History of Doja Cat in Timeline
Doja Cat, whose real name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, is a multi-talented American artist based in Los Angeles. She is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Her musical journey began in her teens, creating and sharing her work on SoundCloud. Her talent was recognized when her song "So High" caught the attention of Kemosabe and RCA Records. This led to a recording contract and the subsequent release of her debut EP, "Purrr!" in 2014.
1992: Doja Cat's Father Stars in "Sarafina!" Film Adaptation
Dumisani Dlamini, Doja Cat's father, gained recognition for his role as Crocodile in the film adaptation of the musical "Sarafina!"
October 21, 1995: Birth of Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini
Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, known professionally as Doja Cat, was born in Tarzana, Los Angeles, California.
2010: Nicki Minaj's 'Massive Attack' Release
Nicki Minaj released her debut single 'Massive Attack', which would later influence Doja Cat's own music.
2012: Doja Cat Adopts Stage Name
Doja Cat adopted her stage name, inspired by her cat and her favorite strain of marijuana.
2012: Doja Cat's First SoundCloud Upload and Early Career Beginnings
Doja Cat uploaded "So High," her first permanent track, to SoundCloud. She started her career in the Los Angeles underground hip-hop scene, performing at parties and cyphers, collaborating with other artists, and honing her musical skills.
August 2014: Debut EP Release and Feature on "Empire"
Doja Cat's debut EP, "Purrr!" was released. Her single "So High" was also featured in the third episode of the first season of the Fox series "Empire."
2014: Release of Debut EP "Purrr!"
Doja Cat released her debut EP "Purrr!" under Kemosabe and RCA Records. The EP, described as "spacey, eastern-influenced R&B," marked the beginning of her professional music career.
2014: 'Purrr!' EP Release
Doja Cat released her debut EP 'Purrr!', influenced by various artists and cultures including Hindu and Japanese cultures.
2014: Nicki Minaj Releases "The Pinkprint"
Nicki Minaj released her third studio album, "The Pinkprint."
January 2015: Nicki Minaj's "The Pinkprint" Chart Success
Nicki Minaj's album "The Pinkprint" achieved significant chart success, setting a precedent for album longevity at the number two position on the Billboard 200.
2015: 'Dindu Nuffin' Song Released
Doja Cat released a song titled 'Dindu Nuffin', which would later spark controversy due to its use of an alt-right term.
2015: Signing with OG Maco's Label
Doja Cat signed a temporary deal with OG Maco's record label, OGG.
2015: Doja Cat Uses Homophobic Slur Towards Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt
Doja Cat used a homophobic slur in a tweet referring to hip hop artists Tyler, the Creator and Earl Sweatshirt.
2016: Collaboration with OG Maco on "Monster"
Doja Cat collaborated with OG Maco on the song "Monster," which was featured on Maco's mixtape "Children of The Rage."
2016: Plini Releases 'Handmade Cities'
Plini, a musician, released the song 'Handmade Cities' which would later be involved in a plagiarism controversy with Doja Cat.
2017: Experiences Writer's Block and Declines Collaboration with Billie Eilish
Doja Cat went through a period of writer's block, causing her to decline a collaboration offer from Billie Eilish for her single "Bellyache." She also took a break from releasing music due to creative challenges and difficulties with her record labels.
February 2018: Doja Cat Releases "Roll with Us"
After a brief hiatus, Doja Cat releases "Roll with Us," marking her first major commercial release in four years.
March 30, 2018: Doja Cat Releases Debut Album: Amala
Doja Cat's debut studio album, Amala, is released through RCA and Kemosabe Records. The album features previously released singles and receives little critical attention or commercial success.
August 2018: "Mooo!" Becomes Viral Sensation
Doja Cat's homemade music video for the novelty song "Mooo!" goes viral, garnering millions of views and propelling her to further recognition.
2018: Doja Cat Uploads "Freak" to SoundCloud
Doja Cat uploads the song "Freak" to SoundCloud.
2018: Release of Debut Album and Viral Success of "Mooo!"
Doja Cat released her first studio album, "Amala", but it didn't gain much traction. However, her single "Mooo!" became a viral internet meme, boosting her popularity significantly.
2018: Doja Cat's Use of Homophobic Slur
Doja Cat sparked controversy due to her past use of a homophobic slur on social media. She initially defended her remarks but later apologized and deleted the tweets, leading to her being labeled the 'Milkshake Duck' of 2018 by NME.
February 2019: Doja Cat Releases "Tia Tamera"
Doja Cat releases "Tia Tamera," featuring Rico Nasty, as the second single from the deluxe edition of Amala. The release is accompanied by a music video.
March 1, 2019: Deluxe Edition of Amala Released
The deluxe edition of Doja Cat's debut album, Amala, is released, featuring bonus tracks "Mooo!", "Tia Tamera", and "Juicy".
August 2019: Relationship with Jawny Begins
Doja Cat began an open relationship with American musician Jawny.
August 2019: "Juicy" Remix Released
A remix of Doja Cat's song "Juicy" featuring Tyga is released, leading to the song's debut on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieving platinum certification.
October 2019: Doja Cat Releases "Bottom Bitch"
Doja Cat releases "Bottom Bitch" as the second single from her upcoming second album.
November 7, 2019: Doja Cat Releases Second Album: Hot Pink
Doja Cat's second studio album, Hot Pink, is released to generally favorable reviews and achieves commercial success, peaking at number 9 on the Billboard 200 chart.
November 2019: "Say So" Released
"Say So" is initially released as part of Doja Cat's album Hot Pink.
December 2019: Collaboration with XXXTentacion Scrapped
A planned collaboration between Doja Cat and the late XXXTentacion for his album Bad Vibes Forever is scrapped during the album's posthumous release.
2019: "Candy" Goes Viral
Doja Cat's single "Candy" from her debut album, Amala, becomes a sleeper hit after a dance challenge on TikTok goes viral, leading to chart success in several countries.
2019: 'Bottom Bitch' Single Release
Doja Cat released 'Bottom Bitch', a single that can be interpreted as a metaphor for lesbian sex.
2019: Doja Cat's Streaming Surge
Doja Cat experienced a significant increase in on-demand audio streams in the US, marking her rising popularity.
January 2020: "Say So" Sent to Radio
"Say So" is sent to radio as the fourth single from Doja Cat's album Hot Pink.
February 2020: Separation from Jawny
Doja Cat and Jawny ended their relationship.
February 2020: Doja Cat Performs on The Tonight Show
Doja Cat performs "Say So" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
March 2020: Hot Pink Tour Postponed
Doja Cat's Hot Pink Tour is postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 2020: Doja Cat Downplays COVID-19
Doja Cat faced criticism for downplaying the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic during an Instagram Live session, stating that it was 'only a flu'.
May 2020: Doja Cat Featured on The Weeknd and Lil Wayne Remixes
Doja Cat is featured on a remix of The Weeknd's single "In Your Eyes" and on Lil Wayne's single "Shimmy" from the deluxe version of his album Funeral.
May 2020: Controversial Song Resurfaces and Racial Slur Allegations
A 2015 song by Doja Cat titled 'Dindu Nuffin', containing an alt-right term, resurfaced and led to controversy. Doja Cat apologized, calling it a 'bad decision' but denying it was a response to Sandra Bland's death. Footage also circulated of her allegedly using a racial slur on Tinychat, leading to further apologies and denials of racist intent.
May 2020: "Say So" Remix Tops the Charts
A remix of "Say So" featuring Nicki Minaj is released and tops the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first number-one single for both artists and the first female rap collaboration to achieve this feat.
June 2020: Donation to Justice for Breonna Taylor Fund
Doja Cat donated $100,000 to the Justice for Breonna Taylor Fund to support Taylor's family.
June 2020: Doja Cat Collaborates with City Girls and Releases "Like That" Music Video
Doja Cat is featured on the single "Pussy Talk" by the rap duo City Girls and releases the music video for her single "Like That". She also uploads a demo song "Unisex Freestyle" to SoundCloud.
August 2020: Doja Cat Officially Releases "Freak"
Doja Cat's song "Freak," previously available on SoundCloud, is officially released on digital platforms.
October 2020: Doja Cat's Collaborations and Performances
Doja Cat collaborated with Bebe Rexha on "Baby, I'm Jealous" and with Ozuna on "Del Mar." She also performed these songs on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, respectively. Her collaboration with Ariana Grande on "Motive" achieved significant success on the Billboard Hot 100.
December 24, 2020: Doja Cat Releases "Hot Pink Sessions"
Doja Cat released a series of videos on her YouTube channel titled "Hot Pink Sessions," featuring unique performances of three songs.
2020: Plagiarism Accusations at MTV EMAs
Doja Cat's 'Say So' performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards received criticism for allegedly plagiarizing the guitar solo from Plini's 2016 song 'Handmade Cities'. Plini later confirmed receiving an apology from Doja Cat.
2020: Doja Cat Contributes to Birds of Prey Soundtrack
Doja Cat releases the single "Boss Bitch" as part of the soundtrack for the film Birds of Prey.
2020: Doja Cat's Breakthrough Year
Doja Cat achieved significant recognition and accolades in 2020. She was ranked among the top artists by Billboard and Rolling Stone, and was included in Forbes' 30 Under 30 list. She was also one of the most-Googled musicians in the US.
December 31, 2020: Doja Cat's New Year's Eve Performance
Doja Cat performed a medley of her hit songs "Say So," "Like That," and "Juicy" at the annual Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve show.
January 7, 2021: Doja Cat Collaborates with Saweetie
Doja Cat was featured on Saweetie's single "Best Friend" and appeared in the music video.
March 2021: Doja Cat Reveals "Planet Her" Album Title
Doja Cat revealed the title of her third studio album, "Planet Her," in an interview.
April 23, 2021: Doja Cat Launches NFT Marketplace
Doja Cat launched her NFT marketplace titled "Juicy Drops."
May 2021: Doja Cat's Billboard Music Awards Win and Performance
Doja Cat won the award for Top Female R&B Artist at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards and performed "Kiss Me More" with SZA.
June 11, 2021: Doja Cat Releases "Need to Know" and Announces "Planet Her"
Doja Cat released the promotional single "Need to Know" and formally announced the release of her album "Planet Her," revealing its tracklist and cover art.
June 16, 2021: Dave Season 2 Premiere
Doja Cat guest starred in the second season of the TV series Dave, which premiered on this date.
November 2021: Doja Cat Expresses Disdain for Stage Name
Doja Cat stated that she doesn't identify with the "pothead hippie girl" image associated with her stage name, which was inspired by her love for marijuana.
2021: Purchase of Beverly Hills Home
Doja Cat purchased a home in Beverly Hills for $2.2 million.
2021: Release of Third Studio Album "Planet Her"
Doja Cat released her third studio album, "Planet Her," which achieved commercial success, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 and featuring popular singles like "Kiss Me More," "Need to Know," and "Woman."
2021: 'Naked' Song Release
Doja Cat released 'Naked', a song containing playful sexual references that allude to bisexuality.
2021: Collaborations and Chart Success
Doja Cat was featured on Lil Nas X's album "Montero" and Young Thug's album "Punk." She reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Songwriters chart for the first time and became the first rapper to have three top 10 songs on the US Mainstream Top 40.
2021: 'Planet Her' Album Release and Nicki Minaj Influence
Doja Cat released her third studio album, 'Planet Her', which was heavily influenced by Nicki Minaj. She paid tribute to Minaj in the song 'Get Into It (Yuh)' by borrowing lyrics and rap delivery from Minaj's 2010 single 'Massive Attack'.
February 2022: "Celebrity Skin" Cover and "Freaky Deaky" Release
Doja Cat released a cover of "Celebrity Skin" for a Taco Bell commercial which premiered at Super Bowl LVI. Her collaboration with Tyga, "Freaky Deaky," was also released.
March 2022: Career Burnout and South American Tour Incident
Doja Cat expressed feelings of career burnout and frustration, culminating in a Twitter outburst following a canceled show in Paraguay.
March 2022: Doja Cat Threatens to Quit Music After Paraguay Incident
Doja Cat faced backlash for her perceived lack of engagement with fans in Paraguay following the cancellation of the Asunciónico festival due to weather conditions. She responded with a series of tweets expressing her frustration, threatening to quit music, and changing her Twitter username to 'I Quit.' She later reversed her decision and returned to social media, expressing appreciation for her fans.
May 6, 2022: Release of "Vegas"
Doja Cat's song "Vegas," for the Elvis (2022) film soundtrack, was released as the lead single.
May 2022: Doja Cat Reveals Nicotine Addiction and Cancels Tour
Doja Cat opened up about her nicotine addiction, revealing that she needed surgery for an infected tonsil caused by vaping. Consequently, she canceled her summer festival appearances and her opening act slot on The Weeknd's tour.
June 2022: Release of "I Like You (A Happier Song)"
The track "I Like You (A Happier Song)" by Post Malone featuring Doja Cat was released.
July 2022: Central Cee's "Doja"
British rapper Central Cee released "Doja," a song named after and inspired by Doja Cat, which gained global success.
September 2022: Sale of Beverly Hills Home
Doja Cat sold her Beverly Hills home for $2.5 million.
2022: Award Nominations and Wins
Doja Cat won Female Rapper of the Year and Performer of the Year at the 2022 XXL Awards. She received eight Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year. She won Best Pop Duo Performance for "Kiss Me More."
June 2023: 'Attention' Single Release
Doja Cat released 'Attention', the first promotional single from her upcoming album 'Scarlet'. The music video was directed by Tanu Muino.
July 2023: Doja Cat Loses Instagram Followers After Controversial Threads Comments
Doja Cat faced criticism and lost a significant number of followers on Instagram after making controversial comments on the Threads app suggesting she does not value her fanbase.
August 2023: 'Paint the Town Red' Single Release and Chart Success
Doja Cat's lead single 'Paint the Town Red' from her album 'Scarlet' was released and achieved commercial success, breaking streaming records and becoming her first solo song to top charts in several countries, including the US and UK.
September 2023: 'Demons' Single and Music Video Release
The second promotional single, 'Demons', was released with a music video directed by Christian Breslauer and featuring actress Christina Ricci.
September 22, 2023: 'Scarlet' Album Release
Doja Cat released her fourth studio album, 'Scarlet', to mostly positive reviews. It debuted in the top 5 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
October 6, 2023: Doja Cat Faces Backlash for Wearing Sam Hyde T-Shirt
Doja Cat received online criticism after posting a selfie on Instagram wearing a t-shirt featuring the controversial alt-right comedian Sam Hyde. She subsequently deleted the photo and reposted a version with Hyde's image edited out.
2023: Grammy Nominations
Doja Cat received Grammy nominations for "I Like You (A Happier Song)" and "Woman."
2023: Release of Fourth Studio Album "Scarlet"
Doja Cat released "Scarlet," her fourth studio album, showcasing a more hip-hop oriented sound. The album peaked within the top five of the Billboard 200 and featured the lead single "Paint the Town Red," which became her first solo number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
2023: 'Paint the Town Red' Released
Doja Cat released her single 'Paint the Town Red', which would later achieve significant popularity.
2023: Recognition as a Global Influencer
Doja Cat was recognized as one of the 100 most influential people globally by Time magazine, highlighting her impact on music and popular culture.
January 2024: Restraining Order Filed Against Doja Cat's Brother
Doja Cat's mother filed a temporary restraining order against Doja Cat's brother, Raman Dalithando Dlamini, alleging abuse towards both Doja Cat and their mother.
January 27, 2024: 'Paint the Town Red' Tops Triple J's Hottest 100
Doja Cat's single 'Paint the Town Red' reached the number one spot in the annual listener-voted Hottest 100 competition hosted by Australian radio station Triple J.
April 5, 2024: 'Scarlet 2 Claude' Deluxe Album Release
A deluxe edition of 'Scarlet', titled 'Scarlet 2 Claude', was released, featuring collaborations with ASAP Rocky and Teezo Touchdown, who was featured on the single 'Masc.'