South African rapper Nasty C has opened up about how overthinking affected his creative process, revealing that two of his well-known songs, “SMA” and “Head Up,” remained unfinished for several years because he struggled to find the right words.
The rapper shared the revelation during a Q&A conversation with fellow artist Tshego inside a VW Amarok. Their discussion explored personal growth, music-making and the habits Nasty C has had to unlearn throughout his career.
When asked what he had changed about himself as an artist, Nasty C identified overthinking as one of the biggest obstacles he had to overcome.
Nasty C Explains How Overthinking Affected His Music
According to Nasty C, he would sometimes spend months working around a beat and hook while waiting for the perfect verse to complete a song.
Instead of allowing the creative process to unfold naturally, he would keep revisiting the same musical ideas, searching for the right approach before recording anything.
The rapper revealed that this habit resulted in some songs being delayed for years. He specifically mentioned “SMA,” which reportedly remained unfinished for approximately four years before he finally recorded his verse.
“Head Up” took even longer, with Nasty C revealing that he had been sitting with the song for around six years before completing it.
Fans Had Almost Given Up on ‘SMA’ and ‘Head Up’
Interestingly, snippets of both songs had already reached listeners before their eventual completion.
Their unfinished state did not stop fans from becoming familiar with the music. People regularly asked Nasty C when the tracks would finally be released, while some listeners eventually stopped expecting to hear the finished versions.
The long delays demonstrate how an artist’s pursuit of perfection can sometimes stand in the way of releasing music, even when the creative foundation is already there.
Nasty C Introduces a New Recording Formula
The rapper explained that he eventually developed a different approach to recording, allowing himself to express ideas freely before worrying about polishing them.
Rather than forcing himself to write the perfect verse from the beginning, he now focuses on getting his thoughts out and returning to improve the material later.
He explained:
“I think that’s how I ended up coming up with this new formula to record where it’s just like I blurt out whatever, you know, whatever is in there. Just let it out, let it out just to get rid of that clog. Then I come back and I fix it later.”
This approach gives him room to experiment without placing unnecessary pressure on the initial creative process.
A Lesson in Creative Growth
Nasty C’s comments offer an interesting glimpse into the challenges behind making music. While listeners often experience the finished product, the creative journey can involve years of uncertainty, revisions and second-guessing.
His experience with “SMA” and “Head Up” shows how even established artists can struggle with creative blocks.
By learning to record freely and refine his ideas afterwards, Nasty C appears to have found a way to balance creativity with perfectionism.
The revelation also highlights an important lesson from his musical journey: sometimes, the best way to finish a song is to stop overthinking and start creating.
