Tia Tamera

"Tia Tamera" is a song by American rapper and singer Doja Cat featuring fellow American rapper Rico Nasty. It was written by Doja Cat, Kurtis McKenzie, David Sprecher, Lydia Asrat, and Rico Nasty, while being produced by the former two. It was released for digital download and streaming on February 20, 2019,^[3] by Kemosabe Records and RCA Records as the second single to the deluxe edition (and fourth overall) of Doja's debut album Amala.

"Tia Tamera"
Single by Doja Cat featuring Rico Nasty
from the album Amala (Deluxe Edition)
Released	February 20, 2019 (2019-02-20)
Recorded	2018
Studio	The Himalayas (Los Angeles, California)[1]
Genre	Hip hop[2]
Length	3:32
Label	Kemosabe RCA
Songwriter(s)	Amala Zandile Dlamini Kurtis McKenzie Lydia Asrat David Sprecher Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly
Producer(s)	Doja Cat McKenzie
Doja Cat singles chronology
"Mooo!" (2018) "Tia Tamera" (2019) "Juicy" (2019)
Music video
"Tia Tamera" on YouTube

Composition and lyrics

The lyrics reference celebrities such as Aaliyah, Sia, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Regina Hall, Wiz Khalifa, Nia Long, Madea, organizations including Genius and PETA, films such as West Side Story, songs such as "Rock the Boat" and brands such as Chia Pet, Ikea, Nokia.^[4][5] The title of the track is rapped throughout the lyrics with comparisons of her breasts to twin actresses Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry.^[6] Rico is the last verse on the song, and "flexes her bank account, [and] foreign whips".^[7]

Critical reception

The song received widespread acclaim from music critics for its eclectic lyrics and catchy flow. Okayplayer's Ivie Ani praises the track's lyricism, calling the composition "raunchy, rebellious, and real rap". Brooklyn-based blog Brooklyn Vegan explains Rico's verse to be a "show-stopper",^[8] while Uproxx's Andre Gee describe both the song and music video as an "earworm of a hook and a colorful video that allowed each artist to be the vibrant characters we love them as".^[9]

Music video

The music video, directed by Roxana Baldovin, premiered on YouTube on February 21, 2019. As of January 2021, it has gained over 63 million views. The video is a "candy-colored visual" of Doja and Rico competing in a '90s game show against respective lookalikes,^[10] with reference to the sitcom Sister, Sister and the Nickelodeon game show Double Dare.^[4] The video gives a "colorful 90's vibe".^[11] Pitchfork ranked it as one of their Top 20 Music Videos of 2019.^[12]

Synopsis

The video begins with Doja and Rico competing in a game show against their lookalikes.^[13] The duo watch the hip-hop rapper Ka5sh get slimed. The video references the 1997 comedy film B*A*P*S with redoing hairstyles from the main characters of the film, Nisi, played by Halle Berry, and Mickey, played by Natalie Desselle.^[5] During the final scenes, Doja and Rico pour neon yellow slime on the game show host.^[13]

Credits and personnel

Recording and management

• Engineered at The Himalayas (Los Angeles, California)
• Mastered at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Hollywood, California)
• Mau Publishing, Inc./Prescription Songs (BMI), The Arcade Songs LLC (BMI), Desta Melodies (BMI), Yeti Yeti Yeti Music/WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)
• Rico Nasty appears courtesy of Warner Music/Atlantic Recording Corporation

Personnel

• Doja Cat – vocals, songwriting
• Kurtis McKenzie – songwriting; production
• Lydia Asrat – songwriting
• David Sprecher – songwriting; engineering as Yeti
• Rico Nasty – vocals, songwriting
• Neal H Pogue – mixing for Roselle, New Jersey.
• Mike Bozzi – mastering

Credits adapted from Hot Pink (Japan Version) liner notes.^[1]

Certifications

Certifications for "Tia Tamera"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[14]	Platinum	70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[15]	2× Platinum	80,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[16]	Gold	25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[17]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[18]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "Tia Tamera"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	February 20, 2019	Digital download streaming	Kemosabe RCA	[3]
United States	June 4, 2019	Rhythmic radio		[19]

References

1. Hot Pink (Media notes). Kemosabe Records.
2. Kim, Michelle (February 22, 2019). "New Rap Song of the Day: Doja Cat "Tia Tamera" [ft. Rico Nasty]". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
3. "Tia Tamera (feat. Rico Nasty) – Single by Doja Cat". Apple Music (US). Retrieved January 20, 2022.
4. Saponara, Michael (February 21, 2019). "Doja Cat & Rico Nasty Are 'Double Trouble' in New Colorful 'Tia Tamera' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
5. Kim, Michelle (February 22, 2019). "The Ones: Doja Cat's "Tia Tamera" [ft. Rico Nasty]". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
6. Was, Mike (February 21, 2019). "Doja Cat & Rico Nasty Team Up For The Hilarious "Tia Tamera"". idolator. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
7. Zidel, Alex (February 20, 2019). "Doja Cat & Rico Nasty Collaborate On "Tia Tamera"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
8. "19 New Songs Out Today". BrooklynVegan. February 21, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
9. Gee, Andre (February 22, 2019). "The Best New Rap Music To Have On Your Radar". UPROXX. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
10. Hussein, Wandera (February 21, 2019). "Watch Doja Cat and Rico Nasty's "Tia Tamera" video". The FADER. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
11. Marie, Erika (February 21, 2019). "Doja Cat & Rico Nasty Release '90s-Themed "Tia Tamera" Music Video". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
12. "The 20 Best Music Videos of 2019". Pitchfork. December 17, 2019. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
13. Mahadevan, Tara (February 21, 2019). "Doja Cat and Rico Nasty Participate in a Candy-Colored Game Show in "Tia Tamera" Video". Complex. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
14. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
15. "Brazilian single certifications – Doja Cat feat. Rico Nasty – Tia Tamera" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
16. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 23, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Tia Tamera in the search box.
17. "British single certifications – Doja Cat ft Rico Nasty – Tia Tamera". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
18. "American single certifications – Doja Cat – Tia Tamera". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
19. "Top 40/R Cool New Music". All Access Music Group. Retrieved March 3, 2022. Type Doja Cat in the Search field.