Rico Nasty isn't as scary as people think: 'I'm nowhere near that'

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – "I don't even think about pushing the boundaries. That's how you push the boundaries."

Rico Nasty's energized rocker-meets-rapper persona is quiet backstage at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, during the third stop of her Outbreak tour in April.

In a few hours, Rico Nasty (real name Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly), will transform into the mosh-pit-inducing performer known for vibrating the floors of a concert venue as she raps colorful lyrics on "Gotsta Get Paid," "Rage," "OHFR?" and her verse on Doja Cat's 2018 hit "Tia Tamera."

On stage, the 25-year-old is rarely still. She jumps, twerks and headbangs alongside her wild fans. Rico has to pause the show three times, calling security to assist overheated guests before jumping back into the fury of her show.

Rico Nasty isn't as 'scary' as people think

It's hard for fans to separate the art from the artist with her goth girl image, trap music and a feature on Megan Thee Stallion's "Scary," but that's not the full picture.

"People think I'm scary. People think I'm how I am in my music videos, which is weird to me," Rico tells USA TODAY hours before taking the stage. "Because if you watch 'American Horror Story,' do you think that the actors in that show act like that all the time?"

For the artist, her brash image is a "form of expression" similar to cinema. "I'm nowhere near that," she says.

What fans don't always see is her chill demeanor as she sips tea before a show or her post-show FaceTimes and Roblox sessions with her 7-year-old son Cameron, who she says is soaking up her "best qualities."

The onstage-rager persona is fitting for Rico, because she was a natural-born performer. She recalls putting on shows for her parents with songs from the Spice Girls and Britney Spears as well as making up dance routines to hip-hop music with her cousins. "I liked having an audience," she says. Her dad, a former rapper who went by the stage name Beware, was also an influence on her career.

Having a platform and making other people feel seen is something she's always gravitated to. "If no one else will see you, I'll see you, bro," Rico says.

Rico Nasty doesn't fit the rap mold, which is 'really lonely'

The "Cheat Code" rapper stands out amongst her peers for having a unique sound she's coined "sugar trap": trap music mixed with whimsical lyrics or joyful melodies. Rico's latest single "Turn It Up," released Wednesday is a prime example. "I step on the stage, I put on a show / Speak down on my name, we go toe to toe," she raps in a playful, yet aggressive demeanor.

The flipside of being a Black woman with an alternative persona usually associated with pop punk rockers is feeling "really lonely" when it comes to being embraced by the wider hip-hop fanbase.

"The worst part is the loneliness or questioning yourself. … Is it worth it? Does anybody notice me?" she says. "I use it as therapy. A lot of the songs (fans) really relate to are the ones that I just took the time to talk about what I'm going through and throw the middle finger up to somebody."

Rico Nasty calls on her female rapper peers for support: 'We all respect each other'

Rico has found community among other young female rappers like Doja Cat, Flo Milli and Doechii. "We all respect each other," she says. "As corny as it may seem, we're all just so happy to be here. We were all little girls watching Nicki Minaj, watching Missy Elliott and Eve and Lil' Kim on TV (wondering) how are they doing this?"

"I remember I saw Flo Milli in Portugal (for Rolling Loud) and I went, man, she's from Alabama and I'm from Maryland. … We would have never thought we'd be doing a show in Portugal on the beach," she recalls.

Rico and her rap peers are watching each other grow up and make mistakes, which is part of what bonds them. Making music is "not supposed to look perfect in the beginning. If you keep trying to make everything look perfect in the beginning, you'll never start. There's no way for it to look perfect," she emphasizes for the future of young women in rap.

Rico Nasty reflects on rapping in Spanish and if she'll do it again

The Maryland native is still in her experimental era as she plays with new sounds. Again, perfection isn't the goal.

In 2020, Rico hopped on Kali Uchis' album "Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios)" for their duet "¡aquí yo mando!" It was the first time she tried out rapping in Spanish. Uchis helped her along the way by translating her verse from English to Spanish and teaching her pronunciation. "I love Kali and I love being half Puerto Rican," Rico declares.

The rapper did that song to make her Puerto Rican mom happy after years of her asking for some Spanish despite the fact that she doesn't know "a lick of Spanish."

Rico's family has also pleaded with her to do a single with Rosalía, something she wants to do, but "can't promise it'll be in Spanish."

Rico Nasty looks to the future

Who knows what's next for Rico as far as collaborations go? It could be Tyler, the Creator. "I really, really really love him. And I don't care how long it takes," she says. Or it could be Rihanna, who she's convinced "is waiting for me to hit my peak so she can drop a song."

There's nothing set in stone, but she's creating. "I'm working on a bunch of music," the "Sugar Trap" rapper shares, adding that she's taking a different approach. "I'm just going to make songs when I feel like it and not make too many to pick from when it is time to make a project."

Rico's 2022 album "Las Ruinas" is making its rounds on tour through May with openers Omerettá the Great and CLIP.

It's clear from her onstage presence that her fans, dressed in punk rock clothing reminiscent of Hot Topic's heyday, are willing to support her experimentation as she weaves from sugar trap to softer performances like her verse on Bktherula's "WE MADE IT." The crowd sees her and she sees them right back, providing a place they can feel belonging.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rico Nasty talks tour, rager persona and aiming for a Rihanna collab