Rapsody’s Triumphant Return: When Will This Femcee Receive Her Due Flowers?

Please Don’t Cry Album Review and Appreciation

At 4:30 AM on album release day, I woke up early to eat. And by eat, I mean enveloping myself in the melodies and lyrical profundities of the newly released albums that hit the airwaves at midnight. I found myself listening to a highly anticipated album that, by track ten, had deeply resonated within my Spirit. This femcee encapsulates the essence of Hip Hop’s roots—delving into life, love, and unspoken societal nuances. This is an artist who deserves true recognition for contributing profoundly to Hip-Hop’s landscape, emphasizing the message over the metrics.

The Essence of Authenticity

Listening to Please Don’t Cry took me on a nostalgic journey back to when Hip-Hop’s message eclipsed metrics like album sales and Billboard charts. Rapsody embodies a lyrical authenticity reminiscent of Hip Hop’s vintage golden era. She uses her platform to explore complex topics such as infidelity, sexuality, missed relational expectations, the long-term impacts of being unwanted and undesired, and their effects on femininity.

Tracks That Truly Resonate

The tracks that truly resonated were “Asteroids” and “Back in Bag,” where she unapologetically showcases her confidence and grandiosity. However, the undeniable album highlight for me is “3:AM” featuring Erykah Badu. This song exemplifies the solace and hope that good love provides, with Badu’s voice wrapping around the beat, bass, and drums to create a perfect ballad.

“That One Time” was the most surprising track, addressing themes of sexuality and infidelity.

‘It only took one time, I came out different, I’m just like Gloria. Except my smile missing, I was experimenting. I been known N*ggas lie, I found out so do women. You were my one time, I came out different.’

Another unexpectedly necessary and beautiful song is “Loose Rocks,” which navigates the emotional space of loving someone diagnosed with Dementia. 

‘It breaks my heart to know you gon’ forget us. Dementia touch your memory, you like my second mother. The symptoms worsen every time I drop by for a visit. The stories entertaining even if they’re mostly fiction.’

A seldom openly discussed issue that many face and is undoubtedly challenging to navigate. 

Stellar Feature List

The album’s feature list includes heavyweights such as Erykah Badu, Alex Isley, Lil Wayne, Baby Tate, Niko Brim, Nicole Bus, and Bibi Bourelly among others. Particularly noteworthy are not one, but THREE features from Phylicia Rashad. Do we even DESERVE??

Each collaboration elevates the album, adding layers of depth and respect to this femcee’s work.

Despite the incredible features and production quality, mainstream recognition and accolades often elude such artists. This omission reflects a broader critique of the current state of the music industry, which frequently overlooks raw, authentic talent for commercial viability. Rapsody reminds us of the OG Hip Hop ethos—raw and real, intertwined with healing through authenticity and vulnerability.

Final Thoughts

Listening to Please Don’t Cry multiple times essentially broke its titular proposition—it triggered a freeing emotion and a lasting sense of joy. There’s an impeccable balance within the album: heavy and light, healing and hurt, simple and profound. It’s a respectable body of work, inviting listeners to ponder serious life topics while relishing authentic beats and rhymes.

As someone immersed in deep waters, this has quickly become one of my favorite rap albums of the year. Each track reveals multiple layers that offer more with every listen. This isn’t an album you fully grasp on release day. Projects with such emotional depth and lyrical quality need time to sink in, which I plan to do over the next few weeks. Rapsody’s storytelling and wordplay shine throughout the album. She speaks her truth, sharing her real experiences rather than just saying what people want to hear. There’s great value in that level of vulnerability combined with excellent writing and production.

Future Directions

Such genuine artistry raises a compelling question: When will this femcee receive her due flowers? For fans and critics alike, recognizing artists who prioritize meaningful messages over metrics is crucial. Future recognition, whether through awards or sales, might remain an aspiration rather than a reality. Still, the true essence of Hip-Hop should be celebrated through femcees like her, who nurture art back into the spotlight.

Nevertheless, The Rapsody Reign continues.

Easy Listening, The Urban Music Enthusiast.

Here are my ratings for each song on a scale of 0-4

She’s Expecting You- 4

Marlanna- 2

Asteroids -4

Look What You’ve Done-3

DND-2

Black Popstar-2

Stand Tall-3

That One Time-4

3:AM-4

Loose Rocks-3

Diary of a Mad B*tch-1

Never Enough-2

He Shot Me-3

God’s Light-2

Back In My Bag-4

Niko’s Interlude-2

Raw-2

Lonely Women-2

A Ballad For Homegirls-2

Please Don’t Cry Interlude-3

Faith-3

Forget Me Not-4

Post Album Listening Questions:

How tough was it to dive this deep into the project? Did you find it scary, therapeutic, or both?

Besides studio work, in what other ways can we enjoy your expressive art in the future?

You’ve talked about an interest in film—should we expect to see you acting or working behind the scenes soon? 

At this point in your artistry and womanhood, who are your biggest artistic influences?

What’s the best advice you’ve received? What advice would you give to other female rappers?

If you weren’t making music, what do you think you’d be doing right now?

SCORE/Excellent: This album possesses superior wordplay, excellent production, and high-quality storytelling with impeccable bars! As I previously stated, this is an album that you cannot digest in one setting; the material’s depth needs to marinate. I believe this album will age incredibly well over time.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]