To think that Nettspend has achieved this level of cultural currency over the past year is absurd—and all without a full-length project, until now.
Careful and calculated curation goes a long way in today’s underground, as the 17-year-old rapper’s debut mixtape, BAD ASS F*CKING KID, is not only an assertion of his budding star power (peep his HBO documentary on the way), but a declaration that he’s the true “Leader” of the next wave.
At the forefront of rap’s enticing rage era, the Grade A-signed artist, the label that’s fostered talents such as Juice WRLD and The Kid LAROI, speaks to a fan base that’s misunderstood. While most 17-year-olds are busy running Black Ops 6 or preparing for their math final, Nettspend embodies the BAD ASS F*CKING KID he portrays on his first-ever mixtape. Drugs, theft and other vandal behavior overlay contingent, core themes such as love and growing up on BAFK, as Nettspend largely employs the help of producer Ok over the course of a blazing 14 tracks.
Ok, who’s essentially pioneered and ushered in the sound we’re hearing from the underground’s most prominent voices (OsamaSon, Glokk40Spaz, Lazer Dim 700), is also credited for producing Nettspend’s true breakout hits “NOTHING LIKE UUU” and “F*CK SWAG,” along with “THAT ONE SONG.” Let’s make this clear: He’s just as important as one of his top collaborators in this instance.
However, the energy and “f*ck you” attitude Nettspend brings forth on BAFK is intoxicating. He’s the problematic cool kid unafraid of what’s to come. He’s just living in the moment—strung out and levitating over dizzying melodies and burnt-black distortion. You just need to be there. His live performances at Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash and his headlining BAFK tour showcase the vicegrip he has on the youth.
Nettspend is the definition of that four letter word. Here’s our top 5 tracks off Nettspend’s debut mixtape, BAD ASS F*CKING KID.
Listen to BAFK below!