Nasty C has given fans a glimpse into how he views his own musical catalogue, revealing the personal ranking of his top five projects — and placing his 2018 album Strings and Bling at the very top.
The Durban-born rapper opened up about his choices during a conversation with Scoop Makhatini, explaining that his list was shaped largely by the emotional connection he has with each project rather than by commercial performance, popularity or even his own assessment of the music.
Strings and Bling Takes the Top Spot
For Nasty C, Strings and Bling remains the project that sits closest to his heart.
Released in 2018, the album claimed the number-one position in his personal ranking, ahead of several other major releases from his career.
His top five list is:
- Strings and Bling — 2018
- I Love It Here — 2023
- Zulu Man With Some Power — 2020
- Free — 2025
- Bad Hair — 2016
The ranking is likely to spark plenty of debate among fans, particularly because Nasty C has released projects that have marked different stages of his growth as an artist.
It’s About Emotion, Not Just the Music
While fans may naturally interpret an artist ranking as a judgment of quality, Nasty C made an important distinction when explaining his choices.
He said his list was influenced by his emotional attachment to the projects and stressed that he remains proud of everything he has created.
That means Bad Hair, which appears fifth on his list, should not necessarily be viewed as the rapper saying it is his weakest project. Likewise, putting Strings and Bling first does not automatically mean he considers it the most technically accomplished album of his career.
Instead, the ranking offers insight into which projects carry the greatest personal significance for him.
Why Strings and Bling Still Matters
Strings and Bling arrived during an important period in Nasty C’s career and became one of the projects closely associated with his rise in African hip hop.
By placing it above releases that came later in his career, Nasty C appears to be highlighting the memories and experiences attached to that era.
The album’s position also shows how an artist’s relationship with their own work can differ from the way audiences, critics or streaming figures measure success.
A Catalogue That Reflects Different Eras
Nasty C’s top five stretches across nearly a decade of his career, from Bad Hair in 2016 to Free in 2025.
Each project represents a different point in his artistic journey, making the ranking an interesting snapshot of how he currently views that evolution.
With I Love It Here in second place and Zulu Man With Some Power completing the top three, the list also shows that Nasty C’s personal favourites are spread across different phases of his career.
Fans Will Have Their Own Rankings
As with any artist ranking, Nasty C’s list is unlikely to end the debate among listeners.
Fans may have their own favourites, with some potentially placing Bad Hair, Zulu Man With Some Power or I Love It Here higher than the rapper himself did.
But that is precisely what makes the conversation interesting: Nasty C has provided his personal scorecard, while listeners remain free to build their own.
For the rapper, however, the message is clear — the ranking is less about declaring a definitive winner and more about recognising the projects that mean the most to him.
And for now, Strings and Bling sits firmly at number one in Nasty C’s own personal catalogue.
