Rico Nasty
Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly (born May 7, 1997), known professionally as Rico Nasty, is an American rapper and singer from Maryland. She began self-releasing content in 2014, while in high school, and had released five solo mixtapes by late 2017. She gained a local, underground following with SoundCloud singles such as "iCarly" and "Hey Arnold". After gaining wider recognition with singles such as "Smack a Bitch" and "Poppin" in 2018,[1] she signed to Atlantic Records where she released her sixth mixtape, Nasty (2018). This was followed by the collaborative mixtape Anger Management (2019) with long time associate Kenny Beats. Rico Nasty's debut studio album, Nightmare Vacation, was released in December 2020. Rico's seventh mixtape, Las Ruinas, was released on July 22, 2022.
Rico Nasty
Early life[edit]
Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly[2] was born on May 7, 1997[3][4] in Largo, Maryland,[1] an only child[5] to a Puerto Rican mother and African-American father,[2][6][7] also a rapper,[8] who introduced her to rap music when she was a child. She was raised in various locations including Prince George's County, Maryland,[8] New York, Virginia,[9] and Washington, D.C.[8] When she was 11, her mother moved to Palmer Park, Maryland[5] where she was enrolled in a Baltimore boarding school for the sixth grade.[5][8] She was expelled for smoking marijuana at 14[10][8] and transferred to Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Prince George's County[7] where her music career began.[8] The following year, her father was sent to prison[8] and her parents divorced.[5]
Career[edit]
2014–2017: Career beginnings and early mixtapes[edit]
Rico started rapping in high school and released her first mixtape, Summer's Eve (2014), when she was in tenth grade at Charles Herbert Flowers High School.[11][10] After graduating from high school, she started focusing on her music career and released two mixtapes in 2016: The Rico Story and Sugar Trap. Rico Nasty gained some prominence with her 2016 single "iCarly" which amassed over 500,000 views on YouTube within months.[10][12] She also released the single "Hey Arnold", which was later remixed featuring Atlanta rapper Lil Yachty.[13] The duo would later link again in 2017 for the single "Mamacita" as part of The Fate of the Furious: The Album soundtrack.[12][14]
In May 2017, Rico Nasty released her fourth mixtape, Tales of Tacobella, which is her earliest commercially available release as of September 2020.[15][16] Kyann-Sian Williams of NME described the mixtape as "otherworldly and synth-heavy" and noted that the mixtape proved Rico's singing abilities.[17] In June 2017, Rico released her single "Poppin" which quickly garnered over five million views on YouTube.[2] The single was also featured on the HBO television series Insecure.[18] Rico's fifth mixtape Sugar Trap 2 was released in October 2017 and featured an appearance from rapper Famous Dex.[19] Critics of Rolling Stone listed the mixtape as one of the Best Rap Albums of 2017.[20] Rico embarked on the Sugar Trap Tour in late 2017.[21]
Artistry and public image[edit]
Genres and "sugar trap"[edit]
Rico Nasty is known for performing hip hop music and trap music, particularly styles such as punk rap,[89][90][91][92][93] trap metal,[61][94][95][96] nu metal,[97][98][99] pop-trap,[97][100][99] SoundCloud rap,[101][102] and rap rock.[103][104] She is known for her "aggressive, cutthroat flow"[96] as well as her "spiky style and raspy delivery".[11] Rico Nasty told NME that she "resonate[s] with being a pop-punk princess."[17]
Rico Nasty coined the term "sugar trap" early in her career and has used it as the title of her independent record label as well as two of her mixtapes.[105][106] Musically, the term has simply been described as "bubbly, upbeat rap"[8] as well as "singing and trap rapping".[107] Lawrence Burney of Noisey noted that sugar trap is "markedly upbeat, bubbly, and self-loving, no matter her chosen delivery",[12] while Kyann-Sian Williams of NME described it as a blend of "hardcore, gruff vocals" and "grungy hooks with softer, computerised beats".[17] Rico Nasty has said that sugar trap has "soft, beautiful, melodic, flowy vibes" as well as elements of "trap music like Chicago drill music, Atlanta trap music, Memphis trap music, little bit of California trap music. I mix everything. If the sound catches my ear, I mix it."[108] She has also described "sugar trap" metaphorically as "a headspace", "a way of fashion" and "a way of life".[109] She also described the term as a "metaphorical place", saying "It's like when you have a really, really bad life and shit good starts happening and you don't know how to adapt to the good shit."[12] In April 2018, Rico Nasty officially trademarked the term "sugar trap".[110]
Alter egos and appearance[edit]
Rico Nasty's use of alter egos and personas in her music have varied throughout her career. These include "Tacobella" (a "vulnerable, sensitive persona"), and "Trap Lavigne", which is inspired by Avril Lavigne.[15][8][116][112] Rico Nasty told NME that her personas are inspired by David Bowie, Tyler, the Creator, and Nicki Minaj."[17]
Rico Nasty is known for her unique style in punk fashion.[117][118][5][119][120] Kyle Munzenrieder of the American fashion magazine W has described her as a "maximalist fashion icon".[121] Kyann-Sian Williams of NME wrote, "With her androgynous nature and outlandish style, Rico has been an icon for outcasts for years."[17]
Personal life[edit]
At age 18, Rico Nasty gave birth to her son, Cameron[5] while in her senior year of high school.[12][17] As she began gaining attention with her music, she quit her job as a hospital receptionist, while her manager, Malik Foxx, began buying production equipment.[8] Rico Nasty revealed to The Fader that Foxx is "the only father figure that Cameron has ever known."[8]
Headlining
Supporting