This is Why Noname Turned Down A Spot on ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ Soundtrack

The Chicago MC cited Fred Hampton’s actual political theory not being represented in the film.

On Tuesday, the tracklist for the soundtrack to Warner Bros. upcoming Fred Hampton biopic, Judas and the Black Messiah was revealed. The album features tracks from BJ the Chicago Kid, Black Thought, H.E.R., and the first-ever collaboration between Jay-Z and Nipsey Hussle. On Tuesday, Noname revealed she turned down the chance to be involved.

When the tracklist dropped, Noname sent a tweet hoping the film would inspire a renewed interest in Fred Hampton. “I hope people actually go study Fred Hampton’s analysis on U.S. imperialism and fascism beyond just seeing a movie,” she wrote. “Most of his politics were stripped from that film.”

When one fan quoted the tweet to suggest takes like these are the reason Noname wasn’t included, she revealed that she actually was intended to appear on a song with fellow Ghetto Sage members Saba and Smino.

“What’s crazy is they asked,” she replied. “I was supposed to be on the song with Saba and Smi but after seeing the movie I decided to pass.”

When asked if the movie was still worth watching, Noname praised the film’s cinematography and the actors’ performances. However according to her, the film omits crucial aspects of his beliefs.

“It was shot beautifully,” she said, “the acting was amazing. But it’s a movie about an informant. Fred is secondary and his radical communist politics are [not] centered, at all.”

Judas and the Black Messiah premieres in theaters and on HBO Max on Friday, February 12.