Here are all of the samples on Doja Cat’s Scarlet

From a Dionne Warwick classic to yacht rock via WWE icon Ric Flair.

September 22, 2023
Here are all of the samples on Doja Cat’s <i>Scarlet</i> Jacob Webster

After months of teasing the idea of becoming a German rave artist, falling out with her fans, and accidentally copying a death metal band's artwork, Doja Cat has finally released her new album. Scarlet is the follow-up to 2021's Planet Her and features the singles "Demons," "Attention," and "Paint The Town Red."

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Though she was teasing about the EDM pivot, Doja Cat's promise that she was heading down a more pure rap lane does bear some fruit on Scarlet. Across the album's 17 tracks she raps about everything from living in a patriarchal society to getting kicked out of the Met Gala and ends the whole project with a freestyle.

Producers on the album include London on da Track, Earl on the Beat, Jay Versace, D.A. Got That Dope, Cadenza, Rogét Chahayed, and Kurtis McKenzie among others Scribz Riley. Among the original beats are a number of samples, including a Burt Bacharach-penned '60s classic and a politically-minded '70s funk track.

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Read on for a run down of the songs behind the songs on Scarlet.

"Paint the Town Red"

Sample: Dionne Warwick, "Walk On By"

"Paint The Town Red" is Scarlet's biggest hit so far, topping the Hot 100 following its release in August. It samples "Walk On By," first released in 1964 by Dionne Warwick. Posting on Instagram, Warwick thanked Doja Cat for using her song, saying: " I think it's wonderful that these youngsters who are recording today had decided to listen to some really good stuff of the old folks."

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"Ouchies"

Sample: Luke, "Come On"

The London on da Track-produced "Ouchies" is one of the hardest moments on Scarlet and is built around a pitched-down sample of Miami bass artist Luke's 1996 track "Come On."

"Shutco"

Sample: 10cc, "I'm Not In Love"

"Weird money, weird bitches, put me near that," Doja Cat raps over '70s British band 10cc's yacht rock favorite.

"Agora Hills"

Sample: Troop, "All I Do Is Think of You"

On "Agora Hills" Doja Cat welcomes a lover into her world and outlines all that entails, from bathroom trysts to prying fans. She also finds time to laugh at the men don't like her because, "I don't fuck incels." The seductive slow jam is aided by a sample of "All I Do Is Think Of You." The R&B group's 1989 hit is, in fact, a cover released by The Jackson 5 a decade prior.

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"Can’t Wait"

Sample: The Honey Drippers, "Impeach the President"

Doja Cat's politics feel pretty impenetrable but sampling a song called "Impeach The President" is a certainly choice. "Can't Wait" plays it down the middle, however, with Doja dreaming of becoming a farmer with her man over the top of a song originally written about Richard Nixon. The Honey Dippers original has been a lot since its 1973 release, with Biggie and J. Cole among those to tap into the funk band's protest song.

"Balut"

Sample: Ric Flair's pick-up line

OK, so this isn't a song but that voice at the start of "Balut" saying "Remember this girls. None of you can be first but all of you can be next" belongs to WWE hall-of-famer Ric Flair. It's a line he's been using since back in the day and continues to use in his old age.

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Here are all of the samples on Doja Cat’s Scarlet