Rapsody

Rapsody
Birth name	Marlanna Evans
Born	January 21 Wilson, NC
Genres	Hip-Hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper
Years active	2005-Present
Labels	Jamla Records, It's A Wonderful World Music Group
Website	www.rapsodyonline.com

Rapsody (born Marlanna Evans on January 21 in Wilson, North Carolina) is an American rapper from Snow Hill, North Carolina. She is signed to 9th Wonder's Jamla Records imprint under his It's A Wonderful World Music Group (IWWMG). She has worked with Erykah Badu, Mac Miller, Estelle, Jean Grae, Phonte, Marsha Ambrosius, Raekwon, Murs, Geechi Suede of Camp Lo, Big Daddy Kane, Rah Digga, Buckshot, Big K.R.I.T., Kendrick Lamar, Freeway, Statik Selektah, DJ Premier, and super producer Nottz.

Career

Rapsody began her career as a member of the North Carolina based hip-hop group, Kooley High. 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 legendary 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., on June 21, 2011. Thank H.E.R. Now. 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.. In May of 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.

Style & Philosophy

Rapsody is known for her intricate rhyme patterns, metaphors, and wordplay. She cites Jay-Z and 9th Wonder as the biggest influences on her music. Her production is primarily handled by The Soul Council, which is the team of in-house producers on It's A Wonderful World Music Group. The producers that comprise The Soul Council are Khrysis, E. Jones, Fatin "10" Horton, Ka$h Don't Make Beats, AMP, Eric G., and 9th Wonder. Rapsody's philosophy is "Culture Over Everything", referring to the culture of hip-hop music. She describes this phrase in an interview with Vibe Magazine where she says, "To me, it’s about culture more so then 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."

Discography

Albums

• TBA (2012)

Mixtapes

• Rapsody Replay (2010)
• Return of the B-Girl (2010)
• Thank H.E.R. Now (2011)
• For Everything (2011)

External links

• It's A Wonderful World Music Group Website
• Rapsody's Website