The music industry no longer has control over Rico Nasty. On Thursday, February 20, the “Rage” rapper released the first preview of LETHAL, her first album in nearly three years, along with its lead single, “TEETHSUCKER (YEA3x).”

Rico is charting her own course in her current projects, unlike her previous endeavors. She subsequently ended her relationship with Atlantic Records, her former record label, and her longtime team, following years of feeling unappreciated and deceived. She informed Rolling Stone in a related interview that she is no longer considering uncertain options.

Realizing that ownership and stepping up to a situation, I acknowledged I wouldn’t be manipulated. She also made it clear she’s going to stand up for herself, noting that she’s already been stereotyped as the “big, angry, screaming b**ch anyway.” Rico then explained that her team was not even considering the music she was submitting, nor would they allow her to release it.

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Rico Nasty Asserts Dominance Over Her Music Career

That’s where all the accumulated frustration finally gets released. Scheduled for a 16 May release, the DMV artist referred to the 15-track project as the most “liberating” she has worked on to date, with songs such as “BUTTERFLY KISSES” and “ON THE LOW” being among the select tracks she has previewed.

Creating albums or mixtapes has made me feel like I’ve lost touch with who I am. Rico said he would spend a great deal of time in the studio, to the point where when the music was finished and it was time to transition to the commercial side, he simply couldn’t adjust. I overemphasized the music to an excessive degree. By releasing the album one song at a time and then leaving the studio, I was able to pursue my personal life.

So far, LETHAL is emerging as one of Rico’s most thrilling releases in a minute. “TEETHSUCKER (YEA3x)” began incorporating punk-rap elements into her sound, a fitting direction for her first release on Fueled By Ramen, the label also known for artists such as Fall Out Boy and twenty one pilots.