Rico Nasty – “Lethal” review

Maryland recording artist Rico Nasty finally releasing her sophomore effort. 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. HVRDC0RE DR3AMZ produced by Boyz Noize showed improvement building further anticipation for Lethal approximately 12 months later.

“Who Want It?” produced by Rogét Chahayed kicks it all off with an industrial hardcore hip hop intro asking if anyone wants smoke with her whereas “Teethsucker (Yea3x)” works in elements of rap rock, trap metal, pop rap & pop punk boasting that she has pulled up to the spot. “On the Low” fuses pop rap, trap, electropop, rage, digicore & pluggnb promising she’ll keep this relationship she has on the DL leading into the bubbly “Pink” talking about her bitch’s favorite color.

Pop rap, experimental hip hop, Jersey Club rap, digicore & emo rap all collide during the final single “Butterfly Kisses” moving like a nomad making her neighbors thinking she’s selling keys while “Eat Me!” keeps the aggressive trap flares going talking about people looking up to her these days. “Soul Snatcher” boisterously runs with the paper taking guys’ souls since the head was so good, but then “Grave” darkly talks about rocking shit as if she’s ripping a guitar.

“Son of a Gun” gets back in her trap metal roots so she can advise not to run whenever she shows up & refusing to let anyone put batteries in your back while “Smoke Break” turns the heaviness up talking about fucking shit up for herself. “Crash” brings a pop punk vibe to the table looking for a place she can let off some steam much like waves while the cloudy “Can’t Win ‘Em All” asks if she’s a bad person & if it’s ever enough.

The song “Say We Did” reaches the backend of Lethal finding Rico in her sassy bag having a trick or 2 up her sleeve & becoming unsure of what this person in her life exactly wants while “You Could Never” disses those who’re trying to steal her shine & people criticizing her for being too out of the box when that’s what made many including myself pay close attention to her. “Smile” is an acoustic closer dedicated to the special someone in her life while “Pepper” starts the deluxe run reuniting with Kenny Beats to flex her new Attico boots.

“Pretea” takes inspiration from pop punk again singing about her being a diva while the cloudy trap crossover “Pearls” telling anybody who’s sittin’ down the section that they’re not gettin’ lit enough. “Black Lace” shifts towards a rage-inducing direction suggesting this bitch is late to findin’ out about her when approached regarding Rico being late to a party & the final bonus track “Stunna” boisterously talks about being a top dog.

Feeling there was an investment she needed to make in herself, Lethal further reveals every facet of Rico Nasty whether it’s the styles that made her a household name or more guitars than previously & even touching on her own motherhood journey. She taking the energy of her previous output & channels it in a very cocky way with the production drawing inspiration from rap rock, trap metal, pop rap, pop punk, industrial hip hop, hardcore hip hop, electropop, rage, experimental hip hop, Jersey Club rap, digicore & emo rap.

Score: 3.5/5

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Rico Nasty – “HVRDC0RE DR3AMZ” review

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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Rico Nasty – “A Nasty Summer” review

This is the 2nd EP from Maryland recording artist Rico Nasty. Garnering my attention in 2018 of 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 Managementeven though it has a good share of bangers like “iPhone” & “10Fo”, but Las Ruinas showed a more experimental side to her & is preluding her sophomore effort in the form of A Nasty Summer.

“Turn It Up” is an aggressive trap opener produced by 100 gecs about never paying attention to a hatin’ ass hoe while the sped-up version of “Pussy Poppin’ (I Don’t Really Talk Like This)” is completely pointless & that’s coming from someone who considers the original to be another Nightmare Vacation highlight. The song “Dirty” gives off a more dissonant vibe talking about how her man likes everything while the penultimate track “Countin’ Up” finds Kenny Beats drawing inspiration from The Neptunes with the instrumental airing out bitches on her dick. “Big Titties” featuring EARTHGANG though closes the EP by rambunctiously talking about seeing their dreams vividly with co-production from Baauer.

Although not as good as Anger Management, I will say that A Nasty Summer is definitely still worth the listen for anyone who enjoys Rico’s music as much as I do. Only a couple redundant cuts throughout the 11 minute run, but the other 3 are more than enough to make up for it considering that 100 gecs & Kenny both bring the best out of her in their own uniquely distinctive ways. It’s really enough to make me keep my fingers crossed that we’re in for her strongest full-length.

Score: 3.5/5

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Rico Nasty – “Las Ruinas” review

Rico Nasty is a 25 year old rapper & singer/songwriter from Palmer Park, Maryland who caught my attention in 2018 off her 6th mixtape Nasty. Even though I found it to be decent, I was still very much impressed by her unique personality & her eclecticism. 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 was still excited for her 7th mixtape.

“Intrusive” is an industrial-laced opener with Rico talking about going at her competition whereas “Vaderz” takes a more hardcore/trap route as Bktherula tags along to go back & forth with one another comparing themselves to Invader Zim. “Black Punk” fuses trap metal with witch house to declare herself as such, but then Bk returns for the drum & bass-infused “Messy” asking how one can be organized yet disorderly.

Meanwhile on “Phuckin’ Lady”, we have Rico on top of a trippy instrumental expressing no remorse whatsoever just before “1 on 5” goes full-blown hip house warning that you’ll get jumped twice if her bitch jump first. “Gotsta Get Paid” works in a funky bass-line co-produced by 100 gecs to express her to desire to make paper leading into the Marshmello-backed “Watch Your Man” embracing neurofunk to rightfully boast her status in the game.

“Blow Me” comes through with a trappy pop rap ballad talking slick shit while the remix of “Jungle” by Elley Duhé is one of the more redundant cuts on the tape with all respect to both Fred again.. & Elley. “Dance Scream” on the other end takes a turn into electropop territory to plead for someone’s love while “Skullflower” dives into hyperpop talking about LSD.

Following that, “Focus on Me” embraces a more synthpop sound telling her lover she wants to be with them for the rest of her life while “Always” is less of a skit & more of a repetitive interlude. The song “Easy” is an acoustic ballad admitting that she letting someone make her feel her ashamed while the penultimate track “Into the Dark” brings back the drum & bass thanks to Charlie Heat promising to do better. As for “Chicken Nugget”, it’s a moody closer to the tape thanking her mother for making her strong.

If anyone reading this was a little disappointed as I was with Nightmare Vacation, then you’re gonna enjoy Las Ruinas much more because I think it continues to reveal herself to be the best female hip hop artist that the mainstream has to offer right behind the Hot Girl Queen herself: Megan Thee Stallion. I admire that the production is a lot more experimental in comparison to her full-length debut sticking to Rico’s trap/pop rap guns with the lyrics being more vulnerable this time around.

Score: 3.5/5

Rico Nasty – “Nightmare Vacation” review

This is the long awaited full-length debut album from Maryland’s very own Rico Nasty. Coming onto my radar a couple years ago off her Nasty mixtape, I was pretty impressed by her unique personality & her eclecticism. The last project Rico had put out prior was a phenomenal EP produced entirely by Kenny Beats last April titled Anger Management but as this turbulent year draws to a close, it’s only right for her to finally drop Nightmare Vacation.

The opener “Candy” talks about never changing the way she acts over a bombastic instrumental whereas the next song “Don’t Like Me” with Gucci Mane sees the 2 talking about haters referencing WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson over a cloudy beat from Buddah Bless. The track “Check Me Out” gets boastful over a piano & some hi-hats while song “iPhone” talks about relationships over a hyper pop instrumental from Dylan Brady.

“STFU” continues to brag over a blobby instrumental from Take a Daytrip while the song “Back & Forth” with Aminé finds the 2 showing off their chemistry with one another over a flute-tinged trap beat. The track “Girl Scouts” talks about pulling up with a chopper over a ghostly instrumental & a WWE reference while the song “Let It Out” vents all of her frustrations over a trap metal beat from 100 gecs.

The track “Losers” with Trippie Redd sees the 2 talking about those trying to fit in over an uptempo instrumental from Brandon Finessin’ while the song “No Debate” talks about how to make a bitch lose it. The track “Pussy Poppin’” gets raunchy over a quirky instrumental while the song “OHFR?” talks about not giving a fuck over an industrial-sounding beat.

“10 Fo” talks about leaving the last behind over a trap instrumental from F1LTHY of Working on Dying with a horn buried in the mix while the song “Own It” advises listeners to own up to themselves for everything over a rubbery beat. The penultimate track is a terrible remix to the Kenny Beats-produced “Smack a Bitch” & then the closer is actually the original “Smack a Bitch”, which I think is a brutal Asian Doll diss.

Coming away from this album, my feelings towards it are mixed at the end of the day. I commend Rico for being one of the most exciting performers in hip hop today & that absolutely applies here, but the production is just so hit or miss.

Score: 3/5

Rico Nasty – “Anger Management” review

Rico Nasty is a 21 year old rapper from Palmer, Park, Maryland that I first caught wind of last year with the release of her Nasty mixtape, which showcased a unique personality in Rico as well as her eclecticism. However, she’s now teaming up with Kenny Beats to deliver her debut EP.

The EP kicks off with “Cold”, where Rico talks about being the hottest female spitter in the game right now over an industrial beat. The next track “Cheat Code” talks about biters over an abrasive beat while the song “Hatin’” is an ode to boss bitches & I love how they revamp the same sample that JAY-Z & Timbaland used for “Dirt Off Your Shoulder”. The track “Big Titties” with EARTHGANG sees the 3 talking about their lifestyles over a quirky beat & after the “Nasty World” skit, the song “Relative” talks about how Rico’s fame as affected those around her over some somber piano chords & heavy bass. The track “Mood” feels more like a Splurge joint since he takes up a bulk of it while the song “Sellout” talks about loving yourself over a moody trap beat. The EP then finishes with “Again”, where Rico celebrates her success over a spacey trap beat.

Yeah, this is Rico’s best work yet. Her lyricism is sharper & Kenny just goes to show that he’s one of the hottest producers in the game at this very moment.

Score: 4/5