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thank you @magnihasinsta for suggesting this song! @nonamehiding #noname #chancetherapper #macmiller #hiphop #freestyle
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Noname @nonamehiding 
“Room 25”
2018

Of all the modern Chicago rappers, I have no qualms about saying that Noname is my favorite. Her poetic yet conversational delivery, effortless flow, ability to balance humor with ideology, knack for distilling complex social commentary into something accessible and entertaining, and tasteful integration of jazz and soul all make her a singular talent.

Luckily for the impatient, Noname wastes little time revealing her brilliance on “Room 25.” The opening track, “Self,” kicks off with a gorgeous neo-soul and lounge-jazz arrangement: a rhythmic four-chord piano progression lays the foundation, an understated jazz bassline connects the chord changes, soft guitar interjections add texture, and rich backing-vocal harmonies extend the instrumentation rather than compete with her voice.

And that’s before even getting to the lyrics. In a little over a minute, she embarks on a hilarious and insightful journey of self-exploration while challenging the preconceptions of those around her. “Maybe this the album you listen to in your car/When you driving home late at night/Really questioning every god, religion, Kanye, bitches/Maybe this is the entrance before you get to the river/A heaven before the heathen no reason for you to like me.”

The rest of the album explores themes such as the commodification of Black culture, the exploitation of trauma, mortality, systemic oppression, and romantic intimacy. Despite these heavy themes, Noname’s wit and joyfulness consistently shine through, as if she’s acknowledging her anxiety and life’s injustices without allowing them to break her. Regardless of your feelings about rap, this is a perspective that deserves your attention.

#vinyl #firstlisten #record
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