Since rap was born, women have taken over the scene, pioneering new sounds while dominating the spaces they create. Rico Nasty is one of the latest pioneers of female rage and punk rap, and her trajectory shifted dramatically with the release of "Smack a Bitch," a record that helped redefine what was possible for women in rap. As she said on the Zach Sang Show, she always knew nobody else sounded the way she did, and that nobody had put out something like that track before.

And that viral record is still on repeat to this day. Since, Rico had paired up with Kenny Beats multiple times, rapping over beats that fit her addictive, raspy, and confident voice perfectly. She never withholds anything from herself when it comes to trying something new, even if it sets her apart from everyone else. She was a black sheep long before Nightmare Vacation ever came out. On Sugar Trap 2 , "Poppin'" and "Key Lime OG" were the real mood-setters, capturing her tough tone and empowering sound. When I first heard these tracks during the ‘Sugar Trap’ era, Rico instantly became one of my favorites and remains in my most listened.

Rico is a rockstar, not just as a person but as a badass woman and mother. She has never needed validation, not if someone likes her music, and not even if anyone else shared her taste. As she put it in her TGS 2024 interview, "When I like music, I don't ask anybody else if they like it. I just like it for myself."

That same self-assurance runs through her empowerment, and comes from letting go of any anger or any heavy feelings and releasing it into her music. From Nasty to Las Ruinas , she has built a strong discography by jumping outside the box every time she creates. Her music thrives on collaboration, drawing energy from a creative network that shares her boundary-pushing approach to sound. Her world is shaped by the peers and collaborators who elevate her sound, including Kenny Beats, Fred again., Boys Noize, Bktherula, and Doechii.

That same drive to evolve carried into her recent album Lethal , marking a new era and one of the best rollouts of 2025. The first time I heard her perform "TEETHSUCKER (YEA3x)" at her le PÈRE and Pigeons & Planes headline event in Brooklyn, it was clear she was stepping into a new level of production, pushing punk rap to an even higher level. When I listened through the rest of the project afterward, "SON OF A GUN" was the track that left my jaw on the floor. I have rarely heard something hit as hard as that record since.

Following the album's release, she delivered an outstanding performance on NPR's Tiny Desk, giving us live renditions of the project. Her energy was everything we needed, lighting up the room with her boldness while still landing a punk performance with live instruments, genuinely impressive to witness.

Most recently, she dropped a new single, "Rituals," which is already one of my favorites. This track showcases her sharp wordplay as she solidifies herself as a true artist, fully aware that she is a real queen and architect of female rage music.

"I'm a real artist, you bitches scribbling. I be balling, I don't even dribble." (Rico Nasty on "Rituals")

The single also serves as a preview of what's to come, leading into her upcoming collaborative project, RX , with Kenny Beats.

Rico has built an entire universe out of her discography, and she continues to kill it effortlessly. I am here for every bit of it.