Noname's debut studio album arrived two years after her Telefone mixtape was released to widespread acclaim. While the mixtape was conceived over the course of several years, during which the rapper/poet built up a buzz through appearances on releases by fellow Chicagoans like Chance the Rapper and Mick Jenkins, Room 25 was recorded in about a month, after Noname had relocated to Los Angeles and embarked on her first headlining tour. She stated that she needed to make an album in order to pay her rent, and that she needed new material to perform, especially since her life had changed so much since she wrote her older songs. Hardly anything about Room 25 sounds rushed, however. Her complex lyrics are delivered with ease and confidence, and she's backed up by jazzy, sophisticated rhythms and occasional lush string arrangements. Her tone is sweet, exuberant, and conversational, yet her lyrics are deeply insightful, seamlessly switching between sexual and political subjects on tracks like "Prayer Song." She effortlessly tosses out punch lines, sometimes even giggling at herself, and her joy is contagious. Yet there are also numerous bluntly introspective moments, particularly when she ruminates on the fragility of life and hopes her family remembers her after her death on "Don't Forget About Me." A few guests help out, including Ravyn Lenae on the slinky "Montego Bae" and Saba and Smino on the smooth yet quick-witted "Ace," but Noname isn't outshone by any of them. 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. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi

1		Self
2		Blaxploitation
3		Prayer Song
4		Window
5		Don't Forget About Me
6		Regal
7		Montego Bae
8		Ace
9		Part of Me
10		With You
11		no name

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