T Nasty

T Nasty is a Puerto Rican and African American rapper from Deep Valley, Oceanside, who named a movement before most artists finish their first project and is still releasing thirteen years later. Twenty-five videos, 54,850 views, and the most sustained run of his career currently underway.

He originated Style & Soul and named the swag movement, N.W.$, that carried through Southern California’s jerk era. What he set was not only a sound but a look: for a stretch of years the way North County dressed and the way it rapped both traced back to the same small circle, and he was at the centre of it.

He arrived in May 2012, and arrived twice in the same month: “Meditation” alone, and Style & Soul’s “Roll Call” with the crew he assembled. “Goin In” followed that September, “Thankful” with Mac Stakks opened 2013, and Style & Soul closed the year with a third record.

The middle years ran fast and wide. “Not Changing” with Benji in spring 2014, Flashy B’s “Opponent” that November, “Get To The Money” with Polo Savage that December. “Locals Only” in June 2015 and, that July, a night opening for Father and Awful Records. “Fast Money Gang Anthem” with Flashy B in 2016, “Mud Keep Callin” in July 2018. A generation of North County artists took their cues from that run.

Then it began taking from him. SlumFromThe415 died on 31 July 2018; nineteen days later, on 19 August, “1 Hunnid”, Slum’s record with T Nasty on it, was shot and released. He kept working through it: “What I Know” with J Wet in August 2019, “In My Cup” with 2much that September, “Lonely” at the end of 2020.

Then his sister, Essence Williams. He has carried her twice on record: “Heart Frozen” in September 2021 with 2MuchFinessse and Nelle, stamped LLELW, and “4 Essence (RiP)” with John Givez in April 2022. What came out of it was faith, and a decision to raise his son and daughter as the man he wanted them to have. The fast life he had been the face of was the thing he left.

The work never stopped while he changed. “Backdoor” with Don3, Manny Kutz and Eff Neff came in June 2022, the “Wait For You” remix that September. Still Doin Me arrived in October 2023, six tracks with the title stating the case, and “Motivation” closed the year. “Truthfully” and “Courtside” with Manny Kutz followed in January 2024, “Self Made” in January 2025, “Get Up Off Your Ass” that March.

Thirteen years in, he is releasing at the pace of an artist starting out, and the Southern California scene he helped shape is listening again.

Southern California street rap out of the jerk era — up-tempo, crew-led, and written to be performed.