This is the 3rd full-length album from Los Angeles, California recording artist Doja Cat. Blowing up in 2018 off her viral novelty single “MOOO!”, was followed up the next year with her debut mixtape Hot Pink which was decent as a whole despite the fact that “Say So”solidified that she wasn’t going away anytime soon. Planet Her showed some improvement compared to her previous works by delivering a pop rap/R&B concept album based around a self-originated world. However, my expectations for Scarlet were higher considering that it was confirmed to be a full-blown hip hop effort.
”Paint the Town Red” stars off the LP by pulling from snap & chipmunk soul saying what she said whereas Demons” is an underwhelming no melody trap metal/horrorcore hybrid d.a. got that dopehelped put together laced asking if bitches are shook now that her pockets are on swole. “Wet Vagina” takes a roudier approach hilariously declaring herself to be the queen of drip, but then “F.T.G. (Fuck the Girls)” comes through with a trunk-knocking instrumental from Beat Butcha charismatically giving a middle finger to the hoes hating.
Meanwhile, “Ouchies” is a 2-minute riot starter laced by London on da Track & Sean Momberger with her popping it all off referencing WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson just before “‘97” takes lavish route thanks to Jay Versace talking about how it looks like she genuinely doesn’t give a shit whatsoever. “Gun” moves the album forward with a cloud trap joint clarifying that she does in fact know how to use a firearm leading into the atmospheric “Go Off” flaunts the new materialism such as ice that she had recently acquired.
“Shutcho” ends the first half of the LP with a dreamier instrumental calling out those who be running their mouths nonstop while “Agora Hills” blends these hi-hats & icy synths getting on the more romantic side of things conceptually. “Can’t Wait” goes into luscious boom bap turf eager to being next to that special man in his life while “Often” gives off a funky neo-soul tone talking about this guy must do the bullshit he pulls on her quite frequently. Moving on from there, “Love Life” spaciously makes it clear that she loves when her life’s like this while “Skull & Bones” goes for a ghostly feeling sonically talking about the only thing she folds under is pressure.
“Attention” fuses jazzy boom bap with trip hop & neo-soul courtesy of Rogét Chahayed embracing herself as she disses the people who’ve disliked & hated her for her change in appearance in the public eye while ”Balut” pulls from g-funk a little bit too comparing it to takin’ candy from a baby. The “WYM” freestyle that rounds out the new best full-length album in Doja Cat’s discography finds her kicking it off the top for a couple minutes over an orchestral loop & hi-hats.
DJ Camper’s soulful beat on “Acknowledge Me” is a good way to get the deluxe rolling hating herself when you get under her skin while “Disrespectful” talks about a hustler who ain’t getting funds over piano chords, kicks & snares. “URRRGE!!!!!!!!!!” featuring A$AP Rocky draws inspiration from the Memphis scene fighting the urge to keep gettin’ rich while the playful trap cut “OkLoser” addresses a chick who left the team. “MASC” featuring Teezo Touchdown talks about being too grown for bullshit backed by a rich trap instrumental while the pop rap/trap crossover “Piss” produced by CashMoneyAP likens her diamonds to urine & “Headhigh” mellowly ends the bonus track run talking losing faith in humanity.
Doja Cat has proven before that she could rap her ass off so when it was announced that Scarlet was going to be predominantly built around that style, I knew it had to be better than Planet Her & sure enough: it is. She delivers some of her most passionate performances to date, the production is refined compared to the last LP & I like how she ditched to features to hold down the fort all by herself.
Score: 3.5/5
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