Stream's Rapsody Album 'Laila's Wisdom'
Rapsody unveils an introspective, wide-ranging effort with Laila’s Wisdom, the North Carolina rhymer’s first offering since partnering with Roc Nation.
Aside from delivering the rhymes, Rapsody executive produced the album, along with Terrace Martin, Young Guru, and longtime mentor/collaborator, 9th Wonder. Plus, she brought along a slew of collaborators, including Anderson .Paak, Black Thought, and Busta Rhymes.
Kendrick Lamar, who also worked with Rapsody on “Complexion” off To Pimp a Butterfly, makes an appearance on “Power.” The poignant rhymers trade verses back-and-forth, while TDE’s Lance Skiiiwalker delivers a hook.
The long-awaited album was inspired by Rapsody’s grandmother, Laila, who always provided nuggets of wisdom. “Laila’s Wisdom,” she raps on the opening track. “Rest in peace. I love you, dear.”
Rapsody recently spoke about the album’s layered depth. “I just think it touches on different topics,” she told Complex. “There is a love section in there, about three or four songs, that’s dedicated to all the stages of love you go through: the happy, the good times, the not-so-good times, the I don’t really want to be with you no more, the ‘Yo I just met this new dude and I’m really feeling him,’ you know, you have that story. You have a song about depression. You have one about confidence–a few about confidence like ‘Black & Ugly.’ There’s ‘Power.’ I think it just touches on different emotions.”
Learn from Laila’s Wisdom below.