Rico Nasty’s ‘Lethal’ is an explosive blend of beats, bars and bangers — it’s loud and garish while also being tonally varied and carefully-crafted, stacking up as perhaps the Maryland rapper’s finest work to date.
From the get go, album three is about delivering the full force of rage, power and dominance. Who Want It has the grit of a 2021 Meghan Thee Stallion paired with the pinpoint lyrics of a Nicki Minaj classic — it’s as perfect an opener as you could wish for.
Next up, Teethsucker (Yea3x) keeps the pace high, with Rico’s snarling tempo and cadences ratcheting up the tension to the point where you can feel it rising within your own body.
There are a few twists and turns to follow. On The Low and Say We Did switch out the heavyweight rap sound for the Y2K It Girl pop vibe uncovered by Charli XCX and Addison Rae. In Rico’s hands it is music that’s fuel for a good time while inspiring a sense of envy and desire. You basically want to be her.
Smoke Break switches things up again, with a snotty punk instrumental that’s relentless, fast-paced and unapologetic. It leaves threads dangling that are picked up on Crash, where a gradual, layered approach leads to a throwback to early Paramore, which feels like a big swing that connects beautifully. That’s ‘Lethal’ as a whole.
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