Released: 2023 • Features: Rema
Yo, let’s dive into this joint “Pretty Girl” by Ice Spice featuring Rema, a track that’s all about that infatuation level where two people are vibing, but they’re keeping it on the low, no kiss and tell. It slaps with a message that’s about loyalty and keeping it 100, treating your partner as valuable as a gemstone while bigging up their significance over material things like chains and flexin’. Now, let’s break it down.
Rema kicks it off with his patois-infused hook, laying down the foundation of this track. “Pretty gyal, me no do no kiss and tell” means he’s all about discretion when it comes to his romantic life. The man’s emphasizing respect and privacy, declaring he’s not about to brag or spill the details of his love life. When he says, “As long as you treat me well, I will treat you more than gem,” he’s putting the lady in question above all else, stressing that if she’s solid with him, she’ll be treasured deeply. And when he’s talking about chains and real flex, the brotha’s making it clear that his connection with this girl is what truly matters, it’s the real deal, not just superficial bling.
Then Ice Spice jumps in with her verse, laying down that she’s the one with “lotta bands,” which means she’s got her own money and success. She’s flipping the script on expectations—instead of the dude having all the power ’cause of wealth, she’s self-reliant and doing her own thing. The “who you becomin’? Well, that depends” line is a shout-out to the power of choice and personal growth, emphasizing how we all have the potential to evolve based on the paths we take. However, despite the success, what she really wants to do is dance, lose herself in the moment with this person who’s taken the spot as number one.
Now, vibe with it—she says, “If I had three wishes, I’d waste them on you.” That’s heavy. It’s essentially saying if she had some magic genie-type power, she’d throw it all on ol’ boy because that’s how much he means to her. When she talks about “watch what you say, got faces on me,” she’s recognizing that folks are paying attention to her and scrutinizing her moves, so anything said around or to her could be amplified. “No waist is on me” could be a clever play on words, talking about how she’s lean and also nobody is holding her back or restricting her movements.
The second verse sees Ice Spice getting real, confessing she “ain’t been in love in a minute,” a raw admission about being emotionally unavailable or just out of the love game for a while. But this dude has sparked something in her, and when he drops those “big three words” (you know, “I love you”), she believes him, signifying a turning point where she’s opening up to the possibility of love. It’s all about seizing the here and now—like, let’s live life to the fullest and ignore the haters that are just “livid,” or mad, ’cause they can’t stand to see happiness. The phrase “shootin’ for the stars, the sky has no limit” is a play on the saying the sky’s the limit, suggesting that even the sky isn’t enough of a barrier to what they can achieve together. They’re aiming even higher.
The track closes as it opens, mirroring the initial hook and repeating the central theme. The lyrical repetition isn’t just a catchy hook—it’s driving home the point that the bond between these two is consistent and strong. Ice Spice and Rema are telling a modern love story, one where street smarts, mutual respect, and ambition intertwine, with a dash of discretion. It’s low-key love in a high-profile world; a delicate balance they’re striving to maintain throughout the track’s hypnotic beats and heartfelt lyrics.
