In a hip-hop scene dominated by straight male narratives, SHNTI and Zae’s new single “BWYB” isn’t is trying to fit in, but is pushing back. The latest collaborative single has bite and wit. It also has a sense of disillusionment that queer artists know too well, watching the industry mine queerness for aesthetics, while real queer stories are distanced at arm’s length.
“BWYB,” which stands for “Break up With Your Boyfriend,” sits at an intersection of club music and pop-rap, pulling from dancehall and baile funk to build something sticky, loud, and angry enough to dance through. SHNTI, who has been cutting her teeth in the hip-hop scene since 2019, has always kept one foot in experimentation, refusing to stay boxed in by genre or expectation. She sings, produces, and raps, depending on what the moment calls for.
“I thought of the concept and approached the song as a way to explore dance-pop,” she tells Rolling Stone Philippines. “‘BWYB’ was supposed to be titled ‘Sticky’ talaga but Tyler, The Creator and FKA twigs beat me to it, not going to lie.”
The lyrics may sound playful on the surface, but there’s nothing casual about the message. Zae’s verses run straight into the mess of heterosexual standards, picking apart how queer identities are still shoved aside in public and private spaces. The two rappers make it clear this isn’t a Pride anthem polished for mainstream approval. It’s closer to a purge: sharp and unfiltered. “It was really inspired by intrusive thoughts ng mga kabadingan and how they think about hetero couples as ‘meh,’” SHNTI says.
“I’m careful about being part of something that can easily be commercialized or lose its authenticity.”
Though SHNTI is no stranger to high-energy production, “BWYB” stands out for its bluntness. She doesn’t romanticize the writing process or frame it as some grand artistic breakthrough. “Medyo nag-shift talaga ako on less perceptive stuff like [the way] I used to write,” she says. “I was really burned out, but I’m a growing girl. It means a lot to have space to express ourselves and be visible all year round. But at the same time, I’m careful about being part of something that can easily be commercialized or lose its authenticity.”
The track doesn’t beg for validation, and that’s the point. “BWYB” works because it’s not asking for space. It takes it loud, clear, and without apology.
“I’m simply queer and doing what I love, and that’s what matters most,” she says. “Its about being true to myself and my story, not just following trends or what’s popular. It’s about holding onto the realness and the heart behind it, so that this movement stays meaningful and genuine for all of us.”
