Rapsody
Bio
Rapsody is a GRAMMY nominated North Carolina emcee signed with super producer, 9th Wonder for Jamla Records, and JAY-Z’s Roc Nation.
With several projects, a critically acclaimed debut album in 2012, and the lone guest rap feature on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, she is quickly establishing herself as one of the best emcees of this generation. The Idea of Beautiful was her debut album and XXL quoted that, “it might just be one of the best Hip-Hop debuts of late.” In just a short time, she has worked with some of the biggest legends and newcomers in the business, ranging from the likes of Erykah Badu, Raekwon, Big Daddy Kane, and Marsha Ambrosius to Estelle, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and Big K.R.I.T., to name a few.
Rapsody toured with Mac Miller in 2011 on the Incredibly Dope Tour, as well as Phonte and 9th Wonder, and performed at the 2012 Paid Dues Festival. In 2012, Rapsody was included in Hot 97’s list of “Who’s Next” artists of the year, featured in The Source Magazine’s “Rising Venus” list of female artists, and named an official BET Music Matters artist. In 2013, Rapsody released her highly anticipated mixtape, She Got Game, hosted by DJ Drama and featuring Jay Electronica, Common, Ab-Soul, DJ Premier and more.
In 2015, Rapsody gained a huge boost of momentum when she was called on by Kendrick Lamar to have the only guest rap feature on what was the most anticipated album of year. Some months later, while in LA working on her sophomore album, Rapsody met Dr. Dre, who ended up cosigning her via video and called her “his new favorite female emcee” on his Apple Beats 1 radio show. She also was featured on Talib Kweli and 9th Wonder’s Indie 500 Compilation, and performed “Every Ghetto” with Talib Kweli on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Rapsody started 2016 with a standout verse on Anderson .Paak’s critically acclaimed debut album, Malibu, on 9th Wonder produced song “Without U.” She would follow up with a GRAMMY nomination for her contribution to Kendrick Lamar’s sophomore album, To Pimp A Butterfly. Rapsody was invited to the White House by President Barack Obama and Herbie Hancock to perform at the International Jazz Fest and graced the stage alongside Aretha Franklin, Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, and Terri Lyne Carrington in honor of the late Prince.
2017 was Rapsody’s biggest year yet, as she solidified her place in songwriting and music with the release of Laila’s Wisdom. The project went on to earn her a nomination for Best Rap Song, and made Rapsody the only female nominee for Best Rap Album at the 60th GRAMMY Awards– and only the 5th ever in the category’s 23-year history.
RAPSODY released her new album Eve in August of 2019 to immense critical acclaim, debuting at number 76 on the Billboard 200.