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."
Reality Check
NoName Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A nigga was out for coffee
Inadequate like my window
The Grammy's is way too lofty
And I could stay here forever
I could die here
I don't have to try here
Can I get my two sugars please?
I'm still waiting in the line for cream
She dream in techni-color
Live black and white
Opportunity knockin'
A nigga just got her nails done
Skeletons in my closet gone open the door when Yale come
They ain't gonna wanna see my silhouette rap
He's fucking cognac
My smile in all black
Mississippi vagabond
Granny gone turn up in her grave
And say, my granny really was a slave for this
All your uncompleted similes and pages ripped
You know they whipped us niggas
How you afraid to rap it
You went to heaven after so we could free them now
Ain't no ocean floor when you can be a yeezus now
Don't fear the light
That dwells deep within
You are powerful
Beyond what you imagine
Just let your light glow
Seventeen moments and cloudy days on my snap
Mysterious aberration, illuminated the trap
My telefone-calications synonymous with the sunrise
Mountains against the foreground forever me coming back
I ain't gonna cry
The last time Ali marched Chicago
Twenty four and a late mojo teaching me how to drive
Whole world inside my rear view
This feel in me so alive
This feel in me so alive
Enjoy the joyride
Opportunity knockin'
It's finally time to answer
The doorbell was only broken 'cause auntie was fighting cancer
Cigarettes on my mantle keep callin' me by my first name
Loving me when I'm lonely
Pretending they really Noname
Don't fear the light
That dwells deep within
You are powerful
Beyond what you imagine
Just let your light glow
And when that call comes
(You better say hello)
You better say hello, no hesitation
(You better, yeah)
No hiding deep down below
No beg your pardon
(You better stay and grow)
You better stay and grow your liberation
(You better, yeah)
For your lonely soul
Or you'll be on your own
In the first verse of NoName's "Reality Check," the rapper reflects on her current state of mind and her feelings on the music industry. She feels inadequate and small compared to the lofty Grammys and wonders if she could stay in her current state forever without having to try to achieve her goals. She contrasts her own sense of self with the image of Jesus releasing an album and polls herself for two sugars for her coffee. The verse takes a more serious turn when NoName references slavery and how some rappers are afraid to address it in their music, even though it's such an important part of history.
The second verse of the song takes a more hopeful tone as NoName urges listeners not to fear their own power and potential. She references specific moments and people in her life that have shaped her perspective, including Muhammad Ali and her aunt who was fighting cancer. She stresses the importance of answering "opportunity knocking" and pushing past fears and doubts in order to grow and achieve liberation.
Overall, "Reality Check" is a reflective and introspective track that deals with themes of self-doubt, societal issues, and personal growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Opportunity knockin'
I have the chance to succeed
A nigga was out for coffee
My life is ordinary, but I see potential
Inadequate like my window
I feel incomplete and trapped
The Grammy's is way too lofty
Mainstream success is out of reach for me
And I could stay here forever
I am comfortable in my current state
I could die here
I accept stagnation
I don't have to try here
I have low expectations
Can I get my two sugars please?
I am ordinary and want a simple life
Jesus made an album
Religion and music can coexist
I'm still waiting in the line for cream
I am patient and willing to wait for success
She dream in techni-color
She dreams in vivid detail
Live black and white
Reality is harsh and lacks vibrancy
A nigga just got her nails done
I have small pleasures in life
Skeletons in my closet gone open the door when Yale come
My past actions will have repercussions
They ain't gonna wanna see my silhouette rap
My unique voice will be overlooked
He's fucking cognac
He is addicted to alcohol
My smile in all black
I hide my pain
Mississippi vagabond
I feel nomadic and unrooted
Granny gone turn up in her grave
My ancestors would disapprove of my choices
And say, my granny really was a slave for this
Their sacrifices were in vain
All your uncompleted similes and pages ripped
My past creative efforts were not successful
You know they whipped us niggas
Our history is painful
How you afraid to rap it
I am willing to speak the truth, even if it isn't popular
You went to heaven after so we could free them now
I honor the sacrifices of my ancestors by speaking out and fighting for change
Ain't no ocean floor when you can be a yeezus now
I am capable of achieving greatness
Seventeen moments and cloudy days on my snap
My life is a series of small moments
Mysterious aberration, illuminated the trap
A sudden realization showed me the negative patterns in my life
My telefone-calications synonymous with the sunrise
I am always on my phone
Mountains against the foreground forever me coming back
Nature brings me peace
I ain't gonna cry
I am strong in the face of adversity
The last time Ali marched Chicago
Activism is important to me
Twenty four and a late mojo teaching me how to drive
I am learning to navigate life
Whole world inside my rear view
I am reflective and look back on my past
This feel in me so alive
I am passionate and driven
Enjoy the joyride
Life should be enjoyed
It's finally time to answer
I am ready for success
The doorbell was only broken 'cause auntie was fighting cancer
There are obstacles in my path but I am determined to overcome them
Cigarettes on my mantle keep callin' me by my first name
Vices tempt me
Loving me when I'm lonely
I seek comfort in unhealthy habits
Pretending they really Noname
I hide behind false identities and personas
And when that call comes
Success is within reach
(You better say hello)
I should embrace opportunity
No hesitation
I should act quickly and confidently
(You better, yeah)
This is important
No hiding deep down below
I must face my fears and insecurities
No beg your pardon
I can demand what I want and deserve
(You better stay and grow)
I should commit to my growth and success
For your lonely soul
I have the potential to achieve fulfillment
Or you'll be on your own
If I do not embrace opportunity, I will be alone
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Fatimah Warner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sampsonharris8565
Opportunity knockin'
A nigga was out for coffee
Inadequate like my window
The Grammy's is way too lofty
And I could stay here forever
I could die here
I don't have to try here
Can I get my two sugars please?
Jesus made an album
I'm still waiting in the line for cream
She dream in techni-color
Live black and white
Opportunity knockin'
A nigga just got her nails done
Skeletons in my closet gone open the door when Yale come
They ain't gonna wanna see my silhouette rap
He's fucking cognac
My smile in all black
Mississippi vagabond
Granny gone turn up in her grave
And say, my granny really was a slave for this
All your uncompleted similes and pages ripped
You know they whipped us niggas
How you afraid to rap it
You went to heaven after so we could free them now
Ain't no ocean floor when you can be a yeezus now
Don't fear the light
That dwells deep within
You are powerful
Beyond what you imagine
Just let your light glow
Seventeen moments and cloudy days on my snap
Mysterious aberration, illuminated the trap
My telefone-calications synonymous with the sunrise
Mountains against the foreground forever me coming back
I ain't gonna cry
The last time Ali marched Chicago
Twenty four and a late mojo teaching me how to drive
Whole world inside my rear view
This feel in me so alive
This feel in me so alive
Enjoy the joyride
Opportunity knockin'
It's finally time to answer
The doorbell was only broken 'cause auntie was fighting cancer
Cigarettes on my mantle keep callin' me by my first name
Loving me when I'm lonely
Pretending they really Noname
Don't fear the light
That dwells deep within
You are powerful
Beyond what you imagine
Just let your light glow
And when that call comes
(You better say hello)
You better say hello, no hesitation
(You better, yeah)
No hiding deep down below
No beg your pardon
(You better stay and grow)
You better stay and grow your liberation
(You better, yeah)
For your lonely soul
Or you'll be on your own
@favereyes2280
Verse 1: Noname]
Opportunity knockin', a nigga was out for coffee
Inadequate like my window, the Grammys is way too lofty
And I could stay here forever, I could die here
I don't have to try here; Can I get my two sugars please?
Jesus made an album, I'm still waiting in the line for cream
She dream in techni-color, live black and white
Opportunity knockin', a nigga just got her nails done
Skeletons in my closet gon' open the door when Yale come
They ain't gonna wanna see my silhouette rap
He's fucking cognac, my smile in all black
Mississippi vagabond; Granny gon' turn up in her grave
And say, "My granny really was a slave for this?
All your uncompleted similes and pages ripped
You know they whipped us niggas; How you afraid to rap it?
You went to heaven after so we could free them now
Ain't no ocean floor when you can be a Yeezus now."
[Hook: Eryn Allen Kane]
Don't fear the light that dwells deep within
You are powerful beyond what you imagine
Just let your light glow
[Verse 2: Noname]
Seventeen moments and cloudy days on my snap
Mysterious aberration, illuminated the trap
My telefone-calications synonymous with the sunrise
Mountains against the foreground forever me coming back
I ain't gonna cry; the last time Ali marched Chicago
Twenty four and a late mojo teaching me how to drive
Whole world inside my rear view
This feeling, me so alive
This feeling, me so alive, enjoy the joyride
Opportunity knockin', it's finally time to answer
The doorbell was only broken cause auntie was fighting cancer
And cigarettes on my mantle keep callin me by my first name
Loving me when I'm lonely, pretending they really Noname
@josephmadrid4913
[Noname:]
Opportunity knockin
A nigga was out for coffee
Inadequate like my window
The Grammy's is way too lofty
And I could stay here forever
I could die here
I don't have to try here
Can I get my two sugars please?
Jesus made an album
I'm still waiting in the line for cream
She dream in techni-color
Live black and white
Opportunity knockin
A nigga just got her nails done
Skeletons in my closet gone open the door when Yale come
They ain't gonna wanna see my silhouette rap
He's fucking cognac
My smile in all black
Mississippi vagabond
Granny gone turn up in her grave
And say, my granny really was a slave for this
All your uncompleted similes and pages ripped
You know they whipped us niggas
How you afraid to rap it
You went to heaven after so we could free them now
Ain't no ocean floor when you can be a yeezus now
[Eryn Allen Kane:]
Don't fear the light
That dwells deep within
You are powerful
Beyond what you imagine
Just let your light glow
[Noname:]
Seventeen moments and cloudy days on my snap
Mysterious aberration, illuminated the trap
My telefone-calications synonymous with the sunrise
Mountains against the foreground forever me coming back
I ain't gonna cry
The last time Ali marched Chicago
Twenty four and a late mojo teaching me how to drive
Whole world inside my rear view
This feel in me so alive
This feel in me so alive
Enjoy the joyride
Opportunity knockin'
It's finally time to answer
The doorbell was only broken cause auntie was fighting cancer
Cigarettes on my mantle keep callin me by my first name
Loving me when I'm lonely
Pretending they really Noname
[Eryn Allen Kane:]
Don't fear the light
That dwells deep within
You are powerful
Beyond what you imagine
Just let your light glow
[Akenya:]
And when that call comes
(You better)
You better say hello
No hesitation
(you better)
No hiding, deep down below
(you better)
No beg your pardon
(you better)
You better stay and grow
Your liberation
(you better)
For your lonely soul
You'll be on your own
@devinmomwithablog5248
I heard this on the tv show The Chi and immediately typed the lyrics on google. I love this song so uplifting and beautiful. The beat is everything ✨
@maximemaximo6774
Me too
@KylaWoodards
That moment when you realize that we do have good music it just never gets played.
@Oxnehaga
Word...You gotta look for it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y6Uy_-hJRQ
@raceyboy
We got crappy music industry execs who view music as "product" and have zero taste. Plenty of good music out there. It's just not being promoted in the main stream.
@friesiamans1966
@raceyboy yeah man, we can be happy to have soundcloud, bandcamp and youtube for countless brilliant musicians who don´t have to sign contracts with record companies, so they can make the music exactly the way they want to play it - i´m an amateur musician myself and decades ago i decided deliberately not to go into music business - i´m not famous, but i´m happy to do what i like, haha...
i sometimes do a little sort of deejaying in a small weird club and i play what i want, also music like this here or even like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E75VPh78qkc
stay tuned and keep going - love and greetings from germany
@friesiamans1966
@Nani D hey nani, are you from hannover?
@twitchywitchx
If you had to realize that...thats your own fault lol
@sampsonharris8565
Opportunity knockin'
A nigga was out for coffee
Inadequate like my window
The Grammy's is way too lofty
And I could stay here forever
I could die here
I don't have to try here
Can I get my two sugars please?
Jesus made an album
I'm still waiting in the line for cream
She dream in techni-color
Live black and white
Opportunity knockin'
A nigga just got her nails done
Skeletons in my closet gone open the door when Yale come
They ain't gonna wanna see my silhouette rap
He's fucking cognac
My smile in all black
Mississippi vagabond
Granny gone turn up in her grave
And say, my granny really was a slave for this
All your uncompleted similes and pages ripped
You know they whipped us niggas
How you afraid to rap it
You went to heaven after so we could free them now
Ain't no ocean floor when you can be a yeezus now
Don't fear the light
That dwells deep within
You are powerful
Beyond what you imagine
Just let your light glow
Seventeen moments and cloudy days on my snap
Mysterious aberration, illuminated the trap
My telefone-calications synonymous with the sunrise
Mountains against the foreground forever me coming back
I ain't gonna cry
The last time Ali marched Chicago
Twenty four and a late mojo teaching me how to drive
Whole world inside my rear view
This feel in me so alive
This feel in me so alive
Enjoy the joyride
Opportunity knockin'
It's finally time to answer
The doorbell was only broken 'cause auntie was fighting cancer
Cigarettes on my mantle keep callin' me by my first name
Loving me when I'm lonely
Pretending they really Noname
Don't fear the light
That dwells deep within
You are powerful
Beyond what you imagine
Just let your light glow
And when that call comes
(You better say hello)
You better say hello, no hesitation
(You better, yeah)
No hiding deep down below
No beg your pardon
(You better stay and grow)
You better stay and grow your liberation
(You better, yeah)
For your lonely soul
Or you'll be on your own
@AjaxDGonzo
Thank you!