Sunday General Discussion - January 13th 2019 - HipHop

Sunday General Discussion - January 13th 2019
Album of the Year 2018 #40: Noname - Room 25
Travis Scott Required NFL to Make Charitable Contribution in Super Bowl Halftime Deal
[SHOTS FIRED] Trippie Redd says Slim Jxmmi "music trash and he a bitch"
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RATKING feat. King Krule - So Sick Stories
Travis Scott - Black Mass
[FRESH] Nas - Echo (Bink Version) (Leak)
[FRESH] KOTA The Friend | Lyrics to GO Ep. 23 "OFF WHITE"
Damian Marley - Welcome To Jamrock
Issa Gold says The Underachievers have another project of bangers coming after Lords of Flatbush 3
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$UICIDEBOY$ - All That Glitters Is Not Gold, But It's Still Damn Beautiful
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8Ball & MJG - Comin Out Hard
De La Soul ft. Common - The Bizness (prod. by De La Soul)

Sunday General Discussion - January 13th 2019

Posted: 13 Jan 2019 09:13 AM PST

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Album of the Year 2018 #40: Noname - Room 25

Posted: 13 Jan 2019 12:42 PM PST

Intro

Artist: Noname

Album: Room 25

Listen:

Youtube

Spotify

Apple Music

Background by /u/Baskin5000

Fatimah Warner, aka Noname, formerly Noname Gypsy, is an independent artist and rapper from Bronzeville, Chicago. Getting into rap due to her love of slam poetry, Noname began her career with features on her Chicago peer's works, such as Mick Jenkins, and Chance the Rapper. Although announcing the name of her first project Telefone back in 2012, fans would have to wait until July of 2016 for it to finally be released. Not even 3 months later, Noname announced that Telefone might be her first and last tape; however, this would be alluding to her working on and releasing an album 2 years later, Room 25.

Growing up in Chicago, Noname draws inspiration from what it's like living there, as well as the hardships she faced throughout her life. Some topics and themes frequently discussed in her music is death, fear, love, and introspection. Some of her peers from Chicago include previously mentioned Chance and Mick, as well as Saba, Phoelix, theMind, Smino, and Ravyn Lenae, although Smino and Ravyn aren't originally from Chicago.

Moving to L.A shortly after the release of Telefone, she would proceed to make Room 25, only taking about a month. Sadly it wasn't her passion or hunger to make a new album this time, it was financial concern. She needed money to pay rent, and was tired of touring Telefone due to getting sick of the same limited songs she had released. Staying independent also had its drawbacks due to having to pay for everything on the album, from production to ubers to and from the studio. "Man, that shit is fucking expensive as hell. "[I paid for] the whole album, everything, myself. And I was like, do I want to spend this much money on something that's so minimal?"

It paid off, and in full control of the album, Room 25 was released on September 14, 2018.

Review by /u/Baskin5000

Her quiet demeanor and calm delivery has led her to take on the title of "lullaby rap", although that isn't an insult. Speaking softly causes the listener to listen more closely to what she's talking about, allowing greater reflection on her lyrics. It also compliments her unique production choices, working with Phoelix to make a blend of neo-soul, jazz, blues, and hip hop.

Although the production is almost identical to the style she used on Telefone, if there was one word used to contrast the two projects, it'd be growth. The vocals are sharper, the instrumentals are grander and cinematic. Noname's life in L.A open up a chapter of new experiences to learn from.

The album opens up with a strong start on "Self". Its instrumental is enough to immediately put the listener in a head-bop, the smooth vocal hummings of Phoelix and Noname adding to its catchy-ness. The title is self-explanatory, as Noname introspects on a range of topics. From rap, to religion, to sex and success. It's an amazing opener, as it almost goes meta with the first few words questioning where and how the listener would listen to the album. "Maybe this the album you listen to in your car, when you driving home late at night really questioning every god, religion, Kanye, bitches…"

"Blaxploitation" takes inspiration from the Blaxploitation films of the 70's (black-exploitation). Much like the name suggests, the genre had a heavy focus on using black characters and stereotypes for the films, which helped sell throughout the country. This is exactly what Noname discusses throughout the song, as well as using a driving funk-bassline similar to the ones used in the genre's theme music. Also used are samples from blaxploitation films, such as Dolemite, and The Spook Who Sat by the Door. Things to consider in this song in regards to blaxploitation, is that even though the movies used excessive stereotypes, they were also some of the first movies to feature black protagonists, instead of side characters or gags. Noname says, "Eating Chik-fil-a in the dark that taste like hypocrite" in reference to the stereotype, as well as the fact that Chik-fil-a has been known to be anti-LGBT. So if you support these movies, are you supporting the stereotype, or supporting black excellence?

"Prayer Song" is arguably my favorite track on the whole album. Mainly discussing the state of the United States, it offers two juxtaposed viewpoints: A woman living in LA, and a corrupt cop. The stories are separated by the chorus, a prayer sung by Adam Ness. The first verse is of the woman, talking about some of the problems people, specifically minorities, might still face in the country. Gentrification is still prevalent, driving minority communities out of their homes with higher rent. Capitalism leads politicians to base the country's decisions in their own pockets. Violent crime has led to overpopulated hospitals, and the superficiality of social networks leading people to get plastic surgery in order to look like their favorite celebrities.

The 'prayer' is not only catchy, but heavy in its symbolism, such as ending most lines with "amen, amen." Using apple pie as a metaphor for the obesity epidemic, and asking questions like, "Can you hear the freedom bells? Can you hear the nails chip chip away on the coffin?" makes the listener think objectively about the 'state' of the states. Does the country deserve our pride when it's own problems are leading people to lose their faith in it?

The second verse about the corrupt cop is much more direct and cinematic in its imagery. The cop has pulled over and is arresting presumably a black mother with a child in the backseat. When noticing her phone on the dashboard, the cop "could've sworn it's a gun" and fires seven shots into the woman, leaving the child to witness. In denial, the cop is self-justified because the neighborhood's are overpopulated anyway, with gentrification and death being seen as the "better" solutions to those problems. However the cop thinks to himself how the way he acts is due to his training, "they ain't tell me how to cry, just shoot… they only taught me how to check her pulse, she dead". He even refers to the killing as "winning" since it's seen as a "us vs them" problem, even though it isn't that black and white, no pun intended. In the end he's trying to find a therapist help cope but all he's taught is to just say "amen, amen". Thoughts and Prayers.

"Window" is about a previous lover and relationship of Noname, and how it helped her grow as a person. With a dramatic orchestral opening, Noname looks back on the relationship, realizing how sex was prioritized, with empty promises in-between. Dwelling on it, the hook is more motivational, telling Noname to "quit looking out the window", and build your future instead of thinking what could have been.

"Don't Forget About Me" is very similar to Telefone in its theme of death, as well as the Neo-soul instrumental. Noname discusses her fear of being forgotten after death, and wants to be remembered. She goes down her family, hoping that each one doesn't forget about her after her death.

Noname goes back to discussing relationships in "Regal" and how when she's with the right partner, she feels like royalty. The song oozes royalty too, with the instrument choices and word choice, focusing on religion and the lord in the hook.

"Montego Bae" is a play on words for Montego Bay, Jamaica. With a stunning feature from Ravyn Lenae, the duo talks about finding love in the city, smoking weed, and sex. Coupled with fast-paced, bass driven beat, this song is roughly one of the catchiest, and easiest to dance to.

"Ace" features chi-town's finest, Saba and Zero Fatigue's own Smino (hE's fRoM ST. LoUiS). The trio really brings out the best in each other lyrically and musically, with similar examples being "Shadowman" from Telefone, and Amphetamine, sin Saba. Destination: London, Smino raps about the locations there in his signature sing-rap style, as well as the hook. Noname's verse uses tons of alliteration and humor (i.e "...scary and fuckin' is fantastic and frankly I find it funny that Morgan is still acting…"). Saba kills his verse with a long winded, syllabically fast rap about going independent, and flexing his skill as a rapper.

Much like "Window", "Part of Me" focuses on self-growth, and features an amazing feature from Benjamin Earl Turner. Comparable to Kendrick Lamar in his tone and flow, he talks about race, violence, and life in his city.

"With You" could've been the self-titled album track, talking about making music and life in LA. Looking on her past life chapters, from Telefone to "living" in room 25, Noname discusses selling her life through music, from her biggest chapters to her darkest secrets, and if it's worth it. Even if it isn't, now in a physical form, her music will live forever "with you".

"no name" is the perfect closer to Room 25. A self titled track, Noname goes into the reasoning behind her name, or lack thereof. The introducing bass, and the send off from Yaw and Adam Ness not only tie the song together, but the whole project. The song only gets more grandiose as it progresses, only to end with the soft piano chords that it started with.

Favorite Lyrics by /u/Baskin5000

Y'all really thought a bitch couldn't rap, huh?

My pussy wrote a thesis on colonialism in conversation with a marginal system in love with jesus

Self

Don't nobody got no holy, everybody got an iphone

Darkness lingers in the wake of slavery

Why, oh why my dick getting bigger? This violence turn me on, me on

A free man in the land of the noose, they ain't tell me how to cry, just shoot, I did, They only taught me how to check her pulse, she dead.

Prayer Song

and frankly I find it funny that Morgan is still acting

If Smi rolling, I'm sorry, I'm tapping out

'Cause I know I got the gift like an elf and been wrapping raps around them like i'm a belt

Ace