By Daniel Paiz

After nearly five years since her last studio album release, Rapsody delivers the extensive and thoughtful album Please Don’t Cry. The album clocks in at 22 tracks reaching just over an hour of play time, and there’s a table full of songs and ideas to check out. It took some time for this iteration of A Week’s Worth Album Review, because there were certain moments needing to be heard several times. Rapsody is open, vulnerable, honest, and seeking answers through this journey of self-reflection.

Standouts

With 22 tracks to choose from, there’s something for everybody on this album. There are a few songs that cover topics usually not discussed at length, and they might be the standouts here. The consistency on this album is solid, and Rapsody reminds listeners why it took the time it did to finish this thing. One might even say that Raps put herself on Do Not Disturb while crafting this album. “DND (It’s Not Personal) is a good reminder for everyone listening, especially with the following lines:

“It’s me, myself, and me, do not disturb me,

I ain’t got it, whatever you ‘bout to ask me, for my money, my time, or my energy,

that’s on lock like money, power, and respect are,

when I’m in my car, vibin’ in the streets, I need space like stars, I need time to think”

These bars reflect a feeling most folks experience yet isn’t vocalized as efficiently as this. There’s still this constant hustle culture of always having to create, produce, etc., and this track reminds listeners that does not need to be the case. Another layer here is that women are expected to be accessible in a way men are not, and it’s fairly constant compared to what men encounter. Women deal with unwanted attention in all aspects of life, and this track is an anthem for that as well.  

Weathering challenges is painted all over this album in different capacities. One such song that reviews this idea via loss of loved ones would be “Stand Tall”. This track possesses parts that are reminiscent for those who have lost loved ones, and lines that are deeper than they might first appear:

“Either you Annie or you Annakin, you gonna shine or fade to black as a result of all your damages”

This seemingly simple line is deviously intriguing when it comes to the layers it delivers. Topically, the names Annie and Annakin could be referring to the different name iterations given to the young Skywalker in the Star Wars’ prequel trilogy. There could also be a double entendre of sorts with both the Star Wars path of darkness and light; the line also might refer to different phases in life a person changes based on their upbringing and environment. One could also dig for a broader pop culture reference in that Annie could be the timeless Broadway musical Annie; the titular character had a very tough childhood as an orphan and was exploited in a similar way to Annakin Skywalker.

However, there’s also a quadruple entendre of sorts (or double entendre still if you count the line as pop culture reference, and reference to Rapsody’s life and career). The line highlights the classic conflict of what’s assumed to be happening versus the hard work, the stumbling blocks along the way. Raps is trying to be there for those who lost family members, trying to be there for people and exist in this life. It takes a toll, but perseveration is the goal.   

The last stand out amongst several tracks that spoke to this listener was the album cut entitled “Faith”. This one digs into Rapsody’s beliefs and also what keeps her going through life. It has a Gospel feel to it, and borders between spiritual and religious. A closing line from verse two partially sums up why Rapsody gives what she does musically:

I don’t know what it feels like to wake up Chris Lighty or Robin Williams
For people that need healin’, I share my truth and my problems
Hope it might change your outcome even if it don’t solve ’em

Rapsody understands the impact of music on folks. This song and all the others on Please Don’t Cry have the capacity to make a difference in the lives of listeners. This feels like a track that was missing on the album until now; it’s placed smartly towards the end of this journey. Challenges, difficulties, frustrations, all will be there in life. One has to keep believing, one has to keep going. Belief is crucial in this world, regardless of the form it takes for each person.

Other tracks worth revisiting several times on this album include “Asteroids”, “A Ballad for Homegirls”, “Loose Rocks”, and “He Shot Me”. Each of these tracks delves into an interesting topic. “He Shot Me” is a standout for this listener because this fresh take on police brutality today. There’s an amnesia that seems to be setting in the US around this topic, and this is a track everyone should listen to. The opening and closing tracks also do a fantastic job of setting the tone as Rapsody questions herself over the course of this project.

Final Thoughts

This album tackles a range of emotions in life, and the importance of reflecting and taking things at face value. Moving forward and continually pushing through life is another constant theme. A wide spectrum of themes emerge: faith, love, self-belief, self-doubt, anger, happiness, and how one navigates daily life. It is a journey that by track 22 feels tiring; not because it’s long, but because of the topics contemplated. 

Therapeutic might be the best way to describe this album. It was revitalizing for Rapsody. A journey to release and reflect for the audience. The big questions in life are ever present; how one works through it all and what they choose to believe determines one’s conclusion.

This album is likely the most open and vulnerable album Rapsody has released. That’s saying something, as Rapsody has largely been a pretty open and honest artist. It will take time, but this album has true staying power and will likely gain underrated status as time moves along.