Noname

With an even-keeled blend of spoken-word flows, jazzy sound beds and introspection, Noname is one of the most poignant wordsmiths in the Windy City. Born Fatimah Nyeema Warner in 1991, the Chicago native got into slam poetry and rap after taking a creative-writing class in school. In 2013, she previewed her knack for sincere poetry when she appeared on "Lost", a cut on friend and fellow local act Chance the Rapper's Acid Rap mixtape. In 2016, she released Telefone, a debut mixtape that earned acclaim for its combination of intimate songwriting and half-sung melodies. She reaffirmed her talents with subsequent releases Room 25 and Sundial. For the former, her debut studio album, she injects neo-soul into the mix as she trades bars with artists like Smino and Saba. For the latter, she adds flourishes of gospel, along with guest spots from Jay Electronica and billy woods. Noname's releases tend to be far and few between, but her sensitivity and understanding of aesthetics always make them worth the wait.