Rapsody
About this Artist
Rapsody is ready to embrace the unknown. On her fourth studio album, the North Carolina rapper weaves together disparate experiences to create a truly unique and unforgettable sonic gem. It’s the mark of an artist who is unafraid to draw on lifelong influences to find their true voice. The pandemic was Rap’s opportunity to self-reflect, and in that transformative moment she opened up a blank canvas for the next stage of her accomplished, culturally-significant career.
Bringing in the new, Rapsody has released her first single of 2023, “Asteroids,” which has reignited the public’s demand for forward-thinking stylistics and pointed songwriting. Her discography spans over a decade and has made a lasting impact on hip-hop culture, avid music listeners, fans, and critics alike.
The journey starts with Rap’s seminal debut album, The Idea of Beautiful (2012), which gained immediate praise. Three years later, in 2015, she carved an indelible mark in hip-hop with the lone guest rap verse on Kendrick Lamar’s critically-lauded To Pimp A Butterfly LP (for her work on “Complexion (A Zulu Love)”). This feat also garnered Rapsody’s first GRAMMY nomination. That same year, she was invited to the White House by President Barack Obama for a roundtable on Justice Reform as part of his My Brother’s Keeper initiative. Then, the prodigiously-gifted writer was invited to the White House again to perform at The International Jazz Day concert in 2016.
By the time 2017 rolled around, Rapsody was signed to Roc Nation and had released her second studio album, Laila’s Wisdom – named after her grandmother – to critical acclaim while simultaneously earning two GRAMMY nominations for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song. Enter Eve, the conceptual 2019 project that honored the black women of yesteryear who broke barriers through a series of captivating song titles. 2020 was no different as Rap’s name started to become even more synonymous with greatness. She was awarded Lyricist of the Year at the BET Hip-Hop Awards, and the very next year, in 2021, the Snow Hill native was recognized as a part of EBONY'S Power 100. Plus, XXL named her one of the 20 Greatest Female Rappers of All Time, and Dr. Dre crowned Rap his “favorite female emcee.”
Fast forward to 2023 and Rapsody is preparing to pull back the curtain on who Marlanna Evans is. Please Don’t Cry recording began in the wake of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns. The tightly-wrapped album is a more self-aware version of Rapsody as she reconciles with the past to empower her future. It explores the depth of her technical dexterity with more vulnerability than prior releases. The album is primed for widespread acclaim across the media landscape and features collaborative contributions from Erykah Badu, Lil Wayne, Phylicia Rashad, Alex Isley, and Baby Tate to name a few.
Over the years, Rapsody’s prowess as a wordsmith has grown considerably. Lyrically deft in the truest sense, Please Don’t Cry is a record that sets her apart from the rest, cementing Rap’s status as one of the best storytellers of all time. The 22-song album offers an intimate window into her journey of navigating new beginnings by embracing her imperfections. And now, she’s focused on “a deeper becoming,” a holistic pursuit of finding truth through music.