Ephorize.
| Cupcakke
Ephorize.
Ephorize is the third studio album by American rapper Cupcakke. It was self-released on January 5, 2018 via TuneCore, after being announced on her official Twitter. The Ephorize Tour was later announced to promote the album and began on February 21, 2018. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
The fearless Chicago rapper offers her best album yet, with terrific production and a barrage of raps that reveal Elizabeth Harris to be far more than her hilarious and absurdly raunchy one-liners.
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SPIN
By balancing on the tightrope between meme and icon, between relatable and aspirational, Ephorize emerges sounding remarkably human.
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The Guardian
Ephorize is teeming with brash bars like “I only call you Captain, ’cause your dick is off the hook” (Duck Duck Goose), but for all the comic – if vulgar – bravado, there’s a directness to her words, a new inwardness (“Most people already skipped this song, ’cause it ain’t about sex and killing,” Self Interview tellingly observes). With charged production that flits between old-school hip-hop, futuristic pop and even Latin, at 15 tracks it can feel diluted, but there’s no doubt cupcakKe is a potent MC on the rise.
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Tiny Mix Tapes
Notably, “ephorize” is an esoteric word meaning “having an absolute, controlling influence over,” and it is essential that cupcakKe’s music secures a space within which listeners can access empowerment and ultimately absolute control over their own bodies. Ephorize, in that respect, is ultimate profanity, a means by which radical self-love and radical inclusion can be realized to their fullest.
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Sputnikmusic
Ephorize is cupcakKe holding true to her most provocative self; a wild, lascivious sprint of an album that shows cupcakKe--almost six years after her rise to fame--finally shouting loud enough to be heard. She doesn’t give a *** if you find her music offensive. She doesn’t give a *** if you think that her songs are too silly or crude. Elizabeth Harris, truly, just doesn’t give a ***.
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The Young Folks
So Ephorize winds up feeling overlong and ultimately a little empty. What does it have to tell us about sex? Nothing, really. Neither in the words or in the rhythmic undercurrents, which of course are so key to understanding black music. This wouldn’t matter so much if the jokes or music were a little more consistent, or CupcakKe’s personality a little more compelling. But overall, the album does not beg to be replayed; perhaps she should make her beats closer match the fatness of her cakes.
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The 405
Rapper CupcakKe may still get attention primarily for her nearly surreal sexual comedy, but Ephorize definitively proves her an artist offering much more between the bedroom adventures.
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XXL Mag
Despite occasional bouts of underwhelming songwriting, Ephorize is a standout showcase of emphatic cuts laid over a wide variety of sound beds, perfect for pervs and prudes alike to bang.
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The Musical Hype
Still explicit, raunchy, and unapologetic to the nth degree, “Deep Throat” famous rapper cupcakKe drops her latest album, ‘Ephorize. Despite the filth, it has its moments.
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Crack Magazine
Sure, there are few clunky couplets and the album would benefit from a few of the EDM-lite tracks being trimmed. But ultimately Ephorize sees CupcakKe flex like an established pro. Not only is it guaranteed to keep her slurpers happy, it’s an example of an artist in her prime and a brilliantly filthy riposte to an increasingly buttoned-up world.
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Highway Queens
One thing I know for sure is that the lack of female rappers is a problem that we can’t just ignore because we aren’t usually fans of this genre. It’s symptomatic of the ongoing problem of representation in the whole industry. We all need to seek out female voices and do our best to support them. If you’re not a rap fan then maybe start widening your horizons. Ephorize by CupcakKe is a dirty good place to start.
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Immortal Reviews
cupcakKe isn't typically considered one of the lead contenders in the world of hip-hop, but she's gunning for the top. cupcakKe brings her best on Ephorize, surprising everyone only familiar with her memey antics.
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Lemon Wire
Cupcakke’s third album “Ephorize” is a blend of her familiar schtick and slick flow tempered with a few conscious messages.
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Celeb Mix
From dancehall to latin beats, rapper Cupcakke shows the world no boundaries.
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Cult MTL
Ephorize is not for everybody. But those who can take the heat are in for quite the listening experience.
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Spectrum Culture
It’s inspiring to hear someone shout hard truth, but subtlety can hit harder.
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MTV
Those who may have dismissed the 'Duck Duck Goose' rapper as a viral star previously should really swallow their pride now and listen up before it's too late.
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Exclaim!
Ephorize dropped today, and marks the followup to last year's Queen Elizabitch. The latest offering hears CupcakKe presenting her most polished work to date, though she still slides in plenty of deliciously dirty one-liners throughout the new record.
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Thomas Bleach
There are latin influences, EDM bops, Hip-Hop roots and future pop songwriting all scattered throughout. This record stands out because of it’s mature take while still providing carefree and hilarious bops and sees her standing on her own as a independent artist with no features and proving that she really is a force to be reckoned with.
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The Friendly Critic
Male rappers and singers such as Usher, R Kelly, Chris Brown and Jeremih have been singing about their s(es)xcapades for years. It is time women start saying exactly what they want, too. Already reaching her first million dollars for 2018, for the independent artist the year can only get better.
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The Financial Times
She raps with authority and scabrous wit, a genuine presence. But the production is less assured. Songs have a sketchy feel, anchored to strong central beats but not developing further, like an eye-catching GIF locked into an abbreviated loop. The rapper comes across like a star in the making but the music makes her sound like an internet meme.
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The Outline
Cupcakke effortlessly braids her sex positivity with intimacy; they’re two sides of the same, shame-rejecting coin.
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Echo Charlie
Famed for her witty, raw and vulgar lyrics, the Chicago native doesn’t disappoint with her latest release.
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Salute Mag
CupcakKe proves she is more than just an internet celebrity with her third self-released studio album, Ephorize.
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Stereogum
The brand-new Ephorize, which follows last year’s Queen Elizabitch, moves CupcakKe further away from the freaky, lo-fi sex-rap on which she made her name — although she still opens a track with “I thought I came but I peed on the dick” — and further toward international club sounds. We’ve already posted the single “Exit,” and now you can stream the whole album below.
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Unsolicited Thoughts
All in all I adore Cupcakke for artificial reasons and also genuine reasons. So when I learned (five days too late) that Cupcakke had released a new album, Ephorize, I immediately binged it and decided I wanted to detail my adoration for the album.
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The Needle Drop
Ephorize is cupcakKe's most consistent and entertaining album yet.
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Vibes of Silence
“Ephorize” is wild, sexual, free, sublime and CupcakKe’s best work to date.
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Vulture
She can be the Chitown teen who got her kicks remixing Chief Keef and the heir apparent to the ratchet magic of Lil’ Kim’s “Big Momma Thang.” CupcakKe’s got all her moves down. It’s up to the world to figure her out.
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GRUNGECAKE
CupcakKe’s third studio album starts and ends strong (like all great things and people to come from Chicago).
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DJ Booth
The problem facing CupcakKe is not that she is explicit and unabashed, but rather that we are taking to seeing her as exclusively explicit and brash. CupcakKe—for all her lyrical skill, impressive delivery, and ear for production that sounds like electronic rancor being turned into a dance party—is being written into a box. We cannot, as fans or critics, turn CupcakKe into a monolithic sexual being. Naturally, this is regressive. The grand irony here is that we are on a quest to celebrate CupcakKe’s progressive appearance.
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Pat Shan the Music Man
Ephorize is simply cupcakKe’s most consistent and surprising album to date. She really comes into her own as a lyricist, delivering a versatile and fun release that packs as much brains as it does humor. I’m actually really excited about where she goes next, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she garners more mainstream attention as a result of this album’s notable high quality.
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High Clouds
he line between cheap shock value and quality material that’s also shocking can be a thin one. With her latest studio album “Ephorize”, Chicago rapper CupcakKe doesn’t just blur that line – she blows it apart altogether while simultaneously describing getting her back blown out in vivid, vivid detail.
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Ben's Beat
CupcakKe overrides just about anything with her genuine and hilarious personality, and now that she’s shown she has a lot more than meme material in the tank, it’ll be very interesting to see how the young rapper’s career progresses from here. She’s shown a lot of potential here and there’s only room to keep improving.
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Mefeater
Ephorize is definitely her best project so far. She goes over a wide range of topic and happens to surprise you from time to time. She is obviously one of the best female rappers and one of the best in general as of right now. The consistency of her career should definitely not be overlooked. She is an independent artist through and through. On this album, there are no big features and no celebrated producers. In fact, she got most of her beats from an online beat store that everyone in the world has access to. Ephorize is also her longest album, so the effort and peace of mind were definitely present.
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Live Mint
But lewdness and over-the-top references to sex apart, her songs are also angry ones about violence, social injustice, and gender issues. And those could emerge as directions her music could move towards in future. Her latest album, Ephorize, which came out early this year, marks that sort of an evolution. It is slickly produced, with beats that range from old-school hip hop to world music and avant-garde pop, it showcases CupcakKe’s witty one-liners and ultra-raunchy attitude, but also introspects and touches upon serious issues. Ephorize is clearly her best work till date and provides ample proof of why this is one rap emcee you have to keep your eyes—and ears—on.
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The New Paltz Oracle
Overall, “Ephorize” is a thoughtful and put-together junior effort by Cupcakke and her relatively unknown producer, Def Starz. This album covers such a wide range of themes and issues, combined with fun, fast beats. Jam-packed with the wackiest one-liners, this album will have you both laughing and crying. Cupcakke’s sincerity, paired with her hilarity, make for a thoroughly enjoyable album, but definitely not one to put on in the car with your mom.
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Student Newspaper
cupcakKe’s Ephorize is a breath of fresh air on the rap landscape.
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Surviving The Golden Age
Ephorize remains dirty fun with a mammoth heart.
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Brooklyn Vegan
Once Ephorize makes the impact that it seems destined to make, it should be abundantly clear that CupcakKe means business.
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The Top Tens
Good punchlines always have something funny about them, as they rely on creative and unpredictable exaggeration, and the greatest ones have clever word play. Cupcakke is capable of all of this. However, she is also capable of bringing heavy, hard hitting hardcore hip hop on Navel, some deep going thoughts on 2 Minutes, and positive statements on Crayons. She is diverse, and that’s what makes her such a fascinating femcee.
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News Whistle
Audacious, frank, and explicit as hell, Cupcakke is here, to be feared, get used to it. Ephorize is an album that reclaims the real in ways that will be utterly outrageous to certain listeners. Whether rapping about depression, stretch marks, or eating ramen noodles to remain humble, Cupcakke is in your face, daring you to look away. Admittedly it’s a little long, but this album is powerful on lots of levels.
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Rap Reviews
This is a good time to get to know CupcaKKe, because we live in a society that's already been made crass by our Commander-in-Chief, so there's no reason for CupcaKKe not to level the playing field the same way Stormy Daniels did. It may need an age appropriate sticker like the Crew did when I was a young impressionable kid, but if you're old enough to buy it you're going to enjoy her for one reason or another.
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Hyperallergic
Cupcakke’s blunt, booming delivery suits the mood, as do the beats, whose colorful array of rattles and pitched percussion effects inhabit an appropriately jumpy, sugar-saturated aesthetic. When she compares herself to the cereal Cinnamon Toast Crunch over the buzzy electronic dizziness of a beat that spins and thunders, she’s performing an ode to sensory overload. Her aggression as a performer reflects the daft tenacity of someone who wants the most out of life: the biggest and most danceable beats, the bounciest and liveliest raps, the most intense modes of physical pleasure. This album’s forceful assurance does this principle justice.
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All Fire Media
Chicago’s sex-positive spitter reaches her career climax.
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Wrongmog
With charged production that flits between old-school hip-hop, futuristic pop and even Latin, at 15 tracks it can feel diluted, but there’s no doubt cupcakKe is a potent MC on the rise.
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Sound Chips
Seriously – it doesn’t get much better or equaled to in the modern world of hip hop, or in the past several years for that matter, than this. Factor in the production (handled mostly by Def Starz), and you’ve got a serious top slot contender for the year with eleven more months left.
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Jason Romagni
I’m excited for some cupcakKe features, and feel that with a bit of polish she could really stand out. But as delivered this gets like a grade of a soft
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