Rico Nasty

29:44And that's what you really wanted to do. So I can't really look at it and be like on no hate or shit like, oh, that's not really them. Because it very much could be them. That very much could be where they always wanted to be. and I think a lot of times like with artists it's always it's always I think but that's the art that's the art is conversation and it's I think that's the beauty in it is wanting to know did they do this with intention did they not did they mean to speak to my soul in this way like it's you know that's what music is about who's somebody who's been around for like 10 plus years who you're like okay I like how they did it huh that's such a good question That is such a good question.

30:28Like somebody who you really admire, who you feel like is a true artist and has a real stake in it.

30:38I feel that way about, I have like, I don't know. I have one person that I'm thinking about in particular that I feel like, I don't want to say their name. I think it'll do too much for their ego. I think it'll do way too much for their ego. It is a girl, though. It is a girl, though. But watching her has shown me that anything is possible. And watching her has shown me that, I mean, and this is not a new artist. This is, yeah, this is somebody that I watched. Like, I watched when I was younger, when I was in high school. I watched and I seen the shit that they were on. And I seen them get like, be like underrated.

31:26And I seen and always knew how good they really were. And kind of just always felt like, why they not getting recognition as everybody else? We did do a song together. And yeah, just watching them. It's kind of both. It's both. And that's the thing that sucks about being an artist. It's like feeling like you want that to be you, but you push those emotions to the side because you can't help but see how fire it is that somebody like broke through what seems to be like a glass box that they put us all in. And then you just pop and then it's just done. And you don't have to play by the rules that anybody else played for.

32:10So I don't know if anybody can make out, but don't say the name. I'm not going to say the name. If you know, you know. I'm not going to say the name. And I do feel like, let's actually, like, in the days recently, it feels like they be trying to, like, pit us against each other. But I do feel like that person was there for me in, like, such an early time in my career that, like, that's impossible. Like, y 'all could never do that. But, like, it is amazing seeing that. And it is crazy seeing, you know, sometimes shit is like, wait, that looks like some shit I would have did. Like, but I think that's Rick Rubin talks about that in his book.

32:49Like everybody gets these ideas. Who's acting on them, though? They'll go to somebody else. And there's, you know, there's nothing there's nothing wrong with that. It's like an idea of clouds. But I love them. And I think, yeah, you're pretty you know what I'm talking about. Yeah, no, I know. But so, OK, so with the idea. So I know that he talks about ideas sort of being in the ether. Yes. And like an idea can strike more than one person or it can strike a bunch of people at the same time in different parts of the world. Does it? Yeah. Yes. So do you where do you feel like your ideas come from?

33:25Do you feel like they come from like a higher power? Do they come just from you? Do they come from your experiences? Like where do these ideas in your mind come from? I think they come from film. Movies. Like movies that I've watched in ways that I would like to be portrayed if I was in a movie. Oh. Like I kind of look at like little videos like that. I've always loved scary movies and I feel like I like things that are weird and quirky and you just don't really know where this is going. And like, you know, the Napoleon Dynamites, the Coneheads, the random, you know, fear and loathing in Las Vegas.

34:02Like Nikki and Mallory. like natural born killers like you just never know what's going to happen that's the type of shit that I like and I feel like that's like you know represented in my work I don't think my ideas come from like Jesus yeah I don't think my ideas are coming from like a higher power because I think like some of the stuff that I'm representing is a little bit too worldly for God to have given me that message but

34:29when did you start getting into weird shit like when did you know like oh, I might be into stuff that maybe my friends aren't into? I was probably like when Tyler, the Creator came out. Okay. So how old were you? 13. Uh-huh. And he ate that roach. And everybody was like, ew, oh my God, why are you playing this? Why do you want to listen to this? And I had like the shirt, the socks, the backpack. Like I was a fan. I was a fan. And, yeah, that's when I knew that I was a little bit off. And, like, I would just do a lot of weird stuff when I was a kid. Like what? Like, if it was a boy that I really liked, like, I would, like, bite him.

35:15Like, I was just, like, that type of kid. Like, Maria got in trouble today for biting someone. And it's, like, the boy that I had a crush on. My mom was like, why the fuck would you bite him? Like, I've always just been weird. Is your mom into weird shit? Like, is there anyone in your family who is— Both of my parents are weird as fuck. Both of my parents are weird as fuck. Like, I don't even—there's nothing normal about either one of them. My dad is weird. He's a left-brain person. He's, like, fully creative, very, very, like, loves to just always be doing something. He can't sit down for his—to save his life.

35:51My mother is, like, that lady—she has a wild imagination. my mom has a wild imagination and she will think of a scenario quick quick she'll be like you know you know what happened to so-ma-so i'm like girl is she usually right or is it like left field no my mom's my mom is kind of like me where she's like she be it's like the way she says stuff is wrong but what she's saying is right as fuck

36:27Like, yeah. Like, she might say something really like, why would you say that? But actually, when you break it down, it actually makes a lot of sense. I'm like, damn, I wish I had the boss to say that. I think that comes with age, though. Like, she just doesn't. You know, it's so funny. I feel like a lot of people will relate to this. But, like, does anybody have a parent who just don't give a fuck about getting canceled? Like, they just, they be saying, like. It's a different generation. It's a different, like, yeah. you guys that are like like guys people that are like 50 right now they're the most like they don't give a fuck they don't give a fuck it's so true it's kind of insane because i feel like we like are you know we care yes certain things and y 'all just be like yeah damn sissies we want boundaries we want everyone to feel wanted but yeah but I I've learned that me and my mom are actually very similar that's so nice we're very very similar just generations apart yes how was it for you I imagine that since your experience as a young adult and as an adult with work was so different than your parents like how are you able to figure out what to do?

37:43Like, did you have like a role model since your life was so different? My dad helped me in the beginning stages to get a lawyer. Okay. He didn't help me with nothing else. He was like, all I know is that you need a lawyer. And I remember that. That was, I mean, the fact of the matter is I don't have anybody that really truly understands My parents don't fully understand the capacity of, like, they understand what I've done with my life and they love and respect my career. But they ask me all the time, like, how the fuck did you pull this off? Are they still like, you need to get another job or do they feel confident that you can, like, support yourself?

38:34Hell yeah. No, my mom is always telling me to get another job. She is. Always. And you need that, though, because shout out to my mom, because my mom was like, yeah, this rap shit is doing great. You're doing amazing. What else do you want to do with yourself? Because the doors are all opened around you. You can't just walk down this one path forever. And then acting came in. Yes. In the show. And even being on set for that has shown me what a real job is like. Wait, tell me about that. So you're going to be in, what's it called? What's it called? Margot's Got Money Troubles. I love that. Yes.

39:07and it's a book so if anybody wants to know like what the show is about because I can't I can't say too much but oh it's like about wrestling only fans oh it's a lot though and it's good it's like somewhat of a heavy topic makes a little freaky stuff here and there who knows has it been a good experience? yeah it's been amazing and everybody on set is just so sweet full of energy and makes you feel so comfortable and it's like Like, before you know it, the shit just flies by. But it is very different from being a rapper. I mean, you know. Are you a good actor? I would say so. Shit. I mean, to pull, like, Apple TV A24.

39:51Yes. No, I know. I think I'm pretty fucking good. Anything A24 is good. Yeah. And we had to do, like, a lot of auditions and stuff. Like, oh, you did. For anybody watching, it's not like I just, oh, I'm Rico Nasty. Give me the role. I had to like actually audition and like go to callbacks. It's like, you know, really do it. And they don't give me special treatment on set. I have to be there at 6 a.m. just like everybody else. What are the days like? Long, but fun. And I don't know. It's like, you know, they got the fake light and, you know, in those Hollywood studios. They have like the fake lighting and shit like that.

40:28So it doesn't ever feel like it's getting dark. So you never really. It's like a casino. Yeah. You never know what time it is until you walk outside, which again, And I love and I love getting this experience of a new job and learning new things and being around new people and learning how things are made. Because in the grand scheme of things, I think that's why I got into making music, because I love the way things are made and I love making cool things. One last break and we'll be back with Rico Nasty. In today's super competitive business environment, the edge goes to those who push harder, move faster and level up every tool in their arsenal.

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43:52machines that make you feel more human. Because a car that doesn't make you feel something is a car that stops short of amazing. Experience amazing at your Lexus dealer. So how do you, now that the venues are getting bigger, like how big, when you go out on tour for Lethal, how big will the venues be? Uh, bigger, bigger than the last time. And it's not to say that I'm doing fucking arenas or anything, but it is a different space. It must be so cool just to see the crowds grow and change. Like from your first or your second round of shows, how has the audience changed? Oh my gosh. Well, I was doing like Sweet Sixteens and stuff.

44:38Oh, were you really? Yeah, I did like a lot of Sweet Sixteens and I did high school, like, what was I doing? Like pep rallies and shit? like I'm like I don't even have a microphone okay how did you know what to do on stage you know it's kind of like the same thing that happens on set for a music video where it kind of just is like a like a blur like I really don't know what I'm doing when I'm doing it I just know like I just know that when it's done I'll know when it's good but like when I'm doing it, I kind of feel like you just have to get into character a little bit. And that sometimes requires like zoning out.

45:24So I feel like, yeah, in a sense, I like when I'm on stage or about to go on stage, it's like I get super quiet and then it's kind of like, okay, it's go time. And I think when I'm getting quiet, I'm kind of just like praying for courage. Because I think that's all is just courage to like ignore perception for an hour. Because that's like scary. Like getting up there and people are perceiving you and they can think whatever they want to think. That can be scary. I think that's what causes people to have stage fright. But I think like once I pray to like remove that and kind of like blind me from perception for just an hour.

46:04I don't need it all day. I'm sure people are going to give their comments. But just for an hour, you just get up there and it's just like a playground. Like the world is your oyster. Like you're feeding off of them. They're feeding off of you. And before you know it, it's three songs left. Oh, that must feel good. Time to fly back home. Yeah. So is it perception? So sort of like judgment? Like you don't want to feel judgment from the crowd? Is that what you mean by perception? Yeah, like judgment or just like, I wouldn't say judgment because they're damn sure not, they're not judging me. It's like this feeling of like who they think I am, you know?

46:46Like the screaming, the chanting, like the hype that I can hear backstage before I go on stage. I feel like, and that's like perception in a way because they think that I'm whatever the hell they think and I'm literally just a girl. I'm literally just, my tummy hurt before I come on stage. I'm this girl so I think that perception of like oh they think you're they think you're amazing you better show them why you're amazing you know so it's just that like wanting to live up to that and getting up there and not necessarily caring if you live up to that and it's just been like well this is me and you're watching me and I hope you have a good time that's it like I don't really try to fit into like oh well they think that I'm gonna be like this.

47:36So let me come out there and be like this. Like, it's not I just am like, they probably think I'm going to be like this. But this is who I am. I'm going to be who I am. I'm going to make jokes. I'm going to take breaks in between the song. I'm going to drink my water. I'm going to wash it. Yeah. That's interesting. So when you go to start a new project, do you how do you deal with that perception and do you feel like that has influenced the way that you shape a new project I feel like worrying about perception and what people know me as can it can pigeonhole you they've been saying that I like that word and that's kind of how I felt like making work and comparing it to my last and well should I keep doing this because this is what they this is what they know and love and kind of like finding yourself and finding your voice through all that.

48:35So yeah, yeah, I think it's like a double-edged sword. Like, yes, I want to care. I want to appeal to the fans that I already have, the fans that I've built. I love y 'all. I want to make an album for you guys. But what about all the stuff that I've learned? And what about the stuff that I like now? Like, why can't I share that? And that's where your voice comes in. Because it's like, you can. There is nothing wrong with waking up and wanting to try something different. And me, of all people, I feel like I'm very blessed to have the fans that I have because they've never like they've never nonchalanted my different shit.

49:08Like when I was doing Hyperpop, they liked it. When I was doing Sugar Trap, they liked it. And I feel like they've grown with me. So, yeah, I kind of was in that headspace for a little bit of like, oh, well, I don't know if I can be different like this because that's what they know me for. But then I had to look at how they supported me before. And I'm like, this is nothing. They'll love it. This is great. Yeah, that's good to have that confidence to move forward how you want to move. This is something I was curious about. After watching a couple of documentaries about you, most of them were like early on in your career.

49:42Some like The Fader Doc with you on the road. It's such a different lifestyle than most people are used to living. Was there anything in your early life or anything that prepared you for that lifestyle change? Yeah. My parents divorced, maybe. Like, having to stay at somebody's house every weekend, maybe. Like, having, like, you know, my suitcase, my designated days, maybe that helped. I don't know. Boarding school, I went to board. Yeah, when did you go to board? What age were you when you went to boarding school? I went to boarding school from the sixth grade to the ninth grade. So I don't know how old I was in the sixth grade, probably like 12.

50:24How did that come about? Like why boarding school? My mom had seen my grades like significantly drop, but I was very smart. And everybody knew that I was smart. They just knew I wasn't trying because I just wasn't trying. And then my mom had got like a paper in the mail for like a school, named the seed school, and a lottery. and like all this stuff. My mom filled it out. We went to orientation. We went to the lottery. They picked my number. It was 40 girls, 40 boys. It's like one of those new school startups. So it's not like an established, like I don't want people to get it confused. Like my mom paid for me to go to boarding school.

51:03This was a free college prep boarding school. It was fun. Like uniforms and everything? Everything. My mom didn't pay a dime. We did not have money to do shit like that. So I remember it being just like, everybody in my family was like, bro this is a crazy opportunity I can't believe we got in so this was like the first part of my life where I said yes to something when I didn't really want to but I saw how it made everybody else react so I was like I gotta do it um during this time too I was very artistic like I love drawing I love painting I love doodling and shit like that but I also was like playing soccer real good so like my mom was like are you gonna start this school and you're gonna play soccer So I'm playing soccer and I'm hating it.

51:50Like the hours, like I was at school all day, get out, have lunch or snack or whatever, study hall. And then you go to like soccer practice and then you go back to the dorms, you have dinner. It's like very. It's like so grown up. Very grown up. And I was doing that from sixth to ninth grade. So if anybody wants to know how my time management is great and how I have, like, the ability to just, like, just get shit done, I think it was that. I think it was that, like, traveling on that campus at that young. And then I got expelled from that school because I didn't want to be there. Yeah. So on purpose, did you, like, make it happen?

52:32Like, formulate a plan? This is so crazy to say. I didn't, like, formulate a plan, but I did do something. I actually went as far as going to the principal and telling him, I'm like, or her, I don't remember who it was at the time. Because it was like a vice principal, real principal, like a whole little board. And I remember telling them that I wanted to go study a public school so that I could see the real difference between the two. And they said, yeah. So they sent me to my zone school, Flowers. This is my ninth grade here. They sent me to my zone school. And I get there. and man like they had drama they had soccer they had lacrosse they had volleyball they had upperclassmen they had a cafeteria they had they got to go home they had phones they got to wear cool shoes they got to have they I could not go back to that boarding school like it almost felt like I had seen too much and I was like there's no way no like I can't go here I don't want to go here no more so my mom was like hell no you're going back to school and while this is crazy while obviously studying the school and all of that thing like comparing the two I found out like oh this is these are things that will get you expelled and what happened was I I was like obsessed with like Wiz Khalifa and whatnot so we were at the bus my friend said they had weed I I smoked weed with them.

54:03We get back to school. The bus aide told. We all had the right statements. I kept my mouth shut. This one girl, she ratted on everybody. Everybody was quiet. She's the only person that told on everybody. We all got expelled. And I had to go to public school. But that wound up being the best thing ever because I remember I got expelled. And then I started going into school. And they said, you got an Instagram? and I was like, no. And I made my Instagram and it was Rico Nasty. Wow. How funny is that? What year is that? It's 2011. 2011, 2012. Wow. And then the mixtape was like two years later? Your first?

54:46It was, yeah, 2013. Do you think you would have been able to do a mixtape at the prep school? No. There wasn't any, like it was an up-and-coming school so there really wasn't any programs. like when I was there from sixth to eighth grade I had an art teacher her name was Miss LaBonte and I was like making art and we were selling it at the end of the year and like art shows and like she was my dog and my ninth grade year Miss LaBonte didn't come back so like I fucking I just didn't have a teacher that like I felt like like cared about me or like had like a safe space like At lunch, I could just go in there and I could just hang out with her, listen to music and shit.

55:33I didn't have nobody like that. And I didn't really have that many friends because I was weird. So once she left, it was kind of just like, I don't want to do this. Yeah, that makes sense. Yeah. That just goes to show how important teachers are. because she was, I mean, both art teachers at that school and the school I ended up with, Charles Herbert Flowers, my art teacher, Mr. Hobbs, I don't think I would have got through high school if it wasn't for Mr. Hobbs. Like, he was a safe space. Like, go in there, draw, and it didn't have to be your period. It didn't have to be. Yes. Like, he knew when people needed to come in there and just like just chill yeah we had that yeah we had that at my school with a photo teacher miss finnell and there would always be kids like kids that kind of like didn't fit in would go just hang out in her classroom yes like i just would be in there and if i didn't have a space like that like i feel like i would have gotten in so much trouble and just been like skipping and i probably would have graduated like not have an outlet yeah so did your mom so after you got kicked out of the school and you started doing music did your mom think like oh like was your mom worried about how you were gonna turn out i hid it from my mom the only reason my mom knew that i made a mixtape is because i got in trouble at school i was bad as shit um i got in trouble at school for not going to school for two well no i got a phone call home from a teacher because i skipped her class in particular for like two weeks straight.

57:19I just didn't go because her class was after lunch. And I would leave at lunch to go make a song. And then I would come back for my fourth period and then I would go home. So no, girl, I'm not about to go to your class. Like, you teaching me how to type on a keyboard. Why do I have to go to your class? I don't know how to type on this keyboard faster than you. Yeah. Grew up on this keyboard. I know this shit like the back of my hand. Why do I have to be in there? So yeah, she called my mom and my mom was like, what in your what have you been doing i told her i was like yep i was making a mixtape and what she do she didn't give a damn about no mixtape she punished me she was like you're on punishment i'm like in the middle of my rollout she's gonna take my phone in the middle of my rollout oh no um she didn't take my phone but i was on punishment i couldn't do anything but like i was on twitter promoting this shit out that project how did your instagram like when was the first time that you're in you saw your like followers jump oh that's so that's such a good question it was like gradual I don't know nah I remember you didn't have like a one day you woke up like where you maybe released something and then you had like 10 ,000 watching it the whole time just move little by little yeah like um but it was like when my first two songs dropped hey Hey Arnold, Night Carly.

58:38And then fucking Lil Yachty had hopped on Hey Arnold. And I remember just like, I mean, even with my SoundCloud, I remember just sitting by the computer refreshing it and watching it go up by the thousands. I remember watching my followers go up by the Ks. It would be like point one, point two, point three, point four. I was watching it go up and go up. And now I'm not going to lie, my followers have been going down for like five years. like I'm losing so many followers but I kind of just be like I don't know like it doesn't I don't pay attention to that shit anymore as much as I used to yeah I used to be like like I didn't like my team had to tell me that Teeth Sucker was almost at a million views I was like what that's so crazy like but I think there's freedom in that because it can be kind of scary as an artist looking at like numbers it can make you like not want to do stuff yes so okay so you said that your mom is always telling you that you need to get like a side job or whatever which you know that's debatable but what would you do like if you had to do something more straight what would it be um I would probably like go to school to like understand how to produce like leather goods oh I know that's pretty random but produce leather goods yeah like like leather boots and jackets leather jackets wow so like actually craft them yeah i really love leather boots and if anybody like is familiar with like my boot game like i love boots and um something that i see myself doing when i get older is actually like taking the time and and just you know developing a boot that is not what i thought you were gonna say i thought you're gonna say produce music no no i think when i get older when i get older i want to do something that's like lucrative very lucrative very like oh shit she does that like i don't want to be i don't want to be fucking twerking on stage what's the cutoff what age is it like 30s oh you have three years no no no the cutoff bro there is no cutoff because watching erica badu um in her career Yeah.

1:00:52Bro, watching a lot of the women in music, like, they make their careers last as long as they want them to. And so I don't really think there is a limit on anything. I just know, like, bro, I just don't, I can't see myself touring at 40. Like, I feel like I'm going to be so picky. But what if it was private jet, like, it was made very easy for you? I can't. Then I can do it maybe 20 more years. because I feel like the older you get like you know you have to make certain changes like I don't know though because when those look girl when you start taking a private jet that means you're probably doing two shows in a day so it's like there's reward right it's not free it's not free no work no going in so yeah I don't know but my computer is about to die okay thank you so much for doing this I appreciate you so much thank you for talking thank you In the episode description, you'll find a link to a playlist of our favorite Rico Nasty tracks.

1:01:53You can see the video version of this interview and others on YouTube at youtube.com slash brokenrecordpodcast. And be sure to follow us on Instagram at The Broken Record Pod. You can follow us on Twitter at Broken Record. Broken Record is produced and edited by Leah Rose with marketing help from Eric Sandler and Jordan McMillan. Our engineer is Ben Tolliday. Broken Record is a production of Pushkin Industries. If you love this show and others from Pushkin, consider subscribing to Pushkin Plus. Pushkin Plus is a podcast subscription that offers bonus content and ad-free listening for$4.99 a month.

1:02:30Look for Pushkin Plus on Apple Podcast subscriptions. And if you like this show, please remember to share, rate, and review us on your podcast app. Our theme music's by Kenny Beats. I'm Justin Richmond.

1:02:44The more you learn about your favorite artists, the more you want to know. Claude helps you keep digging, finding new threads and rabbit holes to explore. Whether it's discovering deeper meaning behind a detail in an interview or figuring out the influence behind an artist's particular era. Claude thinks with you to find the next clue. If you can't get enough of the stories behind your favorite music and artists, Claude will help you discover new layers you didn't know existed. Try Claude for free at claude.ai slash brokenrecord. This is an ad by BetterHelp. We've all had that epic rideshare experience.

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