If fact has the facility to set one free, then Rapsody’s new album, “Please Don’t Cry,” has eliminated her from emotional imprisonment and gifted her immeasurable liberation.
“People put up a mirror for me. I sat in the mirror myself…it was the beginning of healing. Heart-broke: Why do you feel like you can’t fill the void of whatever that was? Internally, why do you feel underappreciated?” questioned the three-time Grammy nominee. “And really allow myself, again, to just sit in a fire and burn. To forgive myself for some things. To accept some things. To learn to love myself.”
Rapsody’s not solely incessantly lauded by critics as one of the best feminine lyricist, but additionally as among the best within the style. After 2019’s critically-acclaimed “Eve” album, discussions by hip-hop purists erupted on social media and in barbershops close to and much debating her probably rivaling Kendrick Lamar for the lyrical throne. But the popularity hasn’t translated into the industrial success of some feminine friends — veterans like Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, or current newcomers like Megan Thee Stallion, Latto or Ice Spice. But her plight isn’t uncommon for rappers labeled as “continuous” or extraordinarily lyrical, no matter gender.
“I was looking at what everybody else was doing instead of worrying about myself,” she stated, soft-spoken all through the interview. “I’d see comments (saying), ‘She makes great music, but she’ll never make it because she’s not half-naked or she don’t have a No. 1 hit.’ And I had to realize that those are really false measurements.”
“Please Don’t Cry,” launched in May, is by far essentially the most private of her 4 studio albums. Dwindling greater than 350 potential songs right down to the ultimate 22 tracks, the majority of the manufacturing comes from HIT-BOY, BLK ODYSSY and S1, and boasts star-powered options together with Erykah Badu and Lil Wayne. The regal voice of Phylicia Rashad can be sprinkled all through.
The North Carolina native started developing the album a number of years in the past after a painful breakup and towards the start of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Personal tales have at all times lived inside her music, however the basis of her catalogue is anchored by skilled lyricism and musicality.
“I’ve always thought that I was authentic. But at the same time, I realized there was a level of fear there — a fear of allowing myself to be seen completely. But at that time, I don’t even think I completely even knew who I was,” stated the 41-year-old Marlanna Evans who saved Lauryn Hill’s “MTV Unplugged No. 2.0” challenge in heavy rotation whereas creating, together with an evolving Pinterest board stuffed with footage and phrases for inspiration.
“Please Don’t Cry” has a weightier R&B affect than previous tasks. Standout tracks embrace the Badu-assisted “3:AM,” the lead single “Asteroids,” “Stand Tall,” “Faith” and “God’s Light.” While her razor-sharp bars nonetheless slice on songs like “Raw” with Lil Wayne and Niko Brim, the album makes its mark by coming into a brand new territory of unapologetic vulnerability. Rapsody touches on insecurities, not having a stronger feminine fanbase, members of the family battling dementia and hypothesis surrounding her sexuality.
On the surprisingly clear “That One Time,” the previous Stevie Wonder, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole collaborator supplies a uncommon glimpse into her love life and previous transgressions.
“One time, I had an experience with a woman. But I also bring up that I was with somebody that wasn’t available,” stated the Jehovah’s Witness-raised artist of her relationship with a married particular person, whereas suggesting her accomplice wasn’t absolutely trustworthy. “I make mistakes, too — things I say I would never do, and then I find myself in a situation that I’m not proud of. But in my life and the conversations I have, I know I’m not the only one.”
Bianca Edwards, vice chairman of selling for Roc Nation, says the vulnerability displayed showcases Rapsody’s safety in her music and herself.
“You have to be extremely confident to bare your soul and not care what people think,” stated Edwards. “And on this project, I think that she bared a lot.”
Always advocating for feminine rappers, Rapsody has persistently rejected reward meant to criticize her friends. But whereas there are songs like “Look What You’ve Done” during which she rhymes, “Don’t lift me up throwin’ shade/At my sisters that made it out wit’ a– and bass,” she additionally raps, “Everything look cookie cutter/We seen enough a—, that sh– ain’t special no more” on “Diary of a Mad Bitch.”
“I see my name brought up a lot of times used to put other women down for how they choose to show up in this art and in their life, and I’m not here for that. I’m not trying to make myself the standard. I’m just trying to make myself another example of what women in hip-hop look like to bring harmony,” stated Rapsody. “With ‘Diary,’ it was me making an observation of everybody looks the same…I know we’re not clones.”
But regardless of a occupation the place beauty enhancements are widespread amongst feminine rappers – together with sexually-charged lyrics that contribute to their pop stardom – the “Complexion (A Zulu Love)” artist says she’s by no means thought-about altering her physique.
“My question is why isn’t there space for me or others who are different from what we see on a mainstream level…why don’t we get those same opportunities?” requested the self-described tomboy who additionally suffers from Graves’ illness which may change bodily look. “I never wanted to be anything other than who I was.”
Rapsody says whereas each artist desires of making successful report, she’s not keen to compromise her musical integrity or chase songs that don’t really feel pure to draw extra followers.
“I think she already found her place,” stated Edwards. “I work with a lot of artists, and I’ve met artists that are still trying to find themselves. That’s not Rap.”
A tour will launch in September with 5 European dates and a North American leg that can run via October.
“Please Don’t Cry” has fortified Rapsody’s therapeutic journey, and he or she’s higher for it.
“Everybody asks me about this album, like ‘How you feeling?’ I say I feel really happy and I’m at peace. And this is the most free I’ve ever felt,” she stated. “I’m not putting pressure on myself to be defined as success through other people’s measurements of what that looks like.”
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