The last we heard of Chicago rapper Noname was during the very public Twitter beef with fellow rapper J. Cole about the views of African Americans in the United States. Since then, Noname has been very quiet besides advocating for basic civil rights. On the music front, Noname released her first single ‘”Rainforest” since last year’s “Song 33.” The single, like many others in her catalog, evokes black magic jazz styled in the form of poetry and a hint of R&B. Noname is one of those artists who continue to preach about the struggles of African Americans and still manage to provoke inner thinking.
The cover artwork is disguised as a prelude for the forthcoming track. Between what looks like a protest, two black men stand upon a police car. Just like the song, the artwork speaks to a nation of consistently ignored in the eyes of its neighbors. On a track as personal as ‘Rainforest’, it could be seen as the perfect climate for how all Americans see their nation. Capitalism is the root of evil and seeps into the very soil to which sprouts injustice.
The new single is the first piece of music from Noname’s upcoming new album, “Factory Baby.” Just from this single, we can expect the album to follow along the same lines and views as ‘Rainforest.’ With her style of old jazz mixed with coffeehouse free poetry, there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months. Despite speaking out on Twitter about various social issues, it seems Noname has a lot more to rage against.
You can listen to ‘Rainforest’ below.