Marlanna Evans, known professionally as Rapsody, is a Grammy-nominated rapper and lyricist from Snow Hill, North Carolina. She began her career in the college hip-hop collective Kooley High before catching the attention of producer 9th Wonder, who signed her to his label Jamla Records. Her debut album, The Idea of Beautiful (2012), showcased her sharp lyricism and introspective storytelling, earning early critical praise. Rapsody gained mainstream recognition after featuring on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly with “Complexion (A Zulu Love).” Her 2017 album, Laila’s Wisdom, received two Grammy nominations and cemented her as one of hip-hop’s most thoughtful voices. In 2019, she released Eve, a conceptual album honoring influential Black women, followed by Please Don’t Cry (2024), which explored vulnerability and self-growth. Known for her intricate wordplay and grounded wisdom, Rapsody bridges classic hip-hop traditions with a modern, purposeful voice.  

Kwamé—the one and only “Boy Genius”—burglarized the late ’80s hip-hop scene with playful polish and a polka-dot flex that became his signature and a straight-up fashion fad. Born and bred in East Elmhurst, Queens, he dropped “Kwamé the Boy Genius: Featuring a New Beginning” in 1989, making fans bob their heads and wonder who this quirky mastermind was . His sophomore LP, A Day in the Life: a Pokadelick Adventure, was a high‑school‑meets‑hip‑hop concept trip. A few albums later, and after shelving the dots and sliding into sexual swagger, Kwamé pivoted. He stepped out of the spotlight and behind the boards, producing hits for heavyweights like LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Tweet, and even co‑producing with Eminem on Lloyd Banks’s “On Fire” (Gold certified, baby) . Fast-forward to now: Kwamé’s firing up the mic again with his upcoming album The Different Kids, set to land August 29, 2025 . His latest single, “Hello/Anybody,” oozes juke‑joint vibes and slick, nursery‑rhyme‑twisted wordplay, polka dots and all . This comeback isn’t just him, it’s a shout‑out to everyone who’s ever felt “different,” classic outliers reunited under one album banner.