Telefone (mixtape)

Last updated
Telefone
Noname - Telefone.jpg
Mixtape by
Noname
ReleasedJuly 31, 2016 (2016-07-31)
Recorded2016
Genre
Length33:13
Producer
Noname chronology
Telefone
(2016)		 Room 25
(2018)

Telefone is the debut mixtape by American rapper Noname. Originally announced in 2012, the mixtape faced numerous delays and was finally released four years later on July 31, 2016, as a free digital download. It features guest appearances from Saba, Ravyn Lenae, Raury, and Smino among others.

Contents

The mixtape was met with universal acclaim. [1] Pitchfork ranked opening track "Yesterday" as the 37th best track of 2016. [2]

Background

Noname, then performing under the stage name Noname Gypsy, announced to fans in 2012 that her debut project would be titled Telefone. [3] Noname first gained attention through her guest feature on the song "Lost" by Chance the Rapper from his second mixtape Acid Rap (2013). In July 2013, Hypebeast reported that Noname's debut mixtape Telefone was "due out soon" [4] and Fact reported in August 2013 that the mixtape was "set to drop any day now". [5] In January 2014, Noname stated that her first project Telefone would be either an extended play or mixtape, depending on if she could afford to pay for mixing. [6]

However, 2014 and most of 2015 passed with no new information on Telefone. Noname made reference to her fans anxiously awaiting the frequently-delayed project on Mick Jenkins' "Comfortable" from the mixtape The Waters , rapping "Noname on the comeup, Telefone never coming out, what's the hold up? / Where you been at? Where the print at?" [7] Noname was nicknamed the "Jay Electronica of Chicago" for managing to stay relevant despite only releasing music sporadically. [8] [9] [10]

On January 17, 2016, Noname released the song "All I Need" onto SoundCloud, featuring Xavier Omär (originally released under his previous stage name SPZRKT). [11] On April 4, 2016, Noname shared the song "Freedom Interlude", produced by Saba and Phoelix. [12] In June 2016, Noname moved to Los Angeles to finalize Telefone with Saba, Phoelix, and Cam O'bi. The group used two Airbnb rentals to house makeshift studios. [10] That same month, Noname shared on Twitter that Telefone would be released in late July and feature twelve tracks. [9] [13]

Artwork and title

In a June 2015 interview, Noname was asked about the title Telefone. She responded: [14]

I named it Telefone because I like the idea of what it means to be on the phone with someone for the very first time and all its little intricate idiosyncrasies. From the awkwardness to the laughter or various intimate conversations you can have over the phone, I want my project to be very conversational. I want people to feel like they’re on the phone with me, getting to know me better than a text message or a tweet.

The artwork for Telefone was painted by Nikko Washington, the art director for Chicago collective SaveMoney. Washington had previously done the cover art for Noname's tracks "All I Need" and "Freedom Interlude", but had never hand-painted a cover before. Noname asked Washington to make the cover depict the balancing act of life and death. Washington kept with this request, and painted a child as "a reflection of a young African-American child in this world right now. I tried to make her represent Noname, but not be her." [10]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.7/10 [15]
Metacritic 84/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
The 405 7.5/10 [16]
The A.V. Club A− [17]
Consequence of Sound B+ [18]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [19]
Flood Magazine8/10 [20]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [21]
Pitchfork 8.0/10 [22]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [23]

Telefone was released to rave reviews from fans and critics. The Guardian called it "nostalgic, intricate coming-of-age hip-hop." [21] Pitchfork called it a "stunning debut" and gave the song "Diddy Bop" their "Best New Track" honor, with Jayson Greene writing:

"Diddy Bop" is luxurious and easy and warm, a reminiscence about good times, or better ones. Her voice is in a playful and confident middle range between forestalling, singing, and slam poetry, and her lyrics carve out enough details to fill the song with an entire imagined cast of characters—jealous boyfriends griping at girls in love with Raz-B from B2K; kids nabbing twenties from their mom's purse..." [24]

Rolling Stone called the mixtape "some of 2016's most thought-provoking hip-hop." [23] Stereogum wrote that on Noname possessed "a potency and urgency in her complicated, spoken word-esque cadences and subdued delivery that escapes many of her more animated peers." [25] Consequence of Sound concluded 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."

"Diddy Bop" featuring Raury and Cam O'bi was Beats 1's World Record on August 8, 2016. [26]

Accolades

PublicationAccoladeYearRankRef.
Consequence of Sound Top 50 Albums of 20162016
36
Noisey The 100 Best Albums of 20162016
91
Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 20162016
27
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 20162016
28
The Skinny Top 50 Albums of 20162016
29

Track listing

All tracks are written by Fatimah Warner. Additional writing on track 10 by theMIND.

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Yesterday"
3:09
2."Sunny Duet" (with theMIND)
2:42
3."Diddy Bop" (featuring Raury and Cam O'bi)
  • Phoelix
  • Cam O'bi
3:28
4."All I Need" (featuring Xavier Omär)
  • Saba
  • Phoelix
  • THEMpeople
4:00
5."Reality Check" (featuring Eryn Allen Kane and Akenya)
  • Cam O'bi
  • Phoelix [a]
3:03
6."Freedom Interlude"
  • Saba
  • Phoelix
3:19
7."Casket Pretty"
  • Saba
  • Phoelix
1:50
8."Forever" (featuring Ravyn Lenae and Joseph Chilliams)
  • Saba
  • Phoelix
3:38
9."Bye Bye Baby"
  • Cam O'bi
  • Phoelix
2:49
10."Shadow Man" (featuring Saba, Smino and Phoelix)
  • Cam O'bi
  • Phoelix [a]
5:11
Total length:33:13

Notes

Personnel

Credits adapted from Noname's SoundCloud. [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. Cole</span> American rapper and record producer (born 1985)

Jermaine Lamarr Cole is an American rapper and record producer. Born on a military base in Germany and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Cole initially gained recognition as a rapper following the release of his debut mixtape, The Come Up, in early 2007. Intent on further pursuing a musical career, he went on to release two additional mixtapes, The Warm Up (2009) and Friday Night Lights (2010) both to critical acclaim, after signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earl Sweatshirt</span> American rapper and record producer (born 1994)

Thebe Neruda Kgositsile, also known by his stage name Earl Sweatshirt, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Kgositsile was originally known by the moniker Sly Tendencies when he began rapping in 2008, but soon changed his name when Tyler, the Creator invited him to join his alternative hip hop collective Odd Future in late 2009.

<i>Rich Forever</i> 2012 mixtape by Rick Ross

Rich Forever is the second mixtape by American rapper Rick Ross. It was released on January 6, 2012. It became one of the most downloaded hip hop mixtapes of all time. The mixtape spawned one commercial single, "Stay Schemin'" and features guest appearances from Diddy, 2 Chainz, Wale, John Legend, Nas, Kelly Rowland, Styles P, Birdman, Meek Mill, French Montana, Pharrell, Future, Stalley and Drake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Future (rapper)</span> American rapper (born 1983)

Nayvadius DeMun Cash, better known by the stage name Future, is an American rapper. Known for his mumble-styled vocals and prolific output, Future is considered a pioneer of the use of melody and auto-tune in modern trap music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iamsu!</span> American rapper and record producer

Sudan Ameer Williams, better known by his stage name Iamsu!, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is also a part of the production team The Invasion and lead member of the hip hop group The HBK Gang. Iamsu! has released numerous mixtapes in his career including Suzy 6 Speed, Million Dollar Afro with fellow California rapper Problem and the Kilt series. He is also known for featuring on LoveRance's "Up!", E-40's "Function", and Sage the Gemini's "Gas Pedal". His debut album Sincerely Yours was released on May 13, 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Young Thug</span> American rapper and singer (born 1991)

Jeffery Lamar Williams, known professionally as Young Thug, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He is considered to be an influential figure of his generation, with his music impacting the modern sound of hip hop and trap music. Known for his eccentric vocal style and fashion, Thug initially released a series of independent mixtapes beginning in 2011 with I Came from Nothing. In early 2013, he signed with Gucci Mane's 1017 Records, and later that year he released his label debut mixtape 1017 Thug to critical praise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Jenkins (rapper)</span> American rapper from Illinois

Jayson Mick Jenkins is an American rapper based in Chicago and signed to Cinematic Music Group. His debut album, The Healing Component, was released in 2016, followed by Pieces of a Man in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raury</span> American singer-songwriter and rapper from Georgia

Raury Deshawn Tullis is an American singer-songwriter and rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. He is known for his eclectic sound mixing soul, hip hop and folk. He was born and raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He was also a member to the C5 Georgia Youth Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noname (rapper)</span> American rapper from Illinois

Fatimah Nyeema Warner, known professionally as Noname, is an American rapper, poet, and record producer. Since 2019, Noname has run a book club focused on radical texts by authors of color. She is also one-third of the musical supergroup Ghetto Sage with fellow rappers Smino and Saba.

<i>Surf</i> (Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment album) 2015 studio album by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment

Surf is the debut studio album by American band The Social Experiment; it was released exclusively on iTunes as a free download on May 28, 2015. The album highlights trumpeter Nico Segal, formerly known as "Donnie Trumpet," and was created by Segal along with his band of collaborators called The Social Experiment — a self-described group of bohemian musicians, consisting of Segal, Chance the Rapper, Peter Cottontale, Greg Landfair Jr., and Nate Fox. The album was highly anticipated because of Chance's heavy involvement with the group, contributing vocals and some of the arrangements to the album. Surf was downloaded 618,000 times via iTunes in its first week, with over 10 million individual track downloads.

Tahj Malik Chandler, better known by his stage name Saba, is an American rapper and record producer. He grew up in the Austin neighborhood of the West Side of Chicago. He is a co-founder of the musical collective Pivot Gang with his brother Joseph Chilliams, their late cousin John Walt, and their high school friend MFn Melo. He is also one third of the supergroup Ghetto Sage, with Smino and Noname.

Joseph Davis, better known by his stage name Joey Purp, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He is one half of Leather Corduroys. He is one of the founding members of Savemoney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smino</span> American rapper and singer from Missouri

Christopher Smith Jr., better known by his stage name Smino, is an American rapper and singer. Smino is the founder of the musical collective Zero Fatigue with Bari, Monte Booker, Jay2, and Ravyn Lenae. He is a member of the hip-hop supergroup Zoink Gang, with JID, Buddy and Guapdad 4000. He is also one third of the supergroup Ghetto Sage, with Saba and Noname. Smino is signed to Downtown Records and Interscope.

<i>Bucket List Project</i> 2016 studio album by Saba

Bucket List Project is the debut studio album by American rapper Saba. It was released on October 27, 2016 by Saba Pivot, LLC.

<i>Merry Christmas Lil Mama</i> 2016 mixtape by Jeremih and Chance the Rapper

Merry Christmas Lil' Mama is a collaborative Christmas mixtape by singer Jeremih and rapper Chance the Rapper. It is the fourth mixtape by Jeremih, and the fifth mixtape by Chance the Rapper. The mixtape was self-released via SoundCloud on December 22, 2016, and features collaborations with Noname, King Louie, and comedian Hannibal Buress, amongst others. The mixtape is dedicated to the city of Chicago.

<i>blkswn</i> 2017 studio album by Smino

blkswn is the debut studio album by American rapper Smino. It was released on March 14, 2017 with Zero Fatigue under license to Downtown Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ravyn Lenae</span> American singer

Ravyn Lenae Washington is an American R&B singer-songwriter from Chicago who is currently signed to Atlantic Records and the Three Twenty Three Music Group. She is also a member of the musical collective Zero Fatigue. Her debut EP, Moon Shoes, was released independently in 2015 and reissued by Atlantic Records in 2016. Her follow-up EP, Midnight Moonlight, was released in 2017. In addition to performing at several music festivals, Lenae has also toured with SZA on her Ctrl Tour and Noname on her Telefone Tour.

Cameron Osteen, better known by his stage name Cam O'bi, is an American record producer, singer-songwriter and audio engineer. He has produced for Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Mick Jenkins, Noname, J. Cole, Bas, Saba, and Isaiah Rashad. His upcoming debut album is titled Grown Ass Kid.

<i>Room 25</i> 2018 studio album by Noname

Room 25 is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist Noname. Recorded in about a month's time, the album chronicles the two years since the release of Noname's debut mixtape Telefone, most notably her move from Chicago to Los Angeles and an intense, short-lived romantic relationship.

Ahmanti Booker, professionally known as Monte Booker is an American producer from Chicago, Illinois. He is part of the musical collective Zero Fatigue, and has worked with artists such as Smino, Ravyn Lenae, Noname, Saba, Mick Jenkins, Sango, Ari Lennox and JID, among others.

References

  1. 1 2 "Reviews for Telefone [Mixtape] by Noname". Metacritic . Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  2. ↑ "The 100 Best Songs of 2016". Pitchfork . December 12, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  3. ↑ Weinstein, Max. "Noname Releases Debut Project 'Telefone' - XXL". XXL Mag.
  4. ↑ Amani Mrutu (25 July 2013). "NoName Gypsy - Baby". Hypebeast. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  5. ↑ Chal Ravens (10 August 2013). "Free Agents: Noname Gypsy". Fact . Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  6. ↑ Sam Haywood (4 January 2014). "[Feature] Noname Gypsy: Humble Beginnings". JENESIS Magazine. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  7. ↑ Yoh Phillips (6 October 2015). "Don't Forget About NoName Gypsy, She's Trying". DJ Booth. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  8. ↑ Ben Niespodziany (21 January 2016). "Why Noname Gypsy is Chicago's Jay Electronica". These Days. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  9. 1 2 Yoh Phillips (23 June 2016). "NoName's Album is Finally on the Way (Hopefully)". DJ Booth. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 Alex Siber (4 October 2016). "The Making of Noname's 'Telefone'". Pigeons & Planes. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  11. ↑ Eric Montanez (17 January 2016). "NoName Gypsy • "All I Need" (ft. SPZRKT)". These Days. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  12. ↑ Ben Dandridge-Lemco (4 April 2016). "Noname Shares "Freedom Interlude"". The Fader . Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  13. ↑ "Noname Says End of July Is a Good Time for 'Telefone'". XXL . 28 June 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  14. ↑ Breon Jones (25 June 2015). "The Way I See It: NoName". Greenroom Magazine. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  15. ↑ "Telefone by Noname reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  16. ↑ Samba, Mugoli (August 8, 2016). "Noname – Telefone". The 405 . Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  17. ↑ Ray-Harrias, Ashley (August 3, 2016). "Noname makes black girl magic on Telefone". The A.V. Club . Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  18. ↑ Ramirez, Ashley Alejandra (July 31, 2016). "Noname – Telefone". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  19. ↑ Johnson, Eugenie (August 3, 2016). "Noname – Telefone". DIY . Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  20. ↑ Hurst, Josh (August 12, 2016). "Noname, "Telefone"". Flood Magazine. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  21. 1 2 Gibsone, Harriet (December 22, 2016). "Noname: Telefone review – nostalgic, intricate coming-of-age hip-hop". The Guardian . London. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved December 22, 2016.
  22. ↑ Daramola, Israel (August 8, 2016). "Noname: Telefone". Pitchfork . Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  23. 1 2 Levy, Joe (September 6, 2016). "Noname's 'Telefone' Is Truth-Telling Hip-Hop Sunshine". Rolling Stone . Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  24. ↑ Greene, Jayson (October 14, 2016). "Noname: "Diddy Bop"". Pitchfork . Retrieved Aug 4, 2016.
  25. ↑ "50 Best Albums of 2016". Stereogum. 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
  26. ↑ "Noname on Twitter: Tune in on @Beats1 at 11 CST @W1lko will be playing Diddy Bop as a WORLD RECORD". Twitter . August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Top 50 Albums of 2016". Consequence of Sound . November 28, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  28. ↑ "The 100 Best Albums of 2016". Noisey. December 7, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
  29. ↑ "The Best Albums of 2016". Pitchfork Media. December 13, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  30. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2016". Stereogum . December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Top 50 Albums of 2016". The Skinny . December 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2016.
  32. ↑ Siber, Alex (August 1, 2016). "Noname's Debut Mixtape 'Telefone' Is a Stunning Blend of Innocence and Stark Realism". Pigeons and Planes . Retrieved August 27, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.