Rules (Doja Cat song)

2019 single by Doja Cat

"Rules"

Single by Doja Cat
from the album  Hot Pink
Released| October 24, 2019
Recorded| 2018
Studio| Eightysevenfourteen (Los Angeles, California)
Genre|

* Hip hop
* pop rap[1][2]

Length| 3:07
Label|

* Kemosabe
* RCA

Songwriter(s)|

* Amala Zandile Dlamini
* Ben Diehl
* Salaam Remi
* Lukasz Gottwald
* Lydia Asrat
* Theron Thomas
* David Sprecher

Producer(s)|

* Ben Billions
* Remi
* Tyson Trax

Doja Cat singles chronology
| "Bottom Bitch"
(2019)  | "Rules"
(2019)  | "Cyber Sex"
(2019)

|
|

Music video
"Rules" on YouTube

"Rules" is a song by American rapper and singer Doja Cat, released on October 24, 2019, as the third single from her second studio album Hot Pink (2019). The song was written by Doja Cat, Yeti Beats, Lydia Asrat, Uptown AP of R. City, and producers Salaam Remi, Tyson Trax, and Ben Billions.[3] Soon after its release, the song became popular on Twitter, and Doja Cat's performance was noted to be influenced by Kendrick Lamar.[4]

## Background[edit]

"Rules" was released as the third single from Doja Cat's second album Hot Pink as well as being the third track on the album. Doja Cat first teased the song by releasing a still from the music video on her Instagram account on October 16, 2019 as well as another shot from the video on October 22, 2019.[5][6] The song was announced upon its release along with its music video premiere.

## Music video[edit]

On October 24, 2019, a music video was released alongside the song's release. Directed by Christian Sutton while video production was handled by Psycho Films,[7] the video portrays Doja as the boss of a Cat Mafia gang with the video taking place in the desert.[8][9]

## Critical reception[edit]

Lakin Starling of Pitchfork wrote, "[Rules] captures a more serious—though hardly humorless—mood, pairing eerie old-western bass with Doja's memorable command: 'Play with my pussy, but don't play with my emotions.'"[10] Following the release of the song, Shaad D'Souza of The Fader placed the song on the 20 Best Pop Songs Right Now list admiring the "loose, funky production" as well as Doja's "charisma and charm".[11]

Many publications, such as Elle and Pitchfork, praised "Rules" and cited the similarities of Doja Cat's lyrical delivery to those of Kendrick Lamar.[12][4]

## Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Hot Pink liner notes.[3]

Recording

* Engineered at eightysevenfourteen studios (Los Angeles, California)
* Mixed at Threejonet Studios (Los Angeles, California)
* Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)

Personnel

* Doja Cat – vocals, songwriting
* Ben Billions – songwriting, production, all programming, all instrumentation
* Salaam Remi – songwriting; production, all programming, all instrumentation
* Tyson Trax – songwriting; production, all programming, all instrumentation
* Lydia Asrat – songwriting
* Theron Thomas – songwriting
* David Sprecher – songwriting
* Kalani Thompson – engineering
* Seth Ringo – assistant engineering
* Tyler Sheppard – assistant engineering
* Clint Gibbs – mixing
* Danielle Alvarez – production coordination
* Mike Bozzi – mastering

## Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Rules"  Chart (2019)  | Peak
position

|

New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13] | 17
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[14] | 19
US Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles (Billboard)[15] | 8
US R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[16] | 25

## Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Rules"  Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[17] | Platinum  | 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[18] | Diamond  | 160,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[19] | Gold  | 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[20] | Gold  | 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[21] | Platinum  | 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Release history[edit]

Release dates and formats for "Rules"  Region  | Date  | Format(s)  | Label(s)  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

Various  | October 24, 2019  |

* Digital download
* streaming

* Kemosabe
* RCA

| [22]

## References[edit]

1. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (October 30, 2019). "The 20 best pop songs right now". The Fader. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
2. ^ Pierre, Alphonse (October 28, 2019). "New Rap Song of the Day: Doja Cat "Rules"". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
3. ^ a b Hot Pink (Media notes). Kemosabe Records.
4. ^ a b Pierre, Alphonse (October 28, 2019). "The Ones: Doja Cat's "Rules"". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
5. ^ "Doja Cat on Instagram: "I tried contact lenses for the first time. Also I have a surprise for you guys."". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
6. ^ "Doja Cat on Instagram: "I got something completely new for you guys on Thursday. #HOTPINK 🐍"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
7. ^ Doja Cat – Rules (Official Video), retrieved May 30, 2020
8. ^ Aniftos, Rania (October 25, 2019). "Doja Cat Runs the Feline Mafia in 'Rules' Video". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
9. ^ Alston, Trey (October 24, 2019). "Doja Cat Destroys Cars And Slithers With Snakes In Villainous 'Rules' Video". MTV News. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
10. ^ Starling, Lakin (November 14, 2019). "Hot Pink – Review by Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
11. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (October 30, 2019). "The 20 best pop songs right now". The Fader. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
12. ^ Penrose, Nerisha (November 11, 2019). "Doja Cat Just Wants to Make Rap Colorful". ELLE. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
13. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 4, 2019. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
14. ^ "Doja Cat Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
15. ^ "Doja Cat – Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 8, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
16. ^ "Doja Cat Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
17. ^ "Oct 2023 Single Accreds" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
18. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Doja Cat – Rules" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
19. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2022 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 9, 2022.
20. ^ "British single certifications – Doja Cat – Rules". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
21. ^ "American single certifications – Doja Cat – Rules". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
22. ^ "Rules – Single by Doja Cat". Apple Music. Retrieved May 30, 2020.

* v
* t
* e

Doja Cat

* Discography
* Awards and nominations

Studio albums|

* Amala (2018)
* Hot Pink (2019)
* Planet Her (2021)
* Scarlet (2023)

Extended plays|

* Purrr! (2014)

Concert tours|

* The Scarlet Tour

Singles|

* "So High"
* "Candy"
* "Mooo!"
* "Tia Tamera"
* "Juicy"
* "Bottom Bitch"
* "Rules"
* "Cyber Sex"
* "Say So"
* "Boss Bitch"
* "Like That"
* "Del Mar"
* "Streets"
* "Kiss Me More"
* "You Right"
* "Need to Know"
* "Woman"
* "Handstand"
* "Freaky Deaky"
* "Get Into It (Yuh)"
* "Vegas"
* "Paint the Town Red"
* "Agora Hills"
* "N.H.I.E."
* "Masc"

Featured singles|

* "Make That Cake"
* "BMO" (remix)
* "In Your Eyes" (remix)
* "Pussy Talk"
* "To Be Young"
* "Do It" (remix)
* "Baby, I'm Jealous"
* "Best Friend"
* "34+35" (remix)
* "Dick"
* "I Like You (A Happier Song)"
* "Kill Bill" (remix)

Promotional singles|

* "Freak"
* "You're the One That I Want"
* "Celebrity Skin"
* "Attention"
* "Demons"
* "Balut"

Other songs|

* "Motive"
* "Ain't Shit"
* "Tonight"

Related articles|

* Yeti Beats

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