, Adam? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hELXIG 41,928 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 Wait is this out Friday?? That's 5 minutes for me I might have a quick scan through before bed I'll be myself until they fūcking close the coffin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stupid Oreo 14,200 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 it is good. the shift in the album is so amazing??? agora hills is the highlight def Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magic Mike 2,684 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 56 minutes ago, Stupid Oreo said: it is good. the shift in the album is so amazing??? agora hills is the highlight def Have you already listened to it? :0 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSine 6,129 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 I need to borrow someone's VPN. 💜🩷🩵 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teletubby 138,500 Posted September 21, 2023 Author Share Posted September 21, 2023 8 minutes ago, TheSine said: I need to borrow someone's VPN. you can listen to snippets here: https://embed.music.apple.com/au/album/scarlet/1707931783 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pachinko 10,071 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 I wish i lived in the future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teletubby 138,500 Posted September 21, 2023 Author Share Posted September 21, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teletubby 138,500 Posted September 21, 2023 Author Share Posted September 21, 2023 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Boy 3,174 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 Album is definitely less pop, but also surprisingly chill, especially in the second half. I like it but i need some time with it. Agora Hills, Vagina, Skull and Bones, Gub, Demons, Attention are stand outs for now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen 30,313 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 3 hours ago, Teletubby said: Holy **** she's a legend Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PorkMuffinx 19 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 My favourites are Go Off, Guns, Ouchies & FTG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatfoxyfeeling 12,812 Posted September 22, 2023 Share Posted September 22, 2023 You can't deny her talent. She has delivered this era. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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