Key Takeaways
- The latest album from Rapsody includes 16 tracks and features Malice, Amanda Reifer, and more.
- Its songs explore self-discovery and cultural storytelling while confronting “culture vultures” in the industry.
- A trip to Ghana influenced the title and motivated Rapsody to focus on authentic stories and preserving truth.
If God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops isn’t one seriously great album title, then we don’t know what is. On Friday (Aug. 21) at midnight, Rapsody delivered her much-anticipated fifth studio album, which spans 16 tracks and features guest appearances from Malice, George Clinton, Amanda Reifer, and a handful of lesser-known artists who are every bit as compelling.
Preceded by singles like “Apple Juice” and “God Gotta Afro,” the LP opens with the “banned” broadcast “Peace, God!,” which more or less lays the groundwork for what follows on “Free Yo’ Mind.” Throughout the latter, Rapsody encourages listeners to “Let it go” before name-dropping the likes of Frederick Douglass, Prince, and Barry Bonds.
Perhaps one of the more provocative tracks on the project comes courtesy of “No Way,” where Rapsody calls out “culture vultures” like DJ Vlad and Adam22’s "No Jumper" podcast (“They been trickin' too long, y'all been talking too much / Pull the curtain on Oz, show the wizardry”). Elsewhere, on "Black Love," Malice invokes the memory of George Floyd and Nolan Wells as he and Rapsody unload one searing verse after another.
True to the album’s title, much of God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops centers on Rapsody finding God within herself, whether she’s rapping about unprogramming and self-love on “Never Break” or joined by Jojo Abot, Clinton, and Nomisupasta over the percussion-heavy “OMG!”
Taken altogether, the body of work offers plenty for longtime and newer Rapsody fans alike. It’s a welcome departure from 2024’s Please Don’t Cry and finds the artist teaming up with a few new faces along the way. Take a listen below, then keep scrolling for more on the project.
How a trip to Ghana inspired Rapsody’s ‘God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops’ album title
If, like us, you’ve been wondering where the album’s title came from, Rapsody offered some insight during her Thursday (Aug. 20) appearance on “The Breakfast Club.” The North Carolina MC said the idea came to her during a trip to Ghana, where she heard “white, Westernized gospel music” playing on the radio.
“It’s like, ‘Man, books are being banned, DEI is gone, and they're whitewashing and rewriting history.’ So, I was like, ‘We have to tell our stories.’ We gotta preserve our stories and our truths, so the first thing is: Don’t forget to see God in yourself,” she explained.
Although Rapsody hasn’t announced a tour in support of God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops, she is slated to perform at the inaugural GoodWaves Festival in Chicago next Sunday (Aug. 30). Other artists on the bill include Killer Mike, DJ Premier, and Snow Tha Product, to name a few. Take a look at the flyer below.