Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly, known professionally as Rico Nasty, was born on May 7, 1997, in Prince George's County, Maryland. She began self-releasing music during high school, gaining initial attention on SoundCloud with singles like 'iCarly' in 2016 and 'Hey Arnold,' the latter remixed with Lil Yachty. She signed with Atlantic Records in 2018 and released mixtapes including Nasty that year, followed by her debut album Nightmare Vacation in 2020 and Las Ruinas in 2022. A collaborative EP, Hardc0re Dr3amz, with Boys Noize came out in 2024. Rico Nasty's style blends hip-hop and rap with punk and hardcore elements, often termed 'sugar trap' or punk rap, featuring aggressive delivery over heavy beats. She earned a 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 recognition in music and has collaborated with artists like Gucci Mane and Kali Uchis. Her live performances are recognized for inciting mosh pits.