From the Coolest Kid in Africa to phasing into the sagacious unc role in the hip-hop world, South African rapper and singer-songwriter Nasty C’s discography has evolved as much as the man behind the music itself: Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo.
With his latest album, titled Free, his first as an independent act, the Tall Racks Records head honcho taps into the most sensitive depths of his personal bag. Enlisting assistance from his connects such as Tellaman, Usimamane, Blxckie, Tshego, and DJ Speedsta, he conjures up experience-born reflections; sentiments concerning his love for his fans, family, and friends; and enjoying the air of the heights he has scaled over the years as one of the country’s finest exports in the game.
Free cover art | SUPPLIED
Self-produced alongside the likes of MashBeatz, Saak Beats, Ebenezer, and Waytoolost among other masterly fingers to grace the sound desk in this generation, Free is a predominantly hip-hop album that eschews convention. At times the trap-touched production echoes with Travis Scott-like adlibs and the ghosting of imprints from 21 Savage haunt the sounds that inspire the way Nasty glides on a beat – his time in the American circuit injecting a cosmopolitan texture. For much more sober cuts, the Durban superstar takes a soulful turn musicially and opts for wistful guitar riffs, rumbling bass thumps, and low-spirited piano loops to induce moods of nostalgia. The latter setup positions him for pensive penmanship and deep cuts that see him fathom the waters of who he is, what he stands for, and what everyone around him means to him. The former is for nothing but luxury raps and running circles around his competitors in the game.
Free, when analysed as a holistic body of work, unravels in layers much like quality cologne, birthing narratives that aren’t simply inward-facing but also look to cater for those surrounding him. Because of this, the project has a level of spatial awareness a tier higher than his 2023 release I Love It Here, which felt more like a passion project played close to his chest. As such, Free blossoms as a love letter to his listeners, his brothers in the struggle, and his blood and kin, rather than a collection of self-indulgence, an amenity he luxuriates in every now and again in very controlled doses.
Nasty C | SUPPLIED
Ngcobo delves into a myriad kaleidoscope of themes such as staying true to oneself (“Switch” and “Head Up”), the collective value of his connections with fans, friends, and family (“Intro”, “That’s Whassup”, and “Big Timing”), opulent chopping of life (“Soft”, “10 Shooters”, and “Ice”), love (“Selfish” and “Other Plans (Interlude)”), and the tug-o’-war between spirituality and materialism (“Evidence”).
While the album is thematically ambitious, the scope doesn’t overwhelm the music as a whole. If anything, Nasty C is able to enhance the experience by layering them using intensity. For the much more sincere songs such as “That’s Whassup” and “Selfish”, he spends more time skating on the song with dense lyricism that is altogether unconcerned with keeping things radio friendly. Joints where he enjoys himself more like “MSP” and “Shmoking” see him keep things short but catchy with witty songwriting. Just listen to the jocular arrogance of some of the lines on “MSP”, for instance. Comedy gold.
Check out the lyrical video for “That’s Whassup”:
What makes Free a curious addition to Nasty’s catalogue is the evident liberty in his creative stride. Although the project unfolds piece by piece, his footing is never linear. There’s certainly a method to his madness (or dare I say ingenuity), and with this opus it’s anything but straight. However, this doesn’t automatically translate to senseless or even inept disorder. The more appropriate consensus is that his movement is sporadic but sensible, his symphonies spontaneous and still very much on key. With this one, Ngcobo is an explorer and not simply a mountaineer or a hiker taking on a familiar challenge he has conquered for the umpteenth time. And this is clear whether or not you are a follower of the man.
Musically, he has transposed what he normally sounds like to a key that is unlike what he has done in the past.
Self-aware, serious, sure-footed are some of the superlatives to best describe this project. Emphasis on “some”. Free is also loving, charismatic, daring, experimental, divergent, family-oriented, appreciative, carefree. There’s a lot in it because it’s a world in music form. And as with every world that exists, there is much to be unraveled and countless characters to meet. And the most interesting thing about this album is that you are somewhat guaranteed to either meet someone like yourself in it or a person you know that is close to you.
Preview Free below:
