Rico Nasty recently opened up on UPROXX’s Sound Check, revealing the deep emotional impact Eminem’s “Mockingbird” had on her as a kid. When asked to pick between “Mockingbird” and “The Real Slim Shady,” she surprised fans by choosing the heartfelt track over the wild, high-energy hit. Rico effortlessly rapped along to both songs, but “Mockingbird” hit closer to home.
She explained, “It’s gonna shock you, but I’m picking ‘Mockingbird.’ If your parents were divorced twice—like mine were—it really hits you. When this album dropped, I was a kid feeling all these emotions I didn’t understand. I missed my dad being around. That song used to make me cry. I’d listen to it on my iPod Nano and just think, ‘I miss my dad.’” Released in 2004 on Eminem’s Encore album, “Mockingbird” dives into raw family struggles and absent parents—themes that clearly spoke to Rico’s own life.
But while “Mockingbird” tugged at her heart, another Eminem classic sparked her rap dreams. In a 2023 People magazine interview, Rico shared how “Stan” inspired her to become a rapper. “That song made me want to rap,” she said. “It’s like a rollercoaster of emotions—scary, exciting, intense. It’s almost like a horror movie, keeping you on edge, wondering what’s next. You even feel for the character. The video was so cinematic, and it showed me what a real fan looks like—the obsessive kind. Besides Tyler, the Creator and Nicki Minaj, ‘Stan’ was my first taste of that crazy fan energy.”
From “Mockingbird” helping her process childhood pain to “Stan” lighting her creative fire, Eminem’s music has left a lasting mark on Rico Nasty’s life and career.
