11 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Doja Cat — Including the Origin of Her Name

Although her name, Amala Zandile Dlamini, may have been given to her by her Jewish-American mom and South African dad, Doja Cat elected to take on a stage name and persona.

What Does Doja Cat Mean?

The "Planet Her" artist explained toDazedthat her name choice came from her one of cats and weed. She said, "I was heavily addicted to weed and weed culture, so when I began rapping I thought of the word 'doja' and how it sounds like a girl's name."

After moving from New York back to Los Angeles as a tween, Doja Cat sampled popular artists of the time and engaged with their music on her own SoundCloud demos. Other artists she has cited as inspiring her areDrake, Nicki Minaj, Pharell, and Erykah Badu, who may have been influence for her sexually explicit and open nature.

Doja Cat's father — who she has noted in numerous interviews, including one with TheLos Angeles Times, was not a part of her childhood — is a South African actor and producer. She said her heritage is sometimes used to sample other genres of music to make something entirely new, claiming, "Yeah, this album ["Hot Pink"] is a lot more African influenced," she said. "I can sample Blink-182 but put an African vocal sample in there. The whole song feels like you're in a tropical forest."

Before her career took off with her 2019 hit "Say So," Doja Cat could be spotted on"Empire"'sfirst season, episode three. Her debut single"So High"wasdescribed by Faderas "spacey, eastern-influenced R&B."

Although Doja Cat has inspired memes from her meme/music video hybrid "Mooo!" (and thatTaco Bell Mexican pizza song) she toldCrack magazineher favorite internet meme is the"it's an avocaaado!"video. Her digital presence is riddled with meme-esque references, which gives her the chance to really engage with her fanbase.

Noting her dad was musically gifted, performing on Broadway for the "Lion King," Doja Cat admitted to trying her hand in break dancing at a young age. Doja Cat toldDazed, "I danced in a crew and competed around Los Angeles in organized underground cypher/battles."

Although she hasn't gone into detail as to why, she toldCrack Magazinethat she wants a partner with a big nose.

What makes her nostalgic is "rain and 90s cartoons," Doja Cat toldCrack, which may be what influenced her to create "Tia Tamera," a single inspired by Sister, Sister. If you check out her Instagram feed, you'll see quite a lot of neon, bodysuits,"Clueless"-like outfits.

Never having worked behind a counter, Doja Cat says she hasn't had the"typical job"experience most young people have while in school. At an early age, Doja Cat made demos for GarageBand and SoundCloud and eventually got the traction she needed to garner an audience. Her writing process happens best at night, she toldThe Fader, and can sometimes come quickly, as "Mooo!" was written and the video made in 12 1/2 hours.