Doja Cat

Basic Information:

• Name: Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini

• Date of Birth: October 21, 1995

• Nationality: American

• Profession: Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer

• Social Media Links:

  • Instagram:

  • X (formerly Twitter):

Biography:

Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, known professionally as Doja Cat, is an American artist who has made a significant impact as a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, her early life was marked by a diverse cultural upbringing. Her mother, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, is a Jewish-American painter and clothing designer, while her father, Dumisani Dlamini, is a South African actor and dancer known for his role in the 1992 film Sarafina!. Doja Cat's parents met while her father was performing on Broadway, but they had a brief relationship, and her father was not significantly involved in her upbringing. She was primarily raised by her mother and grandmother. Doja Cat's stage name is derived from her love for cats and a strain of marijuana called "doja."

Doja Cat's early musical interests were nurtured in her unconventional upbringing. She lived in a Hindu ashram for a period, where she learned dance, including the Bharatanatyam tradition. She later attended a performing arts high school. However, she dropped out at 16, realizing her passion for music, and then began to teach herself singing, rapping, and music production, using software like GarageBand. She started uploading her music to SoundCloud, and her track "So High," became her first permanent upload in late 2012.

Her initial releases caught the attention of producers, leading to a record deal with Kemosabe and RCA Records in 2013, at the age of 17, under the guidance of Dr. Luke. Doja Cat released her debut EP, Purrr! in 2014, and her first album, Amala in 2018. Initially, the album did not achieve major commercial success. However, with the viral sensation of her novelty song "Mooo!" in 2018, she gained widespread recognition, establishing her as an internet meme personality, known for her absurdist humor. This propelled her career forward.

Doja Cat capitalized on her growing popularity with her second studio album, Hot Pink, in 2019, which spawned the hit single "Say So." A remix of the song featuring Nicki Minaj reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, achieving a Guinness World Record, marking her breakthrough into mainstream success. She continued her success with her third album Planet Her (2021) which produced the hit singles "Kiss Me More," "Need to Know," and "Woman." Her fourth studio album, Scarlet, released in 2023, adopted a more hip-hop-oriented sound and produced her first solo number-one hit, "Paint the Town Red," further solidifying her place in the industry.

Throughout her career, Doja Cat has demonstrated a unique ability to blend genres and maintain a strong presence on social media, particularly on platforms like TikTok, using her unique online persona to create viral videos and performances. She is known for her boundary-pushing style, blending of rap, pop, and R&B, and her innovative approach to music.

Career Timeline:

• 2012: Uploaded "So High" to SoundCloud, marking her initial foray into music production and online sharing.

• 2013: Signed a record deal with Kemosabe and RCA Records at the age of 17.

• 2014: Released her debut extended play Purrr!.

• 2018: Released debut studio album, Amala, and gained viral fame with the song "Mooo!".

• 2019: Released second studio album, Hot Pink, which reached the top ten on the Billboard 200.

• 2020: "Say So" remix featuring Nicki Minaj, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, earning a Guinness World Record.

• 2021: Released third studio album, Planet Her, which was commercially successful, including top ten singles like "Kiss Me More."

• 2023: Released her fourth studio album, Scarlet, and her single "Paint the Town Red" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Achievements:

Doja Cat has received significant recognition throughout her career. She has won one Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Kiss Me More," five Billboard Music Awards, including Top R&B Artist and Top R&B Female Artist in 2022. She has also received five American Music Awards, including Collaboration of the Year for "Kiss Me More" with SZA, and five MTV Video Music Awards. She has also received six iHeartRadio Music Awards, including four Titanium Awards for 1 Billion total audience spins. She was named BMI's Pop Songwriter of the Year in 2023. Doja Cat's achievements also extend to being listed #1 in Australian radio station Triple J's (JJJ) listener poll for the annual Hottest 100 competition for her single "Paint the Town Red". She has been nominated for numerous other awards, including multiple Grammy nominations for her songs "Attention" and "Paint The Town Red", Record of the Year for "Say So", and Album of the Year for "Planet Her". Furthermore, she has consistently been ranked among the top artists in various categories by Billboard and Rolling Stone and was featured on Forbes' "30 Under 30" list. Doja Cat has also been recognized for her influence on social media and her impact on the music industry, particularly her use of TikTok to generate viral trends and further her music's reach.

Key Quotes / Catchphrases:

• "If your only intent is to be seen, you'll never be seen. If your intent is to be happy, comfortable, genuine, and true in craft, you're destined to be noticed."

• "I'm a bit of a tomboy, but then a girly girl. And I feel like you can be both."

• "I just like to do the fun stuff. If I'm not having fun with it, I'm not going to do it for the rest of my life."

• "Be whatever you want to be."

• "Truth is, I love everyone that is a good person regardless of what they look like, walk like, or who they love."

• "I am a Black woman. Half of my family is Black from South Africa and I'm very proud of where I come from."

• "At this point, I just do whatever... I want, to my detriment."

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