Wake up kids, Nasty C’s back with Strings and Bling

Nasty C last week released Strings and Bling, an album that is for children, but not in the way that ODB meant. The album is a product that was written for kids with teenage drama, puppy love and those who have just discovered sex and alcohol.

Nasty C made a formidable entrance into the South African music scene about three years ago. He quickly gained respect from artist such as Cassper Nyovest who he featured on ‘Juice Back’, a song that Nasty C allegedly stole. In no time, along with a bunch of other artists, he signed to the now mute Mabala Noise on which he released Bad Hair, an album that featured SAMA Song of the Year ‘Hell Naw’. Despite his achievements and occasional hits, the rapper has a knack for saying strange things and releasing underwhelming but memorable music – and he hasn’t disappointed on Strings and Bling.

The offering has an almost perfect production quality and Nasty C didn’t compromise on beat selection. The title track’s guitar has a nostalgic element that’s accentuated by a haunting “Oh my God” in the background. With an exception of a few songs, the instrumentals would be fitting for an R&B album. Something good to listen to on a Sunday and blues before that rude awakening that you have work the following day.

Nasty C's cadence is a contributing factor to the catchiness. He doesn’t limit himself to the trap trope where everything ends up sounding the same. There is a good balance of singing, rapping and doing whatever it is that trap artists do... This can be heard in songs such as 'Another One Down' and 'Casanova'.

Lyrically, the album is everything to write home about, informing the recipients that there’s nothing to write home about: Nasty C comes across as juvenile in the construction of his rhymes, some of which are poorly thought through. “I don’t want no sex, cos your p*ssy got an echo” in ‘Jungle’ is one such example. His excellent grasp of human anatomy is also presented in ‘King’ featuring American rapper A$AP Ferg where Nasty says, “Nah, I’m serious the shine is too bright it might f*ck with your iris." He must’ve spent many days playing truant when he was still a pupil.

Thematically the album is a mix of what sounds like post-existential crisis-gloating and depressive moping over relationships. There is a contrast in this album. On the one hand Nasty C shows that he can be an egomaniac through lines like “never introduce myself and it ain't cos I got no manners”. On the other, he shows a tender side in songs like ‘SMA’, ‘My Baby’ and ‘Mrs Me’. So what's Nasty C's position? Is he a player or committed to that one (supposedly) lucky lady? Nasty C will figure it out when he gets a little older.

At the end of the album, Nasty C goes full circle to his infantile fantasies in ‘Jiggy Jigga’ where he talks about how his underpants cost more than his iPhone. Who cares? No one wants to hear about a guy's underpants, even if they're made of gold leaf and Jay-Z's bubble gum for an elastic.

If content is anything to go by, Strings and Bling is subpar but that is compensated for by the production and Nasty C's flows, which makes the absurd sound great. The final product is a good listen if you are a high school student, or if you have the acumen of a 17 year old.

Artist: Nasty C
Album: Strings and Bling
Label, Year: UMGSA, 2018