Rico Nasty Unleashes Explosive New Album LETHAL, Blending Rage and Resilience

28 May 2025

Studio album by Rico Nasty

Rico Nasty has officially released her third studio album, LETHAL, on May 16, 2025 a genre-shattering record that reflects her unfiltered energy, creative maturity, and unrelenting defiance. With 15 electrifying tracks, LETHAL is not just a sonic experiment but also a deeply personal statement that marks the latest evolution in Rico’s already boundary-pushing career.

Released through Fueled By Ramen and Parlophone, the album was executive produced by longtime collaborator Imad Royal. LETHAL taps into an eclectic blend of sounds hyperpop, punk, screamo, and trap delivering a body of work that is as chaotic and confrontational as it is thoughtful and reflective. The project showcases contributions from producers including Rayman on the Beat, Rogét Chahayed, BL$D, Oscar Santander, John DeBold, and Elie Rizk.

The tracklist kicks off with “WHO WANT IT,” a ferocious opener that sets the tone for the unapologetic chaos that follows. The album’s lead single “TEETHSUCKER (Yea3x),” co-produced by Imad Royal and Rayman, offers a taste of the record’s glitchy, distorted soundscape. Songs like “ON THE LOW” and “BUTTERFLY KISSES” contrast this aggression with softer, emotionally vulnerable moments, showing off the duality that Rico Nasty has mastered over the years.

One of the most discussed tracks is “SMILE,” which explores Rico’s journey as a mother, emphasizing the importance of raising her son with emotional strength and self-awareness. Another standout, “SMOKE BREAK,” leans into grunge and alternative rock influences, channeling the angst and exhaustion of a woman constantly forced to fight for space in a male-dominated industry.

What makes LETHAL particularly significant is its narrative around identity and self-acceptance. At 27, Rico Nasty has gone through multiple reinventions starting with the bubblegum trap of her Tacobella persona to the chaotic rage sound she honed on albums like Nightmare Vacation. In interviews, she explains that LETHAL is about owning her contradictions. “It’s about being told I’m too much, too loud, too different, and refusing to apologize for it,” she told Marie Claire. “It’s about breaking down the idea that you have to shrink yourself to succeed.”

Fans will also notice that the album intentionally lacks mainstream features, putting the spotlight entirely on Rico and her raw, unfiltered energy. According to her team, this was a deliberate move to ensure the narrative remained hers and hers alone.

Critics have responded positively to LETHAL. Pitchfork praised the album’s bold production choices and its fearless approach to genre-mixing. Some noted that the record’s unpredictability and rawness might challenge casual listeners but for fans of Rico’s work, LETHAL is a triumphant return to form and perhaps her most mature offering to date.

Beyond the album, Rico Nasty is expanding her creative horizons. She’s set to make her acting debut in the upcoming Apple TV+ and A24 series Margo’s Got Money Troubles, where she stars as KC, alongside a high-profile cast including Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman. The show promises to bring Rico’s charisma and intensity to the screen in a brand-new way.

With LETHAL, Rico Nasty has not only reasserted her place in the alternative hip-hop space she’s blown the doors off any preconceived limits. This record isn’t just music; it’s an exorcism, a war cry, and a love letter to every misfit who dares to be themselves. Whether through face-melting production, searing lyrics, or vulnerable storytelling, Rico has once again proven that she’s one of the most dynamic, fearless artists of her generation.