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."
Self
NoName Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Really questioning every god, religion, Kanye, bitches
Maybe this is the interest before you get to the river
I had him before the heathen no reason for you to like me
Maybe this your life he just wanted a clean divorce
The baby ain't really yours
That's really for baby's teething, the chicken wings underseasoned
Y'all really thought a bitch couldn't rap huh?
And niggas are still scared of, nah actually this is for me
This one for TT at the lake serving the mac and the cheese
This one a small apology for all the calls that I screamed
Mister money man, mister every day he got me, mister weather me down
Mister me love, mister Miyagi, miscellaneous, mister molly inside my socky
Incredible, incredible, emptiness in my body
Heaven's only four-feet tall, I set my ringer to it
Fucked the rapper homie now his ass is making better music
My pussy teaches ninth-grade English
My pussy wrote a thesis on colonialism
In conversation with a marginal system in love with Jesus
Y'all really thought a bitch couldn't rap huh?
Maybe this your answer for that?
Good pussy, I know niggas only talk about money and good pussy
The lyrics to the song "Self" by NoName are complex and multi-layered. The song is a reflection on a personal journey towards self-discovery, spirituality, and social commentary. The song opens with the idea that the album may be listened to in a car on the way home late at night, and that this is a time when one may question their beliefs about God, religion, Kanye, and the treatment of women in society. The song touches on themes of betrayal, identity, and social inequality.
One of the most intriguing lyrics in the song is "Heaven's only four-feet tall, I set my ringer to it." This line is both playful and profound, as it suggests that heaven is something that we can reach for, but that it is also easily forgotten or ignored. The song also explores the idea that our bodies are vessels for our emotions and thoughts, and that our experiences shape who we are. The line "My pussy teaches ninth-grade English" is a powerful statement about the connection between our bodies and our minds.
Ultimately, "Self" is a song about finding one's place in the world and questioning what it means to be a part of that world. It is an introspective journey that encourages listeners to be open to new experiences, to explore their beliefs and identities, and to be true to themselves no matter what. The song is both poetic and thought-provoking, and it invites listeners to join NoName on a journey of self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe this the album you listen to in your car when you driving home late at night
This could be the type of album you play while driving home late at night, reflecting on life and questioning everything including religion, famous people, and women.
Really questioning every god, religion, Kanye, bitches
Not afraid to challenge and question the existence of any god, religion, famous person, or woman.
Maybe this is the interest before you get to the river
This could serve as an introduction before reaching the more important part, much like an interest before getting to the river.
I had him before the heathen no reason for you to like me
She had him before he turned against his beliefs and his actions do not warrant anyone's approval or respect towards her.
Maybe this your life he just wanted a clean divorce
This could be a reflection of a divorce where he just wanted to leave without any complications or emotional baggage, but the aftermath still takes a toll on her.
The baby ain't really yours
The child is not biologically his.
That's really for baby's teething, the chicken wings underseasoned
The chicken wings are bland and not spicy enough, while the baby's teething requires something for relief.
Y'all really thought a bitch couldn't rap huh?
People underestimated her abilities as a female rapper.
Maybe this your answer for that, a crack addict in the Reagen administration
This could be the answer to those doubters, and the symbol of a crack addict during the time of the Reagan administration.
And niggas are still scared of, nah actually this is for me
While some may still fear her, this song is ultimately for herself.
This one for TT at the lake serving the mac and the cheese
This song is dedicated to someone named TT who served mac and cheese by the lake.
This one a small apology for all the calls that I screamed
This song serves as a small apology for all the times she screamed during phone calls.
Mister money man, mister every day he got me, mister weather me down
A man who controls the financial situation, and is always present and consistent regardless of whether it brings her up or down.
Mister me love, mister Miyagi, miscellaneous, mister molly inside my socky
A man who is sentimental and loving, much like Mr. Miyagi, and miscellaneous like the various things found inside her socks.
Incredible, incredible, emptiness in my body
The emptiness inside her is extremely profound and impactful.
Heaven's only four-feet tall, I set my ringer to it
Heaven, despite its grandeur, can be reached easily and is not difficult to achieve.
Fucked the rapper homie now his ass is making better music
After having sexual relations with the friend of a rapper, they began creating improved music.
My pussy teaches ninth-grade English
A metaphorical statement to express that she has great knowledge and skill in the subject of English.
My pussy wrote a thesis on colonialism
Another metaphorical statement to express that she has extensive knowledge and understanding of colonialism.
In conversation with a marginal system in love with Jesus
Having a discussion with a flawed and inferior system that is deeply devoted to Jesus.
Good pussy, I know niggas only talk about money and good pussy
Acknowledging the fact that men often only discuss money and women, and that having good genitalia is desirable.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: Fatimah Warner, Michael Anthony Neil
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind