Rapsody - Eve: An empowering tribute to black female role models

Read how Rapsody infuses each track on Eve with the legacy of a black female role model.

When I was younger, I used to go to my local record shop and spend the money I earned from my part-time weekend job in retail to buy CDs I could play in my Sony Discman.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, it was a shiny silver disc that cost around 20 bucks. Looking back, the sense of ownership of holding a physical product in your hand simply cannot be replicated by digital streaming services.

Indeed, you would only have access to the unwrapping of the plastic protective cover, the art on the disc itself, the booklet—which sometimes even included additional art–, lyrics, and liner notes if you bought the record.

It wasn’t just about getting access to music, it was about owning a project and appreciating the body of work.

Why am I telling you this?

Well, this exact Rapsody album inspired me to start collecting vinyl records. As soon as I heard it and grasped the album’s concept, it impressed me so much, I knew I needed to own it. Let me try and explain why.

Who is Rapsody?

Rapsody (Marlanna Evans) is a Grammy-nominated MC known for storytelling and lyrical abilities. Coming up, she was primed for greatness upon working with legendary producer 9th Wonder and signing to JAY-Z’s Roc Nation in 2016.

During her 2024 “Please Don’t Cry tour”, she hit up Amsterdam and I was lucky enough to see the show.

This small snippet I recorded shows exactly what I’m talking about.

Rapsody Eve

Eve was released on August 23, 2019, by Jamla Records and Roc Nation. It’s her third album and the follow-up to her 2017 Grammy-nominated sophomore album, Laila’s Wisdom.

The concept of Eve

On Eve, each song is inspired by an influential black woman. During an interview with THE BIG FACTS NETWORK, Rapsody explained that the idea sparked after a 2018 interview she did for Oxford American.

In the article, by L. Lamar Wilson, he described the lineage of North Carolina musicians and how Rapsody came from the family tree of Nina Simone, Roberta Flack, and Mary Lou Williams.

“Rapsody now dons the mantle for a long tradition of black women, particularly those from the South, forcing Americans to look in the mirror of our professed ideals and to face the ills that haunt us. She carries the torch the outspoken, Tryon-born Nina Simone held high in the heat of the last century’s civil rights movement, before she fled to Europe for respite and asylum. She embodies the quiet fire and sensuality of the diminutive Roberta Flack, born in the Asheville-area town of Black Mountain, whose blend of torch ballads, folk, soul, gospel, and disco transformed what could be decidedly black and land in the genre of “pop music” as the civil rights fight gave way in the latter part of the century to the cultural appropriation that integration wrought. She wields the virtuosity of women like jazz great Mary Lou Williams, whose spiritual recordings were released in the late 1970s while she was an artist-in-residence at Duke University in Durham limned all musical genres in the way Rapsody’s sound does.” L. Lamar, Oxford American article

The article inspired her to create a song about being a tomboy, and she named it after Aliyaah.

“I named the song Aaliyah and once I did it everything just clicked, like oh…that’s the concept” –Rapsody, THE BIG FACTS NETWORK.

Why is the album called Eve?

Once she knew each song would be named after a different influential female figure, picking the right name for the album became challenging. With all those great names representing separate tracks, what do you call the body of work?

During this Breakfast Club interview, she revealed that the original title for the project was supposed to be “Alien”. Producer 9th Wonder came up with it. People would always tell him that the way she raps is so good, it’s like she’s not even from this planet. Rapsody liked it but wasn’t sure it would work with the concept of this project. But 9th Wonder defended the title idea by mentioning that it would still work as black women have always been alienated.

However, when mentioning it to Queen Latifah, one of her idols, she realized it might not be a fitting title as Queen Latifah wasn’t a fan.

Rapsody gave it some extra thought and decided to name it “Eve” instead.

“Eve, because she’s the mother of all living things. The first female to walk the earth. The first female that god created. I wanted something that told the story. You know, I got all these songs named after black women. What one title, speaks to all of that? I didn’t want to name it after myself, and I couldn’t just pick one woman. ‘Cause I feel nobody is above anyone else, so it was like…Eve. The mother of all living things.” – Rapsody

All the female role models Rapsody embodies on Eve

We briefly touched upon Aaliyah, but which female role models inspired Rapsody? And, equally important, how did she relate to their identities and accomplishments to tell her story throughout the album?

Nina

Nina Simone was a great singer, songwriter, and influential civil rights activist who spoke of social and systematic racial injustices, and that is exactly who Rapsody is on this track.

In the first line, she says:

“Emit light rap, or Emmet Till”

I think here, she’s referring to the unfair expectations placed on artists and the inability to express her true thoughts through her art. I mean, it’s accepted to rap about light topics and shine doing that, but if she shares harsh truths that might offend “some people”, she will risk getting metaphorically lynched for it. This is a nod to what happened to the 14-year-old Emmet Till in 1955 after being accused of offending a white woman in a grocery store.

Cleo

Remember the 90’s classic movie “Set It Off”?

In that movie, Four women rob banks together. Now, remember Queen Latifah who helped Rapsody name the album Eve? Well, in that movie she plays a character called Cleo.

Cleo is brash, fearless, and unapologetic. She's bold and unafraid to confront danger. Just like…you guessed it, Rapsody.

Aaliyah

In the late 90s, Aaliyah was one of the biggest artists. She was known for blending R&B with hip-hop and pop. Next to her music, her style was iconic too. She dressed in tomboyish fashion—often seen wearing baggy pants, crop tops, and sunglasses.

As a female MC, Rapsody received criticism about how she dressed or acted and was told it wouldn’t lead to success. And it wasn’t just men who questioned her. During this interview with BigBoyTV, she sheds light on the specific challenges she had to deal with.

“Just because I didn’t come in dressing super sexual, it wasn’t some cookie-cutter version of what was successful–in mainstream’s eyes. It was like, she ain’t never gonna make it, you’re going to have to show some skin.”

“Have you heard that?”

“Oh yeah, from both men and women, both sides of the coin”.

Rapsody (Left) , Aaliyah (R)

Oprah

In 2003, Oprah Winfrey became the first Black female billionaire in the United States. So, when Rapsody decided to make a track about money, she couldn’t have picked a better fitting title.

“Dollars, dollars, dollars, circulate”–Rapsody

Whoopi

This song is named after actress, human rights activist, and comedian Whoopi Goldberg. The first black woman to earn EGOT status, (winning awards in the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and Tonys).

If anything, Whoopi Goldberg is known for speaking her mind, just like Rapsody does on this track.

“I ain't feelin' you like I ain't feelin' new Kanye”

Serena

American tennis player Serena Williams has won 4 Olympic gold medals, 27 Grand Slam titles, and held the No. 1 ranking in the Woman’s Tennis Association for 319 weeks.

In an interview with NPR Rapsody said, “The beat just made me think about that year Serena won and she actually couldn’t walk when she received her trophy. And it also made me think about the Serena that’s in the Beyoncé video doing her thing. It also made me think about how Serena is not ashamed of having a black woman’s body. Like, ‘I got a big butt.’ We love our bodies. We’ve been objectified, and they try to make us feel bad and say our bodies are not beautiful. But to own that is beautiful, right?”

Tyra

Tyra Banks is an American television personality, producer, businesswoman, actress, author, and model. Tyra Banks became the first African American woman to be featured on the cover of GQ magazine, the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue (with fellow top model Valeria Mazza), and the Victoria's Secret catalog.

In the track, Rapsody talks about self-love and says:

“I'm here for a different cause, we seldom receive applause
Never receive awards if we ain't modeling” –Rapsody

Maya

Maya Angelou was a renowned American author, poet, and civil rights activist, best known for her memoir, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," published in 1969. She passed away in 2014 at the age of 86. In 2010, President Barack Obama honored her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Fun fact, before her rap career, Rapsody started out as a poet. In this song, she delves into the themes of Angelou's poem, “Caged Bird,” highlighting that Black people possess the freedom to fly and reach any heights they choose.

“I can't be no bird in a cage
Can't let emotions hold me prison to rage”–Rapsody

Ibtihaj

Ibtihaj Muhammad is a distinguished entrepreneur, author, activist, and Olympic medalist in fencing. She is a five-time Senior World medalist and World Champion, and in 2016, she made history as the first American woman to compete in the Olympics while wearing a hijab. Furthermore, she became the first Muslim-American woman to win an Olympic medal and the first Black woman to earn a medal in the saber event.

Rapsody uses this as a nod to the classic “Liquid Swords” by GZA, which uses the same sample and even has the man feature on the track. As if to say, that swordplay isn’t just for men, and she can fence with the best of them.

“Then, 9th said, “Yo, since I flipped ‘Liquid Swords,’ why don’t we name it after Ibtihaj Muhammad, because she’s a fencer with a sword.” It’s just that literal. She’s a Muslim-American fencer and she’s the first one to perform in a hijab. The correlation is we’re two very strong, confident, fearless women who, in our own sports, never compromise.” – Rapsody, NPR interview.

“Ain't an MC on this Earth that make me feel afraid
Wu-Tang for the children, that's the scripture and phrase” – Rapsody

Myrlie

Myrlie Evers Williams devoted her life to civil rights activism. In the 1990s, she made history as the first woman to head the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Additionally, she is the widow of Medger Evers, a civil rights leader who passionately worked to end Jim Crow laws before he was assassinated.

“We saw people cry, think about all of our people's wives
Raise the kids in the world they know ain't safe to live
Like Myrlie, emergency
The mirror me said I could be her too, the day I say I do” – Rapsody

Michelle

Michelle Obama made history as the first African-American woman to hold the position of First Lady. In this role, she championed causes such as poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical fitness, and healthy eating.

Rapsody uses Michelle’s leadership and achievements in a seemingly light-hearted track that celebrates black women winning and owning it, just like Michelle.

“How we gettin' down? We ain't come to play.
We came to move, catch a groove and you know the girls came to slay”–Rapsody

Iman

Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid, is a Somali-American model, actress, and philanthropist. Iman received the Fashion Icon Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a special prize reserved for "an individual whose signature style has had a profound influence on fashion".

“I wanted to use Iman because she’s from Africa and she’s one the first black supermodels. And because she’s chocolate and beautiful. As women, we’re all beautiful in all our shades. I’m just talking about loving ourselves and loving our skin, especially at a time where women don’t always see the beauty in themselves and bleach their skin in places like Africa and sometimes here. Naw, don’t do that. Love yourself and see the beauty in being a black woman. Black don’t crack. Know what that means and be proud we can say that.” –Rapsody, NPR interview

“When you fly as this, you ain't gotta worry 'bout wings” – Rapsody

Hatsheput

While Cleopatra is arguably the most famous woman of ancient Egypt, Hatshepsut may have been a more significant figure. She ruled Egypt as a female pharaoh for nearly twenty years in the fifteenth century B.C. However, twenty years after her death, her monuments were defaced, and they tried to erase her name from history by often depicting her as a male.

On this track, Rapsody and Queen Latifah join forces, and Rapsody has mentioned in this interview that Queen Latifah named this track and taught Rapsody about who Hatsheput was.

”And I was like, dang. That’s deep, it’s powerful, that’s you (Queen Latifah) as you always talk about these things and that’s something I didn’t know. So, I was like, let’s put people on.” –Rapsody, Breakfast Club interview

“I'm here to make you better, I'm just like Coretta in fact
See only Kings would understand just how that metaphor match”– Rapsody

Sojourner

Sojourner Truth, born Isabella Bomfree in 1797 in New York, was an influential activist for abolition, women's rights, and other social causes in the 19th century. Enslaved from birth, she endured harsh treatment and was sold multiple times. In 1827, she escaped with her infant daughter to an abolitionist family, the Van Wageners, who helped secure her freedom and assisted in a successful legal battle to reclaim her young son who had been illegally sold. Truth's dedication to justice led to significant activism during the Civil War and a meeting with President Abraham Lincoln in 1864.

Rapsody collaborates with J. Cole on this track. They shine a light on the state of the music industry, their positions within it, and the treatment of African Americans in the United States.

“Oh, I swam for miles, only to realize the current
Is fightin' against me and I'm so tired, I'm floatin' now
Oh, from here on out, I've got to realize the power
Of learnin' to let go, and just let God
Enjoy the ride” – J. Cole

Afeni

Afeni Shakur is the mother of Tupac Shakur, and the inspiration behind one of his most famous songs: "Dear Mama,".

On another classic Tupac song: ”Keep Ya Head Up”. Tupac raps:

“And since we all came from a woman
Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman
I wonder why we take from our women
Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?” – Tupac

In this NPR interview, Rapsody says:

“Keep Ya Head Up' is one of my favorite songs ever, and it embodies what this whole album is about — respecting, protecting and loving black women. Men loving us, and us loving ourselves and each other. I had always told 9th I wanted to sample a piece of that song. I’ve been wanting to do that for years. Everything happens in the time that it’s supposed to happen. I just wanted to end the album and bring all of the stories and the concepts to a whole. It’s all about what Tupac said, and it’s a conversation that has been happening again for years. I see it on Twitter all the time. Women are like, ‘Black men don’t do this or that.’ And black men are like, ‘Y'all don’t do this for us.’ It’s like disdain. I don’t think it’s necessarily one-sided. I just want to be able to speak to the men and say listen to the women. Just listen to our perspective and where we’re coming from.” – Rapsody, NPR interview

“And I pray you feel the same way as that Tupac song
We ain't your hoes or your bitches, trophies, or meant for pimpin'“– Rapsody

In conclusion

In most articles, I try to look at the story behind the albums I love, and aim to dissect the way it was created and why. Usually, I deep-dive into my favorite track. For this one, that approach didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. So instead, I tried to show appreciation for the entire body of work.

“I wanted to show the spectrum of what black women are and the beauty. But also in naming them, I wanted to continue the legacies of some of these names,” she said. “And just to show our beauty and our brilliance, and to remind little girls or to introduce them to the fact you are a queen, but you can still have fun within that.” – Rapsody, APnews article

Now, I fully realize that I’m not a black female but this project still resonated with me. I think it’s important to learn about these stories, especially if they’re not told from my perspective.

However, what I am, is a father of an 8-year-old daughter who’s growing up in a pretty male-dominant world.

Coincidentally, one of the books I love reading her at bedtime is “Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls”. A book that (similar to this album) shares the stories of many remarkable women and their extraordinary lives.

So, when my daughter is old enough, I hope to play Eve and dissect it with her.

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