Balut (song) explained

Balut
Type:Promotional single
Artist:Doja Cat
Album:Scarlet
Recorded:2022
Genre:
Length:3:27
Label:
Lyricist:Amala Zandile Dlamini

"Balut" is a song by American rapper and singer Doja Cat from her fourth studio album, Scarlet (2023). It was released on September 15, 2023, through Kemosabe and RCA Records as the third promotional single from the album. Written by Doja Cat, Y2K and Rogét Chahayed, who also produced the song with Yeti Beats, it is a downtempo boom bap song characterized by bass-heavy lofi beats and ethereal melodies.

Background

The title "Balut" was first revealed in April 2023, when Doja Cat shared pictures of a whiteboard showing progress on the preliminary tracklist for what would later be her fourth studio album Scarlet.[1] She then shared a snippet of the song while on an Instagram livestream in June 2023.[2] [3] Doja Cat announced the release date of the album on August 30,[4] as well as the final tracklist on September 12, revealing "Balut" to be the fifteenth track on the album.[5] "Balut" was surprise released as a promotional single on September 15, with no prior announcement. The song was written by Doja Cat and Y2K alongside Rogét Chahayed, who produced the song with Yeti Beats. Additional production credits also go to co-writer Kurtis McKenzie.[6] [7] [8]

Composition and lyrics

Described as "slinky", "sultry"[9] and "laid-back",[10] [11] "Balut" is a downtempo rap song characterized by a bass-heavy lo-fi beat and "ethereal, melodic flourishes" of piano.[12] [13] The song was noted to be inspired by boom bap and 1990s hip hop music.[14] Lyrically, the song finds Doja Cat boasting about herself and her work from an "insightful but confident" perspective,[15] setting herself apart from her peers. She also dismisses rumors and speculations such as drug use. She utilizes a "backpack rap" flow and a complex rhyme structure, in addition to her inclusion of metaphors and wordplay.

While the word balut is the name given to a popular Filipino delicacy commonly made from the embryo of a duck, Doja Cat claims she gave the song that name because "it signifies a bird that's being eaten alive".[16] Doja Cat received backlash from Filipino listeners because balut is not, in fact, eaten live.[17] The opening to the track samples a quote from American wrestler Ric Flair saying, "Remember this girl... None of you can be first, but all of you can be next. Woo!".[18] The song could also have potentially gained its namesake from one of Flair's aliases, "I Da! Ba-Loot!".[19] [20]

Critical reception

"Balut" received generally favorable reviews from contemporary music critics. Armon Sadler of Vibe wrote that Doja Cat "excels" and praised her "pure, gritty, '90s type of flow". Writing for HotNewHipHop, Alexander Cole also lauded her rapping, and wrote that it proves she is "incredibly talented and versatile". Several critics compared "Balut" to the work of alternative hip hop artists such as The Alchemist and others under the Griselda Records collective.[21] [22]

Charts

Chart (2023)! scope="col"
Peak
position
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[23] 10

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Blake . Cole . April 8, 2023 . Doja Cat Teases Track Titles For Next Album . September 15, 2023 . HotNewHipHop.
  2. Web site: Pointer . Flisadam . June 18, 2023 . Doja Cat Leaked Her Upcoming Single 'Balut' During An Instagram Stream . September 15, 2023 . Uproxx.
  3. Web site: Blake . Cole . June 19, 2023 . Doja Cat Previews Upcoming Single "Balut" During IG Livestream . September 15, 2023 . HotNewHipHop.
  4. Web site: Singh . Surej . August 30, 2023 . Doja Cat announces new album, 'Scarlet' . September 11, 2023 . NME.
  5. Lamarre . Carl . September 12, 2023 . Doja Cat Unveils Her 'No Features' Tracklist For New Album Scarlet . September 15, 2023 . Billboard.
  6. Denis . Kyle . September 15, 2023 . Doja Cat Continues Teasing 'Scarlet' With New 'Balut' Single: Stream It Now . September 16, 2023 . Billboard . en-US.
  7. Web site: Brodsky . Rachel . September 15, 2023 . Doja Cat Shares New Song "Balut": Listen . September 15, 2023 . Stereogum.
  8. Web site: Pappis . Konstantinos . September 15, 2023 . Doja Cat Shares New Single 'Balut' . September 15, 2023 . Our Culture Mag.
  9. Web site: Bernstein . Elaina . September 15, 2023 . Doja Cat Flexes on New Single, "Balut" . September 16, 2023 . Hypebeast.
  10. Web site: Squires . Bethy . September 15, 2023 . Doja Cat Wants Us to Snack on 'Balut' . September 15, 2023 . . New York Magazine.
  11. Web site: Johnson . Laura . September 15, 2023 . Doja Cat Shares New 'Scarlet' Single Balut . September 15, 2023 . Stereoboard.
  12. Web site: Gonzalez . Alex . September 15, 2023 . Doja Cat Drops 'Balut,' Her Newest Single From 'Scarlet' . September 15, 2023 . Uproxx.
  13. Web site: Cole . Alexander . September 15, 2023 . Doja Cat Channels Her Inner Griselda On New Single "Balut" . September 16, 2023 . HotNewHipHop.
  14. Web site: Brown . Preezy . Sadler . Armon . September 15, 2023 . Nas, Offset, Rod Wave, And More New Music Friday Releases To Add To Your Rotation . September 16, 2023 . Vibe.
  15. Web site: Cowen . Trace William . September 15, 2023 . Doja Cat Samples Ric Flair on Latest 'Scarlet' Track "Balut" . September 16, 2023 . Complex.
  16. Web site: Sharma . Jahanvi . September 17, 2023 . 'I named the song Balut because…': Doja Cat shares the meaning behind her new song . September 17, 2023 . Hindustan Times.
  17. Web site: Magramo . Kathleen . September 21, 2023 . Why has Doja Cat's new song 'Balut' landed her in hot water with some Filipino listeners? . September 21, 2023 . CNN.
  18. Web site: Rosen . Craig . September 15, 2023 . Hear Doja Cat Sample Veteran Wrestler Ric Flair on New Single 'Balut' . September 15, 2023 . . October 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231012031822/https://themessenger.com/entertainment/hear-doja-cat-sample-veteran-wrestler-ric-flair-on-new-single-balut . dead .
  19. Web site: Purnell . Kristofer . September 16, 2023 . Doja Cat drops 'Balut' ahead of 'Scarlet' album release . September 16, 2023 . The Philippine Star.
  20. Web site: Sanders . Laura . October 5, 2021 . WWE Legend Ric Flair Once Survived A Deadly Plane Crash Which Broke His Spine . September 15, 2023 . SPORTbible.
  21. Web site: Saponara . Michael . September 15, 2023 . Doja Cat Fans Call For Her To Join Griselda After New Single 'Balut' . September 16, 2023 . HipHopDX.
  22. Web site: Grant . Shawn . September 15, 2023 . Doja Cat Gets Her Bars Off on "Balut" Single from Forthcoming 'Scarlet' Album . September 16, 2023 . The Source.
  23. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. September 25, 2023. September 23, 2023.