“Pretty Boy” is the eleventh track on Joji’s 2020 album ‘Nectar.’ Contrary to Joji’s usual style and song topics, this track boasts about the singer’s successful life with content. Joji also enlists rapper Lil Yachty for a verse on the track.
Joji released his second studio album ‘Nectar’ on September 25, 2020. The album got postponed from its original release date of July 2020 due to Covid-19. This is his return to music after the 2018 album ‘BALLADS 1.’
On the track, both Joji and Yachty sing about how good their lives are at the moment. Joji sings of his current location which is both beautiful and glamorous. Yachty too piles up on this boasting about his good looks and net worth.
Watch “Pretty Boy” Video by Joji Ft. Lil Yachty
“Pretty Boy” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
Chorus
In the chorus of the song, we hear Joji being proud of his looks. However, he does not call himself sexy or handsome. But he settles with ‘pretty boy’ which is equally good.
Joji also says that has no sad moments in his life. This is not possible. However, what is possible is how you look at your problems. Your perception is everything! So, Joji sheds no tears facing any struggles in his life.
The ‘hills’ might be a reference to the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, where he has a residence. He appreciates the beauty of his surrounding. He also appreciates how glamorous everything is in LA, which is not an overestimation.
Verse 1
In the first verse of the song, Joji further talks about his happy times in his Los Angeles residence. He also talks about a blue pill that takes him to a happier place. He could be refering to Xanax or Zoloft drugs. Under the influence of these drugs, Joji feels so powerful and confident. He has no fears of anything, and he feels invisible. But this is a very temporary trance made of illusions.
It is clear that the tone of the song changed drastically from the chorus to the first verse. It is almost as if we get to see behind the veil of the chorus. Joji has to remind himself that there are no more fears or lies to make him fall asleep? That is not a man at peace. That is a man with some inner demons.
And these demons live within these Hills…
Verse 2
Lil Yachty’s verse on “Pretty Boy” is more in tune with the chorus of the song…for a second.
Lil Yachty kicks off his verse by boasting that he is a handsome young man. Looking at the mirror, he thinks that it should be a crime to look this good!
However, the tone changes fast. He starts talking about the pain inside of him. But no one else knows this and they never will. Because the rapper is not about sharing his problems. He will keep his problems and thoughts to himself.
However, what he would talk about is his networth and his good looks.
In a nutshell, it seems as if both the artists are hiding their real problems behind a glittery curtain.
Let us hear what you think about this song in the comment below. Check out the complete lyrics and further meaning breakdown on Genius.
Dumbest take ever it’s obviously about rich famous people boasting about their money and looks and where they live to cover up the fact they really have nothing of value and they’re empty and sad “living so loud you can barely hear me cry” “all this pain I’ll never let show, my real thoughts you’ll never know” these are examples of how I think this song means that money, looks, fame won’t get you happiness and it’s just perceived as that and used to desperately fill holes these people have in their lives.
the part about drugs, specifically the “blue pill” is very wrong, you perceived it as actual drugs, but I think its more based on the blue pill from the matrix
the blue pill in the matrix essentially keeps you in the same position in life, free from change and it also makes you unaware of reality. so i believe you are right with this statement