Daily Inspiration: Meet Ibeen Pretty

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ibeen Pretty.

Hi ibeen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
ibeenpretty, all one word I’m born n raised in Phoenix Arizona, Was always outside riding anything that moved, playing with homies till the street lights came on, and getting into trouble every where I went. Around 10th grade I had a friend who kinda taught me how to use FL Studio, which is a production program that you can make beats on. So from there I would always be making beats and showing people and the homies would freestyle to them so I eventually started as well and they would tell me to take music serious because I could rap and make beats but I had a lot of life to live before I could take anything serious. So after a few hard falls and humbling moments I started to take music semi serious around late 2017-early 2018. I dropped a few singles on SoundCloud then in 2019 I met Dewzy and the No Class Millionaires a collective of like minded individuals making good quality music here in Phoenix. Dewzy helped my artistry, sound, and understanding of the behind the scenes to making music. Ever since I dropped my first EP self titled “ibeenpretty” the mixtape summer 2020 along with a few of my first music videos such as “HITTER” on YouTube. The following year my first album dropped “pretty ugly” along with a few music videos, including a two in one music video “FINDING NEMO / STUCK” on YouTube. From 2022- 2023 dropped several singles and music videos here and there but was heavily focused on a few different collaboration projects with some of my closest homies/ other local Phx rappers, like “Demons & Angels” with Deadend Zay, “iBEENCHASINBANDS” with Elibands AZ, “Players Ball” with Gettabag Boogie, and “Eternal” with Dewzy himself. 2024 I walked my first fashion show “Dreamcore Runway Show” presented by STKY Apparel as well as “Who Will Survive In America” presented by Expiredcitizensbyelad. I have been modeling for a few local Az brands since 2020 so while making music I have so been making my way into the fashion world as well with brands like HOMELAND, Rareizona, Canna Land 2024 and Dirty South Off-Road. Late 2024 I dropped my latest project, “EL GUAPO”. This by far the best music I have put out to the world. Every beat I made from scratch. Every song I recorded myself in our second studio room at DDI Productions. The project was mixed and mastered by EARGAWD, Dewzy, and myself. We celebrated the release with an Album release party presented by Ferver at a local Native art studio/ gallery in downtown Phoenix called Cahokia. Shortly after dropped 3 music videos off the project including “BUSSDOWN” shot by @Artamis, “UP TOP” shot by Hippie Matt edited by @Artamis, and “ALL I EVER” shot by @klydesnovember with a cameo from Chicago’s very own Billionaire Black. Since then, 2025 we have been recording new music preparing for the next solo project with producer DUBS coming soon and a collaboration with DDI Artists coming even sooner, and rocking out more shows we had back to back shows in Los Angeles June and July and have more shows lined up for fall. My music is rough and griddy but also fly an lavish and that’s exactly what Phoenix is like. You can have a little slice of everything here and that’s what I embody in my music, not everything is pretty but it’s whatever you make it and when you bump this music it makes you understand that duality. My mission isn’t to be liked by everyone my mission is to make music and have fun doing it and inspire others along the way to do what you love, protect your self and loved ones, and get some money. Shoutout all the grinders and hustlers it’s us vs them 4L.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Losing loved ones to drugs, violence, or incarceration. Dealing with the law myself, always goin in n out of jail. Having babies at a young age and most of all just living too fast.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I call myself an Artist because everything I do is art. From the clothes I put on to the food I eat, and to the places I go everything is art. From directing my own music videos to actually shooting them and making backgrounds and different scenes. Making my own cover art. Creating my own beats, Recording myself, and mixing and mastering the music. Screen printing my own clothing, doing custom one of one pieces, and collaborating with friends/ local Az brands to make custom clothing. Printing and selling our own merch. We try to do everything in house. From top to bottom we do everything.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
You have to take a risk in order to break through new levels. Where ever you are comfortable that is what has got you to where you currently are and if you want to break through to reach a new level you must take a necessary risk, whatever way that may be because it is different for everyone but you must take whatever that risk is, if not you will stay where you are currently.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/since_9_5
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/L1jZ5AC832g
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/pretty/1470201721