Rapsody Announces Deal With Jay Z’s Roc Nation

Jay Z’s Roc Nation roster apparently has some new talent: North Carolina wordsmith Rapsody.

The 9th Wonder protege announced the partnership on Saturday while on stage at the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival.

“I’m Jamla/Roc Nation,” she said.

She further confirmed the deal with a post on her Instagram, where she is wearing a Roc Nation cap and holding up the iconic Roc-A-Fella dynasty sign with her hands. “Welcome to JamRoc. #Jamla #Rocnation,” the caption reads.

It’s unclear whether she is signed to the Roc Nation record label, which houses the likes of J. Cole and Jay Electronica, or if she is signed to the management company, which represents DJ Khaled and Big Sean.

Either way, it’s another accomplishment for an artist who has hit the pavement and worked inch by inch to build the career she wants.

Rapsody came into the industry in the mid-2000s as a member of the successful indie group Kooley High, and she left the group in 2008 to pursue a solo career under 9th Wonder’s Jamla Records. Since then she has steadily released EPs and full-length albums, while nabbing collaborations with the likes of DJ Premier, Raekwon and others.

Her largest break came in 204, when she was the lone rap guest appearance on Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy-winning To Pimp A Butterfly, for the song “Complexion (A Zulu Love).”

That was arguably until now. Coming up as an indie rapper to signing a deal with one of rap’s greats, especially without seemingly having to make any concessions for her image or her music, is quite the accomplishment.

Congrats to Rapsody, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!