Doja Cat's new album ‘Scarlet’ - A battle cry or just more controversy

While hip-hop might be renowned for its intense rivalries, never did we imagine a star would go to battle with her own admirers. Enter Doja Cat and her blazing new album, ‘Scarlet’, which seems to scream, “I said what I said!” 

The summer saw Doja going head-to-head with her fans over her choice of beau, J Cyrus. From calling out the 'Kittenz' to losing over half a million Instagram followers, she portrayed this as a victory against a "large beast". Yet it's not just any beast; it's the digital age's stan culture. An environment where fandom feels like they own a piece of their idol, and any deviance sparks online outrage. 

Yet, with lyrics like “Since when was y’all my bastard children?” and tracks painting rabid fans as "extremists", Doja seems unfazed. Despite the storm, her single 'Paint the Town Red' crowned the Billboard global chart for two weeks. Quite the statement.

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The Scarlet Mood: Fury and Experimental Beats

Claimed as a pure hip-hop album, 'Scarlet' diverges from the pop-rich vibes of its predecessor, 'Planet Her'. The palpable fury in her tracks stands out, especially when backed by the haunting strings and beats of songs like ‘Demons’. And while there are hints of pop, the album mainly treads experimental waters. Distinct tracks like '97' and 'Ouchies' offer a dissonant yet thrilling sound palette.

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However, the album’s length and repetitive themes might make it seem dragged, especially with slower tracks dominating its latter part.

Yet, towards the end, a shimmer of reconciliation appears in ‘Love Life’. A potential olive branch to her true fans, distinguishing them from the more toxic 'stans'. A bold move, making one wonder if it’s genuine emotion or clever strategy.

Despite its imperfections, Doja appears confident in her album's success. Given her past triumphs against controversies, she's probably not wrong.

What Else is Hot?

Aside from Doja’s fiery release, the week saw Alexis grooving to Cleo Sol’s new track ‘Airplane’ – a fresh acoustic number oozing charm, suggesting that there’s more to hip-hop than just confrontations.

Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)