“Up close it just looks like I’m a female rapper in the sea with a bunch of others, but when you take a step back, you can clearly see that I’ve already influenced a whole genre of female rap. It doesn’t feel like people are copying me anymore; it feels like I’m building up an army. I’m building up a story that, years from now, people are going to say ‘Yo, when she came out, shit was different.'”

For Rico Nasty, 2020 has been a year of recalibration. Looking back on her time in lockdown, the Maryland rapper reflects on the growth she experienced both personally and creatively, pushing herself outside of her comfort zone, and the newfound confidence she has found in herself as an artist.

Speaking on the process for her debut album Nightmare Vacation, Nasty talks collaborating with 100 Gecs, letting go of both fans and critics’ expectations, rethinking her message and wanting her fans to feel powerful.

Pre-order the Winter 2020 issue below…