Sundial: A Deconstruction of Self.

Noname comes back from a 5 year wait from Room 25. And within time, to say it has been a ride for her and everyone else has been an understatement.

Sundial is a powerful, introspective un look in the mirror for herself, but also the complexities of the black community dealing with themselves and the outside world. It’s a tale that although you reap what you sew, that our humanity and our mortality pretty much mean we will make mistakes. But, most importantly, no human can escape hypocrisy.

It’s a look into the life of the black musician specifically on a much different playing field. Noname isn’t this headlining MC, but she is very much respected by her peers. It’s the notion that anytime an artist whose music shows pretty good social commentary and more it’s almost like you are putting a target on your back at any given moment. But, the reality is that everyone’s politics aren’t perfect.

Although Noname delivers a nuanced issue that’s sobering make no mistake. Her cadence and pen are as sharp as ever. Noname’s calm and unorthodox style is pleasant meshing with the complexities of the message she’s trying to convey. For example, Beauty Supply and Potentially the Interlude are probably some of Noname’s best song making to date.

I think something I find interesting is what is the line for grace? I can understand the backlash for the Jay Electronica verse and can understand why she has been critiqued so much over these years. But, we’ve seen entertainers or people in general do much worse and not get near the amount of negative publicity. Someone who is known for doing their work in the community at that. Everyone’s moral line is always changing due to who they like.

Sundial is a breathe of fresh air in a very weird year for rap. It reiterates the notion that although the black community has work to do, we are all we’ve got and that everyone’s got contradictions. It’s one thing to tell someone to look in the mirror, but it’s another for you to do it to.

Black people are not these rigid ideas you have of them. They are fluid and deserve to be looked at as people who are forever changing.