Time’s Ticking for Nettspend: The Cost of Delaying Early Life Crisis
A once unstoppable underground star risks losing his loyal fanbase as months pass without a release for his promised album.
Nettspend has become one of the most talked-about names in the underground rap scene. His music fills playlists across the internet, especially among teenage listeners. After dropping BAFK, labeled the underground album of the year in 2024, he seemed unstoppable. Some fans describe that era as “Cash Nett”, a nickname inspired by Playboi Carti’s “Cash Carti” nickname during his peak. But six months after the promised release of Early Life Crisis, fans on campus are starting to lose hope and loyalty.
“He’s teasing us too much,” junior Aiden Santa said. “I used to be excited about Early Life Crisis, but now I don’t even know if it’s real anymore.”
Nettspend’s silence and missed release dates have left fans questioning when an album will drop.
Sophomore Mico Jiminez, a longtime supporter, said the delay might be part of a bigger plan. “I believe he’s trying to build hype in his own weird way,” Jiminez said. “He wants people to talk, even if it's out of frustration. It keeps him relevant.” Jiminez added that the artist has “always moved differently” compared to other underground rappers, which makes fans unsure whether the delays are intentional or signs of disorganization.
The artist’s marketing hasn’t been helping with the confusion. Nettspend released a video game on earlylifecrisis.com, which presents snippets of the album, but it only fueled more frustration.
“It was cool at first, but it started to feel like a gimmick,” sophomore Santiago Quiroz said. A popular underground news reporter weighed in, calling the delay “a risky game” and warning that fans wouldn’t wait forever.
Many fans are left wondering if Nettspend can regain his momentum. “People move fast,” Quiroz said. “If he waits too long, his spot is gone.” In the underground scene, momentum is everything, and artists can go from trendy to forgotten in a matter of months.
For now, the artist's biggest challenge isn’t just finishing the album but proving his fans still believe in him.
Whether Early Life Crisis actually drops soon or becomes another myth in the underground will be determined by how long Nettspend's name stays in the conversation.