Rapsody is back with a new song, “Ibtihaj” featuring GZA and D'Angelo, and it pays homage second solo album by the Wu-Tang Clan member.
“Ibtihaj” is the lead single off of Rapsody’s forthcoming album Eve, which is set to drop at the end of the month. The song, produced by 9th Wonder, features a sample of the song “Groovin” by Willie Mitchell, which was also sampled by GZA on “Liquid Swords,” the lead single off of his album of the same name.
As Genius contributor wellllllll noted, Rapsody aims to “celebrate and pay homage to influential black women” with her new album.
“This song is named after Ibtihaj Muhammad, an Olympic fencing bronze medalist and the first Muslim woman to wear a hijab while representing the United States at the Olympics,” they wrote.
Rapsody raps about the power of women in the industry on her first verse:
Carpool with the homies, saving gas in my tank
I think like a billionaire, I spend less than I make
Strong minded, I should bench way more than my weight
Women been leading the way, since Roxanne Shante
On his “Ibtihaj” verse, GZA raps about living out of the spotlight and the current state of the genre.
Weaving wonder with words as potent as a sorcery
Not witchcraft, but a list of terms in the glossary
Well written rap, bound to have a greater impact
On a listener for the fact, it’s well intact
An MC should electrify, beautify, strive to
Empower, inspire, transform a world view
Watch the video for “Ibtihaj” and read all the lyrics on Genius.