Ain't Shit Explained

Ain't Shit
Cover:Ain't Shit Vevo Live cover - Doja Cat.png
Caption:Vevo's "Official Live Performance" cover
Alt:Doja Cat in an all-black outfit, sitting on a gold bench with a large gold orb behind her. Her name, printed in all-caps letters, stands on the lower half of the image. On the right side of the cover art lies text that reads "A Vevo Original / Ain't Shit / Official Live Performance".
Type:song
Artist:Doja Cat
Album:Planet Her
Released:June 25, 2021
Recorded:2020
Studio:The Sound Factory (Los Angeles, California)
Genre:
Length:2:54
Label:
Producer:
  • Tizhimself
  • Chahayed

"Ain't Shit" is a song by American rapper and singer Doja Cat from her third studio album Planet Her (2021). It was released through Kemosabe and RCA Records alongside the parent album as an album track. Originally under the title "Niggas Ain't Shit" and "N.A.S.", the song was teased and anticipated months prior after being previewed by Doja Cat on an Instagram livestream in early April 2020.

The song was produced by Tizhimself and Rogét Chahayed with additional production from Yeti Beats and Kurtis McKenzie, all of whom are also credited as co-writers alongside Doja Cat.[1] "Ain't Shit" is the only song excluded from the clean version of its parent album due to the chorus's explicit nature.[2] Commercially, the song debuted within the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100 as an album track.

Background

In April 2020, Doja Cat played the song in its entirety while on an Instagram livestream, before the preview gained traction on the video-sharing platform TikTok.[3] [4] [5] Doja Cat hinted at the release of this song under the acronymic title "N.A.S." in August 2020, yet this did not happen.[6] Many believed that this title aimed to earn "subtle digs"[7] at American rapper Nas, who had dissed her on his single "Ultra Black" earlier that month.[8]

Composition and lyrics

Over an R&B rhythm, Doja Cat sings angrily about "immature, unfaithful men who have wronged and hurt her".[9] "Ain't Shit" is characterized by its refrain in which she sings the line "niggas ain't shit!" in a high, falsetto register",[10] as well as its one-liners and "rapped eye-rolls".[11] Throughout the song, Doja Cat "rips through biting rap verses with a venomous flow that is counterbalanced by more restrained sung verses".

Critical reception

The A.V. Club and Loud and Quiet considered the song a highlight from the record.[12] Uproxx and Consequence praised it for the humor and personality in its lyrics,[13] while Insider wrote that it recalls what initially attracted Doja Cat's fanbase when her comedic novelty song "Mooo!" went viral in 2018.[14] Loud and Quiet described it as a "fuck you anthem" and praised its "gratifyingly childish insults" and Doja Cat's "villainous delivery". Elly Watson of DIY praised the song's "effortless bad-bitch energy".[15] Nick Levine of NME wrote that Doja Cat's lyrics "possess a plain-speaking power," stressing that "it's not so much what she says, but the way that she says it."[16]

Live performance

In July 2021, Doja Cat first officially performed "Ain't Shit" in a pre-recorded video for Vevo on a set with gold structures amongst a Californian desert.[17] [18]

Commercial performance

"Ain't Shit" debuted at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the opening week of Planet Her, becoming the highest charting non-single from the record.[19] It earned similar placements in Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The song also reached the top ten in New Zealand.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[20] 70
Lithuania (AGATA)[21] 22
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 8
South Africa (RISA)[23] 13
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 9

Year-end charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Position
Global 200 (Billboard)[25] 158
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 48

Notes and References

  1. Planet Her. Kemosabe Records.
  2. Web site: Fife. Carter. June 25, 2021. Doja Cat Shoots For the Moon on "Planet Her". live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210628172421/https://www.onestowatch.com/blog/doja-cat-planet-her-review. June 28, 2021. June 30, 2021. Ones to Watch. Tracks like "Ain't Shit" (which, surprise, is mysteriously missing from the record's clean version).
  3. Web site: A.. Aron. May 18, 2020. Doja Cat's Unreleased Song Is Making Big Waves On TikTok. June 29, 2021. HotNewHipHop. Doja Cat hit her Instagram Live in early April when she previewed some new music. The song, titled, "N****as Ain't Shit" has made waves on TikTok [...]. June 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210629184407/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/doja-cats-unreleased-song-is-making-big-waves-on-tiktok-news.110685.html. live.
  4. Denis. Kyle. June 25, 2021. Every Song Ranked on Doja Cat's 'Planet Her': Critic's List. July 4, 2021. Billboard. June 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210629164416/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/9592632/doja-cat-planet-her-every-song-ranked/. live.
  5. Web site: Mench. Chris. May 18, 2020. Doja Cat May Have Found Her Next Hit With A Song That's Still Unreleased. July 24, 2021. Genius. January 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210109204653/https://genius.com/a/what-is-that-s-not-cheating-if-i-wasn-t-with-tiktok-song-doja-cats-niggas-aint-shit-viral-hit. live.
  6. Web site: Woods. Aleia. August 21, 2020. Doja Cat Says She's Releasing a Song Called "N.A.S.". July 4, 2021. XXL. February 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210209102844/https://www.xxlmag.com/doja-cat-releasing-song-n-a-s/. live.
  7. Web site: Akpan. Rosemary. Doja Cat Shows Off a World of Range on 'Planet Her'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210625000800/https://exclaim.ca/music/article/doja_cat_planet_her_album_review. June 25, 2021. June 25, 2021. Exclaim!.
  8. Web site: Threadcraft. Torry. August 21, 2020. Hmm: Doja Cat Teases Curiously-Titled Second Single "N.A.S.". July 4, 2021. Okayplayer. July 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183220/https://www.okayplayer.com/culture/doja-cat-teases-nas.html. live.
  9. Web site: Serrano. Athena. June 25, 2021. Doja Cat's Planet Her Has a Song For Every Mood. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714123533/http://www.mtv.com/news/3178634/doja-cat-planet-her-mood-music/. July 14, 2021. July 15, 2021. MTV News.
  10. Web site: Anderson. Carys. June 25, 2021. Doja Cat Blasts Off to Full Pop Stardom With Planet Her: Review. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210713180523/https://consequence.net/2021/06/doja-cat-planet-her-review/. July 13, 2021. July 15, 2021. Consequence.
  11. Web site: Sanchez. Gabrielle. June 21, 2021. Doja Cat threatens to lose herself in the pop space of Planet Her. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210625051213/https://www.avclub.com/doja-cat-loses-herself-in-the-pop-space-of-planet-her-1847140409. June 25, 2021. June 24, 2021. The A.V. Club.
  12. Web site: Butchard. Skye. June 24, 2021. Doja Cat - Planet Her - Album Review. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210715201606/https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/doja-cat-planet-her/. July 15, 2021. July 15, 2021. Loud and Quiet.
  13. Web site: Gracie. Bianca. June 25, 2021. Doja Cat's 'Planet Her' Cements Her Weirdo Pop Star Status. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210713172818/https://uproxx.com/music/doja-cat-planet-her-review/. July 13, 2021. July 15, 2021. Uproxx.
  14. Web site: Ahlgrim. Callie. June 26, 2021. Every song on Doja Cat's new album 'Planet Her,' ranked from worst to best. July 15, 2021. Insider.
  15. Web site: Watson. Elly. June 25, 2021. Doja Cat - Planet Her Reviews. July 25, 2021. DIY. June 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210628070652/https://diymag.com/2021/06/25/doja-cat-planet-her-album-review. live.
  16. Web site: Levine. Nick. June 25, 2021. Doja Cat – 'Planet Her' review: controversial pop-rapper enters her imperial phase. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210628073447/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/doja-cat-planet-her-review-2978431. June 28, 2021. June 25, 2021. NME.
  17. Web site: Lawson. Brianna. July 2, 2021. Doja Cat partners with Vevo for visual for "Ain't Shit". July 4, 2021. Earmilk. July 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210703095539/https://earmilk.com/2021/07/02/doja-cat-partners-with-vevo-for-visual-for-aint-shit/. live.
  18. Web site: Cole. Alexander. July 3, 2021. Doja Cat Delivers Visually Stunning Live Performance Of "Ain't Sh*t". July 4, 2021. HotNewHipHop. July 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210703153644/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/doja-cat-delivers-visually-stunning-live-performance-of-aint-sh-t-news.135049.html. live.
  19. Web site: McIntyre. Hugh. July 7, 2021. Doja Cat Is Enjoying Her Best Week Ever On The Hot 100. July 24, 2021. Forbes. July 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712155253/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2021/07/07/doja-cat-is-enjoying-her-best-week-ever-on-the-hot-100/. live.
  20. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 6 September 2021. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1644. 4. September 6, 2021.
  21. Web site: 2021 30-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100). AGATA. lt. 2021 30th week's most listened (TOP 100). July 30, 2021.
  22. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. August 2, 2021. July 31, 2021.
  23. Web site: Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100: 20/08/2021 to 26/08/2021. The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. September 14, 2021. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210908193322/https://theofficialsacharts.co.za/charts/streaming-chart-20-08-2021-to-26-08-2021/. September 8, 2021.
  24. Web site: Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 29. July 30, 2021. Sverigetopplistan. sv.
  25. Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 4, 2021.
  26. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 3, 2021.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ain't Shit".

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