Rap landed her first feature in the latest issue of The Source, and for the rest of us who didn’t purchase the magazine you can read the piece down bottom.
Balancing Act
The rise of Rapsody will see culture triumph over carnal desires.Ever since the turn of the millennium, the feminine side of Hip Hop has been pigeonholed to sexual innuendos, while women with raw skills seem to be relics of the game’s glorious past. As the population of female MCs steadily decreases, Rapsody emerges to remind Hip-Hoppers that ladies with lyrics still exist. The Raleigh, North Cackalack, native has held her own among the best, both male and female, without dumbing it down or flaunting her feminine assets, which is a rarity in the midst of today’s sex-crazed music industry.
Rapsody, whose real name is Marlanna Evans, was inspired to write her first rhyme after watching MC Lyte’s legendary “Poor Georgie” video. After becoming a member of NC Hip Hop collective Kooley High, her skills eventually earned the attention of producers 9th Wonder. “He kinda took me under his wing like his little sister and just coached me for a couple years,” the rapstress says of connecting with the Little Brother production beast. “That’s kinda how it happened and we’ve been going strong ever since.”
For her debut project, The Idea of Beautiful, Rap captures the essence of Hip-Hop culture without comprise. Boasting production from the likes of Khrysis and her mentor 9th Wonder, artist like Mac Miller, Childish Gambino, and Raekwon bless the album with guest spots. The key to a new day for femcees, Rapsody says, will come with more artist just being themselves. “The beauty of art is about everyone being themselves, being creative, and doing something different. That’s where the best music comes from.”
For most women in the male-dominated industry, there are usually many other factors that overshadow talent. But Rapsody’s unique flow quiets the expectations of misogynists who only want to see females rhyme if they’re half-naked. “With anything, being a girl you have to work 10 times harder to get the respect. Cat’s don’t really think you can rhyme,” insists the 20-something Evans. “It’s been hard, but at the same time, because I’m under 9th and he’s 10 years in the game he has advice, where I didn’t have to start in this by myself like Little Brother had to start with nobody to really guide them. I had someone to guide me.”
Her self-perception as a role model to this next generation of young women stands apart from those of her peers as well. “I dont think that it’s something that I was necessarily asked to do. With me, it’s more of something that I want to do and that’s only because when I grew up, I had the Lauryn Hills, Lil Kims, Foxy Browns, as well as MC Lytes and Bahamadias. Today, it’s so one sided. I have younger cousins and nieces and nephews, so I just want there to be another choice.”
