NIELNOI’s Latest Album ‘PRETTY THUG’ Is Reshaping The Sound of Malaysian Hip-Hop

By Aqasha Nalani  •  28 Jul 2025 in Music

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If your TikTok FYP is stacked with underground Malaysian acts or you’re tapped into KL’s fashion-forward scene, chances are you’ve heard the name NIELNOI.

A year after the release of SEMUA TAKE NOTE, NIELNOI came back with his latest album, PRETTY THUG.

Clocking in at 15 tracks, the album is a no-holds-barred journey through hard-hitting bars, experimental soundscapes, and NIELNOI’s signature brand of unfiltered bravado.

Speaking on the creative grind behind PRETTY THUG, the rapper revealed to JUICE that the record took him over a year to complete

“I didn’t rest, straight up. It took me one year and nine months of being in the studio 24/7. I wanted it to be fresh—some new shit every time I drop,” he said.

The result is apparent on the album, as the project feels like a tightly curated ride through NIELNOI’s headspace—gritty yet stylish, loud yet intentional.

When it comes to the collaborations, he revealed that the artists involved aren’t just for name value. Instead, they’re personal.

“These are the artists I grew up listening to. I used to imagine what it’d be like to make a song with them, and now here we are,” he said.

From the experimental edge of Ichu to the smooth vocals of Gard and the lyrical weight of ChronicalZ and NVKA, each artist brings a distinct texture to the record.

For the production of the album, NIELNOI shared that he mainly worked with GLWKMOD, who helped him “shape a whole new sound.”

Together, they carved out a style that pushes past the boundaries of local hip-hop and taps into something futuristic.

“It’s 2025; people need to hear new stuff. We’re trying to change Malaysia’s hip-hop/rap sound,” he said, while giving a special shoutout to his other producers, including Malsejuk, Azura, and Spckal.

If you’re looking for deep metaphors or poetic melancholy, PRETTY THUG might not be for you. But if you want high-energy storytelling, street-smart flexes, and music that gets you turnt—this is it.

“It’s my lifestyle, my experiences. I don’t want people to be sad when they hear my music. I want them to feel the vibe, get lit. It’s fun music. That’s what I’m on,” said NIELNOI.

And like any real rockstar, NIELNOI’s fashion game is inseparable from his music. “Fashion and music always go hand in hand for me. If you only hear the songs but don’t see the fits, you’re not getting the full picture. When people see NIELNOI, they gotta see the swag too,” he said.

Whether it’s the lyrics, the look, or the beats, PRETTY THUG is more than just an album; it’s a full-on cultural moment and revolution for the new generation of hip-hop. And if NIELNOI has anything to say about it, it’s only the beginning.

Stream PRETTY THUG here:

Follow NIELNOI on Instagram here.

Read more recent music-related stories on JUICE here.