Rico Nasty did not need to hear Gucci Mane say “rock star lifestyle, might not make it” to know that there was a place for rock and rap to coexist.
From the moment that she came through the doors of our REVOLT TV studio in Hollywood, Calif., it was clear that she was walking to her own rhythm, one platform boot at a time. That day, I met one of the three revolving personas that have forged together to become this visually-provoking person who sat in front of me.
It was her style that first caught my attention; the spiked leather platform boots that drummed the ground as she walked in, complemented by a teddybear-shaped backpack of the same material. The dark blue eye shadow that coiled around only one eye to perfectly coordinate with the curls of her baby hair dripping down from her finger waves. She even selected a name for the day—Trap Lavigne—that personified the outfit she wore. It was where hip-hop’s nameplate earrings met rock n’ roll’s black eyeliner.
And Nasty knows her shit, from the various classifications of the rock that once dominated the airwaves, to the now in-demand sub-genres of rap that she currently finds herself immersed in. She’s a true connoisseur of the genres. It was evident as our interview exceeded its initial 30-minute timeframe as we got wrapped up in discussing those influences on today’s top hits, what constitutes as timeless music, and how lyrics have the power to linger with a person forever.
The latter topic sparked a deep-rooted memory for Rico, who shared her personal connection with Chicago drill rapper Chief Keef’s 2015 mixtape Nobody 2 and how it comforted her through the death of her friend.
“The first two weeks that the tape was out, me and the person who passed away listened to it everywhere we’d go. My phone was janky so only they had it. So after they died, I downloaded it and there was a song on there called ‘Nobody.’ That song stuck with me so hard that two years later now I have a song called ‘I Don’t Need Nobody’ and it’s inspired by him. It’s music like that, where you go through something and it makes you feel like things are really bad right now but one day I’mma look at this shit and be like, ‘OMG, I’m so happy that bad shit happened so I can be stronger.’”
The time, the space, the substance of that project resonated with Rico in a way that she can only hope to her music will connect with someone else. She shared thoughts of her records setting up shop in the corners of her listeners minds, completely aware of the obligation she’s taking on to influence the masses with her music. While she’s far from a goody-two-shoes—her lyrics still laced with talk of drugs and weapons—Rico is not taking this responsibility lightly. The Sugar Soldiers are at the top of her priority list, taking on the big sister role to guide them through loss and love while living a “Lit Ass Life”
Her latest release, Sugar Trap 2, just grazes the surface of Rico Nasty’s abilities as an artist while setting the bar for more to come on her next project, La La Land. The LP will not only become Rico’s first full-length studio debut, but will also be where she makes her debut as a producer, spearheading the creation of multiple tracks on the project.
Check out Sugar Trap 2 below.