Room 25 – Noname ★★★★

Year	Album	Artist	Stars	Score	Genre
2018	Room 25	Noname	★★★★	80	Hip-Hop	Alternative Hip-Hop	Jazz Rap

Noname has definitely developed her own sound and style; that much is clear after two records. 2018’s Room 25 hits a lot of the same vibes and notes as 2016’sTelefone. It’s jazzy, smooth, close, a bit dreamy and brief (only 34 minute’s long compared to 33 minutes by its predecessor). 

However, Noname shows her maturity here. Her flow and bars are a little more aggressive, her barbs a little more pointed. “Self” is more reflexive. “Blaxploitation” is sharper than anything on her debut. “Prayer Song” is quicker. “Window” is more layered. All while maintaining the same level of sophistication in her presentation, because when you listen to Noname, you feel her intelligence and artistry. 

The best songs here I think are more dynamic and memorable than those on Telefone. But the package as a whole is a little less consistent in tone, and with Noname’s added maturity, you predictably lose some of the youthful charm and innocence that helped tie all of Telefone together. A small, understandable hiccup for an otherwise really well done mixtape.