Jacob Webster

If you’re ready for a straight-talking track, Doja Cat has got you covered in her new Scarlet release, Balut.

Named after a street food found in the Philippines, the rapper continues her mission of switching up her sound and imagery.

Last month, Doja Cat released her official single and music video, ‘Paint The Town Red’ which climbed the charts and rewrote expectations of the star’s new project.

Scarlet follows Doja Cat’s hugely acclaimed 2021 project Planet Her.

Brandished with a gothic spider and a drop of blood, images controversies aside, the artist is well and truly kicking off a new, gorier era. Earlier this month, Doja Cat dropped the song and music video for ‘Demons’.

In a recent Instagram story post, the artist opened up about fans questioning her new creative direction. “Seeing all these people unfollow me makes me feel like I’ve defeated a large beast that’s been holding me down for so long,” she posted on her account.

“It feels like I can reconnect with the people who really matter and love me for who I am and not for who I was. I feel free.”

It looks like new music isn’t that’s all on the cards for Doja Cat. This week the ‘Woman’ singer performed at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards and scooped up a VMA win for her track ‘Attention’.

The rapper is also set to appear during Victoria’s Secret’s Prime Video broadcast on 26 September.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, she teased what could be expected: “I don’t want to spoil too much, but like past projects, there’s lots of different energy to songs, plus new sounds that I’ve never explored before.”

And, that’s not just all! The rapper has announced her first North American headline tour, The Scarlet Tour, which kicks off in October with special guests Ice Spice and Doechii.

Doja Cat’s fourth studio album, Scarlet, is set for release on 22 September via Kemosabe Records and RCA Records.