Doja Cat is a singer, rapper, composer, and record producer from the United States who is recognized for her catchy and funny songs with odd lyrics, which are influenced by deep hip-hop and electronic R&B. Her silly viral hit ‘Mooo!’ catapulted her to popularity in 2018, followed by her debut EP, ‘Purrr!,’ released in 2014.
Let’s get to know the pop newbie a little better, starting with her true name, as Doja Cat continues to carve out her own niche in the entertainment business.
Doja Cat- Early Life
Doja Cat was born on October 21, 1995, in Los Angeles, California. Her true name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini. Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, the singer’s mother, is a Jewish-American painter, while Dumisani Dlamini, the singer’s father, is a South African actor, composer, and film producer best known for his role in the 1992 musical Sarafina!
Her father is from the Zulu ethnic group. Her mother, in particular, reared her in an artsy family.
Doja said in a 2019 interview with Fader that her father was not active in her upbringing and remained aloof throughout her childhood. He does, however, actively respond to her social media messages. The singer said she doesn’t harbor any grudges against him, but she does find it strange.
Her family consists of siblings and sisters that are dispersed around the country. Doja considers herself “fortunate” despite not having a regular nuclear family.
“It’s always nice to have both of your parents in your life, as well as all of your brothers and sisters, and everyone loves each other,” Doja continued, “but [crap] isn’t always like that.”
Her father, on the other hand, has refuted the charges, stating that he and his daughter have a “good relationship,” as he disclosed in November 2019 on POWER talk, The Profile. Shortly after her birth, the rapper and her mother relocated to New York City, where they resided for five years. Her family eventually returned to Oak Park, California.
Her family went to the Sherman Oaks section of Los Angeles when she was 11 years old, where they lived in an ashram and embraced Hinduism for four years.
Doja claimed in a 2018 interview with Fader that her existence in the ashram was limited because she couldn’t be a child. She had to wrap a cloth around her head and cover her entire body. She, on the other hand, adored the ashram’s serene atmosphere.
Doja was always interested in music and dancing as a child. After taking breakdancing training, she joined a professional pop-locking company and competed in dance fights across Los Angeles while still in high school.
Later, at the age of 16, she dropped out of school to seek a career in the industry.
The ‘Mooo!’ vocalist first began experimenting in her bedroom before gaining the confidence to showcase her music on a larger stage. Doja began singing and rapping in GarageBand and posted it to SoundCloud.
I didn’t know where to start, so I just started singing in my room, locking the door, and attempting to sing quietly. I knew my mother would want to hear what I had to say, and she would probably bother me about it.
Career
The 25-year-old then began making music, and her song “So High” gave her her first taste of fame. The song was a sleeper success when it was first published in 2012, but it quickly acquired traction on SoundCloud. It was her first time uploading something permanent to the app.
After the release of her commercial solo ‘So High,’ Doja signed a deal with RCA Records at the age of seventeen. Her debut EP, ‘Purrr! (2014),’ was published on the label and includes the single ‘So High’ as well as the minor hit tune ‘No Police.’
After the EP, she released a series of songs until finally releasing her debut album.
Bellboy, Elliphant, Pregnant Boy, and Skoolie Escobar were among the first musicians with whom the young performer collaborated. She also had an appearance on the L8LOOMER’s song “Right Side” in 2017.
Doja’s next song, ‘Roll with Us,’ was released in February 2018. The following month, she released ‘Go to Town,’ the album’s second single. The singer released her full-length first album under her own name, ‘Amala,’ on March 30, 2018.
The album was a “manifesto of a young woman attempting to take ownership of her art, her image, and her sexuality, blending genres like dancehall, trap, house, and R&B with a fair dosage of sass and humor,” according to NPR reports from 2018.
Going Viral in 2018
In August 2018, Doja released the self-produced song ‘Mooo!’ on her YouTube account. The clever song went viral instantly, and she became an overnight music sensation. Several celebrities, including Chris Brown and Chance the Rapper, were drawn to her music video in which she danced in a cow costume.
‘Mooo!’ rocketed up, according to Doja, because she included a music video. In July 2020, she remarked in a video titled “The Tale of Becoming Doja Cat,” “I created a lousy video, but people loved it because it’s ridiculous.” The music video has been seen over 86 million times to date.
She released an extended version of her debut album, “Amala,” in 2019, which featured the Rico Nasty-assisted singles “Juicy” and “Tia Tamara.” ‘Juicy’ debuted at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her first chart appearance. In the end, the song was certified Platinum in the United States and reached number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Her second studio album, ‘Hot Pink,’ was released in November 2019. Smino, Gucci Mane, and Tyga were among the musicians featured on the album, which delves deeper into the genre. ‘Say So,’ the album’s fifth song, charted in the Top Ten on the Billboard 200, propelling her even farther up the charts.
After going popular on TikTok, the song gained a lot of attention. In February 2020, she sang the song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. In May 2020, a remix of ‘Say So’ starring Nicki Minaj was released.
The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time, marking a first for both performers.
Recent Projects
Doja’s eighth single from the ‘Hot Pink’ album, ‘Streets,’ was released in late January 2021. In February 2021, the song debuted on US pop radio. It became a sleeper smash because to TikTok’s live performances and challenges, which went viral on the video streaming platform. It also helped the song reach number 5 on the Billboard 100.
For her track “Say So,” the artist was nominated for three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. The diva wore a couture Roberto Cavalli gown with neon green and black feathers on the bottom and a cream and black embroidered leather motorbike jacket on top. Her front torso was exposed all the way down to her navel thanks to the plunging gold zippers.
“I’m just very happy about this because I enjoy something that’s kind of out there,” she said about the look during the Live from E!: Grammy Awards pre-show on March 14, 2021. “I feel like I’ve been pretty toned down lately, but this is like something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Height and Weight of Doja Cat
The R&B singer is 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) tall and weighs approximately 57 kilos. Her eyes have a dark brown hue to them. Her zodiac sign is Libra.
What’s the Story Behind Doja Cat’s Stage Name?
One of the performer’s cats, as well as her favorite marijuana strain, inspired her stage name. For those unfamiliar with the term, ‘doja’ refers to marijuana. “I was highly addicted to pot and weed culture,” she told Dazed in May 2020, “so when I began rapping, I thought of the word ‘doja’ and how it sounds like a girl’s name.”
Relationship Status
Everything is in order. Everything is OK now that I have unfollowed my ex-boyfriend. We’ve kept our cool. There’s nothing strange going on. There is no drama or strange nonsense going on. It just [expletive] didn’t work out.
Is Doja Cat a lesbian?
Despite having previously dated men, she came out as homosexual on an Instagram Live in August 2019. She responded, “When it comes to my sexuality,” when asked about it.
Both appeal to me. I enjoy [expletive] and, well, I enjoy people with whom I can have [expletive]. Isn’t it true that you may have [expletive] with anyone?
Despite being LGBT, the ‘Say So’ singer was also the subject of controversy in 2018 for her bigoted remarks. Users on Twitter unearthed a now-deleted remark in which she referred to Tyler, the Creator, and Earl Sweatshirt of Odd Future as [expletive]. Following the uproar, she responded with a tweet explaining that she believes “gay is ok,” which sparked even more outrage when she defended the use of the term.
Does this mean I don’t get help because I called a couple of people [expletive] in high school in 2015?” She expressed herself on Twitter. “I’ve probably said [expletive]15 thousand times in my life.” Is it true that saying [expletive]means you despise homosexual people? Is it true that I despise gay people? I don’t believe I despise homosexuals. “It’s fine to be gay.”
As a result of the unfavorable response, the singer issued a formal apology to “anyone I’ve insulted or badly wounded.” The tweets, however, have all been removed.
“Out of ignorance, I’ve used dreadful insulting and hateful comments about people.” I simply want you to know that you’re extremely special to me, and I treasure you. I apologize to anyone I’ve offended or seriously upset. “You are all deserving of love and support,” she said on Aug 28, 2018, in a now-deleted apology.
Plastic Surgery?
Doja hasn’t had any cosmetic procedures done on her. She admitted to being embarrassed before for her natural appearance in a 2018 interview with Vlad TV, but she doesn’t care and refuses to have surgery.
I’m sure there are a few things I’d like to do. I considered having lash extensions. It’s the little things. I’m not getting my lips done, and I’m not getting my nose done.
Estimated Net Worth 2022/2023
Doja’s net worth is projected to be $4 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, with her musical profession playing a key role. Over the last year, the singer has grown to popularity in the music world. She’s proven to be a multi-talented artist, releasing songs that are well-received by fans and critics alike.
Aside from that, she sells special items to her admirers, which contributes to her net income. The rapper has also appeared on the covers of Cosmopolitan and Narcisse magazines.
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