Ain't Shit

"Ain't Shit"
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".
Vevo's "Official Live Performance" cover
Song by Doja Cat
from the album Planet Her
ReleasedJune 25, 2021
Recorded2020
StudioThe Sound Factory (Los Angeles, California)
Genre
Length2:54
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Tizhimself
  • Chahayed
Official live performance video
"Ain't Shit (Live)" on YouTube

"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][10] Throughout the song, Doja Cat "rips through biting rap verses with a venomous flow that is counterbalanced by more restrained sung verses".[4]

Critical reception

The A.V. Club and Loud and Quiet considered the song a highlight from the record.[11][12] Uproxx and Consequence praised it for the humor and personality in its lyrics,[10][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".[12] 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,[20] Ireland,[21] and the United Kingdom.[22] The song also reached the top ten in New Zealand.[23]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Ain't Shit"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[34] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[35] Diamond 160,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[36] Platinum 80,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[37] Gold 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[38] Gold 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[39] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Planet Her (Media notes). Kemosabe Records.
  2. ^ Fife, Carter (June 25, 2021). "Doja Cat Shoots For the Moon on "Planet Her"". Ones to Watch. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021. Tracks like "Ain't Shit" (which, surprise, is mysteriously missing from the record's clean version)
  3. ^ A., Aron (May 18, 2020). "Doja Cat's Unreleased Song Is Making Big Waves On TikTok". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021. 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 [...]
  4. ^ a b Denis, Kyle (June 25, 2021). "Every Song Ranked on Doja Cat's 'Planet Her': Critic's List". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  5. ^ Mench, Chris (May 18, 2020). "Doja Cat May Have Found Her Next Hit With A Song That's Still Unreleased". Genius. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  6. ^ Woods, Aleia (August 21, 2020). "Doja Cat Says She's Releasing a Song Called "N.A.S."". XXL. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  7. ^ Akpan, Rosemary. "Doja Cat Shows Off a World of Range on 'Planet Her'". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Threadcraft, Torry (August 21, 2020). "Hmm: Doja Cat Teases Curiously-Titled Second Single "N.A.S."". Okayplayer. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  9. ^ Serrano, Athena (June 25, 2021). "Doja Cat's Planet Her Has a Song For Every Mood". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Anderson, Carys (June 25, 2021). "Doja Cat Blasts Off to Full Pop Stardom With Planet Her: Review". Consequence. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Sanchez, Gabrielle (June 21, 2021). "Doja Cat threatens to lose herself in the pop space of Planet Her". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Butchard, Skye (June 24, 2021). "Doja Cat - Planet Her - Album Review". Loud and Quiet. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  13. ^ Gracie, Bianca (June 25, 2021). "Doja Cat's 'Planet Her' Cements Her Weirdo Pop Star Status". Uproxx. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  14. ^ Ahlgrim, Callie (June 26, 2021). "Every song on Doja Cat's new album 'Planet Her,' ranked from worst to best". Insider. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  15. ^ Watson, Elly (June 25, 2021). "Doja Cat - Planet Her | Reviews". DIY. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  16. ^ Levine, Nick (June 25, 2021). "Doja Cat – 'Planet Her' review: controversial pop-rapper enters her imperial phase". NME. Archived from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  17. ^ Lawson, Brianna (July 2, 2021). "Doja Cat partners with Vevo for visual for "Ain't Shit"". Earmilk. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  18. ^ Cole, Alexander (July 3, 2021). "Doja Cat Delivers Visually Stunning Live Performance Of "Ain't Sh*t"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  19. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (July 7, 2021). "Doja Cat Is Enjoying Her Best Week Ever On The Hot 100". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Doja Cat Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  23. ^ a b "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 2, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  24. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 6 September 2021". The ARIA Report. No. 1644. Australian Recording Industry Association. September 6, 2021. p. 4.
  25. ^ "Doja Cat Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  26. ^ "2021 30-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" [2021 30th week's most listened (TOP 100)] (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  27. ^ "Doja Cat – Ain't Shit". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  28. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100: 20/08/2021 to 26/08/2021". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  29. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 29" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  30. ^ "Doja Cat Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  31. ^ "Doja Cat Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  32. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  33. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  34. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  35. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Doja Cat – Ain't Shit" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  36. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Doja Cat – Ain't Shit". Music Canada. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  37. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 4, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Ain't Shit in the search box.
  38. ^ "British single certifications – Doja Cat – Ain't Shit". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  39. ^ "American single certifications – Doja Cat – Ain't Shit". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 19, 2022.