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The post Noname Returns with “Song 32” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Chicago’s Noname brings in the new year with a fresh single titled “Song 31” (is this the 31st song she’s dropped? Just curious), which sees production from Phoelix. Vibe to it below.

Also: if you’re not hip, Room 25 tour dates below.

Image credit: Noname

Image credit: Noname

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The post Noname Delivers “Song 31” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

6LACK – East Atlanta Love Letter

Image credit: LVRN/Interscope

Two years after the release of the groundbreaking FREE 6LACK, genre-bending star 6LACK is back with his new album titled East Atlanta Love Letter, which sees 14 tracks and additional appearances from Khalid, Offset, Future and J. Cole (who’s been shutting down guest appearances, lately). Catch these vibes below.

Ghetts – Ghetto Gospel

Image credit: GIIG

East London’s own Ghetts is back with Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament, a proper sequel to the classic 2007 mixtape that shares its name. You can certainly see how far the veteran emcee has come this go ’round, delivering heart-stopping bars over 17 tracks. Features on the album include Chip, Stefflon Don, Sir Spyro, Little Simz, Wretch 32 and more.

Noname – Room 25

Image credit: Noname

It’s already proven the high caliber of music Noname produces, especially after the release of her debut Telefone. Today, the Chicago artist is back with another work of art titled Room 25, which sees 11 new songs and appearances from Ravyn Lenae, Saba, Smino and more. If there’s anything guaranteed as a Hip-Hop fan, it’s that you will not be disappointed by pressing play on anything with Noname’s, erm…name attached to it.

Dizzee Rascal – Don’t Gas Me

Image credit: Dirtee Stank/Island

The legendary Dizzee Rascal is back with a quick-strike EP titled Don’t Gas Me,” which sees five track and additional appearances from Skepta, C Cane, P Money and Afronaut Zu. It’s clear that the Grime pioneer hasn’t lost a single step.

YoungBoy Never Broke Again – 4Respect 4Freedom 4Loyalty 4WhatImportant

Image credit: Never Broke Again LLC

NBA Youngboy‘s series of EPs is now brought together with a proverbial fourth, creating his latest album 4Respect 4Freedom 4Loyalty 4WhatImportant, which sees altogether 16 tracks and appearances from Kevin Gates (who makes multiple appearances), Quando Rondo (who also makes multiple appearances) and Young Thug.

Wale – Free Lunch EP

Image credit: Warner Bros.

Following the well-received It’s Complicated and Self Promotion, Wale returns with Free Lunch on his third EP of the year. Free Lunch (his first official project under Warner Bros., I think) sees 5 new tracks and appearances from J. Cole and Eric Bellinger. Don’t sleep on this one, either.

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1. dvsn – Too Deep

2. Erykah Badu – Hello (ft. Andre 3000)

3. Tame Impala – New Person, Same Old Mistakes

4. Sampha – Too Much

5. Syd – Body

6. Daniel Caesar – Japanese Denim

7. Alina Baraz & Galimatias – Fantasy

8. Frank Ocean – Chanel

9. H.E.R. – Focus

10. Andre 3000 – Prototype

11. Anderson .Paak – Silicone Valley

12. Mos Def – UMI Says

13. Kool & The Gang – Summer Madness

14. 6LACK – PRBLMS

15. Noname – Shadow Man (ft. Saba, Smino & Pheolix)

Listen and comment what you think below. Keep it simple, and have a good week readers!

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The DJ plays top 50 American hip-hop hits from ASAP Rocky to Lil Yachty’s “Broccli” (which ZOMB ends with) interweaving these tracks with more conscious and less mainstream rap. There’s a short break after the DJ before Noname. AKenya. , who accompanies her with vocals for the whole show, comes out and starts out the background track to “All I Need”, and plays the keyboard. Noname walks onto the small stage and immediately spits the first bar, “Noname off the drug, Noname quit the weed”. The track ends and she yells “What the f**k is up?” before transitioning into her second song, “Sunny Duet”. She comfortably commands the stage in white Nikes with scrunched up grey socks and her signature black and white striped polo dress. AKenya. leads the vocals on the third song, “Diddy Bop”. Noname jokes with the crowd and responds to the space, “its hella smoky in the joint”. The best part is that the crowd responds to her – giving her back even more energy than she’s putting out. Her fourth song is a new track, which she follows up with “Comfortable” by Mick Jenkins and “Lost” by Chance the Rapper; both of these are songs she is featured on. 

It’s an intimate venue – I am at the front of the crowd and barely a foot and a half from Noname’s face. It feels closer, and because her music deals with such important and deep issues, it feels necessary to have it like this. People know every lyric, and the venue changes from a performance by one to a choir made of the crowd at so many points. When she’s performing it feels like homies cheering on their favorite friend rapping, rather than an idealized show where there is one over-rehearsed performer on an insane pedestal. The front row has one leg on the stage for her whole performance, and she is playful – she has the audience whisper some lyrics and yell others. While the material of the songs is heavy, there is a joy and lightheartedness that Noname brings out – someone in the crowd yells “FUEGO” after every track and others spit every lyric from their spot in the mass. She is fully engaged, dancing to each song and in the moment with every individual in the crowd.  It’s infectious. She continues on with “Reality Check”, “Casket Pretty”, then immediately transitions into “Forever”, ending on “Yesterday” as her last scheduled song for the show. Asking the audience to sing with her, she turns off the background track and repeats “when the sun is going down, I picture your smile like it was yesterday,” multiple times, again creating that chorus like feeling in the room.

She quickly shuffles off stage after finishing her last line, and the crowd chants “Encore!”. She remerges on the stage, and says “We never done this before,” and asks the audience to put their hands together, creating a background beat. The crowd claps on rhythm and she spits the lyrics to “Shadowman”. The encore almost felt like a spontaneous cypher with friends, creating a more organic and authentic experience than most shows. 

Blue light illuminates behind her curly hair, making a soft halo behind her before she leaves the stage again. She was so real, and she lived every moment of her short 40 minute set with the audience. Some women chatted after the show, “for 9 euros it was unreal. I was smiling all the way, she’s so inviting and engaging… the energy on both sides…” That was what it was all about – the energy in the room. Her show was an experience, one you should see before she gets even bigger.

Photos courtesy of Thor Salden. 

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The post Noname and DJ ZOMB Fill Small Brussels Venue appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Hailing from Chicago, songstress Noname released her highly anticipated mixtape titled, Telefone, this week. To build the buzz, fans from all over tweeted “#Telefone” in support as they anxiously awaited the release. They were not disappointed. The tape includes features  from Raury, theMIND, Smino, Ravyn Lenae and Saba with executive production from  Noname, Cam O’bi and Phoelix.

The post RESPECT. Review: Noname – ‘Telefone’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

For years, female artists have been the definition of slept on in Hip-Hop. While many women have carved out successful careers such as Nicki Minaj, Queen Latifah, and even Lil’ Kim, the vast majority of the ladies in Hip-Hop have always flown under the radar or have been subjected to “hook duty” — my made up term for somebody who only does hooks. With today’s version of Hip-Hop being more focused on melodies and vocal abilities than pure flow and lyricism, you would think females would be running the sound. Not the case. Save for Nicki Lewinsky, females are STILL being slept on — we see you Rapsody. With that in mind, we present to you the all female edition of With All Due RESPECT.: 5 Songs You’ve Been Sleeping On. Check out the all female cast below and let us know what you think in the comment section!

Jean Deaux – “XYZ (Feat. Smino)”

Innovative songstress Jean Deaux is an artist worthy of so much praise. After enhancing tracks with artists and groups such as Pro Era, Mick Jenkins, and more; Deaux quietly released a jam of her own in “XYZ.” The track showcases Deaux unleashing her raspy voice and off beat flows over an easy going beat from THEMPEOPLE. Combining clever bars such as “I got the bass for the drummer pack/I light a match to the dumbest gas/You would think it was a bum in class” with a dope guest verse from Smino, “XYZ” is the perfect song to get the vibe going. Check out the track below.

Luna – “Beautiful Girl (Feat. BraveArt)

If nothing else, Las Vegas native Luna should be praised for her interesting single covers. After killing the game with the Method Man edit on her last track “Him“, she came back with the vulnerable still on the track, “Beautiful Girl“. But it’s not just the covers, the tracks are fire. Particularly, “Beautiful Girl” which starts off with a fantastic spoken word style monologue which then leads to a slew of witty double time rhymes. With bars such as, “I got a future so bright/ it obscures and it shines through the night and the darkest of hours/I’m too magical with these black girl powers”, Luna stakes her claim as a sensible lyricist. Check out the track below and be sure to get familiar with the Sin City native.

Noname – “Freedom Interlude”

Though she’s stolen the show on tracks with lyrical marksmen such as the aforementioned Jenkins, Kirk Knight, and even golden boy Chance The Rapper, Chicago native Noname is still somehow slept on. After dropping the “Gypsy” from her name due to hints of racism, Noname again flexed her literary muscles on the sobering loose track, “Freedom Interlude“. Going in over a simple yet inspiring beat that would make Common lose his mind, Noname raps about the “confusion and perception” as she would put it, in her world. Utilizing her soulful rhymes over the soothing track, Noname delivers the perfect track to make anybody smile. Check out the track below.

Zilo – “Figure You Out”

Imagine Macy Gray having a real Hip-Hop flow and witty bars. Now give her a London accent and you’ve got UK native Zilo. Nothing highlight that notion more than her style on the track “Figure You Out“. Serving her raspy lyrics about a frustrated scorned lover, Zilo compliments the warm and bouncy guitar rifts perfectly. Though the lyrics suggest a more somber tone, the combination of Zilo’s wavy falsettos with the groovy kicks and rifts make for a more positive tone. Check out the track below and stop sleeping on the London songstress.

Haresha – “Old Tuck (Feat. Flow Simpson)

Arizona’s music scene has been virtually nonexistent in recent years. Save for a recent spike in popularity for Futuristic, not many artists from the central desert have made much noise. Singer/rapper Haresha is looking the break through those negative notions. After collaborating with fellow Arizona rep Flow Simpson on banging tracks such as, “Jamaican” and “Mo’ Money“, the duo returns again with the weird but intricate track, “Old Tuck“. The track features Haresha flaunting her lyrical ability with rhythmic melodies over a different sounding 187 Beatzz track. The track is a perfect compliment to any smoke sesh and will have you in your thoughts… The good way. Check out the track below and check out Haresha’s recently released debut tape, Haresha In The Cut.

There you have it! Let us know how we did, did we get it right? Are we still sleeping on your favorite local artist? Let us know in the comment section below!

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