Rapsody gifted fans with a surprise single today (Sept. 17), and as usual, it contains a substantial message worth remembering. “12 Problems” sees production from Don Cannon and even includes a promise to donate a portion of the proceeds.
The North Carolina rapper has never steered away from using her platform to speak on things that are important to sparking social change, including feminism and racial injustice. She announced that a portion of the proceeds from her new “12 Problems” single will go towards supporting organizations that work towards fighting for justice:
“My new single, ‘12 Problems’ is out now and a part of Reprise – a musical initiative uniting artists in protest against social injustice,” she writes. “A portion of proceeds will support organizations fighting these social injustices.”
“12 Problems” also includes a nod to the JAY-Z classic hit “99 Problems.” In the hook, she interpolates the Hov’s The Black Album hit:
“I got 99 problems and 12 still the biggest. I got 99 problems, baton, bullets, triggers.”
Rapsody’s last full-length project was 2019’s EVE, a meaningful body of work that set out to celebrate Black women. The 16-track project included features from Queen Latifah, D’Angelo, GZA, Elle Varner, SiR, JID, Mereba, J. Cole, and more. It even featured song-titles catered to highly influential figures like Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, Sojourner Truth, and Whoopi Goldberg.
Earlier this year, the critically acclaimed EVE even inspired courses at two universities. Doctoral student Tyler Bunzey at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill first announced his upcoming course based on the album on Tuesday (April 14). “I’m incredibly pleased to announce that I will be teaching a course at UNC this fall on Rapsody’s magnificent album EVE,” Bunzey wrote. “We will be examining the album track by track with readings and media to accompany each record.”
Listen to Rapsody’s new “12 Problems” track below.