Rico Nasty has never been easy to define, and that’s exactly the point. She’s carved out her own lane, turning chaos into confidence and aggression into art. With her third studio album, LETHAL, she again reinvents herself without losing the grit that made one of music’s most exciting artists. Whether it’s sugar trap or punk rap, Rico stands out and knows it.
In an exclusive Players Pass interview with Okayplayer, when asked about what growth looks like in her current era, Rico points to LETHAL. The project is a culmination of the many versions of Rico Nasty, while simultaneously a shedding of the things that no longer serve her. She’s focused, fearless, and fully locked into her vision. When asked if she considers herself an “alternative” artist, Rico didn’t hesitate to answer. “I think alternative is a classification of the way I dress, maybe the guitars,” she explained. “I think at heart, none of that stuff. I like being ‘alt’ when they put ‘Black’ in front of it ’cause I feel like it’s bringing attention to a smaller space.
Photo by Michael Mais Jr. for Okayplayer.
“But as far as my music being ‘alt,’ I don’t know,” she continues. “I’m a lover of hip-hop, I'm a lover of rock… but I kinda get what that [term has] become, so I don’t mind it.” Rico isn’t just participating in alternative culture; she’s expanding its definition and pushing open doors that weren’t built for artists like her. That intention is prevalent in everything she does, from commanding the stage with unfiltered ferocity or crafting visuals that feel like controlled chaos. Rico knows the power of presence, and her aesthetic stretches beyond music; it’s fashion, attitude, and the refusal to shrink for anyone else’s comfort. She represents a generation of artists determined to exist loudly in spaces that once tried to quiet them.
Rico Nasty is redefining what it means to be a rock star while building a new blueprint entirely. With LETHAL, she reminds us that evolution isn’t about becoming someone new, but becoming more of who you already are.
