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. Iβm 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. Iβm able to do anything. Noname could potentially be a nurse, Noname could be a screenwriter. Iβm 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 wonβt 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."
Rainforest
NoName Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How you eliminate all your sadness when you openin' up?
How you make excuses for billionaires, you broke on the bus?
I need niggas around me rollin' up and smokin' me up
Because, because when a rainforest cries
Everybody dies a little
And I just wanna dance tonight
And I just wanna dance tonight
He my little baby Medusa, tippin' the juice up
I go back and forth in an Uber, travel for two months
I'm the emptiest hallelujah, open my chest up
It's a rabbit inside my hat, angel all dressed up
Lookin' to bless up at the milk and the honey gates
I make money for money's sake, I been writin' a hundred days
Took the wretched out the earth and called it baby Fanon
I know my shoulder blades are shattered wings that carry me home
I said baby, come on
You know this flesh is only temporary, brittle as bone
Why don't you empty out your love for me, then chisel the stone?
These are ten Black commandments, a property loan
'Cause every blade of grass on earth, we don't actually own
"I am the I am," says Sam am I
The universe bleeds infinity, you got one life
Uh, yeah, how you get closer to love?
How you eliminate all your sadness when you openin' up?
How you make excuses for billionaires, you broke on the bus?
I need niggas around me rollin' up and smokin' me up
Because, because when a rainforest cries (cries)
Everybody dies a little (everybody dies a little)
I just wanna dance tonight
I just wanna dance tonight (I just wanna dance tonight)
If you think you love me, then bury me when the sun up
Faded with the homie, he pearlin' another blunt up
Talkin' to Muhammed like, "niggas don't really trust us"
Dyin' on stolen land for a dollar like that ain't fucked up
It's fuck they money, I'ma say it every song
Until the revolution come and all the feds start runnin'
Fuck a Good Will Hunting, this is brand new murder
Revolutionary suicide, then close the curtain
You ain't seen death, I can hear the blood on the moon
These niggas put a flag up on it, all they do is consume
Only animal that ravage everything in its path
They turned a natural resource into a bundle of cash
Made the world anti-Black, then divided the class
Now the rich niggas is rich niggas with your bread
Really bitch niggas with big figures, some cokeheads
These bitches is cokeheads, man, fuck a billionaire, nigga
How you get closer to love?
How you eliminate all your sadness when you openin' up?
How you make excuses for billionaires, you broke on the bus?
I need niggas around me rollin' up and smokin' me up
Because, because when a rainforest cries (cries)
Everybody dies a little (everybody dies a little)
I just wanna dance tonight (dance)
I just wanna dance tonight
"NoName's song "Rainforest" explores themes of love, social inequality, and the destruction of nature. The lyrics start with questions about how to approach love and deal with sadness, juxtaposed against the struggle of living in poverty while billionaires exist. This highlights the stark contrast between those who have and those who do not, as well as the difficulty of finding happiness and connection in a world marked by inequality. The singer longs for companionship and support, symbolized by wanting people around to roll and smoke up with.
The second verse introduces the metaphor of the singer being like "baby Medusa" and going back and forth in an Uber, signifying the conflicting emotions and transient nature of their experiences. The mention of a rabbit inside a hat represents the hidden potential or surprise within oneself. The lyrics go on to express the desire for love and connection, suggesting that love is temporary but also capable of leaving a lasting impact. The reference to "baby Fanon" is a nod to the philosopher Frantz Fanon, who wrote about the racial identity and struggles faced by Black people.
The chorus repeats the questions about love and sadness, emphasizing the universal nature of these emotions. The rainforest is used as a powerful symbol, as its cries are a metaphor for the collective suffering and loss experienced by all humanity. Despite this, the desire to dance is an expression of joy and resilience in the face of adversity.
The final verse delves further into societal issues, condemning the exploitation of stolen land and the devaluation of Black lives. The lyrics criticize the hoarding of wealth by the rich and decry their actions as contributing to the world's anti-Black sentiment. The mention of turning natural resources into profit serves as a critique of capitalism and the destructive nature of consumerism. The song concludes with a call for revolution and a rejection of billionaires, suggesting that change can only come through a collective uprising.
Line by Line Meaning
How you get closer to love?
What actions can you take to deepen your understanding and experience of love?
How you eliminate all your sadness when you openin' up?
How do you let go of your sadness and vulnerability when you allow yourself to be open?
How you make excuses for billionaires, you broke on the bus?
Why do you defend billionaires and make excuses for them when you yourself are struggling financially?
I need niggas around me rollin' up and smokin' me up
I want to be surrounded by people who uplift and support me, especially through smoking together.
Because, because when a rainforest cries
Because whenever the rainforest is harmed or destroyed,
Everybody dies a little
The impact affects everyone, causing a collective loss.
And I just wanna dance tonight
And all I want is to let go and enjoy myself through dancing.
He my little baby Medusa, tippin' the juice up
He is like a mythical creature, dangerous and captivating, as we indulge in intoxication.
I go back and forth in an Uber, travel for two months
I constantly move and travel, often relying on ride-sharing services like Uber, sometimes for extended periods.
I'm the emptiest hallelujah, open my chest up
I am a conflicted being, expressing praise and devotion but feeling a deep emptiness within.
It's a rabbit inside my hat, angel all dressed up
There is something unexpected and hidden within me, an angelic presence disguised as a magician's trick.
Lookin' to bless up at the milk and the honey gates
Searching for abundance and prosperity at a place of richness and luxury.
I make money for money's sake, I been writin' a hundred days
I prioritize making money just for the sake of it, continuously writing and creating for extended periods.
Took the wretched out the earth and called it baby Fanon
I have extracted the oppressed and marginalized from society, naming them after Frantz Fanon, a theorist known for his work on colonialism and racism.
I know my shoulder blades are shattered wings that carry me home
I am aware that my past experiences and traumas have left me broken, yet they serve as a guiding force to bring me back to a place of comfort and belonging.
I said baby, come on
I express a plea or invitation to my lover or companion.
You know this flesh is only temporary, brittle as bone
You are aware that our physical bodies are fleeting and fragile, just like bones.
Why don't you empty out your love for me, then chisel the stone?
Why don't you fully express your love for me, then solidify it permanently like chiseling a stone?
These are ten Black commandments, a property loan
These commandments serve as guidelines or principles for the Black community, similar to a loan that aims to secure property ownership.
'Cause every blade of grass on earth, we don't actually own
Because we do not truly own every blade of grass on this earth, highlighting the illusion of ownership and the interconnectedness of all life.
"I am the I am," says Sam am I
"I am who I am," proclaims a reference to the Bible's God in the book of Exodus, emphasizing self-identity and existence.
The universe bleeds infinity, you got one life
The vastness of the universe carries immeasurable possibilities and opportunities, making each individual's life limited and precious.
If you think you love me, then bury me when the sun up
If you truly believe you love me, then show it by staying with me until morning.
Faded with the homie, he pearlin' another blunt up
Getting high with my friend, as he skillfully rolls another joint.
Talkin' to Muhammed like, "niggas don't really trust us"
Having a conversation with someone named Muhammed, discussing the lack of trust that people have in us.
Dyin' on stolen land for a dollar like that ain't fucked up
Losing our lives on land that was taken from us, all for the pursuit of money, highlighting the injustice and absurdity of the situation.
It's fuck they money, I'ma say it every song
I'm against their wealth and material possessions, and I will voice my opposition in every song I create.
Until the revolution come and all the feds start runnin'
Continuing to express my discontent and resistance until a revolution occurs, causing those in power to flee.
Fuck a Good Will Hunting, this is brand new murder
Disregarding the movie 'Good Will Hunting' and its themes, as this represents a fresh form of rebellion and resistance.
Revolutionary suicide, then close the curtain
Committing to a revolutionary cause to the point of sacrificing oneself, ultimately leading to the end or conclusion of a significant event or movement.
You ain't seen death, I can hear the blood on the moon
You have not truly experienced death, but I can sense its presence and the ominous signs in the world.
These niggas put a flag up on it, all they do is consume
These individuals claim ownership and control over something, but all they do is mindlessly consume and exploit it.
Only animal that ravage everything in its path
Humans are the only species that destructively consume and destroy everything in their way.
They turned a natural resource into a bundle of cash
They have transformed a valuable and natural resource into a commodity solely for monetary gain.
Made the world anti-Black, then divided the class
They have propagated a global system that is biased against Black individuals, further perpetuating social and economic divisions.
Now the rich niggas is rich niggas with your bread
Now the wealthy individuals are only concerned with accumulating more wealth, often at the expense of others' financial well-being.
Really bitch niggas with big figures, some cokeheads
In reality, these individuals are not worthy of respect, as they prioritize material possessions and indulging in drugs.
These bitches is cokeheads, man, fuck a billionaire, nigga
These women are also addicted to drugs, and they share my sentiment of not valuing billionaires.
Lyrics Β© Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Fatimah Nyeema Warner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind