When Doja Cat took the stage at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts in June 2024, it wasn’t just another stop on a summer tour — it was a full-blown statement of artistic rebirth. Coming off the release of her bold, genre-bending album, Scarlet, the performance felt less like a pop show and more like an avant-garde rap opera filtered through the lens of chaos, control, and complete creative freedom.
Gone were the bubblegum aesthetics of her early fame, replaced by a stage drenched in crimson and shadow. Doja’s latest era — darker, rawer, more confrontational — came alive under the muggy Massachusetts sky as a sold-out crowd roared in anticipation. This wasn’t about TikTok virality or radio hits anymore. It was about power.
A Visceral Opening
The show opened with “ACKNOWLEDGE ME”, and the message was clear from the jump — Doja Cat wasn’t here to be cute or polite. She emerged from a throne-like setup in the center of the stage, bathed in red smoke, her dancers in skeletal black-and-white armor moving like ghosts. The beat hit heavy, and her delivery was razor sharp, every line slicing through the humid air.
By the time she transitioned into “Shutcho”, she had the audience fully under her command. There was no warm-up, no easing into it. It was all confidence and bite. The production was stripped-back yet menacing — bass-heavy and jagged, the kind of sound that hits your chest before your ears.
Then came “WYM Freestyle”, one of those moments that remind you Doja Cat is one of the best rappers of her generation, period. She flowed with surgical precision, weaving between cadences like it was effortless. The crowd screamed every punchline, but Doja never lost focus — she was in full control, pacing the stage like a panther.
From “Demons” to “Tia Tamera” – The Duality of Doja
When the eerie chimes of “Demons” started, the entire set shifted from pure performance to something closer to a ritual. Her dancers surrounded her, forming a circle as projections of hellish eyes flickered behind them. It was unsettling in the best way possible — theatrical, gothic, and unapologetically weird.
But Doja knows how to balance her darkness with humor, and she did exactly that by flipping the tone on a dime. The next track, “Tia Tamera”, brought the party crashing back into focus. The crowd exploded when the opening bars hit — it was the perfect throwback to her Hot Pink era, a nod to the fans who’ve been with her since the internet-rap days. Her playful delivery and swagger were infectious, and the crowd rapped every word back at her.
Then came a moment fans had been buzzing about online for weeks — the live debut of “PISS.” The song is chaotic, bizarre, and full of attitude, and live it was even more outrageous. The beat rattled through the venue while Doja prowled across the stage, laughing between bars, taunting the crowd, and owning the absurdity. It’s not the kind of song that aims for mass appeal — it’s designed to make you uncomfortable, amused, and impressed all at once. That’s exactly what makes it brilliant.
Reclaiming the Stage
Midway through the set, the energy shifted again with “OKLOSER.” The lights softened to a cold blue, and Doja’s voice — smoky, cool, and self-assured — carried the song’s slow-burn intensity. It was hypnotic. She has a way of blending vulnerability and ego so seamlessly that it becomes impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins.
Then came one of the night’s biggest moments: “Say So.” For a lot of artists, a song that big could become an anchor — something they can’t escape. But Doja has flipped that narrative. She’s reimagined the disco-pop hit into a grittier, more sensual version of itself. The original’s bright bounce was replaced by a slower, trap-infused groove, and she sang it with a smirk, clearly enjoying the reinvention. The crowd loved it.
“Get Into It (Yuh)” kept the momentum going, complete with sharp choreography and flashing strobe lights that turned the Xfinity Center into a club. The track’s playful energy hit hard live — Doja strutted across the stage with attitude for days, trading bars with her dancers and hyping up the audience. It was pure chaos, perfectly controlled.
She followed that with “Go Off” and “Attention,” both of which demonstrated her evolving artistry. “Go Off” was pure aggression, with Doja spitting her verses like she had something to prove — though by this point, she didn’t. And “Attention,” one of her most introspective songs, brought things to a simmer. The camera feed zoomed in on her face as she delivered every line with precision. The track’s theme — demanding recognition not for her looks or viral fame but for her talent — resonated deeply, especially in a live setting.
The Heart of the Show
When she eased into “Need to Know,” the night hit peak energy. The beat dropped and the crowd went ballistic. The choreography was tight but loose enough to feel natural, and the visuals behind her — kaleidoscopic galaxies and neon silhouettes — turned the song into a full sensory experience.
After that came “Agora Hills,” arguably one of her most hypnotic tracks from Scarlet. Doja’s voice melted into the melody, smoky and dreamlike, as she prowled down the extended runway that jutted into the crowd. The staging was intimate here — low lighting, red haze, and her silhouette glowing against the backdrop. It was sensual but understated, like a private moment between artist and audience.
Then came a total shift in tone with “Streets.” The song, which famously sampled Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” was the night’s most emotionally charged performance. She stripped away the production and let her voice do the work. For a few minutes, the massive outdoor venue fell completely silent — no one moved, no one talked. It was pure theater.
A Ferocious Finish
But Doja wasn’t going to end things quietly. She exploded into “Paint the Town Red,” the night’s undisputed highlight. The song, which became an anthem of her Scarlet era, had the entire crowd chanting the hook like a mantra. The visuals behind her — swirling crimson clouds and flashing hieroglyphics — gave it a larger-than-life energy. Doja herself looked completely in her element, spitting verses with confidence, grinning as the audience echoed her every word.
And then, in the most unexpected twist of the night, she closed with “Wet Vagina.” It was raw, raunchy, and hilariously self-aware — a track that only Doja Cat could pull off as a finale. She owned every second of it, moving across the stage like a rock star, laughing between lines, breaking the fourth wall with the audience. It was the perfect sendoff — unfiltered, outrageous, and completely her.
A Stage Built for Reinvention
Visually, the show was a masterclass in design. Each song had its own distinct mood, supported by shifting colors, minimal yet striking choreography, and a stage layout that made the enormous venue feel intimate. The production wasn’t about excess — it was about atmosphere.
The red-and-black motif ran through the entire performance, giving it a cohesive visual identity that matched Scarlet’s tone: sensual, menacing, and unapologetically confident. The lighting team deserves special praise — they knew exactly when to let darkness do the talking.
Doja’s command of the stage is something few pop artists can match. She’s not just performing songs — she’s embodying them. Every movement, facial expression, and ad-lib feels deliberate, crafted to draw the crowd in. Yet she never feels robotic. There’s an edge of unpredictability, a sense that she might throw the whole plan out the window at any moment — and that danger makes the show electric.
The Artist in Full Control
There’s always been a debate around Doja Cat: pop star or rapper? Serious artist or internet provocateur? At the Xfinity Center, she made those questions irrelevant. She’s all of it — and none of it — at once.
Her live show revealed just how versatile she’s become. She can spit complex verses with battle-rap precision, then turn around and deliver pop hooks with the effortless charisma of a superstar. Her singing was flawless, her rapping vicious, her transitions seamless.
And beyond the performance, there was a clear emotional throughline — this was Doja reclaiming her identity on her own terms. The crowd could feel it. The energy wasn’t just excitement; it was respect.
A Night That Redefined Pop
By the end of the night, it was clear this wasn’t the same Doja Cat who danced through “Say So” on TikTok four years ago. This was an artist who has stared down fame, controversy, and expectation — and turned it all into art.
As fans filed out into the humid night air, you could hear them buzzing about how different the show felt — heavier, darker, but also freer. Doja didn’t just play her hits; she reshaped them, redefined them, and recontextualized her entire career in one performance.
That’s the mark of a true headliner.
The Scarlet tour stop in Mansfield wasn’t just a victory lap — it was a declaration. Doja Cat has arrived at a place where she no longer needs to prove herself. The hits, the skill, the showmanship — they all speak for themselves.
For 90 unforgettable minutes, the Xfinity Center was her world, and everyone inside it was spellbound.
Grade: A