Rapsody – She Got Game (Mixtape Review) DX Consensus: “Free Album (the highest possible praise for a mixtape)”
During her steady ascent for the past three-to-five years, a good portion of Rapsody’s successes have been given qualifiers. These backhanded compliments often come in the following forms: “She’s one of the best emerging female emcees,” or “Under the tutelage of 9th Wonder,” etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Such talk should end with She Got Game, as Rapsody makes her case as an undeniably talented emcee regardless of her lack of Y-chromosomes. While Rap is joined by a who’s who of burgeoning and established artists, she goes bar-for-bar with the likes of Ab-Soul, Chance the Rapper, Raekwon and Phonte.
Strip away the 9th Wonder production and the A-list features, and what’s left is a project powered by Rapsody’s fluid intonation over the various ebbs and flows of She Got Game. Her wordplay is witty, whether she’s musing about Kobe Bryant’s torn Achilles tendon (“Lonely Thoughts”) or just running through the daily minutiae of laundry and washing her hair (“A Song About Nothing”). But Rap’s best weapon is arguably her ability to show aggressive, Golden Era-influenced rhymes don’t have to always stand in binary opposition to heartfelt bars about upward mobility or even love.
As it relates to the latter, male listeners will appreciate Rapsody’s ability to address the subject without resorting to the type of flowery, saccharine rhymes that are usually played from red hatchbacks and smartphones with hot-pink, “Hello Kitty” covers.
On “Feel Like (Love Love)” she rhymes, “I dream about you often / If you only knew the things I think / About your eyes and your smile / The way you wear your jeans / Slightly baggy got me thirsty like the rapper Jean / For your love love / But too bad, it’s just another dream…”
It’s an unfair standard to be held to, given how every male rapper has a free pass to talk about ass and titties ad nauseum, but such is the game we play. In terms of raw bars, Rapsody can pivot on a dime. For proof, see “Dark Knights,” where she flips Batman-related puns such as, “Bane ain’t a match for this emcee / And Dark Knight bat wings need a M3 / All y’all drool for Ra’s al Ghul protégé / I’ve been cold as Jay on 3 Kings nigga get schooled…”
While 9th Wonder provides the backdrop for six of She Got Game’s 16 tracks, the overall soulful vibe is maintained by Khrysis, Eric G. and a scene-stealing offering by E.Jones courtesy of one of 2013’s best vocal chops laid over accompanying keys. Even familiar sample territory such as DeBarge’s “Love Me In A Special Way” has new life breathed into it. And by the time the set concludes with “Jedi Code,” even Phonte comically quips, “You gone fuck all my cruise paper up…all my Jazz Fest paper up.”
The enduring legacy of She Got Game may be that instead of Rapsody landing an all-star supporting cast, each member of said cast stepped up their collective game. Whether it’s Wale deactivating his “LotusFlowerBomb” on “Dark Knights” or Problem waxing philosophical about his children on “Complacent.” Only the participants know if these collaborations are the byproduct of e-mail exchanges or physical trips down to North Carolina, but either way they feel organic.
Rapsody truly holds court, easily wedging herself in the conversation for Mixtape of the Year (although her “Lonely Thoughts” cohort Chance the Rapper will have something to say about that). Suffice it to say, the only thing missing from She Got Game is a barcode. The fact that such quality material arrives in the form of a free mixtape means we can thank her now.
dope, dope, dope… too dope, better than Yeezus,Drake,gay z, meek bitch and all other niggas wack shit.
Not better then Yeezus but I can dig where your going with it.
Real hip hop in this bitch this lady here is better than ymcmbcmbycmbycb’s whole discography
rapsody got raps ya’ll. don’t sleep
Her whole discography is better than at least 95% of other emcees. She deserves way more shine. Keep doing your thing Rapsody! It’s nice to see a lady who can spit and doesn’t walk around half-naked in order to sell records. You’re a great role model for women everywhere.
Real hip hop.
Rapsody does it again! Much live for what she’s doing in the game…
Dope!! Classic already in my book.
Love
Hopefully she can get some shine and put a real femcee in the game that can sell a bit
Dope.
Rapsody is a SUPERSTAR MC! On the same level as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, and other front runners!
Dope…one of the best albums in 2013 so far
rapsody got BARS.5 stars
Rapsody u are one of the illest MCs in Hip Hop right now fam!!! I gave u 5 stars!!! Hotep (Peace)!!! 1
Rapsody, a true female MC that Nicki Minaj would be afraid to battle or step to, 5 stars
Nicki would chew her up. Have you even heard Nicki’s body of work from before blowing up and after? Her lyrics and flow destroy Rapsody (at this point time)
@blayze
I don’t know about that. Have you heard Rapsody’s body of work? She’s quite capable of rapping extremely fast and flowing well. She does hang with Kendrick on the track they did together where he goes off like he did on rigamortis. Moreover her punchlines are often smarter. I agree that Nicki tends to be underrated because she’s commerical and makes bullshit songs.
I actually think it would be a dope battle between the two. I think the point that Game Set and Match is making is that Rapsody is a talented emcee, period. I don’t think anybody can question that.
@ blayze
Are you seriously trying to tell us that Nicki freaking Minaj has lyrics?
He said she at some point had lyrics before she blew up. Just like Rapsody has lyrics now but watch what happens if she really blows up. Read much?
my best friend’s mother-in-law makes $68 an hour on the internet. She has been fired for 7 months but last month her paycheck was $21368 just working on the internet for a few hours. Go to this web site and read more… http://www.Cafe44.com
It’s nice to see a lady who can spit and doesn’t walk around half-naked in order to sell records. You’re a great role model for women everywhere.
https://www.facebook.com/MCCRE8IVE
Fuck all of the broke internet nerds who think this bitch has talent. She’s worthless like your other idles Wu Tang, Common, Pusha T, Jay-Z and Kendrick. YMCMB and MMG are the only things that matter in the rap game. Everyone on YMCMB would shit on Rhapsody.
you are a cancer to the hip hop scene… when you grow up you will feel embarrassed and ashamed…
No one takes a person seriously that doesn’t know the difference between idols and idles…
i swear you need a life i see you comment on everything i read. young money is bad drake and tyga are the only people who are decent nicki fake lil wayne fake hustle gang would murder everyone in bitch gang
I feel sorry for you @dentaldamboy. I think the only place for a person who thinks MMG matters is a mental hospital
i fucked u in ur ass U.o.e.n.o
I lubed his hole so well E.o.e.n.o.
I came inside u twice U.o.e.n.o
This is way better than her album. Give it up for Rapsody!
why is she sitting on the rim? did she get fucked in the ass C.o.e.n.o.
fire
First time ever hearing this chick and she really impressed me. Definitely one of my favorite projects of the year.
this tape is dope and rapsody is spittin’ all you lames sayin’ mmg and ymcb is hip hop is smokin’ crack. she kills nicki’s wack ass.
I listened to this mixtape and wrote a review of it on my blog which I focus on small name artist. I believe there is a Massive market for female rappers with lyrical skills like her it’s just the mainstream media chooses not to focus on the ladies so it doesn’t get recginized as it should.
You can read more reviews on my blog at
GreatFranksPlace.blogspot.com
Ava. if you think Leslie`s bl0g is impressive, on friday I got a brand new Alfa Romeo after earning $6136 this past four weeks and-just over, $10,000 lass-month. this is certainly my favourite job Ive had. I began this 3 months ago and almost straight away startad bringin home minimum $73.. per-hour. I use this web-site,, ——> WEP6(dot)COM
just as Kathy responded I’m stunned that you can make $8604 in one month on the computer. did you look at this web link… http://www.Cafe44.com
HOP HOP LIVES UNDERGROUND AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE REAL MCS
kendrick has an amazing talent but his cd whck
RIP Nicki Minaj
Great mixtape!! She is going to be the next Lauryn Hill
MIXTAPE OF THE YEAR!!!
She is soooooooo dope it makes no sense!!!!
We love Rapsody! She is gonna be BIGGER than Drake, J.Cole, and Kendrick Lamar!!!
average
lol
crack is a hell of a drug
this is pretty bad
Very good. All those saying its wack, listen! Word play is on point. Very smooth. 4/5
huh
I listen to plenty of lyrical hip-hop…but you gotta have more than this. I should start playing this whenever I can’t fall asleep because it’ll do the trick
Best female MC out right. Better than half the guys getting shine
Superb lyrical perspective
Excellent album, nice arrangements. Rapsody really put work into this one. 9th and Eric G went in on the production too
Great mixtape, 9th is really pouring every connection and dime he got into her. It looks cool, but I wonder when she is on her own if the support continues. She is definitely a dope emcee, but Hip-hop has a history of ignoring female releases. Wonder if this will be different in the long run…
5 Stars.
the deluxe no dj version is now out to buy with higher quality and 5 bonus tracks and a feature from styles p. by far my favorite mixtape of the year so far.
Great tape hottest female rapper hands down!!!
SUPERB.!!!!!..She wld body many of the wack rappers currently out there….
great mixtape
fantastic
Nicki who? This is fire. Period
Best female rapper. Fuck that, best rapper period right now
WOW. I SLEPT ON THIS FOR LIKE 8 MONTHS. DAMN ME
Is Rhapsody really a man…..just a question but when I see her videos that’s all I can think of….is she a dude in really good drag?