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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 21 September 2019
With "Eve," Rapsody gains traction in the best rapper debate

By GARY GERARD HAMIL- visibility is due to Jamala's
TON partnership with Roc Na-
Associated Press tion, the management and
NEW YORK (AP) — The de- consulting group founded
bate over who reigns su- by Jay-Z.
preme as the greatest rap- "Roc Nation has helped us
per of the moment is never- reached the 'tier-three,'
ending and never settled. 'tier-four' people who mu-
From LL Cool J vs Kool Moe sic for them sometimes is
Dee, Tupac vs. Biggie, Jay-Z an afterthought," said 9th
vs. Nas, it's a time-honored Wonder. "They're so instru-
discussion that's likely to be mental cultural-wise, it's like
heard in any barbershop or a great gateway for us."
boardroom where rap fans Jay-Z's recent decision to
converge. partner with the National
These days, while the Football League has drawn
names thrown out tend to backlash from critics who
be Kendrick Lamar and J. claim he turned his back
Cole, the rap matrix is trying on Colin Kaepernick, the
to sort out an unexpected former NFL quarterback
entry: Rapsody. The witty, who Jay-Z has called an
sharp-tonged MC may not icon. Kaepernick sparked
only be the best female a nationwide debate after
rapper, but the best lyri- he began kneeling on the
cist in the entire genre — a sidelines as a form of pro-
compliment few women test against racial injustice
have garnered despite the and has not been signed
genre being decades old. to a team in two years.
"I'm honored by it because But Rapsody thinks the
I earned it. I worked hard partnership could be fruitful
for it," said Rapsody, born because "we need our Co-
Marlanna Evans, of the rec- lin Kaepernicks to do what
ognition. they do, but we need our
"I never looked at it like, Jay-Zs to do what they do,
'Oh, I'm gonna be the best too." Shortly after this inter-
female rapper ever.' No, I This Aug. 22, 2019 photo shows Rapsody posing for a portrait in New York to promote her latest view, Rapsody was named
want to be one of the best_ album "Eve." an NFL "Inspire Change ad-
if not the best_ever. People Associated Press vocate" along with Meek
are going to have their Mill and Meghan Trainor.
preferences, but I know I'm and widening your lane as were influential to her. For everything that came out Like many of today's lyri-
in the conversation. Some, much as you possibly can. instance, there's "Michelle" at that time, and her artistry cists, she grew up under the
I'll be their favorite. Some, And she's mastered that (for the former First Lady), shined through," Rapsody audio tutelage of Jay-Z, but
I might be the third favor- art of doing that," he said. "Oprah," ''Myrlie" (wife of said. "It just inspired me to she doesn't seek out advice
ite_but I know I'm in the top "And so doing that for so slain civil rights leader Med- want to be more, to hold from her larger-than-life as-
five," she laughed. long and so consistently, gar Evers), "Cleo" (named my head high." sociate, saying the lyrics in
It's a rare declaration from that's going to just turn into after one of the main char- Rapsody not only stands his catalog provide all the
the seemingly reserved her outrunning everybody." acters from the "Set It off" out because of her lyricism, counsel she needs. When
recording artist. "Rap," as The North Carolina-born film), and "Afeni," whose but her look. Unlike her fe- they talk, it's about sports,
colleagues refer to her, re- MC is hardly the first great son was the legendary rap- male contemporaries, she or it's "just jokes and laughs,
cently dropped her highly female emcee; There was per Tupac Shakur. doesn't go for the glamor- and he sends emails and
anticipated album "Eve," a MC Lyte, Lil Kim, rapper/ "I wanted to show the spec- ous, sexpot look. That has just tells us how proud he is
follow-up to 2017's critically songstress Lauryn Hill, Missy trum of what black women led some to use her as an of the work we're doing."
acclaimed "Laila's Wisdom." Elliott, Nicki Minaj, as well are and the beauty. But also example to chastise wom- While "Eve" has the hip-hop
That breakthrough album as Queen Latifah, who in naming them, I wanted en who promote their sexu- world buzzing, Rapsody is
earned her two Grammy provided a rare guest rap to continue the legacies of ality in rap. But Rapsody, already beginning to look
nominations including best verse for this new project. some of these names," she who says she is a huge down the line. She's inter-
rap album, which had her But they all faced the same said. "And just to show our Cardi B fan, doesn't co-sign ested in community work,
competing with Lamar, struggle_a fight for respect beauty and our brilliance, that logic. particularly with children's
Jay-Z, Migos and Tyler the in this male-dominated mu- and to remind little girls or "I was raised in a village of literacy. But she also plans
Creator. sic genre, though things to introduce them to the strong black women. And to produce documenta-
9th Wonder, founder of are improving: Cardi B be- fact you are a queen, but my mom, my aunts and my ries, and even pursue act-
Jamla, Rapsody's music came the first woman to you can still have fun within sisters, what they taught me ing. And as far as the de-
label, isn't surprised she's fi- win a Grammy for best rap that." early on is how to be and bate of who's currently the
nally getting her due. album earlier this year. Though no song on this al- be part of a sisterhood," greatest rapper, what's
"The crazy thing about Rapsody's latest project, bum was named after Hill, said Rapsody. "I knew that Rapsody's take?
competition is you're run- which includes features Rapsody cites her as one in order for me to shine, "Who's the greatest active
ning a race but sometimes from J. Cole, D'Angelo, of her most important influ- I didn't have to dim any- emcee in the game right
people have a tendency Wu-Tang Clan member ences. body else's light because now? I'm gonna say me,"
to do like this (looks left GZA and more, consists "She just represented at that there's room for us all." she said softly, but confi-
and right) and look at ev- of 16 tracks, each named time her truth and honesty Although she's been in the dently. And with a slight
erybody else's lane instead after black women_most in the music that she told. rap game for more than a smile, she added, "But I re-
of making your lane ... real, some fictional_that She was just different from decade, part of her new spect my brothers."q