Rico Nasty – First Avenue – Minneapolis MN – October 3rd 2025

Rico Nasty w/ SadBoi — First Avenue, Minneapolis — 10.3.25

Review and photos by Peyton Rondeau

Opening the night was SadBoi, who brought a completely different energy that worked perfectly to set the tone. Their set leaned more into emotional, dreamy trap production — hazy beats and washed-out synths paired with melodic vocals and lyrics that felt confessional and moody. It was an interesting contrast to the chaos that would come later. SadBoi’s stage presence was understated but magnetic, pulling the crowd in instead of demanding attention.

A few songs leaned heavy on heartbreak and introspection, but they didn’t lose the audience. Instead, it created a build-up of emotion that made Rico’s entrance hit even harder. SadBoi knew exactly when to push the energy, closing their set with something louder and more beat-driven that finally got the crowd moving. By the end, you could feel the anticipation buzzing through the room — the calm before the storm.

Rico Nasty turned First Avenue into pure chaos in the best way possible. From the second she hit the stage, the crowd was already in her hands — a wall of energy, color, and movement. The show felt like a celebration of everything that makes her stand out: attitude, confidence, and complete control of the room. It wasn’t just rap; it was punk, rage, and pop all bleeding together under flashing strobes and heavy bass.

Her set wasn’t without chaos either — at one point a fight broke out in the pit, her in-ear pack died mid-song, and even her top broke halfway through. But none of it slowed her down. She powered through it all with the same intensity, laughing it off, getting the crowd even more fired up, and turning the mishaps into part of the show. It made the whole thing feel even more alive — unpredictable, raw, and completely hers.

She tore through songs like Smack a Bitch, OHFR?, and new cuts from her recent material with explosive energy. The production was sharp but gritty — distorted beats, bright strobes, and her voice cutting straight through the mix. Between songs she kept the energy up, shouting out the crowd, checking in on the pit, and reminding everyone to take care of each other before diving back into another track.

The crowd was wild but good-natured, packed shoulder to shoulder, screaming every word and jumping nonstop. It felt like Rico’s whole aesthetic and attitude came to life in that room — fierce, unfiltered, and freeing.

By the end of the night, everyone was drenched in sweat, voices gone, and still shouting for more. Rico Nasty proved again that no technical difficulty or wardrobe malfunction can touch her energy. She’s one of the most fearless and exciting performers out right now — part rapper, part rockstar, and all power.