Prime Picks: “gospel?” by Noname feat. $ilkMoney, billy woods & STOUT
Noname, $ilkMoney, and billy woods tackle complex race, society, and faith issues.
It could be daunting to wait for your favorite rapper’s upcoming album. Noname released her second album, the first in five years, Sundial, which is one of the standouts in 2023. The follow-up to Room 25 packs no punches, as she is not afraid to detail her personal issues, societal issues, self-awareness, and the complexities of relationships.
With “gospel?” the tenth track of the LP tackles themes related to faith, struggle, social justice, and the Black experience. Verses from Noname, $ilkMoney, and billy woods referenced historical events, cultural aspects, and the trials and tribulations faced by Black communities. From colonization to systemic racism, the artists shed light on these subjects, urging reflection and action. The song combines gospel, rap, and soul elements to deliver an incredible message.
Noname opens the song with reflective and thoughtful lines. “Make believe, mustard seed / Move the mountain, assume the outcome is safety and permanent housing” implies faith and hope while referencing the biblical parable of the mustard seed. Midway through her verse, she alludes to the colonization and oppression of native cultures by referring to how Christianity was used to colonize and assimilate African cultures (“Webster dictionary cries, colonize the native tongue / Missionary Bible Belt, motherland overrun”). Her verse tackles subjects such as identity, the search for meaning, and contrasting the beliefs of the marginalized with the dominant culture’s narrative, challenging the status quo.
The hook provided by the lovely STOUT adds an uplifting tone, emphasizing hope and resilience. Her soulful voice contributes a melodic break between the verses. It acknowledges that there will be storms in life but believes the sun will always shine again. If we put up a fight and keep pushing forward, we will eventually overcome any obstacle.
$ilkMoney, who released a sleeper album last year, kicks off his verse stating he’s not surprised to hear “the Fugees is FBI,” relating to Pras, who’s convicted of multiple counts, including acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. He focuses on the disillusionment and betrayal faced by people of color while also tackling system issues, government manipulation, and the challenges of daily life. The mention of “G-O-D givin’ orders directly” might signify a personal connection to a higher power. Towards the end, $ilkMoney raps about creating a safe passage path and emphasizes the Black community’s importance.
But of course, billy woods steals the show with the last verse. woods engages with themes of revolution, unity, pride, and the complexities of historical memory as he paints vivid pictures filled with euphoric hope (“Just to get a glimpse of the comrades / Our boys back from the Bush”), anticipation, and determination. As he raps with a poetic style (and a piano backdrop), he recollects a community gathering filled with pride and unity (“I remember stadiums so packed / The trees outside the gates heavy with Black joy”), a Biblical allusion to resurrection, implying a return from the brink and a renewed sense of purpose (“Lazarus was alive / Squintin’ in the light, stinking of death / Mouth dry, red dust, a ghoulish prize”) and the symbolic representation of revolutionary ideals with a feeling of being on the cusp of significant change (“Little red book in my father’s breast pocket, the ground shook / History movie’ underfoot, I was on his shoulders on tenterhooks”).