South African rap titan Nasty C just dropped his fifth studio album Free on 12 September 2025 under his own label Tall Racks Records. This isn’t just another project. It feels like the sound of an artist finally unshackled.
Why “Free”? Because Nasty C stripped away external pressures, label demands, expectations on how an album “should sound,” even how he should present himself. This is the first album he’s fully releasing as an independent artist.
Sixteen tracks, each one different, each one a mirror. He experiments more than ever, bits of guitar pop, house, even touches of maskandi. He’s letting fans peek behind the curtain: fatherhood, faith, self-reflection, love, doubt.
Standout moments:
- Leftie (Dlala Ngcobo) with Blxckie hits hard, playful yet piercing, reminding you that energy still counts for something.
- Selfish dives into fears of loss, the kind you feel late at night. The production leans atmospheric, synthesised, emotional. Nasty C opens up about what it would mean if he weren’t here to protect his loved ones.
This album isn’t flawless. It’s sweat, vulnerability, trying new costumes and seeing what fits. That’s the power. For fans who’ve watched Nasty C rise, who saw him dominate when he was just a teen wonder (hello “Juice Back” moments) this feels like evolution. For newbies, Free is a declaration, this is who I am when all eyes are turned away.
In a world where authenticity gets blurred by hype, Free is Nasty C being himself, by himself. Kids who feel boxed in by expectations should listen. This album isn’t just to stream. It’s to live with.
