Marlanna Evans better known by her stage name Rapsody, is an American rapper who was born on the 21st of January 1983. She grew up in the small town of Snow Hill in North Carolina. Rapsody wasn’t exposed to much hip hop and would listen to what her older cousins would play in the car. In her younger years, she watched the MTV show “Yo! MTV Raps” and considered MC Lyte as one of her early influences and later stated Lauryn Hill as an all-time favorite. She later developed her love for hip hop when she eventually entered college.
Four: Jesus Coming
“Jesus Coming” is a powerful piece from her 2019 album called Eve. The song addresses issues of systemic oppression, racial injustice, and the struggles of the Black community. The title “Jesus Coming” suggests a longing for salvation or a divine intervention to alleviate the hardship. The song has garnered over 71k views on its official audio on YouTube and was released on the 22nd of September 2017. Eve itself is an album dedicated to celebrating and honoring Black women, with each song named after an iconic Black woman or a figure important to Black culture.
FYI
One of her album’s called “Laila’s Wisdom” was named after her grandmother, Laila Ray, and this particular album received critical acclaim and was nominated at the Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song in 2017.
Three: 3:AM ft. Erykah Badu
The song’s title, “3:AM,” refers to late-night hours often associated with deep thoughts and self-reflection. Rapsody opens up about the pressures and struggles of chasing her passion in hip-hop, highlighting her dedication to her craft and her resilience, on the other hand, Badu, who is known for her unique voice and style, adds a smooth hook that complements the track’s tone. This song was released on the 3rd of May 2024 and is featured on her latest studio album called “Please Don’t Cry”, it has garnered over 2.8M streams on spotify and over 330k views on it’s live Performance Video on YouTube.
Two: Black Girl
Rapsody’s latest release, “Black Girl,” continues her tradition of celebrating Black womanhood, identity, and resilience. This track was released on the 21st of October. Rapsody is popularly known for her ability to fuse introspective storytelling with cultural pride, Rapsody uses “Black Girl” to empower and uplift, focusing on the beauty, strength, and complexity of Black women’s experiences. It has garnered over 68K streams on spotify and over 24K views on it’s official visualizer on YouTube. This release adds to Rapsody’s body of work that consistently advocates for representation and social consciousness, resonating with fans for it’s authenticity and relatability.
Discography
- The Idea of Beautiful (2012)
- Laila’s Wisdom (2017)
- Eve (2019)
- Please Don’t Cry (2024)
Awards/Nominations
- Rapsody doesn’t have any significant Awards or Nominations yet.
One: OooWee ft. Anderson.Paak
Serving as her most popular piece, “OooWee” has garnered over 21M streams on spotify and over 290K views on it’s official audio on YouTube. It was released on the 16th of November 2016 and is from her Crown EP. This song is addressing themes like perseverance, ambition, and the strength needed to rise above obstacles. “OooWee” also reflects Rapsody’s confidence in her craft and her commitment to authenticity in hip-hop. The Crown EP itself was a pivotal release for Rapsody, marking her growth as an artist and songs like “OooWee” helped establish her reputation for meaningful lyricism and a unique voice in the genre.
