Rico Nasty gets Lethal in Seattle

DMV rockstar and rapper Rico Nasty took over the Showbox Sodo sharing her LETHAL gospel amongst us. Lethal Is Rico’s seventh studio album since her emergence in 2017 and she continues to remain steadfast in her own lane. She’s come a long way since her Tales of Tacobella era. Every project reveals a new version of her creative self-actualization through unapologetic commitment to her craft. The style may change but markers of her foundation hold firm: ironclad confidence, cutthroat lyricism, alternative tastes, and RAGE.

Tucked into an underrepresented corner of the scene, her influences marry unconventional and uncompromising. Alternative spiritedness flows through the bravado of her raps. Nasty represents a large yet isolated community of black-alt-glam baddies, bringing comfort to those who choose not to adhere to the status quo which are assigned by racial and gender identity. Some of us change our style, but at heart we were sad emo kids full of rage and love. We still may be. Spaces like these are necessary especially when there is a limited amount. As an alt POC, you confront the reality early on that you will be the literal black sheep of less diverse spaces. Not at a Rico show though. Ironically, it’s easy to forget that black woman are pioneers of alternative/punk community too.

Icons like Poly Styrene, Skin (Skunk Anansie), Tina Bell, Betty Davis, Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Joyce Kennedy being some of the earliest and impressionable. This doesn’t seem to affect her; she’s known she’s the sh*t. While alt rap has become more popular, Rico remains as one of the only to seamlessly fuse rap with traditional heavy metal and punk foundations, staying true to rap.  There’s melodrama on stage instead, interjecting it into how she inflects her tone by contrasting vibes of pop punk screams with soft feminine whispers.

She’ll rap quietly and snarky in crooning notes and then she switches it up.  Nasty is seemingly most unassuming to have some of the nastiest switch ups within. “Eat Me!” begins as an affirmation-based chant centering herself in a presential tone, intermittently with boxing ring worthy grunts/heaves of determination. (ME, Me Me, Me, who is the best, ME). Rico is the fight song extraordinaire herself. Her eclectic nature has aided in her skillful talent.

Lyrical cuts on “Grave” is a talk sh*t song,” I don’t get low I set the bar, she said I’m a fan, I bet you are.” Live versions of “Son of a Gun,” are ominous conveying fi fie foe fum energy like she’s on your a$$. “Smoke Break,” a rager, letting out anxious thoughts loudly through rigorous scream. Inside a baddie is this fluctuating internal dialogue bouncing between rage and softness.

With such a big discography, the set was a mix of old and new favorites with some deep cuts like “Buss” and “Relative.” The setlist was stacked and ended building up the frenzy with songs “Rage,” “SON OF A GUN” and “Trust Issues“. Reminding us of the chameleon but she shape shifts diff versions of her character.

I unexpectedly really loved “CRASH,” live, something about digital streaming will do a number on certain works. Under all the toughness there is still someone who is emotional that feels deeply. Lethal encapsulates staying true to her roots but fine tuning her style, making it clear she’s not the one to mess with.

Notable tracks: Eat Me!, Soul Snatcher, Grave, Rage, Let It Out, AR15, Black Punk, Buss, Big D*ck Energy

Photos: Ivan Mrsic