For the first time in 2023, a rap song is at number one on Billboard's Hot 100: Doja Cat's “Paint the Town Red.” It’s her second number one single after the disco inspired “Say So.” But the ubiquitous and lighthearted bop didn’t accurately reflect Doja’s divisive persona, an extremely online meme lord, and sometimes troll, with a history of riling up internet controversy.

Doja Cat recently called out her fans for their parasocial obsessiveness, losing 250k instagram followers in the process. Simultaneously, religious conservatives have accused her of Satanism for her playful use of illuminati imagery at her 27th birthday bash. But rather than recoil, Doja Cat is clapping back at criticism by embracing the devil.

On “Paint the Town Red” she’s following the playbook of Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy,” all of which use demonic imagery to spark religious controversy while also commenting on artists’ indiscretions and the hellish nature of the attention economy. In her satanic suite — “Paint The Town Red,” “Demon,” and “Attention” — Doja Cat’s turns online flame wars into musical gold.

Songs Discussed:

Doja Cat - Paint The Town Red
Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby
Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)
Sam Smith - Unholy (feat. Kim Petras)
Doja Cat - Say So
Doja Cat - Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)
Doja Cat - Woman
Doja Cat - Demons
Daddy Yankee - Gasolina
Kelis - Milkshake
Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE.
Bernard Herrmann - A Narrative for String Orchestra (From "Psycho") [Arr. J. Mauceri]
John Williams - Main Title/John Williams/Jaws - From The "Jaws" Soundtrack
Lil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)
Doja Cat - Attention
808 State - Pacific 202
Nicki Minaj - Anaconda
Calvin Harris - Prayers Up (feat. Travis Scott & A-Trak)
Dionne Warwick - Walk on By
Doja Cat - Paint The Town Red - Slowed Down & Sped Up
Doja Cat - Vegas (From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ELVIS)
Beyoncé - Naughty Girl

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