Planet Her
| Planet Her | ||||
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| Released | June 25, 2021 | |||
| Recorded | April 2020 – May 2021 | |||
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| Length | 44:06 | |||
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| Doja Cat chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Planet Her | ||||
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Planet Her is the third studio album by American rapper and singer Doja Cat, released by Kemosabe and RCA Records on June 25, 2021. The album was executive produced by the rapper herself alongside frequent producer Yeti Beats, and features guest appearances from Young Thug, Ariana Grande, the Weeknd, JID and SZA, as well as Eve and Gunna on the standard deluxe edition. Titled after the fictional planet conceived by Doja Cat, Planet Her is an amalgamation of pop, R&B, and hip hop styles.
Doja Cat has emphasized the visual aspect of Planet Her and described it as her most visually captivating project yet, associating its music videos to different locations on the planet. The album has spawned four singles, "Kiss Me More" featuring SZA, "You Right" with the Weeknd, "Need to Know", and "Woman". The first three singles all charted within the top 15 of both the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. Planet Her reached number one in New Zealand and landed inside the top 10 in a dozen other countries. In the United States, it spent four weeks at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. It also broke the record for the biggest opening day for an album by a female rapper on Spotify.
Upon release, Planet Her was met with generally positive reviews from music critics, most of whom praised Doja Cat's musical versatility and her vocal deliveries. The album is nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, where "Kiss Me More" is also nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and "Need to Know" is nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
Background and recording[]
Doja Cat rose to prominence in August 2018 as a "meme star" and internet phenomenon with the novelty song "Mooo!".[2][3] Doja Cat released her second studio album Hot Pink in November 2019, and spent most of 2020 promoting its singles.[4] In August 2020, she told MTV that her then-untitled third studio album would incorporate multiple music genres and that each song had its own "personality".[5][6] Later in September 2020, Doja Cat revealed that her third studio album was complete and "all ready" for release.[7][8] She also told iHeartRadio in December that it has a number of features and collaborations, and that each song has a "different kind of vibe" to one another.[9]
I think in the beginning, I was just trying to be solid and be what a pop artist already was: what I'd seen on TV and what I thought was the right thing to do. But as I move on into this Planet Her era, I want to introduce things to people as opposed to just re-create and rehash. It's just more inspiring to start from a more innovative spot.
Doja Cat in an interview, Billboard.[10]
Half of the album was written in Hawaii in February 2019, where Doja Cat was on vacation with her manager and co-writer Lydia Asrat, recovering from a recent breakup.[11] Recording for the album mostly took place under the lockdown constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic,[11] largely between Doja Cat and American record producer Y2K's home studio,[12][13][14] and The Sound Factory and Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California with American recording engineer Rian Lewis.[15] Lewis claims that Doja Cat produced all her own vocals from inside the booth "with impeccable precision and intention," and that "every harmony, every massive stack, every backing vocal in a character voice... those are all her ideas, 100%."[16] Doja Cat previewed the album tracks "Payday", "Ain't Shit" and "Love to Dream" while on Instagram livestreams in April 2020, May 2020 and May 2021 respectively.[17]: 10:26 [18][19] She recorded the final vocals for the opening track, "Woman", a month before the album was released.[20]: 52:00
In April 2021, shortly after confirming its title, Doja Cat said that Planet Her is the first record that "feels fully her own" and that "instead of striving to be a certain kind of pop star, she's simply embodying one".[10] She said that like her previous record Hot Pink (2019), each song would be distinctly different from one another, yet there would be more cohesion on Planet Her as opposed to Hot Pink.[21] Before its release, Doja Cat expressed her excitement about releasing R&B music and "exploring different lanes", ultimately describing the album as "unbelievable".[21]
Concept and title[]
Doja Cat has explained that Planet Her is "the center of the universe" where "all races of space exist and its where all species can kind of be in harmony there".[23] She noted that by naming the album Planet Her, she was "just trying to be cute" and clarified that it is not a planet for women nor a "feminist thing".[23] The music videos for the singles from the album all occur on different locations on the planet,[23][24] and aim to explore the respective aspects of these locations and what they mean.[25] In an interview with iHeartRadio, she described the album as the most visually captivating project she has ever done, and noted that, because the album focuses on relationships, "it's not a huge statement, not a political statement. It's just Planet Her, for girls".[26]
I wanted to kind of go outside of what I understood [or] what I knew as pop aesthetic or rap aesthetic [et cetera]. I wanted to quite literally travel outside of the planet. When it comes to the videos and choice of words and melodies and combinations musically, I wanted it to feel different. I wanted it to feel otherworldly. So, I just named it Planet Her.
Creative director Brett Alan Nelson revealed that he initially felt worried when Doja Cat told him that she wanted the record to "feel space age", however he explained further: "We're doing a style of futurism that feels fresh. We don't know what our actual future holds, so we are making what Doja Cat's future is. It doesn't feel like we're paying homage to something; it doesn't seem like we're on the same Pinterest board as everyone else."[10]
Cover artwork[]
The album cover was shot by American commercial photographer David LaChapelle.[27] It finds Doja Cat "boldly claiming her place among the stars"[22] and "floating in a sea of outer space, her body adorned with sparkles and swatches of paint as she appears in a state of ecstasy."[28] There were a number of different photographs taken amongst different sets, yet Doja Cat chose the final shot as it was her initial idea and felt set on it from the start.[29]: 00:23 Although it appears as if she is flying in the image, Doja Cat claims that she is submerged in rock after having fell from space, but said that it is "left for your interpretation".[29]: 00:48
Reception[]
Insider interpreted through the album's music and lyrics that "Planet Her" is a place where "midday skies are streaked with pink and orange" and where "following your sexual urges is uncomplicated and morally good, where the feminine is divine and it's summer year-round."[30] Rolling Stone described the planet as an "exquisitely strange and spectacularly camp world" and noted that "there's a bit of cheeky, sci-fi B movie references in the presentation but the content [of the album] itself is pristine pop fun."[31]
By reflecting the everyday into science fiction contexts that incorporate video game, comic book and cyberpunk imagery, Doja manages to conquer these landscapes, her psychedelic qualities on full display. This manages to solve the divide between Afro-futurism's darker side and suburban leisure's levity: Doja Cat sees the future as the possibility for utopia and connects it to its roots in current iconography.
— John Wohlmacher in an album review for Beats Per Minute.[22]
Music and lyrics[]
Planet Her is primarily a pop, R&B and hip hop record.[32][33][34] It incorporates musical elements from a wide range[35] of genres, such as afrobeat,[36][37] reggaeton,[38] hyperpop,[39] pop-rap,[40] urbano,[41] disco,[42][43] trap,[44][31] funk,[31] mumble rap,[41] bubblegum,[31][28] and dancehall.[30][45] Lyrical themes of the record include sex, relationships, regret, lust, solitude, wealth, divine femininity, faithfulness and estrangement.[46][35][47] The album opens with a string of "funky," "fun" and "upbeat" tracks and towards the second half, the tempo mostly slows down for the more "introspective" tracks and Doja Cat "drifts from her usual raunchy lyricism to try out lovesick lullabies and heartbreak ballads, allowing the music to slow and a newfound vulnerability to emerge."[48][22][35] However one critic wrote that on the surface, the album is "almost entirely mid-tempo and defined by a certain lightness of touch."[47]
The opening track, "Woman", is "an empowering, unabashed ode to womanhood and feminine diversity" which also explores the thoughts, emotions and woes of being a woman.[49][50] A bright, sexy and high-energy afrobeat song,[51][30][46][52] it was co-written by American rapper Jidenna who also provides background vocals to the track.[53][31] In the lyrics, Doja Cat also details how patriarchy often tries to create competition by putting women against each other, and thus makes a reference to Regina George from Mean Girls (2004).[46][30] Critics compared her vocal delivery on the track to that of Rihanna (whom she name-drops in the song),[38][54] and her "gravelly" rap delivery to that of Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak.[55][38] "Naked" features an "enticing" and "airy" reggaeton rhythm which draws from dancehall and is led by a "sultry" vocal performance.[53][40][30] It was described as a "lascivious, invigorating track, filled with flirtatious lyrics"[22] which invite her partner to get frisky through comedic pick-up lines, without caring about if others stumble upon them.[46] Critics noted that the song is an exploration into "the anxiety of intimacy"[42] and also doubles as "a how-to for feeling confident with your own body and sexuality" which promotes the idea that "it's not abnormal for people to be openly sexual".[46] Both "Woman" and "Naked" are driven by steel drums and pulsing bass.[48] The third track, "Payday" featuring American rapper Young Thug, is a "quick and twinkling" hyperpop and digicore song driven by "complex, baroque" harpsichord and both artists' "childlike falsetto" which altogether channels "giddy trap-pop euphoria."[38][40][3][56][57] Doja Cat celebrates her wealth and fame in a high register,[46] and notably sings "I just can't believe I got what I wanted all my life".[44] Several critics wrote that as "the king of delightfully odd vocal deliveries", Young Thug was the perfect and only match for the "artsy-cool-kid energy" of Doja Cat, whom he only just "outweirds" in their "impressively weird, strained high voices".[40][58][30][57]
A "squeaky swag" rap song featuring "glitchy", "twinkling" and "quirky" production influenced by dancehall and bubblegum,[40][48][59][38][28] "Get Into It (Yuh)" is a tribute to Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj, whom Doja Cat thanks directly for "paving the way for her polished pop-rap career" by saying "Thank you Nicki, I love you!" towards the end of the song.[40][46][50][2] Throughout the song she borrows the unique rapid-fire flow Minaj commonly used in her early career and even interpolates the lyric "Got that big rocket launcher" from her 2010 debut single "Massive Attack".[37][46][60] Minaj was asked to feature on "Get Into it (Yuh)", but felt she could not improve or bring anything unique to the record.[61] "Need to Know" is a "grinding sex jam" which finds Doja Cat fantasizing about her sexual desires over an "icy" trap and R&B instrumental.[47][46][38] Throughout the song, Doja Cat's "dense triplet flow is layered over futuristic disco production, segueing seamlessly into a disjunct, electronic UFO melody emphasising the space theme of [Planet Her]."[42] "I Don't Do Drugs" featuring American singer Ariana Grande was described as a "featherlight R&B glide",[47] a "perfect pop-rap ballad,"[40] and a "masterclass in the airy R&B vibe" found in most of Grande's work.[38] Its "candy-coated" production is driven by "whimsical xylophone" and "exploding bass",[48] which makes it feel "almost tropical."[30] The song is both a "whispery celebration of new love" and a "somber rumination" on which the duo utilize breathy harmonies to compare their suitors to drugs which have them "fucked up".[48][62][53][50] "Love to Dream" is a downtempo, ethereal, wistful space-age pop and R&B ballad driven by a downcast, distorted guitar lead and Doja Cat's high "crystalline falsetto" vocals.[33][51][22][47][53][56] The song is about "fantasizing and reminiscing about an ex" who'd felt inadequate because of Doja Cat's "penchant for overthinking", so she explains how "her inability to get out of her own head eventually led to the slow dissolution of her romance" which is why she "feels regretful for not being a better partner after the breakup".[19][46][53]
"You Right" featuring Canadian singer The Weeknd is a slow, seductive song inspired by classic 1990s R&B.[63][54][22] A "sexy, atmospheric slow-burn"[30] driven by "slick and twinkling keyboards",[46] it sees Doja Cat finding herself wanting something different despite already being in a committed relationship, to which The Weeknd responds by urging her to give into her desires and leave her partner, reminding her that it's only human nature to sometimes have fantasies about other people.[63][54][46] Pitchfork noted that "the longing and yearning in her restrained pre-chorus segues effortlessly into a resigned hook."[56] "Been Like This" addresses manipulative behaviour,[42] and portrays more of a "melancholy emotional spin on physical connection."[38] Over a gentle trap beat and through pitched down vocals which help it "fulfill modern pop's atmospheric ballad requirement", Doja Cat processes her shifting feelings for a partner after noticing how they've changed and become more toxic, making it a "darkly" and "seductive" track that becomes one of the most reflective on the album.[46][48][59] "Options" featuring American rapper JID is a "solid rap song" which features 808s[56] and a Mayer Hawthorne-assisted "hard-synth", muffled and "slightly off kilter" flute loop "doused in reverb" that reminded critics of the popularization of flute loops in 2017 hip hop songs such as "Mask Off" by Future.[30][38][57] Throughout the song Doja Cat raps in a staccato tempo about getting "rough and frisky" with her sexual partner in various locations.[55][46] "Ain't Shit" was noted to feature Doja Cat's "beloved dry humor", "rapped eye rolls", a "falsetto refrain", and "a rightfully fed up attitude of the opposite sex."[54][48] Over a 1990s R&B rhythm, she sings about "immature, unfaithful men who have wronged and hurt her" through "gratifyingly childish insults and a villainous delivery."[46][64] At one point, Doja Cat hinted at the release of this song as a single under the title "N.A.S" shortly after being dissed by American rapper Nas on his 2020 single "Ultra Black".[65][66]
The sparkly, midtempo production on "Imagine" combines a trap bassline with traditional East Asian music.[53][55] Doja Cat she sings about luxury and the high life and reflects about how, in order to get there, she had to overcome obstacles such as people not believing in her.[53][46] She has expressed minor disdain towards "Imagine," describing it as a "filler" and "not the strongest" song on the record. She also said that it was supposed to be "bigger" with help from one of her favourite artists, but felt that the song was not deserving of this feature.[20]: 12:20 The penultimate song, "Alone", is "a lonely-at-the-top acoustic number in which [Doja Cat] learns to accept her solitude".[48] Driven by classic, laidback acoustic guitar plucking and anguished, operatic baritone echoes,[30][53][56][46] it recalls a 2000's blend of pop and R&B which was noted to be influenced by the works of American record producer Timbaland.[30] The final track on the standard edition, "Kiss Me More" featuring American singer SZA, is a disco-influenced ode to kissing.[53] Described as "breezy", "flirtatious" and "cheeky", both artists' verses "give way to real horniness," and "show that romance and sex together can be both sugary and spicy at the same time."[53][46] One of the bonus tracks on the deluxe edtion, "Tonight" featuring American rapper Eve, is a "slinky duet" that takes place over "over plucked guitars, chiming bells and a spare beat".[67]
Release and promotion[]
Doja Cat first introduced the term "Planet Her" in August 2020 during the opening sequence of her performance at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, where she impersonated a television commentator and stated "Performing live on Planet Her is Doja Cat. Enjoy!".[68][69] In late December 2020, she began subliminally teasing the album on Twitter by repeatedly tweeting the phrase "Planet Her 2021" over the course of a few weeks.[70][71] On January 5, 2021, Doja Cat followed eight musicians on the platform and subsequently tweeted "Following them for a reason. Guess why.", alluding to imminent collaborations with the followed artists.[72][73][74]
The title of the album, Planet Her, was confirmed in an interview with American magazine V in March 2021.[75][76] The existence of the album track "Kiss Me More", featuring SZA, was confirmed in the same interview.[77] In the following month, Doja Cat revealed that the song "You Right" with the Weeknd would serve as the second single from Planet Her in a cover story interview with Billboard.[78][79] The existence of the track "Need to Know" was also revealed at the same time.[10] After announcing the release of this song as a promotional single on June 9,[80] Doja Cat then used social media to announce the album's release date and reveal the artwork and track listing on June 10.[81][82] The album was made available for pre-order on June 11, the same day "Need to Know" was released.[83]
Planet Her was issued worldwide on June 25, 2021 at midnight[84] local time, by Kemosabe and RCA Records, Doja Cat's third to be released under this contract. The standard edition has only yet been released on digital download and streaming formats, with a limited release of only a few thousand CDs on Doja Cat's online store.[85][86] A deluxe edition of the album was released two days later on June 27,[87][88] to digital download and streaming formats.[85] The deluxe edition was released on CD format internationally on December 10, 2021. An LP format of the deluxe edition is expected to be released on May 27, 2022.[89]
Singles[]
"Kiss Me More" featuring SZA, was released as the lead single off the album on April 9, 2021.[90][91] The song was serviced to contemporary hit radio, rhythmic contemporary radio and adult contemporary radio formats in the United States,[92][93][94] as well as on contemporary hit radio formats in Russia and Italy.[95][96] It topped the charts in New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore, and also reached the top 5 in over a dozen countries such as the United States (No. 3), Canada (No. 5), the United Kingdom (No. 3), Australia (No. 2)[97] and Ireland (No. 2). The song also became Doja Cat's second-ever song to reach number one on both Billboard's US Rhythmic and Top 40 radio charts.[98][99] It has been awarded certification status in half a dozen countries, including gold in the United Kingdom from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and platinum in Australia from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[100][97]
"You Right" with the Weeknd was released as the second official single in tandem with Planet Her and its Quentin Deronzier-directed music video on June 25, 2021.[68] The song debuted at number 11 in the United States, Australia, and Ireland, and peaked within the top 10 in Canada (No. 10), New Zealand (No. 6), and the United Kingdom (No.9).[101]
"Need to Know" was initially released as the first promotional single from the record on June 11, 2021,[102] after having been announced two days earlier.[80][103] After gaining traction on TikTok,[104] it impacted rhythmic contemporary radio as the album's third single on August 31, 2021.[105] Its corresponding music video was directed by duo Miles & AJ and features cameo appearances from Canadian musician Grimes and American actress Ryan Destiny.[106] With little to none airplay, the song debuted at number 29 on the Billboard Global 200 as well as within the top 40 of countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[107] It eventually peaked at eight in the United States, becoming Doja Cat's fourth top ten hit (second from the album), outperforming "You Right", which was intended to be the "more important single".
The track "Woman" had started gaining popularity on TikTok in August 2021 after a dance challenge was created by Tracy Joseph.[104] This brought the track to re-enter at the US Billboard Hot 100 at 84,[108] and debut on the UK Singles Chart at 26.[109] It earned even higher chart placements across Europe, where it became a promotional single after impacting Italian contemporary radio on October 1, 2021.[110]
Other songs[]
While on Instagram livestream in August 2020, Doja Cat hinted at her plans of releasing the song "Ain't Shit" as a single under the title "N.A.S", but this release failed to materialize.[111][112] She had previewed the song on another Instagram livestream in early April 2020, and it soon gained traction on the video-sharing platform TikTok.[113][114] With its continued success on the platform following the album's release, it became the highest-charting non-single, debuting at 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[115] The song "Get Into It (Yuh)" followed a similar resurgence with choreography from TikTok user David Vu,[104] which helped it re-enter the Hot 100 at number 75.[116] As of 19 August 2021, the album tracks "Ain't Shit" and "Get Into It (Yuh)" had amassed 655.7 thousand and 176.4 thousand user-created videos on TikTok.[117]
Live performances[]
Doja Cat performed a solo version of "Kiss Me More" for the first time at Triller's inaugural Fight Club event in April 2021.[118] At the 2021 Billboard Music Awards in May 2021, Doja Cat and SZA performed this song together,[119] notably including a dance break which featured the instrumental from the then-unreleased album track "Naked".[citation needed] Doja Cat again performed a solo version of the song within a medley at the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards later that month.[120] During a solo virtual concert as part of American Express's "Unstaged" campaign in June 2021, SZA performed her verse from the song as well as the introduction and chorus usually sung by Doja Cat.[121] She performed it in the same manner during a solo virtual concert as part of Grey Goose's "In Dream" campaign on July 2, 2021.[122]
To celebrate both the release of Planet Her and Independence Day, American live music company The Day Party hosted a Doja Cat concert at Coney Art Walls in New York City on July 4, 2021.[123][124] It was here where she performed five songs from the record, notably debuting "Get Into It (Yuh)", "Ain't Shit", "Need to Know" and "Woman".[125] The organization of the concert, however, drew criticism from some attendees, who compared it to the Fyre Festival and deemed it a "horror comedy-drama".[124] On July 10, she continued to celebrate the album release at E11even, a private nightclub in Miami, where she notably slipped and fell while on stage and earned praise for playing it off and carrying on with the performance.[126][127][128] Throughout July and August 2021, music video network company Vevo conducted a series of Doja Cat performances of songs from Planet Her, all filmed on a set with gold structures amongst a Californian desert;[129][130] her performance of album track "Ain't Shit" was published on July 3,[131] followed by a performance of "Love to Dream" on July 6,[132] and then "Need to Know" on August 6.[133] Doja Cat performed six Planet Her tracks during a set at the Made in America Festival in Philadelphia.[134] While suspended in the air at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony later that month, she performed "Been Like This" for the first time, followed by a solo version of "You Right" featuring her additional verse from the extended mix.[135]
Critical reception[]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 6.7/10[136] |
| Metacritic | 76/100[137] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [138] |
| The A.V. Club | C+[58] |
| Clash | 7/10[36] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[43] |
| Evening Standard | [39] |
| Exclaim! | 9/10[66] |
| The Guardian | [57] |
| NME | [47] |
| Pitchfork | 7.8/10[56] |
| Rolling Stone | [31] |
Planet Her received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out of 100 to ratings from publications, the album received an average score of 76 based on 14 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[137] Critics expressed that Doja Cat is "here to stay," despite her controversial past and flippant personality.[139][50][51][47][2] Rolling Stone wrote that despite being her third album, Planet Her "feels like a debut".[31] Exclaim! wrote that it has "no skips" and that it "showcases many sides to Doja but remains cohesive".[66] The New Yorker expressed that it brings her "genre fluidity into perfect synthesis, building upon the pop-rap legacy established by her predecessor Nicki Minaj," noting that "Doja relishes stimulation, from paydays to addictive intimacy."[41] The New York Times described the record as "outlandish, eccentric, lustrous, mercenarily maximalist pop".[140]
The quality of production was praised by several critics,[50][28][56][22][59][57][38] yet some others criticized it for chasing common mainstream trends,[44] with Loud and Quiet noting that the album "shines when Doja Cat follows her impulses rather than trends".[64] More than anything else, Doja Cat received all-round praise for her "elastic, swift and often purposefully silly"[31] vocal delivery and her ability to switch flows between rapping and singing,[47][31][40] with one critic writing that her vocals "show a juxtaposition of ethereal falsetto and chocolatey contralto in close proximity".[42] She also was praised for her ability to "shapeshift" in order to match with the respective featured artists,[54] with Triple J noting that throughout the album "Doja holds her own - an impressive feat given the profiles of both her collaborators."[45] Several critics recognized this on the track "I Don't Do Drugs," where she "melds her tone to pair with Ariana Grande's signature sultry coos,"[54] and proves herself as "an unexpectedly nimble vocalist."[30] Brandon Yu of Mic agreed that Doja Cat "is not just benefiting from the boost of another superstar, but instead tweaking the energy and voice of her persona to blend with" the respective artists.[141]
Yu also described Doja Cat as "the future of pop" and wrote that Planet Her "crystallizes her effortless, playful energy into a delightfully shape-shifting work. [...] she manages to execute a varied set of identity-swapping performances in a way that feels like a natural mark of her studied, eclectic talents rather than an exercise in chasing trends."[141] Safy-Hallan Farah of Pitchfork described Planet Her as "a kaleidoscope of pop versatility that benefits greatly from a market that currently values eclecticism. It feels both premeditated and casual, well-crafted yet trenchantly frivolous." Farah wrote that Doja Cat "entertains and enthralls with minimal effort, especially in her delivery" as she "skates" on the record's "impeccable" production. She noted that above all else, Doja Cat's "candy-sweet melodies are the star" of the record.[56] Using "Ain't Shit" as an example, Nick Levine of NME wrote that Doja Cat's lyrics "possess a plain-speaking power," while stressing that "it's not so much what she says, but the way that she says it."[47] Beats Per Minute described Planet Her as "the type of pop album there should be more of: both playful and psychedelic, rich in intelligent production, and filled with charismatic and chameleonic performances," noting that Doja Cat "understands the appeal of both the pop-star spectre and syrupy production; everything on Planet Her is contained and refined, but never polished to a fault. She inhabits different characters and moods, her voice never wavering or coming across as too thin for what she attempts."[22]
Alexis Petridis of The Guardian hailed Doja Cat a queen of pop-rap and agreed that she had "nailed a version of 2021 pop that a lot of other people are striving for with a lot more laboured effort." He described Planet Her as a "light, summery, really well-produced and impressively concise record" with "music that plays to Doja Cat's strengths. She can genuinely sing as well as rap – she doesn't sound out of her depth duetting with Grande," noting that she's a skilled lyricist on "flippant and funny" topics rather than essaying weighty topics. He wrote that the album has "music with enough room for a degree of experimentation" but, however, was perplexed by how "an artist so evidently concerned with not taxing her listeners' attention spans" could get away with the "tedi[ous]" string of "insubstantial ballads".[57] Craig Jenkins of Vulture described Planet Her as Doja Cat's best album to date and described her as "our new ice-cool pop-queen supreme".[40] He was one of several critics who compared Planet Her to the early works of eccentric, radical mainstream pop artists such as Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj,[54][31][2] with Sam Murphy of Junkee writing that "from its dramatic vocals to loosely conceptual narrative, [Planet Her] is highly polished, cohesive pop, and yet there's a human warmth to it. [...] Doja somehow entertains the absurd and mundane," noting that she "contains multitudes: She's able to beam down from another planet, acting as both your bestie and bizarre pop thrill seeker."[2] Gabrielle Sanchez of The A.V. Club wrote that the record "lacks the originality Doja made her name on" as she "loses herself in the pop space" with "predictable, uninspired sounds".[58] Cinquemani of Slant Magazine felt that, other than "Kiss Me More", the rest of the album "leans heavily" on contemporary sounds, making it "hard to differentiate it from any number of other recent R&B efforts".[44]
Accolades[]
Industry awards[]
Doja Cat received eight nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Planet Her; Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Kiss Me More" featuring SZA; and Best Melodic Rap Performance for "Need to Know". "Kiss Me More" also won in the "Best Collaboration" categories at the 2021 American Music Awards,[142] the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards,[143] and the 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards.[144]
| Organization | Year | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Music Awards | 2021 | Favorite R&B Album | Won | |
| ARIA Music Awards | 2021 | Best International Artist (Planet Her) | Nominated | |
| Soul Train Music Awards | 2021 | Album of the Year | Nominated | [146] |
| Grammy Awards | 2022 | Album of the Year[b] | Pending | |
| Best Pop Vocal Album[b] | Pending | |||
| People's Choice Awards | 2021 | The Album of 2021 | Nominated | [148] |
Year-end lists[]
Planet Her appeared on many year-end best-of lists, with several critics identifying it as one of the best albums of 2021. The following is a selected list of publications.
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBC Music | The 10 best albums of 2021 | Placed | [149] |
| Billboard | The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 5 | [150] |
| Complex | The Best Albums of 2021 | 4 | [151] |
| Consequence | Top 50 Albums of 2021 | 13 | [152] |
| Dazed | Top best albums of 2021 | 4 | [153] |
| The Fader | The 50 best albums of 2021 | 7 | [154] |
| Gigwise | The 51 Best Albums of 2021 | 45 | [155] |
| HotNewHipHop.com | Top 30 Hottest Hip-Hop Albums of 2021 | 5 | [156] |
| HuffPost | The Best Albums Of 2021 That Got Us Through The Year | Placed | [157] |
| Leader-Telegram | A top-ten list 2021's best albums | 8 | [158] |
| Los Angeles Times | The 10 best albums of 2021 | 8 | [159] |
| The New York Times | Jon Caramanica's Best Albums of 2021 | 12 | [140] |
| NME | The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 50 | [160] |
| NPR Music | The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 31 | [161] |
| People | The Top 10 Albums of 2021 | 7 | [162] |
| Rolling Stone | The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 21 | [163] |
| The 20 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2021 | 6 | [164] | |
| Slant Magazine | The 50 Best Albums of 2021 | 29 | [165] |
| The 15 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2021 | Placed | [166] | |
| Uproxx | The Best Albums Of 2021 | Placed | [167] |
| XXL | Best Hip-Hop Projects Of 2021 | Placed | [168] |
| Wonderwall | The Top 21 Albums of 2021 | Placed | [169] |
Commercial performance[]
In the two consecutive weeks preceding its release, Planet Her was the most pre-saved album on Apple Music.[170][171] With 27.6 million streams worldwide, it earned the biggest first day debut for a female rapper in Spotify history.[172][117] It also earned the biggest opening week for a female rapper in Spotify history after accumulating 113.4 million streams worldwide in five days.[173][174][175]
In the United States, Planet Her became Doja Cat's highest-charting album as it debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 after moving 109,000 album-equivalent units, It additionally topped the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart,[176] and in the following week, propelled up to number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and remained at number two on the Billboard 200 after moving 68,000 units.[177][178] When the album spent a third consecutive week at number two, it became the first album to spend its first three weeks at number two on the chart since The Pinkprint (2014) by Nicki Minaj in 2015.[179] Planet Her spent another five weeks within the top 5 of the Billboard 200 with over 55,000 units earned each week;[117] it re-peaked at number two in its eight week on chart, moving 1,000 units less than Billie Eilish's Happier Than Ever (2021).[180]
Commenting on the album's stable run on the Billboard 200, Billboard writer Kyle Denis said "Planet Her and its singles have unequivocally solidified Doja Cat as one of the defining pop stars of [Generation Z] era", bolstered by the TikTok appeal of her music, her "A-list" collaborations, "exciting" television performances, and social media presence.[117]
In Australia, Planet Her opened at number 3 where it remained at for another two weeks,[181] while dethroning Call Me if You Get Lost on its second week on the Top 40 Hip-Hop/R&B Albums chart, where it stayed at number one for yet another week.[182] It spent eight consecutive weeks in the top 3 of the New Zealand Albums Chart,[183] reaching number one its eighth week charting. In the United Kingdom, Planet Her debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart where it remained for another week before dropping to number five in its third week.[184] It was certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in early September 2021, denoting 60,000 sales in the country.[185] On the Irish Albums Chart it debuted at number four and remained in this position for another two weeks,[186][187][188] before peaking at number 3 in its fourth week.[189]
Track listing[]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Woman" |
|
| 2:52 |
| 2. | "Naked" |
| 3:43 | |
| 3. | "Payday" (featuring Young Thug) |
| Y2K | 3:33 |
| 4. | "Get Into It (Yuh)" |
|
| 2:18 |
| 5. | "Need to Know" |
| Dr. Luke | 3:30 |
| 6. | "I Don't Do Drugs" (featuring Ariana Grande) |
|
| 3:09 |
| 7. | "Love to Dream" |
|
| 3:36 |
| 8. | "You Right" (with the Weeknd) |
| Dr. Luke | 3:06 |
| 9. | "Been Like This" |
|
| 2:57 |
| 10. | "Options" (featuring JID) |
| 2:39 | |
| 11. | "Ain't Shit" |
|
| 2:54 |
| 12. | "Imagine" |
|
| 2:28 |
| 13. | "Alone" |
| 3:48 | |
| 14. | "Kiss Me More" (featuring SZA) |
| 3:28 | |
| Total length: | 44:06 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "You Right" (extended; with the Weeknd) |
| Dr. Luke | 4:08 |
| 16. | "Up and Down" | Dlamini |
| 2:31 |
| 17. | "Tonight" (featuring Eve) |
|
| 2:48 |
| 18. | "Ride" | Dlamini |
| 2:56 |
| 19. | "Why Why" (featuring Gunna) |
|
| 2:58 |
| Total length: | 59:28 | |||
Notes[]
- ^[a] indicates a co-producer
- ^[b] indicates a miscellaneous producer
- On clean versions of the album, "Ain't Shit" is excluded from the tracklist.[33]
Sampling credits[]
- "Naked" samples "Here In Iowa" (2015), written by Marcus Erik Joons and Daniel Gustav Peter Tjaeder, as performed by Korallreven.
- "Get Into It (Yuh)" interpolates "Massive Attack" (2010), written by Onika Maraj, Sean Garrett and Alexander Grant, as performed by Nicki Minaj and Sean Garrett.[60]
- "Kiss Me More" interpolates "Physical" (1981), written by Steve Kipner and Terry Shaddick, as performed by Olivia Newton-John.
Credits and personnel[]
Performers[]
- Doja Cat – lead vocals
- The Weeknd – lead vocals (track 8, 15)
- Young Thug – featured vocals (track 3)
- Ariana Grande – featured vocals (track 6)
- JID – featured vocals (track 10)
- SZA – featured vocals (track 14)
- Eve – featured vocals (track 17)
- Gunna – featured vocals (track 19)
- Aynzli Jones – background vocals (track 1)
- Jidenna – background vocals (track 1)
- Victoria Monét – background vocals (track 6)
Production[]
- Doja Cat – executive production
- Yeti Beats – executive production, production (tracks 1, 13, 14), miscellaneous production (tracks 9, 11)
- Linden Jay – production (track 1), co-production (track 13)
- Al Shux – production (track 2)
- Kurtis McKenzie – production (tracks 2, 7), miscellaneous production (track 11)
- Y2K – production (tracks 3, 4, 6, 10)
- Sully – production (tracks 4, 6)
- Dr. Luke – production (tracks 5, 8)
- Digi – production (track 7)
- Khaled Rohaim – production (track 7)
- Aaron Bow – production (track 9)
- Tizhimself – production (tracks 9, 11, 12), miscellaneous production (track 14)
- Troy Nōka – miscellaneous production (track 13)
- Mayer Hawthorne – production (track 10)
- Rogét Chahayed – production (tracks 11, 14)
- Mike Hector – production (track 12)
- Carter Lang – miscellaneous production (track 14)
Technical[]
- Mike Bozzi – mastering (tracks 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14)
- Dale Becker – mastering (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12)
- Jesse Ray Ernster – mixing (tracks 1, 2)
- Jeff Ellis – mixing (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12)
- Serban Ghenea – mixing (tracks 5, 8, 14)
- Clint Gibbs – mixing (track 9)
- Neal H Pogue – mixing (tracks 11, 13)
- Katrina Maria Ernster – engineering (tracks 1, 2)
- Kayla Reagan – engineering (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12)
- John Hanes – engineering (tracks 5, 8, 14)
- Joe Visciano – engineering (track 14)
- Noah "MixGiant" Glassman – assistant engineering (tracks 1, 2)
- Connor Hedge – assistant engineering (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12)
- Fili Filizzola – assistant engineering (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12)
- Hector Vega – assistant engineering (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 12)
- Rob Moreno – assistant engineering (tracks 3, 6, 11)
- Davide Cinci – assistant engineering (tracks 12–14)
- Rian Lewis – recording (tracks 1–4, 6, 8, 11–14)
Charts[]
Weekly charts[]
|
Year-end charts[]
|
Certifications[]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[217] | Gold | 35,000
|
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[218] | Gold | 20,000
|
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[219] | Gold | 10,000
|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[220] | Platinum | 15,000
|
| Norway (IFPI Norway)[221] | Platinum | 20,000* |
| Poland (ZPAV)[222] | Gold | 10,000
|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[223] | Gold | 100,000
|
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history[]
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | June 25, 2021 | Standard | [224] | ||
| Limited edition CD | [86] | ||||
| June 27, 2021 |
|
Deluxe | [1] | ||
| December 10, 2021 | CD | [225] | |||
| May 27, 2022 | LP | [89] |
References[]
Footnotes[]
Citations[]
- ^ a b "Planet Her (Deluxe) by Doja Cat on Apple Music". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Murphy, Sam (June 28, 2021). "How Doja Cat Went From Surreal Meme To Chart-Topping Megastar". Junkee. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
- ^ a b Charity, Justin (June 30, 2021). "'Planet Her' and the Chaotic Evolution of Doja Cat". The Ringer. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
- ^ Okon, Wongo (June 25, 2021). "Doja Cat And The Weeknd's 'You Right' Video Is A Majestic Effort". Uproxx. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
The project arrives after she spent most of 2020 promoting songs from her second album, Hot Pink.
- ^ Hosken, Patrick (August 31, 2020). "Doja Cat Says Her New Album Integrates Dancehall, Afrobeat, Funk, House, And More". MTV News. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (August 31, 2020). "Doja Cat says her new album includes dancehall, afrobeat, funk and house tracks". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ Williams, Aaron (September 10, 2020). "Doja Cat's Third Album Is Complete -- But There's A Catch". Uproxx. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ Krol, Charlotte (September 10, 2020). "Doja Cat has finished her new album: "It's all ready"". NME. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ Blakemore, Peyton (December 11, 2020). "Doja Cat Talks New Music, Reveals Details About Forthcoming Album". KIIS-FM Jingle Ball. iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Garvey, Meaghan (April 22, 2021). "Can't Stop the Feline: How Doja Cat Took Pop to a New Dimension". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ a b Dickson, E. J. (December 16, 2021). "Doja Cat DGAF If You Read This*". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
- ^ Lowe, Zane (April 20, 2020). "At Home With Doja Cat". Apple Music. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ Planet Her (Media notes). Kemosabe Records.
- ^ Dlamini, Amala (April 23, 2020). "Doja Cat | Instagram Live Stream | 22 April 2020". iglives.tv. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ Planet Her (Media notes). Kemosabe Records.
- ^ Lewis, Rian O' Connell (June 25, 2021). "This album represents an incalculable amount of blood, sweat, and tears. I have had the distinct pleasure of engineering for @dojacat for six years now, and even though the artist she was back then impressed the everloving shit out of me..." Instagram. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ Dlamini, Amala (April 23, 2020). "Doja Cat | Instagram Live Stream | 22 April 2020". iglives.tv. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ A., Aron (May 18, 2020). "Doja Cat's Unreleased Song Is Making Big Waves On TikTok". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
Doja Cat hit her Instagram Live in early April when she previewed some new music. The song, titled, "N****as Ain't Shit" has made waves on TikTok [...]
- ^ a b PLANET HER [@DojaCat] (May 18, 2021). "It's about fantasizing and reminiscing about an ex" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 15, 2021 – via Twitter. Note: Analyze the full thread for context.
- ^ a b Dlamini, Amala (June 26, 2021). "Doja Cat | Instagram Live Stream | 26 June 2021". iglives.tv. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
- ^ a b Kaufman, Gil (April 23, 2021). "Doja Cat on 'Growing Up' in California, Her Embarrassing First Song & 'Unbelievable' Next Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wohlmacher, John (June 28, 2021). "Album Review: Doja Cat – Planet Her". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c Zipper, Marni (April 20, 2021). "Doja Cat's 'Planet Her' will be a place where all 'races of space can exist'". Audacy. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
- ^ Kryza, Andy (June 25, 2021). "Doja Cat blasts off with her new album, 'Planet Her'". Time Out. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "Doja Cat Talks 'Planet Her' & Top 5 Favorite Music Videos