RhapsodE is the personification of a tight verbal flow over the perfect beat flavored with soulful melodies..."[a] positive message that she delivers in a clear, smooth, quenching way. Complete water is her voice."

15 MP3 Songs
URBAN/R&B: Soul, SPOKEN WORD: With Music



Details:
RHAPSODE lives up to her name by fusing poetry, singing, rhythm and emotion-filled words sometimes set to music, and effortlessly hands them over to the audience to do what they will. Nominated for a Minnesota Music Award in 2003, RHAPSODE chose the road less traveled, left poetic cadence behind and ventured out for more musical, jazz-like melodies to create the lines of her poetry. A writer and performer since youth, RHAPSODE's gravitation to the stage was yet another opportunity to create a gifted marriage between her love of music and the stage with her poetry.

THE PLACE.....began in Minneapolis performing at open mic events around the Twin Cities....further inspired by sharing the stage with local talents sometimes opening for such artists as Desdamona, Divinewords, Edupoetics, Truthmaze, and BlackManPreach among others....within a year of taking stage RHAPSODE was nominated for a 2003 Minnesota Music Award in the Spoken Word category along with local veteran spoken word artists.

THE MOVE..........In August 2003 RHAPSODE moved to Philadelphia to pursue her graduate degree in African American Studies....but she didnt stay away from the stage long and soon began to perform at local venues in the city...

PERFORMANCE VENUES/EVENTS....The Five Spot (Sidegig Black Lily and Soul Power), The October Gallery, Dowlings Palace, The Womb, The African American Museum in Philadelphia, Tritone, The Clef Club, The Rotunda, World Cafe Live, The Vegas Lounge (B-more), The Improv (NYC), The Sugar Bar (NYC), The Sugar Shack (NYC), African American Extravaganza (Philadelphia), Black Women Arts Festival (Philadelphia), Calvary Baptist Church Summerfest (Philadelphia), Katrina Aid Benefit Concert (West Chester University), Philadelphia International Art Expo, Philly Spoken Soul Tour, Toronto Urban Music Festival, 2005 West Oak Lane Jazz Festival (Philadelphia)....WARMED UP THE STAGE FOR....Tangible Truth, Jaguar Wright, Mos Def, Fertile Ground, Quiet Rage, Qandice, Taalam Acey, Taragirl....

COLLABORATION IS A GOOD SITUATION.....Summer 2004 RHAPSODE collaborated with poet Desdamona on Des's CD The Ledge on a poem titled Planet Remix......RHAPSODE's CD *Spoke Inward* features collaborations with poetic duo Quiet Rage on 'The Choice', dj/mc/producer aka Subliminal on 'Say Word, Say Damn' and beatmakers: Corey "C-Rock" McDonough, Damali and Yameen Allworld!!....

COMMUNITY FIRST....RHAPSODE continues to incorporate her poetry with community involvement. In March 2005 she sponsored a a fundraising event to raise awareness and funds for local shelter Women Against Abuse, Inc. held at the African American Museum in Philadelphia bringing out some of Philadelphias best poets and musicians for Open the Micand Let Her Speak. RHAPSODE also taught performance poetry to students in the Swarthmore College Upward Bound and to young women from upstate New York for a read-in program. She has shared her poetry at church sponsored events such as Calvary Baptist Churchs Summerfest and New Hope Baptist Churchs Five Elements of Hip Hop...

RHAPSODE wears many hats as poet, vocalist, radio co-host, educator and entrepreneur. She currently balances her time between poetry and music performance and working with high school students preparing them for college. She also serves as founder and consultant of a creative consulting business...