Rapsody's profile has been raised considerably this week with her feature on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly on the track "Complexion (A Zulu Love)." It's awesome that the rest of the world is catching up and catching on to what we've known for years -- that Rapsody's been nice on the mic and is one of the dopest femcees (or emcees, period) out right now. Rapsody is striking while the iron is hot and her name is on everyone's lips and has released the music video for the track "The Man," which will surely keep people talking or at the very least thinking.
"The Man" is taken from Rap's 2014 EP, Beauty and the Beast, out on 9th Wonder's Jamla Records imprint, and it tells an all-too-familiar tale of a young boy who becomes the man of the house. With his father not in the picture, he takes on the responsibility of taking care of his mother and younger siblings and all of the stress and strain that comes with a role he's not meant to play. In his quest to come up and become "The Man," he starts selling drugs and making paper, but his good fortune doesn't last for long.
The visuals directed by Cam Be and shot on location in Chicago illustrates the song to a T. Shot in black-and-white, scenes of a young man trying to do right for his family are mixed in with Rapsody rapping in various locations. We see the protagonist's struggle and we see his rise before the video culminates in a heartbreaking ending that will leave you shook. This video is a powerful four minutes that addresses real life and death societal issues.
For more realness from Rapsody, cop Beauty and the Beast on Amazon or iTunes, and pay a visit to her website.
