Rapsody

Biography

Marlanna Evans (born January 21, 1983), better known by her stage name Rapsody, is an American rapper. After signing with music producer 9th Wonder's music label It's a Wonderful World Music Group, she released a series of mixtapes and collaborated with Erykah Badu and Talib Kweli. Soon afterwards Rapsody released her debut album The Idea of Beautiful×The Idea of Beautiful28 August 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Motivation3:412How Does It Feel4:203Precious Wings4:084Believe Me5:085Non-Fiction4:496The Drums4:107Kind of Love3:578Celebrate5:599Destiny2:2810Good Good Love6:0111In the Town3:2212Round Table Discussion4:1813The Cards4:4614Come Home3:2415When I Have You4:2316Believe Me (9th Wonder Ha Ha Ha Ha remix)5:1117Beautiful Music5:0818Thunder3:18 (2012). She would attain further prominence when she was featured on Kendrick Lamar's 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly, on the track "Complexion (A Zulu Love)".
Her second album, Laila's Wisdom×Wisdom10 July 2020 · EP · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Afeni (remix)4:222Myrlie2:213Hatshepsut3:154Reyna’s Interlude3:495Nina4:206Cleo4:00 (2017), received critical acclaim and was nominated at the Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song. Rapsody released her third studio album, Eve on August 23, 2019, to critical acclaim from music critics. In 2020, she was featured alongside Cordae, Chika, and Busta Rhymes, on the Stevie Wonder song "Can't Put It in the Hands of Fate". Rapsody released her fourth album, Please Don't Cry, on May 17, 2024. She released her fifth studio album, God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops×God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops16 August 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Peace, God!0:462Free Yo’ Mind4:273No Way3:144Apple Juice4:535Never Break4:116God Gotta Afro2:487OMG! (Love to Sun Ra)4:428Black Love3:469Pick a Side4:1510Abandoned Me4:0411The Peejaays2:1812You! (DJ Whoo Kid Joint)2:2813Black Is Beautiful2:4914Pretty Bird / Way U R4:0815Joyful2:5516Act II: Bloodline / Growing Older6:25 on August 21, 2026.

Career

Rapsody began her career at North Carolina State University, where she would later join hip hop collective H2O and its spinoff group Kooley High, despite not having rapped before. The group met producer 9th Wonder in 2004, who was impressed by one of Rapsody's verses, and she would go on to make her recording debut on 9th Wonder's sophomore album, The Dream Merchant Vol. 2 which released on October 9, 2007, in which she freestyled over 9th's re-chopping of old samples he already used for other artists.
She launched her solo career in 2008 after signing with 9th Wonder's It's A Wonderful World Music Group. Her first significant career breakthrough came with the release of her mixtape Return of the B-Girl on December 7, 2010. Return of the B-Girl marked her first work with hip-hop producer, DJ Premier, and featured guests such as Mac Miller and Big Daddy Kane. She continued to build acclaim with the release of her next mixtape, Thank H.E.R. Now×Thank H.E.R. Now21 June 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1Thank You Pioneers1:202Thank H.E.R. Now3:293Lemme Think4:364Black Girl Jedi3:205Top Five4:196Sweetest Hangover3:027Out tha Trunk5:268Lampin'6:129One Time5:3710Extra Extra4:3211Fly Girl Power!3:2512Blankin' Out (remix)5:5113Sky Fallin' (My Mind)4:4914Love, Peace, and Soul6:0015Baby Yeah!4:0216So Be It3:2917Black Diamonds3:1618H.E.R. Throne2:4619Star Warz3:5320The State of the Union2:23 which showcased her storytelling abilities as she drew from personal life experiences and featured her work with a variety of critically acclaimed acts such as Marsha Ambrosius, Estelle, Raekwon, Jean Grae, Murs, and Big K.R.I.T.
Her next project, For Everything was released on November 15, 2011, and showcased her work with both newly acclaimed and established acts such as Kendrick Lamar and Freeway and a number of the tracks were featured in XXL magazine's "Bangers" section. In May 2011, Rapsody joined Mac Miller on his Incredibly Dope Tour for 15 dates. In late 2011, she toured with Phonte and 9th Wonder as a part of the Phonte & 9th Wonder Tour.
Rapsody signed with Jay-Z's record label Roc Nation in July 2016, and her debut for the label, Laila's Wisdom, was released on September 22, 2017. The album received two Grammy Award nominations for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Song.
Rapsody's third studio album, Eve, was released on August 23, 2019, to critical acclaim from music critics. In June 2024, Rapsody's "Asteroids" was nominated for the Hollywood Independent Music Awards in the Adult Contemporary Hip Hop category. The song was the first lead single from her fourth studio album, Please Don't Cry, her first project after five years. The album released on May 17, 2024. The album spawned the single, "3:AM", featuring Erykah Badu, which went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.
In 2025, she released the EP, MadRaps, in collaboration with producer Madlib. The following year, she released her fifth studio album, God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops×God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops16 August 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1Peace, God!0:462Free Yo’ Mind4:273No Way3:144Apple Juice4:535Never Break4:116God Gotta Afro2:487OMG! (Love to Sun Ra)4:428Black Love3:469Pick a Side4:1510Abandoned Me4:0411The Peejaays2:1812You! (DJ Whoo Kid Joint)2:2813Black Is Beautiful2:4914Pretty Bird / Way U R4:0815Joyful2:5516Act II: Bloodline / Growing Older6:25. The album featured guest appearances from Amanda Reifer, George Clinton and Malice.

Style and philosophy

Rapsody is known for her intricate rhyme patterns, metaphors, and wordplay. She is often hailed as one of the best living lyricists in the hip-hop genre. Rapsody cites Jay-Z, Mos Def, Lauryn Hill, and MC Lyte as the biggest influences on her music.
Rapsody's production is primarily handled by The Soul Council, the team of in-house producers at It's A Wonderful World Music Group comprising E. Jones, Ka$h Don't Make Beats, AMP, Eric G., Nottz and Khrysis. Rapsody's philosophy is "Culture Over Everything," referring to the culture of hip-hop music. She describes this phrase in an interview with Vibe where she says, "To me, it's about culture more so than money or anything. I make music for the people of the culture we’re in; that comes first. If you touch the people first, the rest just falls into place. That's what it means to me, just preserving and respecting the culture."

Personal life

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 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. She would later develop her love for hip hop when she entered college.
Her 2017 album Laila's Wisdom×Wisdom10 July 2020 · EP · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Afeni (remix)4:222Myrlie2:213Hatshepsut3:154Reyna’s Interlude3:495Nina4:206Cleo4:00 was named after her grandmother, Laila Ray.
In 2019, Rapsody played for the "Home" roster during the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at the Bojangles' Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The roster was made up of celebrities with Carolina roots. Her team won the game and she had one assist in the game while playing around 12 minutes.

Extended plays

The Black Mamba (2012)
Beauty and the Beast (2014)
Crown (2016)

with Kooley High

Kooley High Presents... Raleigh's Finest (Mixtape) (2007)
The Summer Sessions EP (2008)
Eastern Standard Time (2010)
Kooley High Presents...David Thompson (2011)

Mixtapes

Return of the B-Girl (2010)
Thank H.E.R. Now (2011)
For Everything (2011)
She Got Game (2013)

Other sources

Kooley High Presents... Raleigh's Finest Mixtape by Kooley High, HaLo, Median, Lazurus, Rsonist, Nervous Reck Hosted by DJ ill digitz, 9th Wonder, Big Treal, The Alchemist, Marco Polo, Monie Love Archived 2021-09-17 at the Wayback Machine