Doja Cat Sends a Message With New Single ‘Attention’
After calling her last two albums “cash-grabs” and “mediocre pop,” Doja Cat moves away from her old sound with the hip-hop and jazz-inspired single “Attention.”
The Grammy Award-winning singer teased the single in April 2023 when she revealed the track list for her upcoming album via an Instagram Story. Additionally, “Attention” is Doja’s first solo release since her 2021 album Planet Her.
The song follows a confident Doja responding to criticism about her music and style. Don’t be fooled by the seductive opening chorus – she is out for blood.
Doja shifts her tone in the first verse, recalling the controversy over her appearance after debuting a shaved head and shaved eyebrows in August 2022. The lyrics read, “Lookin’ good, but now my bald head match my / Lookin’ good, but now they all sayin’ that I’m ugly.”
Doja Cat goes on to defend herself against critical opinions on the internet. She raps about the pressures of the music industry, stating, “I paid all my respect to those who taught me how to make it / And now I reap the benefits with no confrontation / Y’all fall into beef, but that’s another conversation.”
The accompanying music video, directed by Tanu Muino, depicts Doja walking the streets in a black leather coat, passing strangers. She continues rapping and strutting down the sidewalk, not acknowledging the people getting in her face and vying for her attention.
In a video talking about the single and roll-out for the upcoming album, Doja stated that “Attention” is more of a message than a song.
“It’s not really supposed to be replayed,” Doja revealed. “I’m commanding you to listen to what I’m saying on the song.”
.@DojaCat reveals in new video that #Attention is a single that is meant to be heard once as a sort of message or piece. pic.twitter.com/Mw0bM5sbBb
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 20, 2023
She also hinted at the direction of her fourth studio album, suggesting that it will feature many different sounds.
“The album is fun,” Doja stated. “It’s music, but there’s little pieces of my heart that I put into certain songs (that) I feel like help shape the album and give it purpose.”
Listen to “Attention” now on all streaming platforms.
