Maryland recording artist Rico Nasty teaming up with Boyz Noize for her 3rd EP. Turning heads in 2018 off her 6th mixtape Nasty, I was still very much impressed by her unique personality & her eclecticism although it was just ok. However the next spring, she got Kenny Beats to produce her debut EP Anger Management in it’s entirety & that ended up being my favorite body of work of hers even to this day. Nightmare Vacation was a bit of a step down from Anger Management even though it has a good share of bangers like “iPhone” & “10Fo”, but Las Ruinas showed a more experimental side to her & A Nasty Summer was kinda mediocre truthfully. That said: HVRDC0RE DR3AMZ had to be more properly conceived going into it.

“Arintintin” begins the 3-piece offering with a hip house opener talking about feeling a little cheeky & that she finna cause a scene that is until the next joint “Vvgina” asks why would she cry when she can just get high instead continuing the hip hop/EDM crossovers instrumentally. Finally, “H.O.T.” is this dubstep/rap hybrid to close out the EP as Rico makes it known that no one can fuck with her & that’s facts.

All I wanted was for HVRDC0RE DR3AMZ to be better than A Nasty Summer almost a year ago already & although it’s what we got only by a slight margin, I’ll still take it over the predecessor. It’s more focused, Boyz Noize’s production delves into electro house, UK hard house, electro, electroclash and Miami bass & Rico’s performances are a step above also. Whenever she’s ready to put out the sophomore effort, I’ll be here.

Score: 3.5/5

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