Doja Cat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Doja Cat
Doja Cat in 2021
Born	Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini (1995-10-21) October 21, 1995 (age 29) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Rapper singer songwriter record producer
Years active	2012–present
Works	Discography
Parent(s)	Dumisani Dlamini (father)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Hip hop R&B pop
Labels	Kemosabe RCA
Signature

Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini (born October 21, 1995), known by her stage name Doja Cat, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. As a teenager, she started making music and sharing it on SoundCloud. Her song "So High" got the attention of Kemosabe and RCA Records. She signed a recording contract with them before releasing her first extended play, Purrr!, in 2014.

After a break from music, Doja Cat released her first album, Amala (2018). She then became a viral star with her 2018 single "Mooo!". It was a fun song where she pretends to be a cow, and it became a popular internet meme. Using this new fame, she released her second album, Hot Pink (2019). It reached the top ten on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album's single "Say So", especially its remix with Nicki Minaj, went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Her third album, Planet Her (2021), was also a huge success. It stayed at number two on the Billboard 200 for four weeks. It included hit singles like "Kiss Me More" (featuring SZA), "Need to Know", and "Woman". For her fourth album, Scarlet (2023), she focused more on hip-hop. Its main single, "Paint the Town Red", became her first solo number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Doja Cat is known for being a talented rapper and singer. She creates music videos and performances that often go viral on social media sites like TikTok. She has won many awards, including a Grammy Award, five Billboard Music Awards, and five MTV Video Music Awards. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.

Early Life and Education

Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini was born on October 21, 1995, in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Deborah Sawyer, is an American graphic designer. Her father, Dumisani Dlamini, is a South African performer known for his role in the Broadway musical Sarafina!. Her parents met in New York City but had a brief relationship. Doja Cat has said that she is not close with her father.

Soon after she was born, Doja Cat moved to Rye, New York, to live with her grandmother. At age eight, she moved back to California with her mother and brother. They lived at a commune in Agoura Hills where they practiced Hinduism for four years. Later, her family moved to Oak Park. There, she took dance lessons and enjoyed skateboarding and surfing.

As a teenager, she took breakdancing classes and joined a professional pop-locking group. She competed in dance battles across Los Angeles. Her aunt, a vocal coach, gave her singing lessons. She often skipped school to spend time in online chatrooms. At age 16, she dropped out of high school during her junior year. She said she struggled with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and felt that music was what she truly cared about.

Career

2012–2017: How She Got Started

After leaving school, Doja Cat spent her time browsing the internet for beats on YouTube. She taught herself to sing, rap, and use GarageBand to create her own music. She uploaded her songs to SoundCloud. In late 2012, her song "So High" got noticed. She began performing in the Los Angeles underground hip-hop scene.

There, she met producer Jerry "Tizhimself" Powell, who introduced her to another producer, Yeti Beats. Yeti Beats helped her sign a record deal with Kemosabe Records and RCA Records when she was 17. In August 2014, she released her first EP, Purrr!. "So High" was released as her first official single. For a while after, she took a break from releasing music.

2018–2019: Amala and Viral Fame

In February 2018, Doja Cat returned with the song "Roll with Us". The next month, she released "Go to Town" and "Candy" as singles for her first album. "Candy" later became a hit on TikTok in 2019, which helped it chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Doja Cat performing in October 2018 after the success of "Mooo!"

Her debut album, Amala, was released on March 30, 2018. At first, it didn't get much attention. Doja Cat later said she felt the album was rushed and didn't fully represent her.

In August 2018, she posted a homemade music video for her song "Mooo!". In the song, she playfully imagines being a cow. The video quickly went viral as an internet meme. Because so many people loved it, "Mooo!" was officially released as a single. The success of "Mooo!" showed her record labels that she was a marketable artist, and they began to support her more.

2019–2020: Breakthrough with Hot Pink

In August 2019, a remix of her song "Juicy" featuring rapper Tyga was released. It became her first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100. In October 2019, she released "Bottom B..." and later "Rules" as singles for her next album.

Doja Cat performing at the Hot Pink release party in 2019

Her second album, Hot Pink, was released on November 7, 2019. It received good reviews and reached number 9 on the Billboard 200. In January 2020, her song "Say So" became a huge hit, partly thanks to a dance trend on TikTok. A remix of "Say So" featuring Nicki Minaj hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. This was the first number-one single for both artists.

In 2020, Doja Cat was nominated for Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the BET Awards. She also won Push Best New Artist at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards. She was featured on songs with other popular artists like the Weeknd, Lil Wayne, and Ariana Grande. By the end of the year, Rolling Stone magazine named her the biggest breakthrough artist of 2020.

2021–2022: The Planet Her Era

In January 2021, Doja Cat was featured on Saweetie's hit song "Best Friend". She also appeared on a remix of an Ariana Grande song with Megan Thee Stallion. Her song "Streets" became popular on TikTok after a live performance went viral.

On April 10, 2021, she released "Kiss Me More" featuring SZA. The song was a huge success, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It also won a Grammy Award. Her third album, Planet Her, was released in June 2021. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and stayed there for three weeks.

In September 2021, Doja Cat hosted the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. She was the first host ever to also be nominated for Video of the Year in the same ceremony. In 2022, she released the song "Vegas" for the soundtrack of the movie Elvis. She also had a health issue that required surgery, which forced her to cancel some tour dates.

2023–present: Scarlet and New Music

In early 2023, Doja Cat announced that her fourth album would be more focused on rap. She changed her style to a darker, more experimental look. Some fans were surprised by this change. In June 2023, she released the song "Attention".

The album's lead single, "Paint the Town Red", was released in August 2023. It was a massive hit, reaching number one in the U.S., the U.K., and on the Billboard Global 200 chart. Her album, Scarlet, was released on September 22, 2023, to positive reviews. She then started The Scarlet Tour, her first tour in major arenas.

A deluxe version of the album, Scarlet 2 Claude, was released on April 5, 2024. In early 2025, Doja Cat was featured on songs with Lisa and Jack Harlow.

Artistry

Musical Style and Influences

Doja Cat's music is a mix of hip hop, R&B, and pop. She has said that Nicki Minaj is one of her biggest influences. On her song "Get Into It (Yuh)", she pays tribute to Minaj's style. She also looks up to artists like Lauryn Hill and Busta Rhymes.

Other influences include Rihanna, Beyoncé, Missy Elliott, and Pharrell Williams. She is also inspired by the music her mother listened to, such as Fugees, Erykah Badu, and Tupac. Her early work was also influenced by Hindu and Japanese culture.

Stage Name

Doja Cat got her stage name in 2012 from one of her cats and her interest in a certain type of plant. She combined "doja" with "cat." She has said that she doesn't feel the name fits her anymore, as she has grown and changed as a person and artist.

Personal Life

Doja Cat prefers to keep her personal life private. She bought a home in Beverly Hills, California in 2021 and sold it in 2022.

In June 2020, she donated $100,000 to the Justice for Breonna Taylor Fund.

In January 2024, her mother, Deborah Sawyer, filed for a temporary restraining order against Doja Cat's older brother. Her mother had received a similar order against him in 2017.

Discography

• Amala (2018)
• Hot Pink (2019)
• Planet Her (2021)
• Scarlet (2023)
• Vie (2025)

Filmography

Television

Video games

Achievements

Doja Cat has won many awards. These include one Grammy Award, six Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, and five MTV Video Music Awards.

On January 27, 2024, her single "Paint the Town Red" was voted #1 in the Triple J Hottest 100. This made her the first female rapper and first woman of color to ever top the list.

Time magazine also included her on its Time 100 list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023.

Tours

Headlining

• Amala Tour (2018–2019)
• The Scarlet Tour (2023–2024)

Supporting

• Theophilus London – Vibes Tour (2015)
• Lizzo – Good as Hell Tour (2017)

See also

In Spanish: Doja Cat para niños

• List of Zulu people
• List of Los Angeles rappers
• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 2020
• List of most-streamed artists on Spotify