Kudos to female rappers. Their tenacity to withstand a male-geared, often misogynistic industry demands respect. Double-kudos, then, to Grammy-nominated Rapsody, who champions female artists and women of colour on Eve.
The third album from the 36-year-old North-Carolina-bred artist features a hall-of-fame track list naming legendary black women from Nina to Serena. By design, it’s a great feminist tribute to others. By extension, it’s a self-portrait of a multifaceted artist.
Featuring collaborations with Queen Latifah, J. Cole and P J Morton, Rapsody’s lyrics have a provoking sense of urgency. On CLEO she comments: “A black woman’s story they don’t want this kind of rappin’/ They love the fantasy, they love the gun-bang action.”
The album highlight is HATSHEPSUT (after the female pharaoh): “Queens come in all shapes and colours/ Though we sit on thrones we don’t look down on each other.” A little trap, a little soul, each song brings different energies that showcase Rapsody’s versatile rapping style.
