Doja Cat wants the “Attention”

After what feels like an eternity, Doja Cat has finally dropped some highly anticipated new music. The announcement of the release date came earlier this week via her Twitter account, where she also revealed the cover art—a messy, blood-splattered triangle that left fans buzzing with various interpretations. The excitement grew even more when Doja Cat confirmed that the single would be unleashed on June 16.

For quite some time, fans had been speculating about the nature of this project, and theories ran the gamut from mild to wild. Some believed it would be the lead single from Doja Cat's upcoming album, while others dared to dream of a surprise full album release. The speculation was further fueled by the leak of a pre-save link for the single, which suggested that Doja Cat and her team might not have been fully prepared to kickstart the promotional campaign. However, now it's clear that the announcement was simply a deliberate piece of the puzzle rather than a rushed attempt to salvage a situation caused by technical issues. We now have confirmation that it is indeed a single release.

Fans who believed that Doja Cat's collaboration with SZA on "Kill Bill" hinted at the direction of her own music can now rejoice, as they were indeed onto something. However, the new release doesn't deviate as drastically from her previous material as it may have initially seemed. Doja Cat herself has been teasing about the differences in her music, which might have led some to anticipate a complete departure from her signature style. Nevertheless, while the new single showcases a fresh sound, it still retains that unmistakable Doja Cat essence.

Titled "Attention," the single exudes a sleek, seductive, and dreamy vibe, delving into the theme of being in the spotlight. Doja Cat addresses the challenges she has faced over the past year, touching upon the overwhelming attention she receives and how people seem to overlook the music itself. This has been a recurring frustration for the artist, evident in her online rants in recent months. However, if that frustration served as inspiration for this new direction, perhaps more people should ignite Doja's ire, as she undeniably shines on this track. Her flow is celestial, effortlessly intertwining with the sampled drums and ethereal harps. "Now I feel like I can see you btches is depressed," Doja raps. "I am not afraid to finally say sht with my chest."

I would give this 3 out of 4 stars.