Doja Cat’s Brother Addresses Abuse Claims
Doja Cat’s brother is denying abuse allegations after their mother stated he knocked the rapper’s teeth out once and that she has a restraining order against him. Raman Dalithando Dlamini,…
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Doja Cat attends the 2023 TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 26, 2023 in New York City.
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME)Doja Cat's brother is denying abuse allegations after their mother stated he knocked the rapper's teeth out once and that she has a restraining order against him. Raman Dalithando Dlamini, Doja's brother, spoke to The Shade Room claiming that his mother's statements were false.
Raman says that he hasn't "seen anybody in years." When asked if he was denying abuse allegations, he replied, "Yes."
"There’s no story. There’s no restraining order against me," said Raman
Earlier this week, TMZ reported Doja's mother, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, claimed Raman was abusive towards his sister. She claimed he "verbally assaulted her in a very degrading and demeaning manner." In another instance, she said he knocked the rapper's teeth out and left her with cuts, bruises and feeling "unsafe and traumatized." Sawyer additionally claims that Raman has stolen and destroyed Doja's belongings.
According to Sawyer, Doja was not the only alleged victim of his abuse, which includes allegedly threatening to kill her. Sawyer has had a restraining order since 2017 from her son, but it has since expired. A judge has granted Sawyer a court-ordered protection from Raman. She is seeking a permanent restraining order. As for Doja, the judge did not grant her a restraining order as she would need to file her own request for protection.
In other Doja news, she will be headlining Coachella this year. She made her official debut at the festival back in 2022. She is the first female rapper to headline the festival. Coachella will run two weekends, starting Fri, Apr 12, 2024 to Sun, Apr 21, 2024.
Doja released her fourth studio album, Scarlet, back in September. As previously reported, the album is a true solo effort and contains no features. Scarlet has 15 tracks, with the lead single "Attention," followed by "Paint The Town Red," "Demons," and "Balut."
Published: 7/18/22
Updated: 10/20/22
Doja Cat is one of music's hottest stars right now. The Los Angeles native is known for making songs that span across the pop and hip-hop genres. They usually become hits on radio and trending songs on TikTok. Doja Cat, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, first went viral with her song "Moo." It was later released on her debut album Amala. Many didn't take her seriously at first. However, when the singer came back in 2019 with Hot Pink, which infused funk, pop, and hip-hop, everyone began talking. Hot Pink housed "Juicy," "Like That," and the viral "Say So." "Say So" and "Juicy" would eventually get remixed with artists Nicki Minaj and Tyga, respectively, which added more flame to her fiery hits. Doja Cat would go on to drop her critically acclaimed third album Planet Her which earned her her first Grammy win for "Kiss Me More," featuring SZA.
Doja Cat's New Era
Doja Cat's latest album, Scarlet, is proof that she does not care what anyone thinks. Prior to her officially announcing that she was coming out with a new project, on social media, she was trolling fans on what genre her new album would fit in. She went from '90s German rave music, R&B, and rap before creating an album that reflected the latter. The album was a complete solo effort and had no features on the project. Scarlet has 15 tracks, with the lead single "Attention," followed by "Paint The Town Red," "Demons," and "Balut." "Paint The Town Red," was the first hip-hop song this year to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart since August 2022. According to Billboard, the song ended the most extended gap between number ones for the genre since 2001.
Doja continuously drops hits and likely will do so for a long time to come.
Take a look at 15 of the rapper/singer's best songs:
15. "Vegas" 'ELVIS (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)' (2022)
Kemosabe/RCA"Vegas" is from Baz Luhrmann's 'Elvis' biopic film soundtrack. Doja Cat wrote "Vegas" with Los Angeles writers and producers Yeti Beats and Rogét Chahayed. Chahayed previously worked with Doja on hits "Kiss Me More" and "Aint S---." The song interpolates Big Mama Thornton's version of "Hound Dog," which Elvis famously covered back in 1956.
14. "Freaky Deaky" Tyga ft. Doja Cat (2022)
Empire/RCA/Kemosabe"Freaky Deaky" is about Tyga and Doja Cat living out their sexual fantasies. This pop-rap track is Tyga and Doja's second time collaborating together. Previously the pair worked together on Doja's remix of "Juicy" back in 2019. Tyga references the song at the end of his second verse, "She never was a freak and she said, "You made me" /Forever, forever, ever, juicy, baby."
13. "Juicy" Doja Cat ft. Tyga 'Hot Pink' (2019)
Kemosabe"Juicy" was originally the bonus track from the deluxe version of Doja's 2018 album 'Amala.' Doja later recorded the song with a remix with Tyga that served as her lead single to her sophomore album 'Hot Pink'. She told MTV News how she came up with the catchy hook: "Sometimes, I can see my a-- from the front," she said. "So then I was like, if you can see it from the front, wait until you see it from the back. And then I thought that was the coolest thing in the world, the greatest hook ever."
12. "Attention" 'Scarlet' (2023)
RCA RecordsDoja most definitely got our "attention" with this song. "Attention" is the lead single to Doja's 'Scarlet.' On the track, she addresses how she doesn't care what people think about her looks amid surprising fans last year when she shaved her head on Instagram Live. She also flexed that not only is she good at making pop records, but she is also in her rapping bag heavy which she continues to prove throughout the album.
11. "Demons" 'Scarlet' (2023)
RCA RecordsWarning, if you're not into scary sights, do not watch the music video to "Demons." The high-energy song also became a fan favorite on the album despite Doja getting some backlash for leaning into a demonic realm. The rapper performed this in a medley at the VMAs.
10. "I Like You (A Happier Song)" Post Malone ft. Doja Cat 'Twelve Carat Toothache' (2022)
Republic RecordsDoja Cat had a great assist on Post Malone's "I Like You (A Happier Song)." The record is found on his 2022 album 'Twelve Carat Toothache.' This song is one that will make you smile, and as Doja parades around in a flower bed piece in a field she adds the female perspective to such a sweet record. "I Like You (A Happier Song)" debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
9. "You Right" Doja Cat ft. The Weeknd 'Planet Her' (2021)
KemosabeDoja Cat released "You Right" as the second single from her critically acclaimed third studio album 'Planet Her.' In "You Right," Doja finds herself contemplating ending an affair. The Weeknd is featured on the track which marks the singer's second collaboration after Doja was featured on the remix of his 'After Hours' track "In Your Eyes."
8. "Best Friend" Saweetie ft. Doja Cat (2021)
Icy/Warner RecordsIn Saweetie and Doja Cat's first collaboration, the two rappers team up to talk about friendship, independence, and their sexual allure in this women empowerment anthem. "Best Friend" was nominated for "Best Rap Song" at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
7. "Woman" 'Planet Her' (2021)
Kemosabe"Woman" is the opening track to Doja's 'Planet Her' album; she begins the project by expressing her love for her femininity and womanhood. Doja co-wrote the song with rapper Jidenna who also provides background vocals. Although the theme for the Afrobeats-inspired song is womanhood, the rapper says she was not trying to make a political statement. As she told Atwood Magazine, "All races of space exist and it's where all species can kind of be in harmony."
6. "Agora Hills" 'Scarlet (2023)
RCA RecordsDoja gave us a little piece of R&B, and we're happy she created this gem for the album. The song title is based off of the neighborhood she grew up in Los Angeles -- Agoura Hills. The song however only reflects her childlike mention in the music video where Doja is seen talking on the phone in a typical early 2000s teenage bedroom. The song, however, is about Agoraphilia aka having sex in public which is why the song title is spelled as such.
5. "Say So" 'Hot Pink' (2019)
KemosabeThe pop-disco ballad is the fifth single from Doja Cat's 'Hot Pink.' Doja spoke about the meaning of "Say So" to MTV News: "It's about when you go somewhere and you see someone and they don't approach you, but you're looking at each other and you both feel like there's something there," she explained. The song gained popularity on TikTok after users made videos of themselves dancing to the record. Doja, who is a huge Nicki Minaj fan, got the Queens MC on the remix. The remix earned both rappers their first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Say So" was nominated for "Best Pop Solo Performance" and "Record Of The Year" at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
4. "Need To Know" 'Planet Her' (2021)
Kemosabe"Need To Know" is about the rapper's fantasy of needing to know if this "friend of a friend" is as good in bed as her friend has told her. The song peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 where it stayed on the chart for 38 weeks. R&B Dr. Luke produced the beat for the record and has previously worked with Doja on hits such as "Say So," "Kiss Me More," and "You Right." "Need To Know" was nominated for "Best Melodic Rap Performance" at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
3. "Paint The Town Red" 'Scarlet' (2023)
RCA Records"Paint The Town Red" was a top charter for a reason. The song was the second single from Doja's 'Scarlet' and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song samples Dionne Warwick's 1963 "Walk On By."
2. "Get Into It (Yuh)" 'Planet Her' (2021)
Kemosabe"Get Into It (Yuh") is the fourth track on Doja's 'Planet Her' album, which was released in 2021. The record infuses a mix of both pop and trap. Doja showed her appreciation for Nicki Minaj on the track when she interpolated the lyric "got that big rocket launcher" from Minaj's 2010 debut solo single "Massive Attack." The record gained popularity on TikTok and also was soundtracked for a 2021 Taco Bell ad.
1. "Kiss Me More" ft. SZA 'Planet Her' (2021)<
Kemosabe"Kiss Me More" is the lead single from Doja's 2021 album 'Planet Her.' Doja told Zane Lowe about the premise of the song, "I wanted to make a song about kissing. I just thought it would be cute," she said. "That doesn't happen too often, but just a song that's solely about kissing." The record was performed live for the first time during the 2021 Billboard Music Awards where Doja later took home "Top R&B Female Artist." "Kiss Me More" earned both Doja and SZA their first Grammys for "Best Pop Duo/Group Performance" at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. The record was also nominated for "Record Of The Year" and "Song Of The Year."
