Back in May, Rapsody linked up with Buddy for "Phycilia," a standalone release dedicated to her mother. Now, the acclaimed lyricist is revealing plans for her third studio album and serving up its lead single. Known as EVE, Rapsody’s upcoming LP will serve as the follow-up to 2017’s Laila’s Wisdom and is billed as a sort of musical monument to the "celebration and empowerment of women of color worldwide." To introduce EVE, Rapsody is teaming up with D’Angelo and GZA for a Jay Rodriguez-directed music video in support of their 9th Wonder-produced EVE collaboration "IBTIHAJ." The title of the aforementioned single honors Ibtihaj Muhammad, a celebrated athlete with the United States national fencing team and the first Muslim-American woman to "wear a hijab while competing for the US in the Olympics in 2016."
"The stories behind the songs on EVE are inspiring, and I wanted to do my part in celebrating these women in the best way I know how," Rapsody shares via an official press statement, explaining her forthcoming project’s themes and narrative. "I want to not only help tell these stories but help further each woman’s legacy and spark curiosity in people to learn more about them."
You can take a look at the new music video for Rapsody, D’Angelo and GZA’s EVE single "IBTIHAJ" above. Rapsody’s third studio album EVE will see release on August 23.
For more new hip-hop videos, check out Tyga, YG and Blueface’s clip for "Bop."