Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Doja Cat
Discover the career path of Doja Cat, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Doja Cat, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, is a prominent American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Recognized as the "Queen of Pop-Rap," she is celebrated for her versatility, captivating live performances, and engaging online persona. Acknowledged by Billboard as a leading global pop star and a defining figure of contemporary pop music, Doja Cat was also listed as one of Time's most influential people in 2023, solidifying her impact on music and popular culture.
2010: Release of Massive Attack
In 2010, Nicki Minaj released her single "Massive Attack" which was later referenced by Doja Cat in her 2021 album "Planet Her".
2012: Gaining Stage Name
In 2012 as a teenager, Doja Cat gained her stage name from one of her cats and her favorite strain of marijuana, stating that she was "heavily addicted to weed and weed culture".
2012: "So High" Uploaded to SoundCloud
In late 2012, "So High" became the first permanent upload on Doja Cat's SoundCloud account.
August 2014: Release of Purrr!
In August 2014, Doja Cat released her debut EP, Purrr!, described as "spacey, eastern-influenced R&B".
2014: Signing with Kemosabe and RCA Records, Release of Purrr!
In 2014, Doja Cat signed a recording contract with Kemosabe and RCA Records, prior to releasing her debut extended play, Purrr!.
2014: Inspiration for 'Purrr!'
In 2014, Doja Cat's Hindu and Japanese childhood cultures were noted as sources of inspiration for her album 'Purrr!' and other aspects of her early career.
2017: Declining Feature on Billie Eilish's "Bellyache"
In 2017, Doja Cat declined Billie Eilish's offer to feature on what would later become her popular single "Bellyache" due to experiencing writer's block.
February 2018: Release of "Roll with Us"
In February 2018, Doja Cat released the song "Roll with Us", marking her first major commercial release in four years after a brief hiatus.
March 30, 2018: Release of Debut Album Amala
On March 30, 2018, Doja Cat's debut studio album Amala was released through RCA and Kemosabe Records, receiving little attention and failing to chart.
August 2018: Viral Success of "Mooo!"
In August 2018, Doja Cat self-published the music video for "Mooo!", which quickly gained viral success as an internet meme.
2018: "Freak" released on SoundCloud
Doja Cat had a song named "Freak" which was released on SoundCloud since 2018.
2018: Start of high record sales
From 2018 to 2022, Doja Cat sold over 34 million records, establishing herself as one of the best-selling female rappers of all time.
2018: Release of Amala and Viral Success of "Mooo!"
In 2018, Doja Cat released her debut studio album, Amala, and later achieved viral success with her single "Mooo!", gaining attention as an internet meme.
February 2019: Release of "Tia Tamera"
In February 2019, Doja Cat released the single "Tia Tamera" featuring Rico Nasty, along with its accompanying music video.
March 1, 2019: Release of Amala (Deluxe Edition)
On March 1, 2019, the deluxe edition of Amala was released, featuring bonus tracks including "Mooo!", "Tia Tamera", and "Juicy".
August 2019: Release of "Juicy" Remix and Chart Debut
In August 2019, a remix version of Doja Cat's song "Juicy" featuring Tyga was released, marking her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
October 2019: Release of "Bottom Bitch"
In October 2019, Doja Cat released "Bottom Bitch" as the second single from her second album.
November 2019: Original Release of Say So
In November 2019, "Say So" was originally released alongside the album Hot Pink but gained wider popularity later.
December 2019: Scrapped Feature on XXXTentacion's Album
In December 2019, Doja Cat was meant to feature on a track titled "Broward Coward" from XXXTentacion's fourth studio album, Bad Vibes Forever, however the song was ultimately scrapped when the album tracklist was completely revised for its posthumous release.
2019: First Charted Record
Five years before being ranked as the 24th top woman artist by Billboard, 2019 was the year Doja Cat had her first charted record.
2019: Increase in Audio Streams
In 2019, Doja Cat's on-demand audio streams in the U.S. increased by 300%.
January 2020: "Say So" Sent to Radio
In January 2020, the song "Say So" was sent to radio, becoming the fourth single off of her album Hot Pink.
February 2020: "Say So" Performance and Music Video Release
In February 2020, Doja Cat performed "Say So" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and released the music video for the song.
May 2020: Featured on "In Your Eyes" Remix
In May 2020, Doja Cat was featured on a remix of The Weeknd's single "In Your Eyes", as well as on the single "Shimmy" by rapper Lil Wayne.
May 2020: "Say So" Remix featuring Nicki Minaj Tops Billboard Hot 100
In May 2020, the remix of "Say So" featuring Nicki Minaj topped the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first number-one single for both artists and the first-ever female rap collaboration to peak atop the chart.
June 2020: Donation to Justice for Breonna Taylor Fund
In June 2020, Doja Cat donated $100,000 to the Justice for Breonna Taylor Fund to support Taylor's family.
June 2020: Features and "Like That" Music Video Release
In June 2020, Doja Cat was featured on City Girls' single "Pussy Talk" and released the music video for her single "Like That". She also uploaded the demo song "Unisex Freestyle" to SoundCloud.
August 2020: Release of "Freak" on Digital Platforms
In August 2020, Doja Cat's song "Freak", which had been on SoundCloud since 2018, was officially released on digital platforms.
October 2020: Performances and Features in October 2020
In October 2020, Doja Cat was featured on Bebe Rexha's single "Baby, I'm Jealous", and also performed a burlesque-themed medley at the Billboard Music Awards. She also performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
2020: Rankings and Recognition in 2020
In 2020, Billboard ranked Doja Cat at number five on both the Top New Artists and Top Female Artists charts in the United States. Rolling Stone ranked her at number one on their list of the ten biggest breakthrough artists. Forbes named her "one of the top breakout stars of 2020" and included her on their 30 Under 30 list. She was also the fourth most-Googled musician in the United States during 2020.
2020: Performance and Award at MTV Europe Music Awards
In 2020, Doja Cat performed a metal rendition of "Say So" at the MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony. She also won the award for Best New Act at the event. However, her performance was criticized for sampling Plini's "Handmade Cities" without permission, and she later apologized to Plini via social media.
2020: Release of "Boss Bitch" for Birds of Prey Soundtrack
In 2020, Doja Cat released the single "Boss Bitch" as part of the soundtrack for the film Birds of Prey.
December 31, 2020: Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve Performance
On December 31, 2020, Doja Cat performed "Say So", "Like That", and "Juicy" at the annual Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve show.
March 2021: Planet Her Album Title Reveal
In March 2021, Doja Cat revealed the title of her third studio album, Planet Her, in an interview with V.
April 23, 2021: NFT Marketplace Launch
On April 23, 2021, Doja Cat launched an NFT marketplace titled "Juicy Drops".
June 11, 2021: "Need to Know" Release and Album Announcement
On June 11, 2021, Doja Cat released "Need to Know" with a music video as the first promotional single from Planet Her. She also announced the album's release and tracklist before the single's release.
June 16, 2021: Guest Starred on 'Dave'
On June 16, 2021, Doja Cat guest starred as Lil Dicky's romantic interest in the second season of the TV series Dave.
November 2021: Disdain Towards Persona
In November 2021, Doja Cat expressed disdain towards her stage name and the persona it carries, stating that "my image was the pothead hippie girl, and I'm not that."
2021: Chart Success and Awards in 2021
In 2021, Doja Cat achieved significant chart success and recognition. She was featured on Lil Nas X's album Montero and Young Thug's album Punk, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Songwriters chart, and became the first rapper to have three top 10 songs on the US Mainstream Top 40. She was also the bestselling female R&B and hip-hop artist in the US, with Planet Her being the sixth best-selling album in the US and fifth most streamed globally on Spotify. Additionally, she was nominated for eight awards at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
2021: Tribute to Nicki Minaj in Planet Her
In 2021, Doja Cat's album 'Planet Her' paid tribute to Nicki Minaj, borrowing lyrics and rap delivery from Minaj's 2010 single "Massive Attack" on the song "Get Into It (Yuh)". Critics noted the album was largely influenced by Minaj.
2021: Release and Success of Planet Her
In 2021, Doja Cat's third studio album, Planet Her, achieved significant success, spending forty-one weeks in the Billboard 200's top 10 and becoming the 10th best-selling album globally.
February 2022: Super Bowl Commercial and "Freaky Deaky" Release
In February 2022, Doja Cat released a cover of Hole's "Celebrity Skin" for a Taco Bell commercial, which premiered at the Super Bowl LVI. Later that month, her collaboration with Tyga, "Freaky Deaky", was released as a single.
May 6, 2022: "Vegas" Release for Elvis Soundtrack
On May 6, 2022, Doja Cat released "Vegas" as the lead single for the soundtrack of Baz Luhrmann's film Elvis.
June 2022: "I Like You (A Happier Song)" Release
In June 2022, Post Malone released "I Like You (A Happier Song)" featuring Doja Cat as a single from his album Twelve Carat Toothache.
July 2022: Subject of the song 'Doja'
In July 2022, British rapper Central Cee released the song "Doja", which was about Doja Cat. This song achieved global success, becoming the most streamed UK rap song on Spotify.
2022: End of high record sales
From 2018 to 2022, Doja Cat sold over 34 million records, establishing herself as one of the best-selling female rappers of all time.
2022: XXL Awards and Grammy Win in 2022
In 2022, Doja Cat won the awards for Female Rapper of the Year and Performer of the Year at the XXL Awards. "Kiss Me More" also won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo Performance.
2022: Planet Her success in 2022
In 2022, Planet Her became the 13th best-selling album, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
June 2023: "Attention" Promotional Single Release
In mid-June 2023, Doja Cat released "Attention" with a music video as the first promotional single for her upcoming album.
August 2023: "Paint the Town Red" Release and Chart Success
In early August 2023, Doja Cat released "Paint the Town Red", which became her first solo song to top the charts in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Billboard Global 200 chart. The album title was revealed to be Scarlet in mid-August 2023.
September 2023: "Demons" Promotional Single Release
In early September 2023, Doja Cat released "Demons" as the second promotional single from Scarlet, featuring Christina Ricci in the music video.
September 22, 2023: Scarlet Album Release
On September 22, 2023, Doja Cat released Scarlet to mostly positive reviews, and it debuted within the top 5 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
2023: Release of Scarlet and Success of "Paint the Town Red"
In 2023, Doja Cat released her fourth studio album, Scarlet, which peaked within the top five of the Billboard 200, with its lead single "Paint the Town Red" topping various charts internationally.
2023: Teasing Fourth Studio Album and New Aesthetic
In early 2023, Doja Cat began teasing her fourth studio album, initially titled Hellmouth, asserting it would be predominantly rap. She denounced her previous albums as "cash grabs" and adopted a darker aesthetic, leading to accusations of Satanism and Illuminati membership from some fans.
January 27, 2024: "Paint the Town Red" Tops Triple J Hottest 100
On January 27, 2024, Doja Cat's single "Paint the Town Red" was listed number one in the Triple J Hottest 100, making her the first female rapper and first woman of color to top the list.
April 5, 2024: Deluxe Edition Release: Scarlet 2 Claude
On April 5, 2024, Doja Cat released a deluxe edition of the Scarlet album titled Scarlet 2 Claude. The release was named after the Claude Frollo character from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The deluxe edition features collaborations from ASAP Rocky and Teezo Touchdown.
October 2024: Teasing Forthcoming Album
In October 2024, Doja Cat teased a forthcoming album on X (formerly Twitter) with posts like "vvv" and "album", suggesting work on her fifth studio album.
March 21, 2025: Featured on 'Just Us' with Jack Harlow
On March 21, 2025, Doja Cat was featured on the song "Just Us" with American rapper Jack Harlow.
May 5, 2025: Surprise Release of 'Crack' and Met Gala Appearance
On May 5, 2025, Doja Cat surprise-released "Crack", an outtake from her fourth studio album Scarlet, exclusively on her website for 24 hours. She also attended the Met Gala, where she confirmed that "Jealous Type" would be a single from her upcoming album.
July 21, 2025: Doja Cat Announces Completion of 'Vie' Album
On July 21, 2025, Doja Cat announced on X that her album 'Vie' was completed. She also confirmed in V Magazine that the album would be released in the fall and would be more pop-driven than her previous album, 'Scarlet'.
September 26, 2025: Release of 'Vie'
On September 26, 2025, Doja Cat's album 'Vie' was released as scheduled, receiving critical acclaim. The album marked a return to her pop roots and featured various genres, including R&B, pop, funk, new jack swing, and hip-hop.
2025: Release of Vie
In 2025, Doja Cat released Vie, which marked a return to her pop roots and also peaked within the top five of the Billboard 200.
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