For as much flack this age of the Internet rapper receives, its most beneficial aspect is having the opportunity to watch an artist progress over time. From her North Carolina State days to co-founding Kooley High, and now the first lady of Jamla Records, Rapsody has made significant strides in her lyrical abilities. Under the tutelage of veteran producer 9th Wonder, she has also found her voice, a distinct trait that has been in preparation since her first solo project Return Of The B-Girl. This all comes together on The Idea Of Beautiful.
In the past Rapsody has made references to her admiration for Jay-Z and Lauryn Hill, and this is evident on her debut album. On “Kind Of Love,” she forms a delightful connection with the Neo-Soul grooves that would make L-Boogie proud, while “Destiny” reads like an open letter to Hov. In each instance, she gives an appreciative nod to the golden era while establishing her new school path. And when Rapsody rhymes, she can certainly get it in. Teaming up with Ab-Soul, “Non-Fiction” is a lyrical exercise that’ll have your head bobbing to the boom bap production (“Couldn’t see me eye to eye, keep pumping your Reeboks”). For those that are still privy to simply considering her a “femcee” and not an outright representative, Rapsody makes it clear on “The Cards” that she’s holding Aces. “I play the female card to my advantage / Underrepresented now they want to see me rap in it / ‘Cause I can show emotion when most wouldn’t even show feeling / For fear of losing your edge, calling you sensitive spittin.’”
Where The Idea Of Beautiful really shines through is when Rapsody covers subjects with an intense yet graceful tone. “In The Town” examines the lost innocence of today’s youth, submerged in an environment that is limited by its own atrophy. Built over a soulful backdrop and BJ The Chicago Kid’s stellar crooning, “Good Good Love” delves into a relationship in turmoil, a result of the protagonists own doing. Emotionally immersed, Rapsody owns the words as if she was recounting a personal experience. Strong performances like these offset the few blemishes found on the album (“Roundtable Discussion,” “Celebrate”), detractions that are more due to lack of tone than effort.
The Idea Of Beautiful meticulously strings together stories of heartbreak, triumph and a love for Hip Hop in a sincere manner that will have the listener completely engaged from beginning to end. Whether the connotation of being a female lingers throughout her career, Rapsody has established herself as an emcee that has the presence and momentum to remain in this Rap game for the long term. Now that’s a beautiful thing.
Anybody that knows Rapsody knows that she has exhibited much growth over her past free albums. This retail album is symbolizing that evolution in rhyme, style, and maturity. She needs to keep doing what she is doing.
Nah what she needs to do is get back in the kitchen and fix me some supper.
Seriously though this album is dope. A legit 4/5. Refreshing to see a female emcee with real talent and not relying on gimmicks.
She prolly a dyke. No dykes allowed in hip hop and in the most brilliant label ever- MMG.
She’s married homie.
Not only is DJNC correct and that you are an idiot, but, the dykes are the ones easily opening their legs for you lame niggas of the “MMG”…
More power to Rapsody! Always great to see female rappers making good hip hop without the fluff and corny shit.
good review, i agree.
What about a Slaughterhouse review?????
Every site has it but NOT HIPHOPDX!
DX is so lazy!!!!
It was shit.
Review done.
FIRE
the best album that i’ve ever heard in my life. Rapsody got a classic in her hands.
hells yeah, the album is impeccable.
The Idea of Beautiful is an amazing album that focuses on dope beats and dope rhymes while at the same time delivering messages that the people can connect with. Rapsody has come a long way and this is an excellent launch pad for her Debut.
I was thinking of the best way to describe this flawless album and came up with comparing it to an extremely joyous outing shared with your loved one that you just don’t want to end. It is so clearly evident that Rapsody put her mind, heart and soul into her debut album and it shows. I struggled to pick a favourite song from the album because there isn’t one I don’t like, but if push comes to shove it would be the soulfully haunting Precious Wings.
Please pick up this album I guarantee you will not regret it and remember Culture over Everything!
i co sign everything u just said, u’ve articulated what i was thinking and feeling when listening to this fantastic album..
Nerds.
Fire!
Rapsody shows no sign of wear, though she’s dropped 4 other projects in what seems like no time. Her debut is fresh, mature and impeccable.
nice album though, betta than most male rappers i know
Indeed…Same thing I kept saying the whole album, while the nigggas next to me are/were bumping some mindless little wayne shit.
Flawless, Quality, Spiritual Dopeness
smoke good eat good live gooooooood
Very good album. This is the Hip Hop & Rap I believe in. Props up to Rapsody and her Ingenuity. Thank You.
She’s dope. But it’s funny how there’s other females out there that is just as dope or even better but because their not produced by 9th Wonder yall wont give em a chance. Nitty Scott is dope and I’m really feeling Raven Sorvino She is refreshing.
Well, lets compare shall we: Rapsody epitomizes hiphop by not just bending over and rapping but having an intellectual moment with her listeners…Nitty Scott gives her audience something to listen too, however, the love for hip-hop factor is not believable; like they threw her on the scene more because she has a pretty face, enticing voice, and she has a nice body along with some quip bars…Last, Raven is a whore and has nothing to say; yea, end of story!!! But, in all due fairness, having 9th Wonder in your corner does help an awful lot…
Amazing album! Hands down one of the best female based albums ever made!
Every track was DOPE as hell!!! how is that even possible?
Might be too soon to say this, but Rapsody is really turning into this generations Lauryn hill IMO if this keeps up.
Good Album
It falls under some of my hip hop guidelines listen to anything w/9th Wonder (LB) and The Cool Kids are one of my favorite groups. I was reading the LP has features from Rocki Evans, Raheem DeVaughn, Ab-Soul, BJ The Chicago Kid, Mac Miller, The Cool Kids, Childish Gambino, and more with production from 9th Wonder, AMP, Khrysis, and more
This album is dope. I can just about listen to the whole thing all the way through. Beats are hot, lyrics are hot. Very nice.
The album’s Idea of being beautiful, indeed was very beautiful…They way hiphop should be!
another contender for AOTY
amazin
She’s from South Africa…thats Soweto in the background
the singer featured, ‘Nomsa Mazwai’ is also a South African afro pop/ poetry artist
shes not from South Africa idiot…
Don’t know how this scored less that WT:OH to be honest.
like WTOH is dope but it dont deserve to b rated better than TIOB, regardless of ol gender crap RapSody (and 9th) produced a masterpiece #classic
Another competitor for album of the year.
Nice …. like her love
Wow! This album is everything you could want in a genuine hip-hop album. Dope rhymes, great concepts, amazing soulful beats, well sounding hooks, and just a great overall vision of the album. Can’t really say anything bad about it. Right up there with Nas for album of the year. Hip-hoppers grab this album you won’t regret it.
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This is classic and thoughtful, I bought this album because I support REAL hip hop. It’s good all the way thru and 9th did his thing.
Nice
Wow. Dope. Classy. My daughter so needs female rappers like this to counteract all the black barbie shit thats so pervasive. Big ups to Rapsody and Nitti Scott mc. Love the beat too
This is dope and in time will be known as a classic album . In a world of lil wayne rick ross and all that other bullshit this is why i still breathe HIP HOP
Nice..thats what hip hop so often is missing..the heart and soul, the message combined with an instrumental that complements and works with the vocals; and the love shown in lyrics and positivity in relaying the message thru video too..great work all around.
9th wonder 😀
This was definitely worth the rate. I was not disappointed at all. Content, production and lyricism all on point; as we are all used to with Rapsody.
Real dope album, real dope artist.
Dope
I loooooove this album.
amazing fresh ol skool hip hop
This album is amazing. Life is Good was the clear cut best album of 2012 (in my mind) until Rapsody dropped this. Cover to cover dopeness
Love the album, but my complaint, as a iTune Buyer of this album, is there’s no emotion in her voice when speaking on emaotional subjects. Dope spitter, even doper beats, but her monotone delivery starts to make me waunder off after a while. Case in point…Ab Soul MURDERED on his feature. She actually spit better, but it was not as noticable. Either way, Female Rapper of the year and great album.
You are absolutely right about her monotone delivery and Ab-soul definitely killed it! You should keep the listeners on the track with your flow and emphasizes beside your lyrics. Everybody says it’s a great album but I’m wondering haven’t you listened a great album?
And I discoverd Big Remo feat. on “The Cards” track. He got nice flow. She deserves to get “the female rapper of the year” title because she’s not babbling like Nicki!
This is so dope!!!
This right here is the truth. Lyrics from the heart and soul, true hip hop.
Haven’t heard anything like this in a good while.
terrible album. worst i’ve ever heard. nicky minaj is way better
Go, Rapsody! I’m proud of you, girl! This album is simply amazing!
The album is dope. My favorite song is “Believe Me”. My daughter loves the video too. 5 stars!
Top notch from start to finish. Just great music, plain and simple.
Rapsody is providing the type of example that we need our young women to see. Her genuine love of her craft shines through in this project. She is also a breath of fresh air for us older ladies who haven’t been able to boast about a female emcee making us proud since we were younger!
She runs circles around rappers female and male alike; cause she’s an emcee!
Its the REAL!!!! A gem of this generation
RAPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!! JAMLA! DOPE!
One of the best Ive heard in a while.
mmm dope
believe me is dope!
KOOLEY HIGH represent!
WE NEED MUSIC LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#Believe Me… Frontin’ niggas give me #HeeBeeGeeBees
So dope! Best album this year!
You doing your thing Rapsody and I love your music.You are true hip-hop.
All I gotta say rapsody taking over…the female Nas…her flow is so hard.the movement continue!!!God blessed her
Rapsody the album is od dope I love your music. Continue making the great sound cause I know my ears need it real talk spreading love the Brooklyn way.
Idea of beautiful is just the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come in Rapsody’s future. The album is nothing less than dope. I can’t wait to see what else this MC has in store for the rap game.
Nonstop from beginning to end. How could you not like this! YOU NEED TO WAKETOASSUP!!!
thanx rapsody and akua naru for great hiphop
Really dope project!! THE REEEEAAAAALLLLLL
Rapsody has a golden era sound that brings that soulful style back into hiphop. Loving her flow and delivery… True presence and growth with each release.
This….Is….That…REAL!!!! Dope rappin + dope beats = classic
Loved it! From beginning to end!! Jamla is THE SQUAD!
good album , love it! 4/5
good.. but not great
This album brings back that Golden era style with a nice balance of tones and moods throughout the entire album. Listening to Rapsody since “Thank H.E.R Now,” I can definitely hear the Progression. DOPE PROJECT
it was ok, not great.
this is like a breath of fresh air… a complete album from top to the bottom…
Still bumping this! I’m excited to see where raps goes!
LOVE THE ALBUM!!!!!!
This is timeless music! I’ll be listening to it for years and years.
Jamla is da squad!!!!
Was waiting to rate this album until I’ve had time to listen to it over and over. Yeah, it’s as good as I thought it was the first time I heard it. So proud of what Rapsody is doing for the culture! Keep going!!
Rapsody is the future of rap..
If you are sleeping on this album, you need to wake yo’ a$$ up!!!
Real talk, there’s nothing to skip on this album.
I get that a lot of people wanna compare her to Lauryn, which is an honor; however, she is creating her own legacy…and it is a joy to behold.
A good album. Definitely worth a listen. I can’t think of anything else better this year…maybe “Life is Good”
definately one of the dopest albums in 2012.
rapsody
mc nottz
angle haze
jean grae
ty phoenix
Talent, period. Few blemishes on this album but the rating is well deserved.
She’s mediocre.
Hot album!!!
Alex from Kingsize Magazine here… This is one of the best albums this year! BIG UP from Sweden!
great