Telefone, the vision and voice of Noname that is singularly her own
August 2, 2016 5:00 AM   Subscribe

A few months back, Chance the Rapper released Coloring Book mixtape (Soundcloud), "one of the strongest rap albums released this year, an uplifting mix of spiritual and grounded that even an atheist can catch the Spirit to." (Pitchfork) That mixtape features a ton of guests, including Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Future, Justin Bieber ... and Noname. Who? She's a Chicago rapper, formerly known as Noname Gypsy, and with her own mixtape, Telefone (Soundcloud), she "has only further solidified her reputation as a deft and hyper-intelligent young rapper, at first a one woman Digable Planets for the melodic Chicago contemporary, but quickly something wholly unique." (Noisey/Vice)
posted by filthy light thief (10 comments total) 25 users marked this as a favorite
 
melodic Chicago contemporary

Is that similar to Adult Contemporary?
posted by thelonius at 5:38 AM on August 2, 2016


This is worth a listen. It's pretty fluff and sadly, largely forgettable. It does indeed have shades of ladybug, but just barely. It reminds me of 3 or 4 other acts from over the years up to the present, that all surpass her. But I hope she keeps releasing and honing her work.
posted by cashman at 7:02 AM on August 2, 2016


From the guest names above I didn't expect this to be good but dang, this makes me really happy. Thanks for introducing me to this creative rap style!
posted by Mooseli at 7:18 AM on August 2, 2016


> melodic Chicago contemporary

> Is that similar to Adult Contemporary?

Eh, not really. I think that's "contemporary" as compared to throw-back, Golden Era boom-bap (read: 1990s style). For a more descriptive summary of the style, it's a hazy, blissed out sound, feeling actually a bit like Boards of Canada at times, specifically Diddy Bop, with some of that warbly analog sound, plus "melodic" modern R&B vibes.


It reminds me of 3 or 4 other acts from over the years up to the present, that all surpass her.

Who are you thinking of here? I'd love to hear more, thanks!
posted by filthy light thief at 7:32 AM on August 2, 2016 [1 favorite]


It's going to be easy to name female artists that she reminds of, probably because most guys in rap haven't tried this style. Sampa (current), Simple E (90s), And there's a little bit of Jean Grae & Bahamadia in there in the delivery. Some Psalm One? But I think this happens to most artists in the beginning. Then as they flesh out their style and make it their own, they seize upon what makes them truly unique.
posted by cashman at 8:11 AM on August 2, 2016 [1 favorite]


Love this record so far. Spent part of Sunday refreshing her twitter feed waiting for the link.

Recent tracks that didn't end up on Telefone:
Open Apology (ft. Saba)
Israel (ft. Chance the Rapper)

Also recently from the Chance and SoX collective thing (and also really damned good) is Jamila Woods' HEAVN with another Noname track. (Woods sang on the Donnie Trumpet and SoX song Sunday Candy.)
posted by eyeballkid at 1:04 PM on August 2, 2016 [3 favorites]


Pretty sure she was featured on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly track "The Blacker the Berry" and she kills it
posted by eusebis_w_adorno at 1:23 PM on August 2, 2016 [1 favorite]


With a name like Chancelor Bennett I'd love to see him do a chap-hop track
posted by iffthen at 2:26 AM on August 3, 2016


eusebis_w_adorno: Pretty sure she was featured on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly track "The Blacker the Berry" and she kills it

It looks like she wasn't credited on To Pimp a Butterfly. Discogs includes "featuring" credits for Assassin and Lalah Hathaway, and this version doesn't include any significant female vocals.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:31 AM on August 3, 2016 [1 favorite]


my bad-- I was thinking of the song Complexion which features Rapsody, who is not the subject of this post. Too many rappers to remember...
posted by eusebis_w_adorno at 5:39 PM on August 3, 2016


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