Who The Hell Is...Rapsody?
Kendrick Lamar's explosive sophomore opus To Pimp A Butterfly doesn't boast a hefty amount of guest appearances. Outside of Snoop Dogg, the album features only one other rapper not named Kendrick. That other rapper? North Carolina's Rapsody, Kendrick's co-pilot on the introspective “Complexion (A Zulu Love).” There's a reason why this indie fav got the green light on the most anticipated album of 2015 - let us count the ways.
WHO is Rapsody?
Coming straight out of Snow Hill, North Carolina, Rapsody embodies the meaning of blue collar. The 27-year-old has released eight projects in just a span of four years. She's logged studio time with new schoolers such as Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and BIG K.R.I.T - beloved songstresses like Eryka Badu and Marsha Ambrosius -- and legendary names like DJ Premier and Big Daddy Kane. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that she's backed by Grammy award winning producer, 9th Wonder, who signed the North Carolina State University grad to his Jamla imprint in 2008.
"Drama"
"Betty Shabazz"
WHAT is her album?
A photo posted by Rapsody (@rapsodymusic) on Oct 15, 2014 at 2:52am PDT
"The Man"
"Godzilla"
Rapsody dropped a 10-track EP entitled Beauty And The Beast in October 2014, which was the follow-up to her DJ Drama assisted She Got Game mixtape. Her debut album The Idea of Beautiful was released in 2012, and a portion of the album's proceeds were used to purchase donations for the children of South Africa.
WHERE have you seen her before?
A photo posted by Rapsody (@rapsodymusic) on Nov 30, 2014 at 6:11pm PST
Maybe you caught her earlier in the year on our 15 Female Rappers To Watch In 2015 list. You might have also spotted her opening for Jay Electronica and Common on his Nobody's Smiling tour. Rapsody has also received plenty of mentions from XXL, Vibe, Time, and even USA Today.
WHEN can you see her live?
Jamla live at #DASHPOP this Friday! Come thru. www.dashpop.com | Winston-Salem, NC! #jamlaisthesquad
A photo posted by Rapsody (@rapsodymusic) on Mar 23, 2015 at 9:01am PDT
Rapsody's next show happens to be a local one — she'll be performing at the Dash Pop Music Festival. If you happen to be in the Winston-Salem area, check her out this Friday.
WHY should you care?
As one can imagine, it's not easy being a female rapper—especially one that doesn't depend on a hyper-sexualized image for attention. Only a few ladies have been able to evade the stereotypical labels attached to female rappers. Rapsody is all about substance and her craft, and her extensive discography is proof of this. Her To Pimp A Butterfly appearance is sure to land this rapstress on the radar of many new listeners. But it's her talented mic skills, combined with a consistent work ethic, that will make sure her career isn't defined by just a feature.
[Photo: Getty Images]