EVE X RAPSODY

And we are back with fifth official review! As promised, the below are our metrics for our reviews. To see our previous review of TRYING TO FIND MY NEXT THRILL X COUSIN STIZZ, click here.

FEEL- What type of feelings do the music invoke? What does it make you want to do?

LYRICS- Are there bars?

PRODUCTION- Does the artist ride the beats? Does their cadence match the production? Does the production fit well with the project?

OVERALL- How many tracks to we like compared to the number of tracks on the project?

Feel free to use the above for your own reference as you go through the music and let us know what you think! 

EVE X RAPSODY

Release Date: 8.23.2019

Number of Tracks: 16

Duration: 1 HR 3 MINS

Favorite Track: Maya

Just a few years ago, rap cyphers were seemingly at the height of their powers. Between XXL and TeamBackPack, there were cyphers for everyone. A cypher, for those who don’t know, is when a group of rappers get together to freestyle over the same beat, taking turns to showcase ability. Cyhi The Prynce was at the heart of these cyphers, smacking most of his colleagues, but in turn raising awareness about the others he rapped with. This brought us to the discovery of a female artist; Rapsody. Debuting 2^nd behind Cyhi in their 2017 TeamBackPack cypher, not only did she hold her own, but she caught the attention of The Oracle, and her drops are still checked for to this day. So when Eve was announced for a late August drop, I knew it would be a perfect time for Oracle Rap Reviews to talk about our first female artist. Unpacking the aspects of a female rapper in a male dominated industry will take some time, so be prepared for a lengthy review.

Historically, I have always been a believer in equality, however I am far from an activist. When it comes to rap however, I am nothing but a purist, who does not see race, ethnicity, or gender. And while the struggles of both the black man, and the wage gap via gender inequality have been well documented, the struggle of the black woman is usually lost between the two. Rapsody has campaigned to highlight these struggles for the entirety of her career, and she did it without the lure of sex, as most female rappers do today. For example, if rappers like Cardi B, or even Magen Thee Stallion, were not attractive, they likely would not see the success they are seeing today. And while they are certainly talented artists, they can be criticized for spending more time for shaking their assess than rapping. Of course this critique really holds no validity, because this is the type of behavior that successful rap has called for. Another plight of female rappers is that vulgar, explicit lyrics are readily accepted from men, but are frowned upon from women. Most people have been rather desensitized to lyrics about female body parts, but would still cringe at the mention of those same lyrics about men from a woman. So, you may hear a critic of Magen especially saying something like, “I just don’t want to hear about how small another man’s d*** is.” But this is coming from the person who will repeat a lyric that, “If that p**** ain’t got no smell to it I would….”

Rapsody has gone on record stating that she has struggled with her appearance and self-image. And while she is far from unattractive, she also does not turn heads with her appearance, and she dresses very conservatively. Many women struggle with this however, and she did not let it stop her from making music, nor did she attempt to rise through the ranks using overly sexualized imagery or lyrics. Instead she draws on the success of those who came before her. She is where she is today solely based on talent, and nothing else. Eve is an extremely reflective album, highlighting the success of the black women who came before her, and absolved of any vulgar lyrics about sex, body parts, or otherwise.

FEEL

When I say that Eve is a reflective album, I mean that when I listen to it, I find my mind wondering to places that I may have been, and places that I might go. It gives me a soundtrack to look back on my life in a way that is neither filled with worry, nor regret, because the album itself speaks about the never ending struggles of the black woman, and all of the progression made as a result. Rapsody herself is very transparent on the album, documenting her own struggles that mitigate any of my own I may recall. There are not any aggressive tracks that derail the tempo of the album. While the reflective nature of the album is a plus, it is still very limiting. What if I do not want to think about where I am going, or where I have been?

LYRICS

My cousin was quoted as saying the lyrical content of Eve “is powerful,” and I could not agree more. There are too many rappers these days who rap about nothing: (pills, drugs, lean, sex, having money, not having money.) Rapsody on the other hand, raps about everything from history, to injustice, to real love.

“I can’t be no bird in a cage

Some days I need saving

And some days it’s ME in the cape.” – Rapsody, “Maya”

And again, her transparency on the album is a welcomed factor, as she talks about the pressure of living up to those who came before, wanting to make her family proud, and not showing her behind (literally) to get recognition as an artist. Additionally, the album features a lot of spoken word, which I am not a huge fan of, but I must admit it was very well done here.

PRODUCTION

Rapsody has worked at her craft to find herself backed by some pretty reputable authorities in the rap game. One of these is currently considered to be the best in the game in one Kendrick Lamar, and the other is an already all-time great in 9^th Wonder. 9^th, one of the best producers to ever do it, does not hold back on the production. In the song Maya alone, the soft flutes set the tone to the best track on the album, where Rapsody gets an assist from the vocals of K. Rosevelt as a feature artist. Every snare is well placed, and the sample vocals are accurate and on time. Matched with the production, Rapsody is able to ride each of the sixteen tracks, in a way that creates the soundtrack to reflection.

OVERALL

Eve is one of the best albums of the year. Rapsody is in rare form, as she highlights the long struggles of the black woman, and her own struggles as a female rapper. She has done an excellent job of making it this far, without objectifying herself to societal or industry norms. She can be proud that she was able to accomplish the backing of current and future legends like Kendrick Lamar, Big KRIT, and 9^th Wonder, and that she did so on talent alone. She has shown great reverence to those who have come before her, and she is paving the way for those coming after her. So whether you like the album or not, you have got to respect her. Her lyrical content is rap in its purist form, as it tells the story of how far she, and black women in general have come. It is a reflective album that allows for you to think back on your own life, and even take joy in your own accomplishments. The production is well done, and the addition of spoken word segments makes for a historical lesson, rap or otherwise. As a result, we give it a very solid 12 out of 16 songs.