First of All

First of All is the tentative title for the upcoming fourth studio album by American rapper and singer Doja Cat. It is scheduled to be released in 2023, through Kemosabe and RCA Records.[1] Inspired by her disillusionment with pop music and dissatisfaction over music critics questioning her status as a rapper, Doja Cat set out to create a masculine follow-up to her third studio album, Planet Her (2021). Musically, the album will be predominantly centered around hip hop and R&B genres; marking a departure from the pop-driven sounds of its predecessor.[2]

For the debut 1976 album of the Dutch band, see Pussycat (band).

First of All
Studio album by
Doja Cat
Released2023 (2023)
Label
Doja Cat chronology
Planet Her
(2021)		 First of All
(2023)

Background

Doja Cat began her career as a rapper heavily involved with the underground scene in her hometown of Los Angeles.[3] She rose to prominence in August 2018 as an internet meme, following the viral success of her novelty song "Mooo!".[4][5] She continued to gain mainstream attention with her pop and R&B-infused second studio album, Hot Pink (2019).[6][7] The remix to its standout single "Say So", which featured Nicki Minaj, became the first song by a female rap duo to reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.[8][9] Doja Cat's third studio album, Planet Her (2021), continued the pop-R&B blend and was met with critical and commercial success.[10] It became the most-streamed album by a female rapper on Spotify, and its lead single, "Kiss Me More" featuring SZA, won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.[11][12]

After being nominated for the BET Award for Best Female Hip Hop Artist in May 2021, Doja Cat was criticized by social media users who felt she was "too pop" to be considered as a rapper. She responded to the criticism on Twitter, by writing, "Don't ever fuckin [sic] disrespect me as a rapper. After the last song I dropped, you will respect my pen and that's fuckin [sic] that."[13] She weighed in further on the debate during a cover story with Rolling Stone in December, saying, "Anyone who says that I'm not a rapper is in denial. They don't know what they're talking about."[14] A few days after the profile piece was published, Doja Cat revealed on an Instagram livestream that she was interested in creating a double album; with one side focused on her pop rap sounds, and the other side containing 12 hip hop songs produced by 9th Wonder and Jay Versace.[15][16]

In an interview with Elle in May 2022, Doja Cat addressed claims that she was not a rapper in the "traditional sense" by stating that she has "rapped since the beginning, and I really couldn't even sing that well to begin with—I got a lot better. I use my voice as a tool to create these worlds, and it's fine if people think that I can't rap." She also confirmed that her upcoming fourth studio album will be "predominantly rap".[17] She doubled down on the album's main genre in April 2023 by stating "no more pop", and that she agrees with "everyone who said the majority of my rap verses are mid and corny. I know they are. I wasn't trying to prove anything, I just enjoy making music. But I'm getting tired of hearing y'all say that I can't, so I will."[18][19]

In April 2023, a radio broadcaster, Ebro Daren, shared that he had the opportunity to listen to approximately eight songs from the album while it was in its "early stages", stating "I heard straight rap records".[20] After being asked about potential producers, he responded "I don't even think it's producers that we know. I think she's got her own batch of producers."[20]

Title

Doja Cat shared a name for the album, Hellmouth, in March 2023.[21][22] By April, she was unsure of whether or not the name would stick.[23] While speaking to Time for their annual list of influential people, Doja Cat shared that she "might just mess with everybody and completely turn the tables on them. But I like the idea of Hellmouth because it sounds good. And it's provocative."[24] She revealed another title, First of All, through social media on May 9, before retracting on May 15.[25][26]

Composition

During a cover story with Variety in February 2023, Doja Cat expressed that First of All will diverge from the "pink and soft things" and "pop and glittery sounds" that's she's been noted for; opting instead for a more "masculine" sonic direction.[1] She claims to have purposefully misled journalists and fans into thinking that her forth album would be inspired by 1990s German rave music, rock, experimental jazz and R&B, rather than rap.[27] However, it was later confirmed that First of All will blend various hip hop and R&B genres, although Doja Cat states that this album will exclusively contain rap songs.[1][28] She admitted that she's become tired of creating pop songs, adding that the genre isn't exciting to her anymore.[29][30]

References
  1. Willman, Chris (February 1, 2023). "Doja Cat's 'Balls to the Wall' New Era: The Grammy Winner on Rapping More, Her Viral Fashion Looks and Being a 'Messy Bitch'". Variety. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  2. Gonzalez, Alex (February 1, 2023). "Doja Cat Says Her Next Album Will Go In 'A More Masculine Direction'". UPROXX. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  3. Gee, Andre (April 13, 2022). "Doja Cat Is a Rapper. Stop Saying Otherwise". Complex. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  4. Moen, Matt (August 14, 2018). "Doja Cat's 'Mooo!' Is a Meme Masterpiece". Paper. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  5. Sunnucks, Jack (August 13, 2018). "you have to listen to doja cat's 'mooo!'". i-D. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  6. Brown, August (October 30, 2019). "Doja Cat went viral. Now what? A hip-hop meme star gets serious, sort of, for her second act". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  7. Polo, Maxamillion (November 7, 2019). "Doja Cat's 'Hot Pink' Is the Most Versatile Hip-Hop Offering of the Year". Ones to Watch. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  8. Trust, Gary (May 11, 2020). "Doja Cat's 'Say So,' Featuring Nicki Minaj, Tops Billboard Hot 100, Becoming the First No. 1 For Each". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  9. "First female rap duo to reach No.1 on the US singles chart". Guinness World Records. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  10. Charity, Justin (June 30, 2021). "'Planet Her' and the Chaotic Evolution of Doja Cat". The Ringer. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  11. Oatman, Alexis (February 26, 2023). "Doja Cat's 'Planet Her' Just Made Rap Music History On Spotify". UPROXX. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  12. Mendoza, Jordan (April 4, 2022). "Doja Cat runs from bathroom, Lady Gaga carries SZA's dress train to accept Grammy for 'Kiss Me More'". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  13. "Doja Cat Warns People to Not Disrespect Her as a Rapper". XXL Mag. May 28, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  14. Dickson, E. J. (December 16, 2021). "Doja Cat DGAF If You Read This*". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  15. Langford, Jackson (December 27, 2021). "Doja Cat says she wants to make a double-album with one side strictly hip-hop". NME. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  16. Kearns, Sarah (December 25, 2021). "Doja Cat Says She Wants To Record a Pop and Hip-Hop Double Album". Hypebeast. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  17. Carlos, Marjon (May 24, 2022). "Doja Overload". ELLE. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  18. Pearson, Emerson (April 8, 2023). "Doja Cat Says Her Rap Verses Are 'Corny', Declares 'No More Pop'". ET Canada. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  19. Kedem, Maia (April 10, 2023). "Doja Cat ready to rap: 'I'm getting tired of hearing y'all say that I can't so I will'". Audacy. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  20. Darden, Ebro, "Reviewing Drake's "Search & Rescue" | Apple Music", YouTube, Rap Life Review, retrieved April 28, 2023
  21. Jones, Cierra (March 22, 2023). "Doja Cat pens 'Hellmouth' for 4th studio album title". Yahoo Life. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  22. Zhan, Jennifer (April 11, 2023). "Need to Know the Genre of Doja Cat's Next Album? Too Bad". Vulture. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  23. Machin, Jennifer (April 13, 2023). "Doja Cat Is Purposely Trolling Fans Regarding Expectations on Her Next Album". Hypebae. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  24. Luscombe, Belinda (April 13, 2023). "How Doja Cat Ripped Off Her Shell—And Why She's Happier For It". Time. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  25. Doja Cat [@DojaCat] (May 9, 2023). "its not called hEllMoUth either its called "First of All" and yes I'm announcing the album title right now" (Tweet). Retrieved May 9, 2023 – via Twitter.
  26. Doja Cat [@DojaCat] (May 15, 2023). "lol my album name isnt first of all im changing it" (Tweet). Retrieved May 15, 2023 – via Twitter.
  27. "Doja Cat Says She Lied About Her Next Album Being Rap". UPROXX. September 21, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  28. LeJarde, Arielle Lana (April 10, 2023). "Doja Cat says new album Hellmouth is "rap only"". The FADER. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  29. Valdez, Jonah (April 10, 2023). "'No more pop': Doja Cat says her next album will be exclusively rap". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  30. Carter, Ashleigh (April 9, 2023). "Doja Cat Is Done Making Pop Music". Teen Vogue. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
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