BY: VINCENT MENDOZA / STAFF WRITER
17-year-old underground rapper Nettspend released his debut album BAD ASS F*CKING KID earlier this month, sparking tons of conversations throughout the underground rap scene. Nettspend, who previously went by his real name Gunnar Henderson, began making waves in the underground rap scene in late 2023 following the releases of singles such as “drankdrankdrank”, “We not like you”, “shine n peace”, and “what they say”.
Since then, the high school dropout has collaborated with other artists including xaviersobased - one of the leaders of gen-z party rap and member of the 1c34 soundcloud rap collective, and OsamaSon - one of the leaders in the underground scene, dropping his first two projects in 2023 titled Osama Season and Flex Music. T
his was one of the best moves the Richmond, Virginia native could make, releasing successful singles with both artists. “40” with Xaviersobased and “withdrawls” by OsamaSon featuring Nettspend have accumulated roughly 6 million and 6.5 million streams on Spotify respectively. In turn, Nettspend quickly rose to superstardom in the underground.
BAD ASS F*CKING KID (BAFK) features 31 minutes of listening spanning across 15 tracks. The project showcases Nettspend’s signature sound, which can be categorized as a mix between classic SoundCloud rap and modern rage rap. The production of the project is generally viewed as the positive outlier of the project, characterized by intense 808s, loose piano riffs, and glimmering synths, creating a sonic landscape that is both chaotic and captivating.
Nettspend chose to collaborate with well-known producers “Ok”, whose tags “WeGonBeOk” and “Ok is the hardest, I swear to God” can be easily recognized by frequent rage rap listeners, as well as “Evilgiane”, with OK handling the majority of the tracks.
Nett’s vocal style on BAFK is quite distinctive, displaying a thin, boyish tone heavily processed with autotune. His voice and flow are rather erratic, creating a clash between the tone, cadence, and beats. Lyrically, Gunnar doesn’t bring much to the table, with the majority of his lyrics containing drug use, sex, and being a defiant, troubled teenager, “Perc Soda” being the prime example.
Standout tracks on BAFK such as “Leader”, “Shut Up”, “LAUGHIN”, and “Beach Leak” showcase Nett to the best of his abilities. "Beach Leak," in particular, benefits from a dreamy Evilgiane beat that complements Nettspend's introspective lyrics and calmer flow and cadence, as he crowns himself "Future but Gen Z".
While BAFK may not be a groundbreaking masterpiece, it serves as an important snapshot of the current state of underground rap. Nettspend's raw energy and occasional flashes of brilliance suggest potential for growth. However, the album's overreliance on great, but trendy production techniques and its lack of sonic clarity limit how good it currently is, as well as its longevity.
Ultimately, "BAD ASS F*CKING KID" is a debut that encapsulates both the promise and the pitfalls of Nettspend's artistry. It's a project that will likely resonate strongly with his core fanbase while potentially alienating listeners looking for more polished or traditional hip-hop. As Nettspend continues to evolve as an artist, it will be interesting to see how he refines his sound and message.
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