She is the protégé of Grammy Award-winning producer 9th Wonder, the first lady of North Carolina super crew Kooley High, and one of the first artists signed to Jamla Records/It's A Wonderful World Music Group. As the brainchild of 9th Wonder's true school resurgence, Rapsody consistently sets the bar high for all emcees, male and female alike. Paying homage to her hip hop godmothers MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, and Lauryn Hill, this Snow Hill, North Carolina native represents much more than just the female side of hip hop culture; she is an emcee who represents hip hop culture beyond the lines of gender, proving that anything the boys can do, she can do, too, and better. Her virtuosity and dexterity behind the microphone highlight her presentation, and her humble demeanor attests to her constant pursuit of improvement with every beat and rhyme.
After proving her impeccable craftsmanship with features on 9th Wonder's "Dream Merchant 2," Skyzoo's DJ-Drama hosted "The Power of Words," and numerous Kooley High releases, Rapsody made her solo debut on December 7, 2010 with "Return of the B-Girl," a 20-track project boasting production by 9th Wonder and DJ Premier among others, as well as features from Big Daddy Kane, Mac Miller, Skyzoo, Rah Digga, Phil Ade, and more. A published review praised the record: "A poet-turned-rapper, Rapdiddy (as she's dubbed herself) has always possessed outstanding wordplay, but B-Girl finds her effortlessly nimble delivery -- capable of both gritty and biting or sassy and sultry -- continuing to improve."
Rapsody has shared the stage with hip hop legends and rising stars alike, including Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan, Big Daddy Kane, J. Cole, Wale, Colin Munroe, Tanya Morgan, Suede of Camp Lo, Blu and Exile, and The Clipse, but it's her ability to captivate diverse audiences with her explosively dynamic live performance that sets her apart and has earned her much-deserved accolades from major media sources including Vibe, XXL, HipHopDX, and more. She has captivated audiences at sold-out performances at dozens of venues on The Incredibly Dope Tour with Mac Miller and the Mic Fest Tour with 9th Wonder and her Jamla Records label mates. In her sophomore project "Thank H.E.R. Now," she weaves more intimate stories of her personal experiences and shares the studio and soundbooth with heavy hitters Jean Grae, MURS, Raekwon, Estelle, Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar, Big K.R.I.T., Marsha Ambrosius, and more.
Her style is polished and distinct, and her wordplay and flow are unparalleled in both delivery and execution. As she continues to strive to contend with her hip hop predecessors like Jay-Z and Mos Def, Rapsody is already undeniably one of the strongest and most promising forces in today's hip hop culture.
Caught Up
Rapsody Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could fill my shoes, the path I walk hella wide and skewed
I think cool is being you, if you cool it′s cool
I'm just a shark in a pool outgrowing all the rules they used to use to keep us in line
Like color class in school
The fastest food is the faster to sleeps cousin
Patches wit Patrick spit peppers to pack palaces
Hit boards put numbers up like Malice's
Walk in my shoes they never like E. in Dallas did
Naked truth died, the lies is taking over, shit
I spit Hova whips,
See thru the tops pass the oval shit-
Presidential im wit dat Godliness
I′m gon' body this
You wanna test me?
Motherfucker come get bodied then
Cuz It′s whatever
I want this thing forever
But, everyday I (can't get caught up)
I want that life forever
But I - can′t - get - caught - up
II
Caught in judgements, love them so I let it go
Let um know the patience of Job is what I rode,
Thru bid Adieu, morning dew I couldn't let the load slow me
Four cloves, Im one of one, a rarity if you pairing, parenting wasn′t done
Mama shoulda showed you what truth was
Spell it like new tux, black and white, plain to see Im the future
Show it like Hooters, my boosters still believe in me
So I have no time to get caught in your insecurities
Purity I'm Mercutio in my wittiness
More fuel for the fire, I ain't forgetting shit
Getting mine wit Krit Def Jam blocking
Don′t matter much to me forever I stay rocking,
Today we praying for Boston
Today we praying for Martin, both of them Martins march for um
Hope one day the world stop waring
Like autism, it′s the system we assisting
Baby find some wisdom listen we gotta lift um
I'm too gifted to get caught up in the business
Handle my business till I am my own business
Smartness I be flexin like cartilage, can′t get to deep caught in without rubbers
My brothers I love ya
But lotta of ya trouble
Why we had to part ways,
Set you outside of the bubble
Can't get caught up
III
If my soul was to be accompanied
You werent my company
The one that could come and comfort me
Constantly I found myself caught up
Thinking of a future family, two sons a daughter
Water I shed many nights, thinking you might
Won′t in the right direction of your life
I was right
Caught up in easy women
Heard you dabbled wit white sauce
Wouldn't of been in XXL or the Source had I stayed
It′s just the grave reality
Thanks for valory, I ain't get caught out
The causality, just a dead soul
When happiness let go
Dipped in petro,
Burning we learn less tho when our eyes closed
And we can't see thru forest
Stuck on fortune, The only reason you court them
Deport them
Report them to endorphines
They ain′t doing jobs
Don′t get caught if he don't love as hard
The heart
In the first verse, Rapsody speaks about her individuality and her refusal to conform to societal expectations. She acknowledges that her path is different from others and that there are few who can relate to her experience. She advocates for authenticity, urging others to embrace their true selves, rather than trying to fit into societal molds. The line "I'm just a shark in a pool outgrowing all the rules they used to use to keep us in line" speaks to her ambition to succeed and overcome obstacles, despite the limitations imposed on her by society.
The second verse is about Rapsody's inner strength and resilience. She acknowledges that while she has faced many challenges, she has learned to let go of judgment and negativity. She also addresses the issue of racism and violence, expressing her desire for a more peaceful world. "Today we praying for Boston/Today we praying for Martin, both of them Martins march for um/Hope one day the world stop warring/Like autism, it's the system we assisting" speaks to her social consciousness and her desire for positive change.
In the third verse, Rapsody speaks about her past relationships and her growth as a person. She acknowledges her mistakes and experiences and expresses her desire for a happy future with a family. She also touches on the topic of substance abuse and the effects it can have on one's life. Overall, the song is a reflection of Rapsody's personal journey and her desire to inspire others to be true to themselves and fight for positive change.
Line by Line Meaning
I’ve been advised to kill they vibe I ain't seen a size
I’ve been told to stop others from trying to bring me down because no one else's experiences can compare to mine.
Could fill my shoes, the path I walk hella wide and skewed
No one can handle the challenges and obstacles that I've dealt with because my life experiences are unique.
I think cool is being you, if you cool it′s cool
Being yourself is the coolest thing you can do, and everyone else should accept and respect that.
I'm just a shark in a pool outgrowing all the rules they used to use to keep us in line
I'm ahead of the game, breaking the old rules that were used to keep people under control.
Like color class in school
Just like how segregation used to keep people of different colors in separate classes in school, people are still being held back by outdated rules designed to control them.
The fastest food is the faster to sleeps cousin
Fast food is bad for your body and can lead to health problems that affect your ability to function properly.
Patches wit Patrick spit peppers to pack palaces
I'm rapping with fire and intensity, bringing a level of passion to my music that few can match.
Hit boards put numbers up like Malice's
Like the professional basketball player Malice, I'm putting up big numbers and making my mark on the game.
Pusha, push a brother I′m wheelin it, feel Paralysis
I'm pushing myself to be the best, but I can also feel overwhelmed and paralyzed by the enormity of what I'm trying to achieve.
Walk in my shoes they never like E. in Dallas did
No one has experienced what I've gone through, like the rapper Eazy-E did in Dallas.
Naked truth died, the lies is taking over, shit
People are more willing to believe lies than the truth, and this is taking over the world.
I spit Hova whips,
My lyrics are as fresh and stylized as those of rapper Jay-Z.
See thru the tops pass the oval shit-
I can see right through the facade of those trying to deceive and trick people.
Presidential im wit dat Godliness
I have a powerful presence and a spiritual strength that make me feel almost godlike.
I′m gon′ body this
I'm going to dominate and excel in my art, leaving my mark on the world.
You wanna test me?
If anyone wants to challenge my skills, they should be prepared to face my full strength.
Motherfucker come get bodied then
If you want to face me, be prepared to get beaten as I dominate the competition.
Cuz It′s whatever
I'll take on anyone, anytime, anywhere. It doesn't matter to me.
Caught in judgements, love them so I let it go
I'm caught up in others' opinions of me, but I choose to let go of their opinions and keep moving forward.
Let um know the patience of Job is what I rode,
Like in the biblical story of Job, I have faced immense challenges and obstacles, but I have the patience to endure them and succeed.
Thru bid Adieu, morning dew I couldn′t let the load slow me
I can't let the struggles and challenges of life slow me down, and I'm saying goodbye to those things that hold me back.
Four cloves, Im one of one, a rarity if you pairing, parenting wasn′t done
I'm unique and special, unlike anyone else in the world. I was raised differently by my parents, and that sets me apart from others.
Mama shoulda showed you what truth was
If only people knew the truth, like my mother taught me, they would see things differently.
Spell it like new tux, black and white, plain to see Im the future
I'm making it clear like a new tuxedo, that I'm the future of music and people should recognize my talents.
Show it like Hooters, my boosters still believe in me
I'm showing my talent to others in the same way that the restaurant Hooters shows people what they have to offer. People still support and believe in me.
So I have no time to get caught in your insecurities
I can't get caught up in the insecurities of others because I'm focused on my own path to greatness.
Purity I'm Mercutio in my wittiness
My rap style is witty and clever, like the character Mercutio in Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.
More fuel for the fire, I ain′t forgetting shit
The challenges I've faced and the negativity I've experienced motivates me to keep going and never forget what I've overcome.
Getting mine wit Krit Def Jam blocking
Despite the fact that Def Jam was blocking me, I still found a way to succeed in my career.
Don′t matter much to me forever I stay rocking,
It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of me, because I'm always going to rock and succeed in my own way.
Today we praying for Boston
In the aftermath of the Boston bombing, we are all praying for the city and those affected by the tragedy.
Today we praying for Martin, both of them Martins march for um
We are also praying for Martin Luther King Jr. and Trayvon Martin, both of whom worked tirelessly for justice but were tragically killed.
Hope one day the world stop waring
I hope that one day the world will stop fighting and come together in peace.
Like autism, it′s the system we assisting
Like autism, the problems in society are rooted in the system and it's up to us to work towards fixing it.
Baby find some wisdom listen we gotta lift um
We need to find wisdom and listen to those who need lifting up, because we can all work together to create positive change.
I'm too gifted to get caught up in the business
I'm too talented and successful to get bogged down in the negative aspects of the music industry.
Handle my business till I am my own business
I'm taking control of my career and building my own business and brand for myself.
Smartness I be flexin like cartilage, can′t get to deep caught in without rubbers
I'm showing off my intelligence and wit like the flexibility of cartilage. But, I need to be cautious and avoid getting too deep without taking precautions.
My brothers I love ya
I love and care for the people in my life like family.
But lotta of ya trouble
But many of them cause problems and drama that I can't get caught up in.
Why we had to part ways,
Why did we have to go our separate ways because of the conflicts and issues they caused?
Set you outside of the bubble
I'm keeping these people outside my inner circle and away from the positive things in my life.
If my soul was to be accompanied
If I were to have someone accompany me on my life's journey.
You werent my company
You're not the person that accompanies me because you don't support and uplift me.
The one that could come and comfort me
I need someone who can come and comfort me during the toughest times in my life.
Constantly I found myself caught up
I find myself getting stuck in negative mindsets and emotions often.
Thinking of a future family, two sons a daughter
I dream of having a family one day and raising my children with a vision for their future.
Water I shed many nights, thinking you might
I've cried many times thinking that this person may change their ways and support me in the future.
Won′t in the right direction of your life
You're not going in the right direction in your own life and that affects your ability to support me.
I was right
I was correct in my assessment of this person and their ability to support me.
Caught up in easy women
This person is caught up in a life of easy pleasure and doesn't have the necessary focus or support to help me with my goals.
Heard you dabbled wit white sauce
This person has experimented with drugs, which makes me question their decision making and commitment to helping me.
Wouldn't of been in XXL or the Source had I stayed
If I had stayed with this person, I wouldn't have achieved the level of success I have now in the rap industry.
It′s just the grave reality
This is the sad truth and regrettable reality of my situation and relationship with this person.
Thanks for valory, I ain't get caught out
Thank you for trying to help me, but I'm not going to let myself get caught up in this dead-end situation.
The causality, just a dead soul
The outcome of this relationship would have been a dead end for me, and it's not worth the cost to my soul.
When happiness let go
When I let go of this relationship and focus on my own happiness instead.
Dipped in petro,
I'm fueled by my own passion and energy.
Burning we learn less tho when our eyes closed
We often don't learn anything when we're blinded by our own passions and desires.
And we can't see thru forest
We can't see the truth and what's best for us when we're caught up in the midst of our own problems.
Stuck on fortune, The only reason you court them
Sometimes people are so focused on money and success that they forget the importance of love and relationships.
Deport them
We should get rid of the negative influences in our lives and focus on the positive ones.
Report them to endorphines
We should seek out the positive feelings and experiences that make us happy and fulfilled in life.
They ain′t doing jobs
The negative influences in our lives aren't doing anything productive or helpful for us.
Don′t get caught if he don't love as hard
We shouldn't get caught up with people who don't love us as much as we love them.
The heart
Our heart and emotions are the most important things in life, and we should follow them to find true happiness and fulfillment.
Contributed by Ruby S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.