Scarlet

Doja Cat’s scary love story

BY SHANNA SIVAKUMAR

“Scarlet” marks Doja Cat’s fourth studio album, a 17-track love story set to trap and hip-hop beats. Promotions for the album included a stark new public persona, coloring all her previous album covers red on streaming platforms, and blocking her fans on social media. She wanted to establish herself as a real rapper with this album— wanted to place an emphasis on her lyricism and flow and detract away from the pop-rap label she had with “Planet Her”. But in doing so, the distinct sound she was previously known for has disappeared.

Doja Cat was certainly a topic of discussion within the past few months for her relationship with Jeffery “J” Cyrus, who has been accused of harassing and emotionally manipulating multiple women between 2020 and 2022. Song after song on “Scarlet” speaks of Doja and her lover and how infatuated she is with him. But with the added context of who her boyfriend is, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

The album starts out strong with “Paint The Town Red” and “Demons,” her two promotional singles which were accompanied by rather creative and unique music videos. However, after those two songs, the album peters out as each track blends into the next. It picks up for a brief moment with “Agora Hills” before going back its original pace.

An artist is never obligated to please their fans with their music, but Doja has abandoned all pretense of even liking her fans. Perhaps Doja Cat thought she was reinventing herself, but in the end, she lost what made her music so unique in the first place