Rico Nasty deserves all her flowers. At only 24 years old, the Washington D.C. native has reached the forefront of the rap game with no plans of slowing down.
Best known for her 2018 smash singles “Smack A Bitch” and “Poppin,” Rico continuously gifts audiences with records that they can listen turn up to. If you’ve had the pleasure of seeing Rico perform live, you know what we’re talking about. The vivacity is unmatched.
REVOLT recently caught up with Rico Nasty to discuss how she gets ready for a show, the pandemic, her son being her best friend, her favorite song to perform, collaborating with Doja Cat, and more! Read below.
Your energy is always on one hundred. How do you prepare for a big festival set?
I smoke weed, I take a couple shots. Maybe like two. Not too many because you don’t want to hurl, or be too sweaty. Be up there looking crazy but you know, a little pre-game never hurt anyone. After that, I pray. I definitely pray before every show. I’m just thankful. If you would have told me this shit during COVID when everything was shut down, that I’d be on stage listening to the bass and the crowd… I’m just thankful.
How was the pandemic for you?
It was sad. Shows are everything, ever since the beginning. That’s the brand, right? What the fuck? It was fucking weird. Just sad, so many people are losing people. You start seeing the world for what it is, and it can get blunt. It was super weird, but human interaction cures everything. It’s really good to be around people.
What did you learn about yourself through the quarantine?
I know how to cook, bro. I’m a fucking chef. [I can cook] anything! It’s weird because now that I wasn’t traveling and everything, I’ll cook with my son. He’ll say, “Mom, I want this. Mom, I want that.” So I’m trying this shit for him. He’s just turned 6.
How does it feel to have a 6-year-old?
It feels surreal. He’s like my best friend. It’s so cliche to say but he’s literally my best friend. No bullshit, right before I left — the night before I left to go back on tour, this n*gga spilled a whole bottle of chocolate milk in my bed, bro! I’m like, “Cam, are you serious?!” But we have that type of relationship. Where by default, we’re kind of close in age oddly so it’s funny. It’s hard to be like, “This is bad, you fucking spilled milk!” The first thing that popped in my mind was, “You gon’ cry over spilled milk?” (laughs) I started dying laughing. We’re sitting there laughing over fucking milk being all in my bed. He helped me change the sheets. He’s the best kid ever.
What’s his favorite Rico nasty song?
Okay, you wanna know something crazy? His favorite Rico Nasty song is “Hard.” For his birthday, we got a Lamborghini and went to Disneyworld. In the video I was in a Lamborghini, so he’s obsessed with Lamborghinis. He loves cars.
What is your favorite song to perform? I know “Smack a Bitch” goes fucking nuts.
I really like “Trust Issues” most. I really do because it was such a good time in music, it was a good time in my life. It always goes up because the fans feel like, “Oh bet, she’s not performing some hypebeast shit or some hella old shit.” It’s right there in the middle.
How was collaborating with Flo Milli on “Money”? Flo Milli shit!
Flo Milli shit, hoe. I fucking love Flo Milli so much. Ever since day one, it’s been straight love and genuine. Tapping her for the song was literally so easy to do, it felt just right because we had other songs sent back and forth and this one felt the best. The video is out, you know it’s really cute. It feels really good to be a part of history.
The “Money” sample is just so iconic.
I was on a cruise with Boys Noize. It was on a FriendShip cruise, it was an EDM cruise and I performed on it.
How was that experience?
It’s crazy. I’ve never been on a cruise before so it was really fun. It sucked though because we got to the Bahamas, then I had to leave to go to Rolling Loud.
Do you get to enjoy these places that you’re going?
Sometimes, it’s in and out. But over time, I feel like I’ve traveled to a lot of places. My favorite thing is always food and thrifting. That’s where you’ll find everything. That’s where I found these boots, and this (points to clothing).
Where do you go for your fashion inspo?
This is custom, they made it for me. But everything else, a lot of my accessories are from thrifting. I’m not going to lie bro, I fuck with Amazon. The leg warmers and the little emo shit, I fuck with Amazon.
How was it working with Doja Cat on “Tia Tamara”?
It was the best thing ever. Honestly, Doja Cat is somebody who I always grew up listening to and being a fan of. When she first hit me up and told me she fucked with me, it was one of those “Ahhh!” moments. When she asked to do a song, bro…
Oh, she asked you?
Yeah. When she asked me to do “Tia Tamara,” previewing it on live, I felt so special. She could have worked with anybody. Seeing everything that she’s done, it makes me so proud that she said, “Girl, I see you.” It’s really, really a warm feeling to be embraced like that.
The video is so cute. Best memory from the video shoot?
Oh my god, the best memory from the video shoot is when we’re getting our makeup done and learning about each other. Just realizing I’m not alone. When I’m at these shoots, I feel awkward and I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.
You look like you know what you’re doing!
After the cameras cut off, it’s weird. You’re all in character and shit, then you’re like, “Was that good?” She taught me a lot about “say what the fuck you want.” That was always my message. Meeting somebody else who’s passionate about doing what the fuck they want, saying what they want.
What’s your relationship with Kenny Beats?
Oh my God, first of all Kenny surprised me. I didn’t know that he was going to come on stage [at Day N Vegas]. It was really crazy for me because me and Kenny haven’t seen each other in person, honestly since before COVID. Swear to God.
Do you live in LA?
I just moved there. I was so happy, and it felt so good especially after all this rah-rah on the internet. Not only do I have my fans, but these people…
Dont ever fix your mouth to say anything about Rico Nasty if its not “legend” “icon” or “innovator”
— kennybeats (@kennybeats) November 11, 2021
The way he stood up for you!
You know? And it takes a lot to do that. Trolls could go at you for days trying to make their case. Him standing up there, it means a lot to me.
Anti black ass crowd .
Weak ass little boys wit blonde pubes . Ugh . Get me out of here— TACOBELLA (@Rico_nastyy) November 7, 2021
Y’all mothers should have swallowed you little pissy frogs
— TACOBELLA (@Rico_nastyy) November 7, 2021
Ok so y’all wanna be funny ? Lmao how about I be funnier
— TACOBELLA (@Rico_nastyy) November 7, 2021
Yeah I said it .
Not deleting shit . Try me again . I a fly off the stage and possess u .— TACOBELLA (@Rico_nastyy) November 7, 2021
I love your response. I love that you held your ground too!
On some real shit bro, shout out Carti. I really appreciate him for tapping me to be on this tour. What I mean to women in hip hop right now, it really means a lot to have somebody cosign that. He’s so sweet, so nice. If you would’ve told me back in 2018/2019, “You’re going on tour with Playboi Carti,” I woulda been like, “You’re fucking lying!” It’s amazing being able to perform then go all into his pits. Yo, we be rocking out. He’s crazy! I love it.
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How does it feel to smack that fan? And he loved it!
Oh my god, I don’t know what’s wrong with them, but I love it! I’m like, “Bro, really?” I had to ask, on camera. Wait a minute, you’re not gonna catch me slipping. Are you sure? (laughs)
How many people ask you to spit in their mouth?
Someone asked me tonight. They have messages on their phone and they put it up. They’re like, “Spit in my mouth!” Guys: “Smack me. Pull my hair.” Guys, this is not a fucking BDSM show. This is Day N Vegas. I love it.
Would you let anyone spit in your mouth?
I mean, I don’t know. I like doing the dominating. I’m not about to let… nah.
What does it mean to be a Black woman in America today?
Honestly, it feels like the best thing to happen since sliced bread. Bitches want to be you. The hoes trying to steal your look. Everywhere you go, motherfuckers like, “Where you get that?” It’s empowering but I feel at the same time, right now if there was ever a time… Obviously there’ve been many times where women have been changing shit and doing revolutionary shit. But right now, if you’re a girl, you’re a fucking boss. I don’t know no bum bitches. They getting to the money somehow, some way. It’s a beautiful time to be alive, a beautiful time to be a creative. A creative woman at that. There’s so many cool ass people to work with. Slowly but surely, it’s really becoming like a sisterhood of the glam and this era of music.
How does it feel to be this trendsetter, to be yourself, because ultimately people respect you for that. You’re literally yourself and you express yourself artistically.
Being yourself is the scariest shit ever. Because you make decisions, right? When you make decisions as yourself, there’s nobody you can look at. “Damn, am I going to turn out like them? Am I going to be like them?” There’s no blueprint of what your life is going to be like, and that can be so scary. Following your own intuition, believing in your own goals. Starting your own fucking business, going out, quitting school because you believe in something. It can be so fucking scary, but when it works? There’s no greater feeling.
What was that moment for you?
The moment has been continuous. Having a crowd not like me, then the very next one loves me.
That’s one out of a million…
It is one out of a million, but it really is one of those experiences where you realize not everything is going to be given to you. This is a male-dominated crowd, they came here to rage.
What are you most excited for next?
I’m most excited for Cam’s birthday bro. We’re going to Disneyland! He’s going to have so much fun. He watches YouTube videos. I’m like, “Bro, we’ll get on the rides. Got you!” He’s like, “No mom, this ride!”
Are you excited to not work for a day and be with family?
Yeah, but also my family’s a little bit tired of me. We see each other all the time. They’re like, “Girl, pick up the pace. Whatchu doing?” It feels good to be on tour.