– Aria
Tierra Whack has been described as the future of hip-hop and, alternately, as independent of genre. According to Wikipedia, “Whack was bullied as a child for being black in a predominantly white school” which, at least partly, inspired her video album Whack World. The album is composed of 15 one minute (to the second) songs.
Pretty Ugly accounts for one of those minutes.
Daniel Bromfield, writing for Spectrum Culture says “Whack draws a paper-thin line between whimsy and sadness.” This is true.
He continues: “Her music is affecting even at its most ridiculous…” which is mostly, not wholly, right. Ridiculous beckons dismissal. We are invited into a near comedic world that is sad and … not ridiculous. Perhaps absurd.
Pretty Ugly reflects that absurdity, I think, with a subdural narrative: torment, hiding, denial, and fighting back.
Want to see the words?
Lyrics are published on line by Lyrics.com
Don’t worry ’bout me, I’m doing good, I’m doing great, alright
It’s about to get ugly flow so mean I just can’t be polite
Don’t worry ’bout me, I’m doing good, I’m doing great, alright
It’s about to get ugly flow so mean I just can’t be polite
I bet you ain’t heard no flow like this
Make you say yo excuse me miss
Go against me I’ll beat like Swizz
I like my paper nice and crisp
Crispy clean and crisp and clean
For the dough I go nuts like Krispy Kreme
Music is in my Billie genes
Can’t no one ever come between, yeah
Don’t worry ’bout me, I’m doing good, I’m doing great, alright
It’s a bout to get ugly flow so mean I just can’t be polite
Don’t worry ’bout me, I’m doing good, I’m doing great, alright
It’s a bout to get ugly flow so mean I just can’t…