Rico Nasty is embracing a full-circle moment. The Maryland rapper has announced her new album RX, arriving July 24, reunited with longtime collaborator Kenneth Blume (formerly Kenny Beats), released the energetic new single “Cupcake,” and expanded her 2026 touring schedule with a newly announced headlining run.
The announcement marks one of Rico’s most significant creative resets in years. After experimenting across multiple projects and pushing the boundaries of rap, punk, metal, and alternative music, RX finds her returning to the uncompromising energy that first made her one of hip-hop’s most distinctive voices.
Produced primarily by Kenneth Blume, RX reunites the duo behind 2019’s Anger Management mixtape and the explosive “Smack A Bitch.” Rico says reconnecting with Blume allowed her to rediscover the confidence and honesty that shaped her early career.
“I missed someone that was honest with me,” Rico explained. “I missed someone who knew me back then, before I had any success.”
Blume echoed that sentiment, describing the album as “a homecoming” and saying it reminds listeners why they became fans while showcasing how much Rico has evolved as an artist.
Recorded between filming her acting debut in Apple TV+’s Margot’s Got Money Troubles and touring throughout 2025, RX developed over four months of studio sessions. While Blume handled the majority of production, Dylan Brady of 100 gecs also contributed, producing the track “Butthead.”
The latest preview, “Cupcake,” leans into Rico’s signature “Sugar Trap” aesthetic, balancing playful melodies with booming trap production. Directed by Miggy, the accompanying music video follows June’s release of “Rituals,” giving fans another look at the sound of RX. Together, the singles suggest an album that revisits the raw confidence, humor, and unpredictability that defined Rico’s breakthrough years while refining that approach with greater creative freedom.
For Rico, RX represents more than simply revisiting familiar territory. She describes the project as prescribing confidence after years of feeling pressure to satisfy competing expectations.
“The realest thing that a person can do is be themselves,” she says of the album’s philosophy, explaining that the “X” in RX represents infinity, a reminder that she’ll always remain true to herself.
Rico Nasty Announces 2026 Headlining Tour
Alongside the album announcement, Rico has expanded her live schedule with a headlining tour that will run alongside her previously announced support dates with Hayley Williams.
The newly announced headline shows include stops in:
- St. Louis, MO
- Jacksonville, FL
- St. Petersburg, FL
- Brooklyn, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Bellingham, WA
- Little Rock, AR
- Fort Worth, TX
- San Antonio, TX
- Mesa, AZ
The run also includes appearances at Chreece Festival and All Things Go Festival while continuing through Hayley Williams arena dates across North America, including multiple sold-out performances at Forest Hills Stadium, the Hollywood Bowl, and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Artist presales begin July 8, with general ticket sales opening July 10.
RX Tracklist
- CDG Foams
- Frenzy
- Rotation
- Cupcake
- Blow Your Nose
- Runway
- Butthead
- Kiss N Make Up
- Rituals
Following the success of Lethal and its deluxe edition, RX positions Rico Nasty for another defining chapter, one built less around reinvention than embracing the fearless identity that established her as one of rap’s most innovative artists.
Featured image credit: Emerald Arguelles
