Urban Rapsody

Urban Rapsody is an album released by American funk singer Rick James.[5][6] It was released through Mercury Records and Private-I Records in 1997, and was the last one released before his death. The album combines rap and funk.

Urban Rapsody
Studio album by Rick James
Released	October 14, 1997
Genre	Funk rap
Length	72:28
Label	Private-I, Mercury[1]
Producer	Rick James, Daniel LeMelle
Rick James chronology
Kickin' (1989) Urban Rapsody (1997) Deeper Still (2007)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[3]
Entertainment Weekly	B-[4]

Urban Rapsody received a Parental Advisory sticker, James's only album with one. It was his first release since 1988's Wonderful, due to substance abuse problems and an extended period of incarceration.

The album peaked at #170 on the Billboard charts.[7]

Critical reception

The New Rolling Stone Album Guide gave the album 1.5 stars (out of 5), writing that it is a "cannily conservative attempt to recapture the R&B portion of his audience, but it lacks the fire of his early hits."[8]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Rick James, except where indicated.

1. "Urban Rapsody" (James, LeMelle, Rappin' 4-Tay)
2. "West Coast Thing" (James, Shepherd)
3. "Somebody's Watching You" (James, Shepherd)
4. "Back in You Again"
5. "Turn It Out"
6. "Good Ol' Days"
7. "Player's Way" (James, Snoop Dogg, Shepherd)
8. "Never Say You Love Me"
9. "It's Time" (James, Shepherd, Neb Love)
10. "So Soft So Wet" (James, Shepherd)
11. "Bring on the Love"
12. "Mama's Eyes" (James, Shepherd)
13. "Soul Sista"
14. "Favorite Flava" (James, Shepherd, Neb Love)
15. "Urban Rapsody (Reprise)" (James, LeMelle)

References

1. Conner, Thomas. "Freak Out! Rick James Leaves Prison a New Man". Tulsa World.
2. "Urban Rapsody: Rick James". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
3. Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958 – via Google Books.
4. "Album Review: 'Urban Rapsody'". EW.com.
5. "Freedom Funk : A Liberated Rick James Isn't Singing Any Folsom Prison Blues". Los Angeles Times. September 27, 1997.
6. Catlin, Roger. "RICK JAMES /REACHES DEEP INTO HIS PAST FOR SHOW AT THE SHOW AT THE PALACE". courant.com.
7. "Rick James". Billboard.
8. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (July 11, 2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780743201698 – via Google Books.