NEWS
DXCLUSIVE - Rapsody has said that she was inspired by many different artists, but Lil Wayne recently gave her the impetus to be at her best in the booth.
The legendary MC sat down with HipHopDX on Friday (May 17), where she revealed how the ex-Hot Boy got her creative juices flowing.
“I just wanna say what I say and make it fun,” she said at the 29:00 mark. “But then, he sent his verse, and I was like, ‘I gotta match the level of artistry.’ Like, it’s Wayne!”
She continued: “And I ain’t scared to say it, because he’s one of the GOATs. It is what it is. A lot of artists won’t say it. But I’ll say it: I probably wrote my verse like 27 times.”
“May 17th, Please Don’t Cry. My fourth studio album,” she wrote on Instagram.
Rapsody then offered a hint at the album’s concept, describing the journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance that she has embarked on since her last full-length release.
“The last four years have been a beautiful, challenging, exciting, scary, journey back to self,” she said. “A becoming. A reintroduction. An unveiling. An unlearning. A knowing. An unplugging. A welcome home. A reality check.
“A love story with the reflection in the mirror. And I love her. She’s raw. Imperfect. Real. Goofy. Intelligent. Cool as a cucumber. Patient. Kind. Mad. Emotional. Funny. Quiet. Swear she gangsta. Thoughtful. Grateful. Forgetful. Overwhelmed.”
She added: “Once a month she got an attitude. She cares deeply. Sometimes too much. She’s a lot of things. She’s complex. But, I think that’s what makes her special. And I can’t wait for you to get to know her. Love [kiss emoji] The Homegirl.”
The album’s tracklist (which can be seen in full at the bottom of this page) reveals collaborations with Lil Wayne, Erykah Badu, Hit-Boy, Baby Tate and Alex Isley, among others, across 22 songs.
The album is Rapsody’s first album in five years.
Cardi B continues to stand among the biggest names in hip hop today. Although she has sparked mixed opinions throughout her career, there is no denying the mark she has made on the genre. With the release of her album Am I The Drama?, she has once again delivered a collection of songs that quickly became fan favorites.
On Sunday, Cardi B had the opportunity to showcase several of those tracks during her performance at the BET Awards. The ceremony is taking place in Los Angeles and has already generated plenty of excitement. Much of that buzz has also come from Druski, who is serving as the host for this year's event.
Following Teyana Taylor's Icon Award presentation by Janet Jackson, Cardi B energized the crowd with an exciting medley. As seen below, she performed "Errtime," "Hello," "Check Please," and "Pretty & Petty" as part of her set.
Cardi B is only one of several major performers taking the stage tonight. Rick Ross, Max B, French Montana, Don Toliver, Raye, Kehlani, along with many other well known artists, are also performing throughout the evening. The BET Awards have built a reputation for delivering memorable live performances, and the 2026 ceremony is proving to be no exception.
At this point in the show, only two awards have been announced. Leon Thomas earned the honor of Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, while Kehlani took home the award on the women's side. Considering the outstanding music both artists have released recently, many fans would agree these wins were well deserved.
Stay connected with HNHH as we continue sharing the latest updates from tonight's BET Awards.
