Lethal (Rico Nasty album)

Rico Nasty released her second album Las Ruinas in 2022. Described as a mix of rage rap and post-punk, it received mixed reviews from publications such as Pitchfork and NME.^[1][2] In 2024, she released a collaborative EDM EP with Boys Noize titled Hardc0re Dr3amz. In an interview with Uproxx she spoke on trying new sounds, having previously switched from sugar trap to rage.^[3]

"Teethsucker (Yea3x)" was released as the album's lead single on February 20, 2025, along with a music video, and announced the album on social media.^[4] She described the album as about "being confident and saying fuck everybody else" and as "an ode to yourself". She released the second single, "On the Low", on March 26, and described it as showing a "sweeter" side of the record.^[5] The third and final single, "Butterfly Kisses", released on May 1 with "Can't Win Em All" as a surprise B side.^[6]

A deluxe edition of the album, titled Lethal-er, was released on December 12, 2025.^[7]

The album is primarily rap rock and emo trap, with influences of pop and metal.^[8][9] The album is executive produced by Imad Royal with frequent production from Rayman on the Beat.^[10]

More information Aggregate scores, Source ...

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	71/100[11]
Review scores
Source	Rating
The Arts Desk	[12]
Clash	8/10[13]
DIY	[14]
Kerrang!	3/5[15]
Paste	7/10[16]
Pitchfork	6.7/10[17]
Rolling Stone	[18]
Spectrum Culture	79%[19]

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According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Lethal received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 71 out of 100 from 6 critic scores.^[11]

BrooklynVegan described Lethal as "one of her most wide-ranging projects yet, from her rock-oriented abrasion to the sweeter, brighter sounds of her trademark sugar trap, to dark, moody rap songs done in the way that only Rico Nasty can."^[20] Clash rated the album eight out of ten and stated, "Rugged, lawless sounds, Lethal crunches hard from first note to last, resonating with venomous, carnal energy."^[13] DIY gave it a score of three and a half, noting "Lethal, firmly reasserting the Rico Nasty legacy, is an alluring feat for the US rapper that feels just as trendy as it is against the grain."^[14] Rolling Stone, also rating it three and a half, remarked, "The rapper's latest LP, Lethal, matches her characteristic raw energy with a rock-influenced sound and introspective tone."^[18] Kerrang! assigned it a rating of three out of five, referring to the album as "a canvas of clashing colours, initially dominated by the clicks and thuds of a drum machine and myriad synths."^[15] Alternative Press listed the Lethal as one of the best albums of 2025.^[9]