PrettiboiRoq, the dynamic out rapper known for his sharp lyricism and unapologetic voice, is back with his latest single, “Ann N Andyy.” A powerful track born from personal conflict and creative frustration, the song delves into themes of betrayal, resilience, and transformation. With its raw emotion and clever wordplay, “Ann N Andyy” marks a significant moment in PrettiboiRoq’s musical journey.  We spoke with the queer hip-hopper from his home in Los Angeles.

What inspired your latest single, “Ann N Andyy”?  

PrettiBoiRoq:  The single actually came about in a not-so-great moment on this album. I had been working on a new single with a couple of other artists that I considered really close friends. We had recorded a song and shot an entire music video for it. At the last minute, they decided they wanted no part of the project because I wouldn’t give them full creative control, which was funny, because the entire project was funded by me.  I was out thousands of dollars and left with a project I couldn’t release.

So, you wrote a song about it?

PrettiBoiRoq:  I did.  They wrote me this massive email where they aired all their grievances and so I incorporated a lot of the letter into the bars and wordplay of the song. It turned out great, because it really helped with my creative process, and in my opinion, became one of the best singles on the album.  There was a lot of betrayal that happened and it forced me to really dive deep.

Instead of putting your response in an email, you took it to the booth with some clever word play.

PrettiBoiRoq:  I label them Ann and Andy dolls because they were both “raggedy”. Since my persona for some time has been that of a Ken Doll, I thought it be a fun way to show the difference between me and the people who screwed me over.

How would you describe its sound?  

PrettiBoiRoq:  It definitely has a more aggressive tone and more classic hip-hop sound than the other singles I’ve released recently. I wanted to keep it simple as far as production goes and really hyper focus on the lyrics.

You don’t name names in the song, though. 

PrettiBoiRoq:  I don’t, but they are very aware of who they are. I will quote one of the tracks on my upcoming album: “I drop names when they carry weight, it’s called relevance”. I was already giving them a platform by putting them on to my fans.  They want out of the project, that’s on them.  I’m not going to allow them any clout from my name, period.

How does the music video reflect on the single?  

PrettiBoiRoq:  The video is much darker than anything else I’ve released. There is a morgue scene where I clearly have a knife in my back reflecting the betrayal of friends. We inject me with a syringe labeled “Ann N Andyy” and I’m forced to watch footage of myself in the unreleased project while strapped into a jacket. We kind of wanted to portray the death and resurrection of my alter ego, “Ken“.  The betrayal killed Ken and made way for the next era of Prettiboiroq.

You also break the fourth wall at the end of the video.

PrettiBoiRoq:  (Laughing) Yeah, that’s my producer, Nick, who says “not your best work, let’s go again.”   It is a direct reference to the email I received from Ann and Andy.  It wasn’t just me who was insulted by the whole situation.  It was everyone involved in the project, so I wanted to make sure my team got their licks in as well.

What do you hope fans take away from “Ann N Andyy”?

PrettiBoiRoq:  I think the biggest thing I want people to take away from this single is that no matter what genre I decide to fall into, I’m always a rapper first. I love creating clever lyrics and double entendre and I think Ann N Andyy was a great way for me to flex my pen. At the end of the day, an artist is only as good as their lyrics. I hope this shows people what I can do and also shows people be careful of the bridges you burn.  Because I’m the nicest person you’ll ever meet, until you mess with my friends, my money, or my craft.

Follow on IG @ prettiboiroq

By Tim Blankenship