Described by Rolling Stone Magazine as »one of the best rappers alive,« Noname has secured a lasting place in critics’ year-end lists with her three studio albums. Born as Fatimah Nyeema Warner in Chicago in 1991, the musician blends jazz, soul, and hip-hop into a timeless sound – one that serves as the foundation for her Socratic exploration of morality, politics, and society.
A defining voice for a new generation of politically engaged artists – including Akua Naru, who is premiering a new work with Ensemble Resonanz at the Kampnagel International Summer Festival – Noname elevates rap as a literary art form, expressing Black identity and capturing the complexities of contemporary life. This intellectual depth also defines great literature, which Noname, the daughter of a bookseller, celebrates through her Noname Book Club. The club highlights works by authors of Colour and runs a prison book programme, further intertwining her activism with her artistry.
At the Elbphilharmonie, Noname, who has been invited twice to NPR’s legendary Tiny Desk Concert, presents a specially curated set with an ensemble in the Grand Hall. This performance is one of four collaborative concerts between the Elbphilharmonie and the Kampnagel International Summer Festival.
PERFORMERS
Noname vocals