In 2014, Lil Wayne famously told ESPN Magazine that, “Athletes want to be rappers, rappers want to be athletes.” Though primarily known in the hip-hop realm, the rapper and lifelong basketball player Rapsody is the embodiment of both, having cultivated an appreciation for music and sports growing up in North Carolina. She has gained notoriety by combining elements from both worlds into her output, whether it’s her music, videos or style.
Look no further than her first EP, titled The Black Mamba. With this, she not only pays tribute to Kobe Bryant’s signature Mamba Mentality, but also applies that mindset to the various projects she’s created with the NBA, NBPA, WNBA, and some of her favorite players in the league. The blending of these two worlds injects a freshness to her work, also earning her two Grammy Award nominations for Best Rap Album and Best Rap in 2018. The perseveration of culture is at the core of Crown Royal Regal Apple, a brand whose aim is to champion the sources where freshness is born. Rapsody embodies this essence, boasting a unique rap flow that captivates, a lyrical ability that excites and a style that’s entirely her own.
With a shared commitment to uplifting culture-makers who are changing the game, HYPEBEAST teamed up with Crown Royal Regal Apple to mark the 2021-2022 NBA season and to chat with the pioneering rap talent about how she bottles her passions into her distinct sound by merging sports and hip-hop, playing as a point guard while growing up, unveiling the experiences and inspirations that drive each of the career moves and her upcoming album.
