Noname has decided to ditch her Room 25 cover art. The venerable wordsmith is making a change due to allegations of domestic abuse against the cover’s creator, Chicago artist Bryant Giles.
“In light of recent allegations, I will be working to replace the cover artwork of Room 25,” Noname announced on Twitter. “I do not and will not support abusers, and I will always stand up for victims and believe their stories. My heart goes out to Ellie, her family, and all survivors of abuse.”
According to Chicago Police Department records, Giles was arrested for domestic battery on October 8. Shea Vaughan-Gabor, a friend of the alleged victim, publicized his arrest on social media and also accused of him of rape.
“My former ChiArts classmate and former friend, Bryant Giles is A Rapist and A Domestic Abuser,” she wrote. “I want to say that again, just in case you thought you read it wrong. Bryant Giles is A Rapist and A Domestic Abuser.
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“He was picked up a few days ago by CPD for aggravated battery against his now ex-girlfriend, my best friend, Ellie Danisch. I’ve attached the police report. And with the love + care of friends and family, she has found strength and an admirable bravery to go forward with pressing charges against him. The trial will be in November. We can only hope the rape kit and bravery of Ellie to disclose her trauma in court will move the jury to make the right decision and convict him of rape as well as aggravated assault.”
Noname’s Room 25 was released on September 14 to critical acclaim. HipHopDX gave the album a 4.3 out of 5 rating in our review, praising her for succeeding in “telling her coming-of-age story where she removes all emotional layers to explore everything from comical socio-political ideology to sexuality minus self-serving preachiness.”
Stream Noname’s Room 25 below.
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