The biggest problem with Noname’s Room 25 is that the opening two tracks, adding up to barely four minutes of music, are just too damn good. ... The rest is merely exceptional. Essential. [Nov 2018, p.68]
Noname isn’t bringing us a romantic rags-to-riches story; here she acknowledges the pitfalls of fame (as well as the occasional perks) with whip-smart honesty. Just like ‘Telefone’, it’s flawless.
Noname leaves little to no room for filler on Room 25, conveying a wide breadth of compelling ideas within 35 minutes. ... Though it can require attention to detail for her words to sink in, she gives off a feeling of effortless and whimsical grace as she speaks from a place of stark honesty over live instrumentation. A complete one-of-one act who continues to grow in real time outside of the limelight, Noname makes a subtle yet strong statement for women providing alternatives to one-dimensional rap archetypes.
At just 35 minutes, she's now produced one of the tightest and most complete albums of 2018, while advancing philosophical wax on contextual freedoms of her black body.
Noname overwhelmingly succeeds in telling her coming-of-age story where she removes all emotional layers to explore everything from comical socio-political ideology to sexuality minus self-serving preachiness.
Days after the album was released, she turned 27, yet she already sounds like a seasoned professional, and the immaculately crafted Room 25 is highly mature and immensely enjoyable. Simply remarkable.
With the lyrical talent she shows in places here, the more Noname challenges herself--the deeper she delves into her own mind--the more fascinating, stimulating, and thought-provoking her music will become.
This is a record about maturity,love ,heartbreak and identity. It's looking back on your past the mistakes and accomplishments then regrettingThis is a record about maturity,love ,heartbreak and identity. It's looking back on your past the mistakes and accomplishments then regretting niether. Noname feels powerful in this record even when she's exploring her insecurity, lost love and vulnerability. A powerhouse, she returns with her similar (improved)jazz production and witty lyrics. The best example of a quintessential Noname song is the opener. In it she tells the story of herself through multiple narrators as she contemplates **** " then addresses the critique of her music style that isn't seen as actual rap. The entire track feels so confident and fun like a conversation with a best friend. One of the best moments in a rap album since the sequencing of TPAB is the 1,2,3 punch of self,blaxploitation&prayer song. Each song like most of the albums flow into each other almost seamlessly without being monotonous. Each song has an immediacy that avoids feeling rushed but rather feels as if she has something important to say ,says it and moves on. No need to make it more than it is already said to. This album feels, without being derivative ,as if "Lemonade by Beyoncé, Ctrl by SZA and good kid mad city " were thrown into a blender to make a smoothy of the identity of being black,female,black in America and telling a story without sacrificing the musicality. The record with it's grand message feels small in terms of length. It feels so ephemeral that repeated listens are guaranteed. And with them you discover more jokes,bars and production flourishes. The life mimics art proverb is true here as the longer u experience it the more you understand and the more nilhistic you become. This is pure brilliance. I knew rap could be this great I just never knew it would sound so peaceful. This is the lullaby that doesn't put u to sleep. It keeps u up at night. Whether you r laughing or crying depends on how you take it.
Favourites:selfs,blaxploitation,regal,prayer song, part of me,don't forget about me,ace,with you, montego bae,no name,window(yes,i did just list the tracklist. That's because they r all favourites)…Expand
She as a songwriter knows exactly how she have to manage her voice to make it sound perfect with the beat, also she uses some things you canShe as a songwriter knows exactly how she have to manage her voice to make it sound perfect with the beat, also she uses some things you can experience in your daily live and makes it so beautiful and poetic. The album put together makes total sense, making you drown in some relax vibes and singing along.…Expand
Congratulations Girl! You Made the Best album of the Year! I am a huge fan of Noname and this album is so true, so herself... I can’t describeCongratulations Girl! You Made the Best album of the Year! I am a huge fan of Noname and this album is so true, so herself... I can’t describe but I loved the lyrics, the production... there’s no bad sog…Expand
9/10
In my original review I gave this album a 10/10, but after further listening, I have decided that it can sometimes be repetitive and9/10
In my original review I gave this album a 10/10, but after further listening, I have decided that it can sometimes be repetitive and lacks experimentation, like a lot of jazz rap. It is an amazing album, but not a perfect one. Everything I said in my review below is still true, but I still feel the album could improve in some ways.
This was my original review:
10/10
When I first listened to Telefone in 2016, it was immediately a favorite album of mine. It pulled me into neo-soul/rap, and ever since then I have listened to every bit of music from Noname's whole posse (ie. Saba, Smino, Ravyn Lenae). As much as I enjoyed Care for Me by Saba, I began to miss Noname's hypnotic voice and her distinct sound that originally attracted me to neo-soul/rap. Although I loved Telefone, it certainly was lacking a bit of depth and meaning. Even though Room 25 is just as short as Telefone, it is concise and has a strong and important message. It brings a unique and extraordinary sound to a genre that is otherwise only consistently good. Room 25 is a masterpiece. There is not a single bad track.…Expand
After Listening to Room 25 a few times, a great sense of relaxation is felt through not only the beats themselves, but the lyrics thatAfter Listening to Room 25 a few times, a great sense of relaxation is felt through not only the beats themselves, but the lyrics that accompany them. Noname's voice perfectly compliments the chilled out beats and flow of the tracks.
Although this is an impressively made album, it does feel like a lot of the tracks meld together and you get lost as to which track you are listening to. The similarities of the tracks sometimes works for artists, but with Noname, I think it takes away from her lyrical and techincal skill.…Expand
Nice word play but she talks and puts no effort into it, rap isn't talking it's about changing your tone & delivery I was quite boredNice word play but she talks and puts no effort into it, rap isn't talking it's about changing your tone & delivery I was quite bored throughout & once again this site got the ratings wrong. Not bad but nowhere near an 8 more effort next time.…Expand
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