Doja Cat, known for pushing boundaries in both her music and persona, opened up about the creative inspiration behind her 2023 album Scarlet in a recent interview with fellow rapper Jack Harlow for Present Space.
During their candid conversation, Doja Cat explained why Scarlet is her most emotionally charged work to date, revealing that anger plays a central role in the project.
“Scarlet is a very, to put it simply, quite an angry project,” the “Paint the Town Red” rapper shared in the interview published on Thursday.
She went on to describe how the album represents a personal battle:
“It’s about coming to your own defense and love. It’s sort of my ‘Why I oughta!’ moment of squaring up with everyone and defending myself, telling myself that I’m here for me, and not just for everybody else’s enjoyment.”
Released in September 2023, Scarlet marked Doja Cat’s follow-up to her wildly successful 2021 album Planet Her, which produced numerous hits.
Scarlet reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and climbed to No. 2 on the Top Rap Albums chart. The album signaled a shift in tone, where Doja channeled her frustrations and personal experiences into a raw, unapologetic body of work.
Doja Cat on Social Media Boundaries
In the same interview, the Grammy-winning artist also discussed her selective approach to social media and the mental toll it can take.
“I think that as people, we are not fully evolved as far as the Internet,” she stated.
Doja explained that seeing others online living seemingly perfect lives can be damaging, especially when someone is struggling personally:
“When we see people having a good time, but we’re bed rotting, not having the best day…we don’t take into account what that does to our brains.”
Doja also shared why she curates her social media follows so meticulously, choosing to engage with content that stimulates her creativity:
“I know that I just shouldn’t follow people who aren’t going to be creative…It’s a safe haven for me as opposed to a place where I am watching people either pretend to be happy or genuinely be happy.”
By protecting her mental space, Doja Cat says she can stay focused on her art and keep her energy directed toward personal growth.
