NEW YORK (AP) â If truth has the power to set one free, then has removed her from emotional imprisonment and gifted her immeasurable liberation.
âPeople put up a mirror for me. I sat in the mirror myselfâŠit was the beginning of healing. Heart-broke: Why do you feel like you canât fill the void of whatever that was? Internally, why do you feel underappreciated?â 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 only frequently lauded by critics as the best female lyricist, but also as one of the best in the genre. discussions by hip-hop purists erupted on social media and in barbershops near and far debating her potentially rivaling Kendrick Lamar for the lyrical throne. But the recognition hasnât translated into the commercial success of some female peers â veterans like Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, or recent newcomers like Megan Thee Stallion, Latto or Ice Spice. But her plight isnât unusual for rappers labeled as âcontinuousâ or extremely lyrical, regardless of gender.
âI was looking at what everybody else was doing instead of worrying about myself,â she said, soft-spoken throughout the interview. âIâd see comments (saying), âShe makes great music, but sheâll never make it because sheâs not half-naked or she donât have a No. 1 hit.â And I had to realize that those are really false measurements.â
âPlease Donât Cry,â released in May, is by far the most personal of her four studio albums. Dwindling more than 350 potential songs down to the final 22 tracks, the bulk of the production comes from HIT-BOY, BLK ODYSSY and S1, and boasts star-powered features including Erykah Badu and Lil Wayne. is also sprinkled throughout.
The North Carolina native began constructing the album several years ago after a painful breakup and toward the beginning of the global coronavirus pandemic. Personal tales have always lived within her music, but the foundation of her catalogue is anchored by expert lyricism and musicality.
âIâve always thought that I was authentic. But at the same time, I realized there was a level of fear there â a fear of allowing myself to be seen completely. But at that time, I donât even think I completely even knew who I was,â said the 41-year-old Marlanna Evans who kept Lauryn Hillâs âMTV Unplugged No. 2.0â project in heavy rotation while creating, along with an evolving Pinterest board filled with pictures and words for inspiration.
âPlease Don't Cryâ has a weightier R&B influence than past projects. Standout tracks include the Badu-assisted â3:AM,â the lead single âAsteroids,â âStand Tall,â âFaithâ and âGodâs Light.â While her razor-sharp bars still slice on songs like âRawâ with Lil Wayne and Niko Brim, the album makes its mark by entering a new territory of unapologetic vulnerability. Rapsody touches on insecurities, not having a stronger female fanbase, family members battling dementia and speculation surrounding her sexuality.
the past Stevie Wonder, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole collaborator provides a rare glimpse into her love life and past transgressions.
âOne time, I had an experience with a woman. But I also bring up that I was with somebody that wasnât available,â said the Jehovahâs Witness-raised artist of her relationship with a married person, while suggesting her partner wasn't fully honest. âI make mistakes, too â things I say I would never do, and then I find myself in a situation that Iâm not proud of. But in my life and the conversations I have, I know Iâm not the only one.â
Bianca Edwards, vice president of marketing for Roc Nation, says the vulnerability displayed showcases Rapsodyâs security in her music and herself.
âYou have to be extremely confident to bare your soul and not care what people think,â said Edwards. âAnd on this project, I think that she bared a lot.â
Always advocating for female rappers, Rapsody has consistently rejected praise meant to criticize her peers. But while there are songs like âLook What Youâve Doneâ in which she rhymes, âDonât lift me up throwinâ shade/At my sisters that made it out witâ a-- and bass,â she also raps, âEverything look cookie cutter/We seen enough aâ, that sh-- ainât special no moreâ on âDiary of a Mad Bitch.â
âI 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 Iâm not here for that. Iâm not trying to make myself the standard. Iâm just trying to make myself another example of what women in hip-hop look like to bring harmony,â said Rapsody. âWith âDiary,â it was me making an observation of everybody looks the sameâŠI know weâre not clones.â
But despite a profession where cosmetic enhancements are common among female rappers â along with sexually-charged lyrics that contribute to their pop stardom â the artist says she's never considered altering her body.
âMy question is why isnât there space for me or others who are different from what we see on a mainstream levelâŠwhy donât we get those same opportunities?â asked the self-described tomboy who also suffers from Gravesâ disease which can change physical appearance. âI never wanted to be anything other than who I was.â
Rapsody says while every artist dreams of creating a hit record, sheâs not willing to compromise her musical integrity or chase songs that donât feel natural to attract more fans.
âI think she already found her place,â said Edwards. âI work with a lot of artists, and Iâve met artists that are still trying to find themselves. Thatâs not Rap.â
A tour will launch in September with five European dates and a North American leg that will run through October.
âPlease Donât Cryâ has fortified Rapsody's healing journey, and sheâs better for it.
âEverybody asks me about this album, like âHow you feeling?â I say I feel really happy and Iâm at peace. And this is the most free Iâve ever felt,â she said. âIâm not putting pressure on myself to be defined as success through other peopleâs measurements of what that looks like.â
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Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at: @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press
