Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini (born October 21, 1995) was born in Los Angeles, California, United States. She is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is professionally known as Doja Cat. Doja Cat first emerged in the music scene by sharing her compositions on SoundCloud. Her track "So High" garnered attention from Kemosabe and RCA Records, leading to a joint record deal.
In 2014, she unveiled her debut EP, titled Purrr!, marking the beginning of her artistic journey. After a brief hiatus and a relatively subdued release of her debut studio album, Amala, in 2018, Doja Cat experienced a meteoric rise in popularity with her viral sensation "Mooo!" that same year. This tongue-in-cheek novelty song, where she humorously asserts herself as a cow, resonated with online audiences and propelled her into the spotlight. Seizing the momentum, she unleashed her sophomore album, Hot Pink, in 2019. The album swiftly climbed the ranks, securing a spot in the top 10 of the US Billboard 200. Its leading single, "Say So," featuring Nicki Minaj, soared to the summit of the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2021, Doja Cat's highly anticipated third studio album, Planet Her, took the music world by storm. The album demonstrated her versatility and creative prowess, spending three consecutive weeks at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. It spawned a string of chart-topping hits, including "Kiss Me More" featuring SZA, "Need to Know," and "Woman." Renowned for her distinctive rap style, impeccable melodies, and daring visual presence, Doja Cat has been hailed by The Wall Street Journal as a proficient technical rapper with an audacious artistic vision.
Beyond her musical accomplishments, Doja Cat has leveraged her understanding of internet culture and captivated audiences with her humor and engaging online persona. Her music videos and songs often become viral sensations on platforms like TikTok, cementing her status as a prominent figure in the digital realm. Her remarkable contributions to the music industry have garnered numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award, five Billboard Music Awards, five American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, and an iHeartRadio Music Award. Time magazine recognized her influence by naming her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2023, solidifying her position as a trailblazer in contemporary music.
