Rico Nasty

Rico Nasty, born Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly on May 7, 1997, is an American rapper raised largely in Prince George's County, Maryland, with early years spent in New York and Virginia. She emerged from the DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia) underground scene in the mid-2010s, building buzz with tracks like «iCarly» and «Hey Arnold», the latter gaining wider attention after a remix from Lil Yachty.

Her style is defined by an aggressive, genre-blurring approach that fuses rap, punk energy and pop hooks, delivered through a range of distinct vocal personas — from raspy, screamed-out aggression to melodic sing-song flows. This versatility, showcased on songs like «Smack a Bitch», «Poppin» and «OHFR?», helped her stand out in a crowded rap landscape and earned comparisons to riot-grrrl and hardcore aesthetics as much as to trap.

Rico Nasty has built a reputation as one of the more sonically adventurous voices in contemporary rap, known for close creative partnerships with producers like Kenny Beats and for an unapologetic, high-energy persona both on record and in her visual presentation. Her work continues to influence a generation of artists blending rap with alternative and rock sensibilities.