Doja Cat is once again setting the record straight about her place in Hip-Hop. The Grammy-winning artist recently engaged in a back-and-forth on X (formerly Twitter) after a fan suggested her music leaned too heavily toward pop to be considered for serious rap conversations.
The post — written by someone who identified themselves as a long-time Doja supporter — argued that her forthcoming “pop disco album of the century” should end debates about her role as a rapper. They claimed that she “can’t be taken seriously” in Hip-Hop without prioritizing “bars, punchlines, wordplay, and storytelling.”
The fan doubled down, challenging others to name her best rap line and predicting “crickets” in response.
Doja Claps Back
Doja wasted no time responding.
“You don’t listen to or read enough of my writing to be able to make this claim,” she wrote. “I’m alright at what I do and sometimes I’m incredible. Please stop trying to downplay my ability…it feels like you’re doling out criticism with no constructiveness.”
She went on to urge the fan — and anyone questioning her skills — to actually engage with her catalog before dismissing her as a rapper:
“You have to give me a chance if you’re going to make criticisms about the entirety of my raps. You have to listen. You have to read. If you don’t read or listen how will you know?”
Doja also pushed back on the idea of simplifying her work for critics:
“I shouldn’t have to sit here on Twitter and give you a…dumbed down version of my writing for you to be able to hear what millions of people are recognizing as adequate rap bars.”
Respecting Hip-Hop Greats
When the fan compared her unfavorably to Hip-Hop legends like JAY-Z, Rakim, and Jeezy, Doja took the high road. She acknowledged their talent, called their music “great writing,” and thanked the user for sharing their taste — while making it clear she’s comfortable with people having personal preferences that don’t include her work.
Not Her First Time Addressing This
This isn’t the first time Doja has pushed back on critics who say she’s not a rapper. Back in 2021, after being nominated for Best Female Hip Hop Artist at the BET Awards, she tweeted:
“DONT EVER FIN DISRESPECT ME AS A RAPPER…you will respect my pen and that’s fin that.”
While her next project is reportedly pop-leaning, Doja’s latest exchange reinforces her stance that she is — and will remain — a rapper, no matter how much her sound evolves.
