Doja Cat “Paints The Town Red”

By this juncture in her journey, Doja Cat's notoriety arrives before her. Since the adored 2021 release of her album "Planet Her," it appears she has harnessed animosity as an extraordinary force, progressively amplifying her stirring actions with the passage of time. Presently, as she unveils her second promotional single leading up to her forthcoming album, "First Of All," she boldly unfurls her divisive ideology.

In her track "Paint the Town Red" (released on August 4th), Doja seamlessly blends suave and sassy verses with exquisite harmonies, all set against the backdrop of Earl On The Beat's shimmering snap-clap production. Through the dual sections of "Yeah, bitch, I said what I said" and "Mm, she the devil / She a bad lil’ bitch, she a rebel" in the hook, Doja skillfully emphasizes her deep connection with the macabre and devilish themes that have become a recent fascination.

Furthermore, within the song's two verses, Doja directly engages with various critiques that her fans have voiced in recent times. Whether it's addressing her decision to embrace a bald look or her divergence from the pop music realm, she fearlessly confronts these observations head-on.

In the visuals for "Paint the Town Red," Doja embraces a fully satanic aesthetic, embracing the presence of the grim reaper, sporting devil horns, and adorned with blood. The question that lingers is whether her affinity for this visual direction stems from a genuine love for it or if it's more about relishing the disconcerting reactions it elicits from the somewhat conservative pop music community.

In its entirety, "Paint the Town Red" remains faithful to Doja's declaration of her current focus on creating rap music, while still weaving in elements from her earlier musical endeavors. Just as with her lead single "Attention" released in June, her resolve to remain unswayed by external opinions becomes evident, marking her unwavering commitment to a "take-no-prisoners" attitude as she steps into the realm of "First Of All."

I would give this 3 out of 4 stars.

Link to the music video is here.