Noname released her debut mixtape, Telefone, on July 31, 2016. Her debut album, Room 25, was released on September 14, 2018. She is member of the trio Ghetto Sage, with Smino and Saba.
Noname's interest in poetry led her to compete in local open mics and slam poetry competitions; she placed third place in Chicago's annual Louder Than a Bomb competition. Noname then started to freestyle rap with friends, collaborating with local Chicago artists including Chance the Rapper, Saba, Mick Jenkins, and Ramaj Eroc.
In 2013, she appeared on Chance the Rapper's second mixtape, Acid Rap, contributing a verse to the track "Lost" where she sang the chorus to the song as well as her own verse. She later contributed a verse for the song "Finish Line/Drown" from Chance the Rapper's 2016 mixtape Coloring Book. In December 2016, she appeared with Chance the Rapper on Saturday Night Live. She announced her first tour on November 13, 2016.
In 2014, she was featured on Mick Jenkins' mixtape The Waters, contributing to the track "Comfortable". In 2015, she was featured on multiple tracks from Kirk Knight's album Late Knight Special.
Noname first used the stage name "Noname Gypsy", which she chose as a teenager when she was transitioning from poetry to music, believing "gypsies were very nomadic, just not about staying in one space for a long time". In March 2016, she removed "Gypsy" from her stage name after learning of its racial connotation, saying she was unaware of the negative connotations of the term "gypsy" and did not want to offend Romani people. In a 2016 interview with The Fader, she explained her current stage name, following the change:
"I try to exist without binding myself to labels. I’m not really into labels at all, even the way I dress; I usually don't wear anything with a name brand. For me, not having a name expands my creativity. I’m able to do anything. Noname could potentially be a nurse, Noname could be a screenwriter. I’m not limited to any one category of art or other existence, on a more existential level."
Noname released her first mixtape, Telefone, on July 31, 2016, after three years production. Telefone was Noname's method of publicizing her new stage name, through songs presented as open-ended telephone conversations. The album is centered around important telephone conversations that Noname has had. Her rap speaks of black women's pain and also highlights the struggles of growing up in Chicago. The album was originally released as a free download on Bandcamp, and then on vinyl in September 2017.
Rolling Stone wrote it was one of 2016's "most thought-provoking hip-hop." Stereogum wrote that Noname possessed "a potency and urgency in her complicated, spoken word-esque cadences and subdued delivery that escapes many of her more animated peers." Consequence of Sound wrote that "the louder her music is played, the brighter her cadence glows, giving her lyrics a type of 3D craft that makes Telefone a diary of lessons too relevant to keep to yourself."
In October 2016, Noname and fellow Chicago resident Saba collaborated to produce "Church/Liquor Store", a song that explores the Westside of Chicago where liquor stores sit directly next to places of worship. Noname critiques the gentrification of the neighborhood and the erasure of crime believed to accompany it.
In August 2018, Noname announced that her second album, Room 25, would be released in the fall of 2018. The album, which took approximately one month to record, chronicles the two years since the release of Telefone, during which she moved from Chicago to Los Angeles, and had a short romantic relationship.
Noname compared her maturity on Room 25 to Telefone, saying "Telefone was a very PG record because I was very PG. I just hadn't had sex." Unlike Telefone, Room 25 was created due to a financial obligation. Noname said in an interview, "It came to a point where it was, like, I needed to make an album because I need to pay my rent. I could've done another Telefone tour, but I can't play those songs anymore. Like, I could, but I physically hate it because I've just been playing them for so long." Noname paid for the entire album herself using money from touring and guest appearances on Chance the Rapper projects.
The album was released on September 14, 2018. El Hunt of NME described the album as "flawless" and "smartly constructed and laced with intricate subtlety." Rolling Stone said Noname was "One of the best rappers alive" and included her on a list of "Artists You Need to Know". Pitchfork designated Room 25 as "Best New Music" and wrote that it is "a transcendent coming-of-age tale built around cosmic jazz and neo-soul, delivered by a woman deeply invested in her interiority and that of the world around her." PopMatters said the album was "vintage neo-soul and future rap hand in hand; a soulful sanctuary for those turned off by the austerity of mainstream mumble rap". She performed a three-song medley of "Blaxploitation," "Prayer Song," and "Don't Forget About Me" from the album in her solo television debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on October 17, 2018.
On May 15, 2019, Noname announced that her upcoming second studio album would be titled Factory Baby. In November of that year that she said she was quitting music, and expressed frustration with her predominantly white audience. She went on to say that the demographics of her fanbase made her want to quit music: "I refuse to keep making music and putting it online for free for people who won’t support me. If y'all don't wanna leave the crib I feel it. I don't want to dance on a stage for white people."
BYE BYE BABY
NoName Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got the flu with the tea remedy for my boo thang
My baby needs some milk and honey
My baby needs some milk and honey
I swear he love me
My tummy almost got ready
For biddi-baby spaghetti
And teddy bear in my window now
Before you leave, don't look down
God will help you spread your wings
My baby needs some milk and honey
My baby needs some milk and honey
Ask me why she said goodbye
Why baby dyin' white walls
Cigarette's over skyfall
Writing this life, this my song
Ask me why she hesitated
Almost waited, waiting room
Play date up to heaven soon
Soon I will see the King
He reminds me
Some give presents before they're even ready
I could see that she loves me
I know her heart is heavy
Telefone-ication nation
Baby help me testify
Ooh you know I hate goodbye
Bye bye blue
Somebody let the yellow in
Bye bye blue
I'm gonna fall in love again
On a lonely road where happiness needs us
You my baby, you my baby
I'm your baby, I'm your baby
You my baby, you my baby
I'm your baby, I'm your baby
On a lonely road where happiness needs us
I'm gonna fall in love again
On a lonely road where happiness needs us
Telefone-ication nation
Baby help me testify
Ooh you know I hate goodbye
Bye bye blue
Somebody let the yellow in
Bye bye blue
I'm gonna fall in love again
On a lonely road where happiness needs us
You my baby, you my baby
I'm your baby, I'm your baby
You my baby, you my baby
I'm your baby, I'm your baby
On a lonely road where happiness needs us
I'm gonna fall in love again
On a lonely road where happiness needs us
The lyrics to NoName's song Bye Bye Baby are a contemplative exploration of love and loss. The song seems to be about saying goodbye to a loved one and coming to terms with the pain and sadness that comes with it. The first verse talks about a moment of intimacy with a partner, where NoName is taking care of her "boo thang" who has the flu. She's made them a tea remedy and is taking care of them, showing her love and devotion. The refrain "My baby needs some milk and honey" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the idea of nurturing and caring for the people we love.
The second verse seems to be about the aftermath of a breakup. NoName is reflecting on the reasons why her partner left, wondering what went wrong. She mentions "white walls" and "cigarettes" which could be referencing things like rehab or mental health facilities, suggesting that her partner may have been dealing with their own issues. NoName also makes a reference to the "king" and "heaven," perhaps reflecting on the idea of the afterlife and the hope that she will see her loved one again someday. The final line of the verse "I know her heart is heavy" is a poignant moment, showing NoName's empathy for her partner's pain.
The chorus is repeated twice and has a hopeful tone. NoName is acknowledging the sadness of saying goodbye, but she also expresses her desire to find love again. The line "On a lonely road where happiness needs us" is particularly evocative, emphasizing the idea that we are all searching for love and companionship, even when we feel lost and alone.
Overall, the lyrics of Bye Bye Baby are a beautiful and introspective exploration of love and loss. NoName's words evoke a mix of emotions, from the tenderness of taking care of someone when they're sick to the heartbreak of saying goodbye to someone we love.
Line by Line Meaning
Interview, interlude in the nude with my boo thang
Spending intimate time with my significant other.
Got the flu with the tea remedy for my boo thang
Taking care of my partner when they're sick.
My baby needs some milk and honey
My partner needs some love and care.
My baby needs some milk and honey
My partner needs some love and care.
I swear he love me
I believe my partner loves me deeply.
My tummy almost got ready
I was preparing for something special.
For biddi-baby spaghetti
Making a meal for my partner.
And teddy bear in my window now
Decorating our space with cute items.
Golden child, always smile
My partner brings happiness into my life.
Before you leave, don't look down
Don't be afraid to move forward.
God will help you spread your wings
With faith, you can achieve anything.
Ask me why she said goodbye
Wondering why my partner left me.
Why baby dyin' white walls
Reflecting on sad memories.
Cigarette's over skyfall
Smoking to deal with stress.
Writing this life, this my song
Documenting my experiences through music.
Ask me why she hesitated
Curious about my partner's behavior.
Almost waited, waiting room
Patience is necessary to get what you want.
Play date up to heaven soon
Looking forward to reuniting with loved ones who have passed away.
Soon I will see the King
Believing in an afterlife.
He reminds me
My faith brings me comfort.
Some give presents before they're even ready
People may promise things they can't deliver.
I could see that she loves me
I know my partner had feelings for me.
I know her heart is heavy
I understand my partner is going through a tough time.
Telefone-ication nation
Using phones to communicate in today's society.
Baby help me testify
Asking my partner for emotional support.
Ooh you know I hate goodbye
I have trouble saying goodbye.
Bye bye blue
Saying goodbye to sadness.
Somebody let the yellow in
Bringing happiness into my life.
I'm gonna fall in love again
Believing in the possibility of finding love again.
On a lonely road where happiness needs us
Looking for happiness on our own journey.
You my baby, you my baby
Expressing my love for my partner.
I'm your baby, I'm your baby
Feeling loved and cared for by my partner.
On a lonely road where happiness needs us
Searching for happiness together.
I'm gonna fall in love again
Believing in the power of love to overcome heartbreak.
Lyrics © JL PUBLISHING GROUP, INC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Neil Anthony, Fatimah Warner, Cameron Duane Osteen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind