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This Black Music Month, Tiny Desk honors the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture.
Alanté Serene | June 27, 2025
The facets of Rico Nasty’s artistry seem nearly endless. Four years after her electrifying Tiny Desk (home) concert, the rapper/rager/rockstar finally brings her full force to the actual Desk. One thing’s for sure: This concert will surprise you.
Rico performs in front of a packed house of Nasty Mob members, family, friends and hometown supporters. “There is a connection that I have with you guys,” the DMV native tells the crowd. “It just makes me feel very safe.” Fueled by that assurance, Rico powers through a set that’s as layered as her catalog.
Five years after her debut studio album, Nightmare Vacation, Rico has evolved. Her latest project, LETHAL, finds her fully confident in the lane she’s built, blending vulnerability and attitude the way only she can. At the Desk, Rico lets each side of herself shine: from explosive tracks like “SMOKE BREAK,” to a smooth, reimagined version of “ON THE LOW,” to the tender resonance of “SMILE,” a song dedicated to her son. Rico delivers a carefully curated show that highlights every corner of her musical identity while leaving her mark on the iconic space.
SET LIST
“WHO WANT IT”
“TEETHSUCKER (YEA3X)”
“ON THE LOW”
“Tia Tamera”
“SON OF A GUN”
“SMOKE BREAK”
“Smack a Bitch”
“CRASH”
“CAN’T WIN EM ALL”
“SMILE”
MUSICIANS
Rico Nasty: vocals
Joe Cho: guitar, background vocals
Jacob Ray: guitar, background vocals
Rexzeal Omaka: bass, background vocals
Matt “Tort” Campfield: keys, background vocals
Imad Royal: drums, background vocals
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Alanté Serene
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Audio Technical Director: Josh Newell
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Kara Frame, Mitra I. Arthur
Audio Engineer: Josephine Nyounai
Production Assistant: Dhanika Pineda
Photographer: Zayrha Rodriguez
Tiny Desk Series Editor: Lars Gotrich
Tiny Desk Team: Maia Stern, Ashley Pointer
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
#tinydesk #nprmusic #riconasty
Support for NPR Music comes from Capital One. Presenting sponsor of the 2025 Tiny Desk Contest. What’s in your wallet? Learn more at CapitalOne.com.
