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For the first time in 2023, a rap song is at number one on Billboard's Hot 100: Doja Cat's \u201cPaint the Town Red.\u201d It\u2019s her second number one single after the disco inspired \u201cSay So.\u201d But the ubiquitous and lighthearted bop didn\u2019t accurately reflect Doja\u2019s divisive persona, an extremely online meme lord, and sometimes troll, with a history of riling up internet controversy.\xa0\n\nDoja Cat recently called out her fans for their parasocial obsessiveness, losing 250k instagram followers in the process. Simultaneously, religious conservatives have accused her of Satanism for her playful use of illuminati imagery at her 27th birthday bash. But rather than recoil, Doja Cat is clapping back at criticism by embracing the devil.\xa0\n\nOn \u201cPaint the Town Red\u201d she\u2019s following the playbook of Lil Nas X\u2019s \u201cMontero (Call Me By Your Name)\u201d and Sam Smith and Kim Petras\u2019 \u201cUnholy,\u201d all of which use demonic imagery to spark religious controversy while also commenting on artists\u2019 indiscretions and the hellish nature of the attention economy. In her satanic suite \u2014 \u201cPaint The Town Red,\u201d \u201cDemon,\u201d and \u201cAttention\u201d \u2014 Doja Cat\u2019s turns online flame wars into musical gold.\xa0\n\nMore\n\nListen to The Allusionist with Helen Zaltzman, the best and funniest podcast about language\n\nRead the history of the loon sample on Pitchfork by Philip Sherburne\n\n\nSongs Discussed:\n\nDoja Cat - Paint The Town Red\n\nVanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby\n\nLil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)\n\nSam Smith - Unholy (feat. Kim Petras)\n\nDoja Cat - Say So\n\nDoja Cat - Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)\n\nDoja Cat - Woman\n\nDoja Cat - Demons\n\nDaddy Yankee - Gasolina\n\nKelis - Milkshake\n\nKendrick Lamar - HUMBLE.\n\nBernard Herrmann - A Narrative for String Orchestra (From "Psycho") [Arr. J. Mauceri]\n\nJohn Williams - Main Title/John Williams/Jaws - From The "Jaws" Soundtrack\n\nLil Nas X - MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)\n\nDoja Cat - Attention\n\n808 State - Pacific 202\n\nNicki Minaj - Anaconda\n\nCalvin Harris - Prayers Up (feat. Travis Scott & A-Trak)\n\nDionne Warwick - Walk on By\n\nDoja Cat - Paint The Town Red - Slowed Down & Sped Up\n\nDoja Cat - Vegas (From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ELVIS)\n\nBeyonc\xe9 - Naughty Girl\n\n\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices