Rico Nasty

Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly, professionally known as Rico Nasty, is a bold and genre-defying American rapper, singer, and songwriter born on May 7, 1997, in Prince George's County, Maryland. Known for her explosive energy, punk-inspired aesthetic, and versatile sound, Rico has carved a unique lane in modern hip hop, blending elements of trap, punk, and hyperpop into her music. Rico began her musical journey while still a student at Charles Herbert Flowers High School, releasing her debut mixtape, Summer's Eve, in 2014. She gained early traction through SoundCloud, where tracks like “iCarly” and “Hey Arnold” built her a strong underground following. The remix of "Hey Arnold" featuring Lil Yachty further widened her audience, and the two later collaborated again on “Mamacita,” which was included on The Fate of the Furious soundtrack. By 2016, Rico had released two more mixtapes—The Rico Story and Sugar Trap—and started to develop her signature "sugar trap" sound, a blend of aggressive raps with melodic, experimental production. In 2017, she dropped Tales of Tacobella, showcasing a more ethereal, synth-heavy side to her artistry. Her breakout came later that year with the singles “Poppin” and “Smack a Bitch,” the former featured on HBO’s Insecure and amassing millions of views on YouTube. Her momentum led to a record deal with Atlantic Records, through which she released her sixth mixtape, Nasty (2018), to critical acclaim. In 2019, she teamed up with frequent collaborator Kenny Beats to release Anger Management, a genre-bending mixtape praised for its raw intensity and versatility. Rico Nasty released her debut studio album, Nightmare Vacation, in December 2020, further cementing her status as one of the most creative forces in modern rap. The project was followed by her seventh mixtape, Las Ruinas, which dropped on July 22, 2022, continuing her exploration of genre fusion, emotional depth, and unfiltered self-expression. With a discography rooted in defiance, empowerment, and evolution, Rico Nasty stands as a trailblazer among the new generation of artists redefining the boundaries of hip hop.