What makes Telefone by Noname notable?

Telefone received widespread critical acclaim, being hailed for its introspective lyrics and unique blend of jazz and hip-hop influences. It debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart and was recognized by major publications such as Pitchfork and NPR as one of the best albums of the year, solidifying Noname's place in contemporary music discourse. When Telefone was released in 2016, Noname was transitioning from a promising newcomer to a significant voice in contemporary hip-hop. This mixtape followed her feature on Chance the Rapper's acclaimed album Coloring Book, which had already begun to elevate her profile within the genre. The project marked her first full-length release as a solo artist, setting the stage for her subsequent artistic evolution.

How many songs are on Telefone?

Telefone has 10 tracks, running approximately 33 minutes.

Released 10 years ago

Telefone

Noname · 2016

33 min · 10 tracks · hip-hop

A vibrant tapestry of spoken word and melodic hip-hop flows, blending personal narrative with social critique.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Diddy Bop — This track encapsulates Noname's ability to intertwine playful lyricism with deeper themes of identity and community, showcasing her distinctive flow and storytelling.
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Casket Pretty — Through vivid imagery and personal reflection, this brief yet impactful track addresses issues of mortality and beauty in life, highlighting Noname's poetic prowess.
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Shadow Man — The closing track serves as an emotional culmination of the mixtape, blending haunting instrumentals with poignant reflections on societal struggles and personal experiences.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

71 /100

Alpine

Higher than 95% of albums we've rated

Noname's blend of personal narrative and social critique creates a distinctive voice in contemporary hip-hop.

What we noticed

The first track opens with a spoken word piece that sets a reflective tone, leading into melodic hip-hop flows in subsequent tracks.
Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies and jazz-influenced instrumentation, creating a rich sonic texture.
The album's pacing varies, with interludes strategically placed to provide breathing room between more intense lyrical content.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Yesterday 3:09
2 Sunny Duet 2:42
3 Diddy Bop 3:28
4 All I Need 4:00
5 Reality Check 3:03
6 Freedom Interlude 3:19
7 Casket Pretty 1:50
8 Forever 3:38
9 Bye Bye Baby 2:49
10 Shadow Man 5:11

What to play next

Listen next

Room 25

2018

Full Noname discography Artists like Noname

hip-hop

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata