Lil Yachty and Steve Aoki Critique Social Media in “Pretender” Video

Steve Aoki and Lil Yachty join forces on "Pretender," in which the two are open about fakers online. The video, released on June 6, visualizes the track's distaste for Instagram posing, while sympathizing with the insecurities that produce fake-flexing.

Directed by Tyler Yee, the clip opens with Aoki in bed, photographing the sunrise through the trees, and posting online, "RISE AND GRIND! Early Bird Gets The Worm!" Then he goes back to sleep. The rest of the video depicts similar examples of people, in moments of aspiration, posting photos and captions that don't reflect their real life.

In addition to skewering himself in the video's first scene, Aoki serves a chorus, sung by the group AJR, that makes clear the song doesn't judge: "I'm a good pretender/I'm not really cool/I'm a good pretender/'Cause I'm just like you."

Even Yachty, who rose to fame on social media and SoundCloud, admits to hiding behind photos. "In front of the camera screen/I make it look just like a movie scene/ Diamonds on my hand, call me Lord of The Rings/Still insecure behind the scenes, though," he raps.

The track is Aoki and Lil Boat's second collaboration, following their single last summer with Migos, "Night Call." Yachty also recently appeared in Cuban Doll's "Bankrupt (Remix)" visuals, along with the video for "Solitaire," the first single by his supergroup with Migos and Gucci Mane.

Watch Steve Aoki and Lil Yachty's "Pretender" video below.

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