Bronx rapper Isis ‘Ice Spice’ Gaston and Nigerian singer-songwriter Divine ‘Rema’ Ikubor have released their first piece of work together in the form of ‘Pretty Girl’. With it, the two have bridged the gap between drill music and Afrobeats by committing to a neutral proving ground: the pop scene.
Both Gaston and Ikubor have had a microwave-ready type of rise in their fields over the past year or so. Since her viral breakout hit ‘Munch (Feelin’ U)’ the former has dropped a string of singles, has featured on the official Barbie soundtrack, and collaborated with big-time stars such as Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift. On the other hand, the latter has been comfortably riding the never-ending wave of his Afrobeats global hit ‘Calm Down (Remix)’ with singer Selena Gomez. With the two understanding what makes their respective sounds, ‘Pretty Girl’ is a refreshing take from both musicians, who somehow meet each other half way without compromising their personalities.
‘Pretty Girl’, at its core, is an airy-fairy pop song which flutters on the wings of swishy synths and blossoms with the multi-faceted percussion. With Rema grounding the song on the hook and Ice spicing up the verses, the two find an even middle ground which allows them to exploit the sounds and their strengths: with Isis complementing the mid-tempo production with steady and rizz-filled rhymes while Divine backs the soulful beat with a heartfelt vocal performance.
Lyrically, ‘Pretty Girl’ is a charming exchange between two lovers, portrayed by the Ice Spice and Rema, still high on the honeymoon phase and drunk in their puppy love. Gaston takes up the bulk on the song with her energetic flow, smooth wordplay (“Yeah, you the one, there’s no number two / If I had three wishes I’d waste ‘em on you”), and pompous lyricism (“I am the one that got lotta bands”). Rema rehashes the theme of young love by reassuring that as long as he’s the one in her heart, “I will treat you more than gem”.
‘Pretty Girl’ is a calming offering from Ice and Rema, a joint that’s groovy enough for club settings and down-to-earth enough for it to be a fertiliser on a picnic date by the pond. The song shows a side of Gaston that appeals more to sensuality rather than sexuality, and a facet of Rema that showcases him as a growing hook writer.
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