PrettiBoiRoq Get Fast and Furious

By Jamie Booth

Photo credit: Nicholas Eastman

Styling: Chelsea Bangasser

After the success of “Bad Bitch Alert”, his single with trans rapper Chanel Jole, PrettiBoiRoq is gearing up to show a different side of his music and aesthetic.  “I’m out to prove that I have more to say than ‘shake your ass and f*ck’,” he says.

His latest track, “In My Ride”, is lighthearted, pop-oriented fun.  “I don’t feel like we have enough representation of love in gay hip hop,” he continues. “We have plenty of tracks about sex and casual hook-ups, but not much about real romance, even though most of us live both pretty equally.”

“In My Ride” personifies summer love.  It was inspired by the artist’s own short-lived but high-octane romance.  “I had just ended a long-term relationship and was discouraged with the dating scene when I met my ‘In My Ride’ guy,” PrettiBoiRoq recalls. “He showed me I could connect with someone and that I had the ability to love again.” 

PrettiBoiRoq explains more from his LA home.

“In My Ride” is a big change from your previous track with Chanel Jole.  Why the 180?

I’m showcasing my diversity as an artist. There will always be a level of Bad Bitch energy to anything I create.  It’s part of my brand.

Can you take us back and tell us about your journey into hip-hop and what inspired you to start making music?

I’ve always been a creative human. I went to school for visual arts and when I moved from North Carolina to Los Angeles, I originally wanted to pursue acting.  I quickly realized it wasn’t really where my heart was. I would spend a lot of time writing music.  I started performing locally and I got a great response. Queer music has always been a thing, but the element that I bring is a main stream appeal. While my lyrics are unapologetically gay, my sound is very top 40.

How has your identity influenced your music and the stories you tell through your lyrics?

I think gay culture is inherently sexual, especially within the gay male community. I also think a lot of gay males resonate with female artists, especially within hip-hop so I think a combination of those two aspects shape both my sound and my lyricism.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in the hip-hop industry as an out rapper?

The biggest challenge any artist faces, regardless of sexuality or orientation, is being taken seriously; proving I’m more than a gimmick. I also struggle because within the community most of the music made is what people would consider drag queen music, which, don’t get me wrong, I love.  Drag queens have been pillars of our community since the beginning and I love that we celebrate them through music. The music I make, however, doesn’t fall under that umbrella.

How do you feel about the current state of LGBTQ+ representation in hip-hop?

We have way more representation within the queer community now than ever before, but it’s still severely lacking. I would love to see more queer artists achieve mainstream success for their talent rather than some novelty. I think we are on the cusp of it.

Who are your biggest musical influences, both within and outside the hip-hop genre?

Anyone who follows me knows that Nicki Minaj is a huge influence for me. I would also say Iggy Azalea and I love Cazwell.  I would watch him on YouTube in my high school days and it was inspiring to see a gay man making music unapologetically. I think you can see little pieces of these artists trickle throughout my work. I certainly don’t think I would be where I am today without them.

Can you walk us through your creative process when writing and producing a new track like “In My Ride”?

When the producer first shared the beat track for “In My Ride”, I instantly thought about summer and love and how, as we get older, a lot of the magic of being young and in love dies. It’s sad. I think we become more realistic in our expectations. When I started writing this track, I had just started dating someone and it was the first real relationship I had had since I ended an eight-year relationship. I had almost forgotten what it was like to fall in love with someone, and while the relationship didn’t last, it gave me hope that I could experience that feeling again.

How have your fans responded to your music and your openness about your sexuality?

I think the funniest interactions are when I’m recognized outside of performance and people expect this hypersexual over-the-top being and I’m actually very chill and calm. It’s an interesting dynamic meeting fans when I’m Cory and not PrettiBoi because we’re very different. Even when I’m in the studio with another artist, it’s fun to watch them react to me turning on in the booth and then coming out calm, cool and collected.

What advice would you give to other LGBTQ+ artists who are looking to break into the hip-hop industry?

Be ready to put your money where your mouth is. You have to be willing to invest in your talent before anybody else will. A lot of people think you make one track, it takes off, you become famous, and the money starts pouring in.  That’s not how it works. I work two different jobs, six days a week. I manage my own social media and pay for all my studio, recording and mixing out-of-pocket. I work with a team of close friends to help alleviate some of the creative direction as far as videos and rollouts but again I pay everyone who works for me. I would say stay focused, listen to those close to you, and no matter how hard it gets, never give up on your dreams. The only people who fail are those who stop trying.

PrettiBoiRoq’s “In My Ride” is available on all digital platforms. Visit prettiboiroq.com and follow PrettiBoiRoq on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @prettiboiroq

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