BUKU Artist Spotlight: Noname

Noname is a rapper from Chicago, known in her neighborhood of Bronzeville by her name Fatimah Warner. She grew up with a love and talent for poetry and rap, and began performing slam poetry and rap at open mic events throughout her teenage years. Engaging in the local scene, she met other Chicago hip-hop and rap talents, such as Chance the Rapper and Mick Jenkins.

She began her career and started building her name in music as she began collaborating with these local artists in their work through features. In 2013, she gained recognition as she collaborated with Chance on his mixtape, Acid Rap, featured on the song “Lost.” She also performed alongside Chance on Saturday Night Live in 2013. Noname also contributed features on songs by Mick Jenkins and Kirk Knight in her early career.

Noname released her own first mixtape in 2016, Telefone, which she spent years producing. The album gained immediate positive attention, with the theme centered around telephone conversations she had over the years. Rarely seeing rap and hip-hop work from black women in such a genuine and authentic way, critics and fans alike raved over her work. Taking on challenging lyrical content about struggles of being a black woman and growing up in Chicago, but also being soft, gentle, and innocently feminine in doing so, Noname created a unique sound and brand for herself. She created something new that hasn’t been done before, her sound being vibrant, personal, and socially relevant. In a sense, she reclaims rap for women by not fitting into the stereotype of having to act “hard,” “tough,” or sexy to fit into the genre, but she stays true to herself and performs this art in her own way.

Adding Noname to their diverse lineup, she is performing at BUKU Music & Arts Festival alongside many other talented female artists like Princess Nokia, Alison Wonderland, SZA, and more. You won’t want to miss hearing her beautiful voice and vibrant performance live at this exciting festival along the river in New Orleans. Taking place on March 9th and 10th, you can view ticket info and details for BUKU by clicking here. You can also check out Noname’s mixtape on her Soundcloud below.