Review

Song Review: idntt – Pretty Boy Swag

New boy group project idntt got a lot of attention last year, but I struggled to hear anything in their music that set them apart from their peers. Still, they have some notable producers attached to their songs and their large, ever-shifting configuration is interesting. However, I head into any song called “Pretty Boy Swag” with my defenses activated, prepared for a whole lot of shout-chant posturing.

The song turns out to be a mid-tempo funk track, driven by old-school hip-hop beats and splashes of brass. As is often the case with this style, the producers have found a good groove and stuffed it with plenty of goodies. The production bottles so many familiar elements together, crafting a larger-than-life sound that should act as a vessel for an equally dynamic song. Unfortunately — as ever — this is where the composers cut corners.

Pretty Boy Swag is a collection of various chants and spoken-word assertions, almost side-lining melody entirely. It almost works because the instrumental is so fun, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for lazy songwriting. To idntt’s credit, they deliver this shout-chant sound in a relatively un-obnoxious way, imbuing as much funk as they can. Sadly, there’s just not enough to work with. I’m sure Pretty Boy Swag will make for exciting stages from a visual standpoint, but as a song it’s yet another one of these swaggering chant-alongs to add to the pile.

Hooks 6
 Production 9
 Longevity 8
 Bias 7
 RATING 7.5

Grade: C

7 thoughts on “Song Review: idntt – Pretty Boy Swag

  1. *takes a deep breath* WHY, KPOP WRITERS WHY? IT SHOULDN’T BE THAT FUCKING HARD TO WRITE SOME SIMPLE MELODIES, NO MATTER HOW SIMPLE AND UNORIGINAL IT COULD BE 。゚(゚´Д`゚)゚。 AND FOR THIS SHEER INCOMPETENCE, I HOPE TARZZAN TWERKS ON YOUR FACE AS HE WEARS HIS SAGGING PANTS (c” ತ,_ತ)

    But whatever, 8.25 (7, 10, 8, 8) for me. It reminds me a lot of NCT 127’s Pricey but grittier and more bombastic (although Pricey’s spoken hooks were better executed)

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  2. It’s sad y’all don’t get it but I guess that is the point why music is all about the subject. This track is a gem, this track is magnanimous in its ambition to create a grand scale hip-hop song the likes I’ve never heard before, what’s even amazing is that I though BOYtude wasn’t even their maximum potential and I was right because this is clearly the sound.

    Again, very unpopular opinion but I have to say I don’t think any new artist release in the CURRENT realm can easily outflank this kind of esoterism, in fact, I applaud it for being bold. It is honestly catchy and simple, and has soul, but I guess that is just really connection.

    9/10. This was I guess how CLOSE YOUR EYES and OnlyOneOf was first treated but y’all will get me in a few years.

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  3. yeah, production is great but the hooks make me die inside, that’s kind of where it is.

    Their BSides, however? Solid! Kinda wish the title track was consistent with everything else, but you know, a DJ Khaled style bridge is what we need in 2026.

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  4. This is what happens when a song is composed on a computer. It sounds like there is a groove, but there is not actual groove. At best, the song makes you move your shoulders from side to side.

    The boys are fine. They do the best one can do with material like this.

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  5. spoken-word assertions

    😆 love it

    I think this one might be a sleeper hit cuz there’s a lot of cool stuff in here. I loved boytude and will def check out the album.

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  6. my take is that i really found the song fun due to the instrumental as well as the chants. otherwise everything else needed work. their extended play was solid but they could do better than what they gave us. idntt is one group to look out for.

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