Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini (born October 21, 1995), known professionally as 'Doja Cat', is a South African-American rapper, singer-songwriter & record producer. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she began making and releasing music on SoundCloud as a teenager. At age 17 she signed a contract with Kemosabe and RCA Records, subsequently releasing her debut EP "Purrr!" in 2014.
Following a break from releasing new material and the limited commercial impact of her debut studio album "Amala" in 2018, Doja Cat gained viral attention with her 2018 single "Mooo!", a novelty song that became an internet meme. Building on this recognition, she released her second studio album, "Hot Pink", in 2019. The album reached the top ten of the US Billboard 200 and included the single "Say So", which became a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 following a remix featuring Nicki Minaj.
Her third studio album, "Planet Her", released in 2021, spent four weeks at number two on the Billboard 200 and produced several top ten singles, including "Kiss Me More" featuring SZA, "Need to Know", and "Woman". In 2023, she released her fourth studio album, "Scarlet", which featured a more hip-hop-focused sound. The album reached the top five of the Billboard 200, and its lead single, "Paint the Town Red", became her first solo number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in multiple other countries.
On August 21, 2025, Doja Cat released the lead single "Jealous Type". Later on September 26, 2025, Doja's new album "Vie" (transl: Life) was officially released with "Gorgeous" as the second single and it's music video.
Doja Cat is recognized for her dynamic performances and frequent use of social media platforms such as TikTok to promote her music. Her artistic style incorporates elements of internet culture and visual experimentation. Over the course of her career, she has received various awards, including a Grammy Award, five Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, and five MTV Video Music Awards. In 2023, Time magazine included her in its list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
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