← All Of It with Alison Stewart
All Of It with Alison Stewart
Saba Previews No I.D. Collaborative Album
00:25:48
Saba and No I.D. team up on a new album.
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- [00:00]
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Saba
Listener Supported WNYC Studios.
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Alison Stewart
This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Saba has become a major figure in the new generation of Chicago hip hop. On his latest project, he teams up with a legend of a previous generation, the producer no id. He's been nicknamed the Godfather of Chicago Hip hop and he mentored groundbreaking musicians like Common and Kanye. The project has been in the works for years now, starting as a mixtape and then morphing into a full album which is set to come out soon. Titled from the Private Collection of Saba and no id, it touches on all sorts of subjects. Religion, family, fame, even hair. Here's a clip of the track Head.
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No ID
Wrap Rinse the relaxers out of nappy afros and breaking plastics from scratching scalps with raccoons Curl patterns that fight back and that grow so wild that you can't put a cap on mama scratching my dandruff we back home still tender headed boy you were not that grown neck braids help you build backbone Everybody flamed your ass you either laughed or just hope one day the style catch on Shorty my goals is more than what you can brag on when it add up won't be a app on that phone need guap like a cheese head bread far oh you seen a weed head got dreadlocks oh you seen a couple savages too Couple of babies who done start their journey anew. I'm rooting for you. We could start at the root.
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Alison Stewart
From the Private Collection of sabbath and no ID is listed as one of 2025's most anticipated albums by Vulture, the Complex, Steregum and Consequence. Saba's here with me in studio. Hi, how are you?
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Saba
I'm pretty close to spectacular. How are you?
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Alison Stewart
I'm doing well. I'm doing really well today actually. Yeah, thank you for asking.
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Saba
Of course, of course.
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Alison Stewart
How did you and no ID first get introduced to each other?
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Saba
Man, it's a long story made short.
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Alison Stewart
Okay.
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Saba
In 2018, before releasing my second album, he was working at a label and he was interested in signing me and why I say there's a longer version of it. My father's also a musician from Chicago and they worked on music in the 90s, so it's kind of one of those stories where, you know, it's some separation, years and years go by, and then we're kind of all reintroduced as, you know, a new generation of artists, you know, so it's been a cool full circle for not just me, but also my family.
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Alison Stewart
When did the collaboration get started in entirety? Whose idea was it?
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Saba
2022 is when we started it. After releasing my last album, Few Good Things, I was heading on tour and meet him with no id. He was just making beats. Making beats. Every time I would see him, and he had, like, 100 beats.
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Alison Stewart
He sent you 100 beats?
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Saba
He sent me 100 of them. He sent me 100. I didn't expect him to actually do it, but. But, you know, I had to shoot the shot. He was like, how many should I send? And I was like, send them all, send them all. And he actually did it. So that's kind of when the collaboration officially started. But that was me touring, so it was mostly a mixtape. And then coming home from that tour, it was like, all right, let's. Let's actually do this thing now. Like, we show what we can do, just, you know, me being on the road, working in the background kind of. But it's been actually a really, really incredible process. Like just working on a craft with someone who has dedicated their life to the craft in that way. Like, being able to learn from and pick up on a lot of things. You know, sitting and just soaking up information.
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Alison Stewart
So y'all were. So you're on tour and you're getting the beats. When did you actually come to work with him in a studio? Did you?
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Saba
Yeah, we worked still 2022, maybe summer. 2022 is when we actually started to get in the studio, and we spent a lot of 2023 together in sessions in the studio.
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Alison Stewart
You know, what's it like when you're in studio with somebody and you're working with somebody? You can do stuff on beats back and forth over the computer, but when you're actually physically with someone.
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Saba
So for me, I would say being in the studio is really where there's room for the alchemy to happen. That's where, like, the. The actual magic, when you look at the tour documentaries on, you know, on streaming and things like that, or like, studio sessions, it's like, that's where you see people's face glow up. You see the ideas come from the abyss. People just, you know, it's like real collaboration, like doing things on the road and, you know, separate or email or anything, like that, like, you can also make great music that way. I'm not saying you can't, but I think in terms of it being collaborative, the studio, it's like a sacred space, you know? And it's a lot of conversation that happens that influences what wears you right down, what snares you use, what. Like, every decision is kind of made based off of wherever the energy is in that room. And it might be someone who just walks in the room. You know, there's no telling, really, with the studio sessions, but it's like, it's room for magic when y'all are together in the studio. Always.
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Alison Stewart
I think the word alchemy was exactly right.
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Saba
Yeah. I can't take credit. I got that from him.
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Alison Stewart
Okay.
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Saba
I got that from him.
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Alison Stewart
It's magic.
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Saba
Yeah. Yeah. But it's. It's something that I just absolutely agree with. So I've been, you know, I've been, you know, re. Reintroducing that into my vocabulary, because that's what it feel like. It feel like alchemy, you know?
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Alison Stewart
Let's listen to a track. This one is called Back in Office from Saba. And no ID Young Sebastian back in.
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No ID
Office Slipped out of the back in a flying salsa Cristella where we at? Declining office I hear rapping can make salsa Tomato, tomato, it's all sauceless this feel like Drano to y'all faucets superhero this my negro sauce this flow they hear my and then adopted like a foster home My granny working hard the main person I call upon go chain hang from my collarbone I was the same guy in her college dorm and I ain't never had a college dorm Body like a bottle in a skin tone terracotta I'm from Chicago, we invented mobsters Some call me Saba others call me Saba as long as it's love, it's not a problem I filet a voya like I'm Oscar de La Hoya Is y'all looking at hot potato oil? I can fry the game of boil they like Is y'all cooking crack? Got asking is it jazz or is it ra? I'm a bit imaginative I'm where the ribbon at in the sky I can write like Jack Kerouac I can say anything it don't even have to match I can wear anything Asha De La.
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Alison Stewart
Hoya and Jack Kerouac. Come on. Now My guest is Saba. We're talking about his forthcoming album in collaboration with the legendary Chicago producer no ID Tell me if this is true because you believe, you know, the Internet Whether to believe or not that when you saba, when. When no ID wanted to sign you, he was with a major label and you were a little bit skeptical. Is that true?
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Saba
Yeah, I think that's an oversimplification, but that's essentially what were we skeptical of in bullet points. That's what happened.
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Alison Stewart
Yeah. What were you skeptical of?
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Saba
I guess I had done things a certain way in my career thus far and not, you know, that was 2018, so I was still pretty young in terms of where I was at an album, two albums in. But I, I. I kind of always had this, like, I guess, attitude where I want, like, I feel like I just take responsibility for what happens in my. In my journey. And I didn't want to relinquish the keys to the driver's seat and also paperwork and lawyers and all type of stuff that's beyond my pay grade. You know, I'm just like, what we do here is pretty simple. We make great music and we put it out, and the people who like it are usually the people who help us spread and grow the message or the music. And I don't know, I think it just became complicated. And this was a much easier version of it to just collab and make music together as opposed to doing whatever, you know.
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No ID
I don't know.
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Saba
I think with more conversations, maybe we would have gotten it to where we both felt fairly treated, you know, like. But I, you know, a lot of those things is not enough conversation that happens. It's like, it's real quick. It's like everybody wants to get it done quickly. And I don't know, I think part of it, being from Chicago, I'm a little protected. And also knowing how much it means to me, it's like, it's hard to give that away. It's hard to trust strangers with it, you know. So I think, you know, I'm appreciative. I'm really grateful for the way that the journey went, but that was definitely something that kept me up for many, many night.
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Progressive Insurance Ad
Well, how does your relationship evolve?
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Saba
Man, it went a lot of different places in that few years span, from dropping my second album to being where I'm at now. I think at some point in that time, we kind of reconnected and reintroduced the conversation, and he was no longer at the company, and that's where the relationship was really able to evolve because it had no stipulation on it. It can be anything that we decide to make it at that point. And, yeah, I went into it not necessarily expecting to make Music with him, surprisingly, I guess, to some people. But, yeah, it was way more like of a, I guess, mentorship kind of role. He was helping me on the business side, and when he started offering the music, I'm like, that's like. That's like extra credit, you know, that's like extra credit. And it's been cool. I've been like, I really have been enjoying the process of just being able to learn around them and making music with them. It's been like, really. It's been really cool. I felt like, challenged in a lot of ways where I wanted to grow. I wanted to show up. I wanted to show, you know, like, working with somebody who's already considered a legend, like, it's like, you know, I want to show that I belong here. I could stand next to this and. And live up to it and do my part as the artist and also as a producer. I was going in and he was letting me produce some of his ideas and things like that. So it was a lot of trust that built in that relationship. But, yeah, it's refreshing to me to just make music the way I know how, and it'd be cool even if you're working alongside somebody who's is respected as, you know, a no ID from the city, you know.
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Alison Stewart
I'm speaking to rapper and producer Saba. We'll have more after a quick break. This is all of It. You're listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. I'm speaking to the rapper and producer Saba. We're talking about his forthcoming album and collaboration with the legendary Chicago producer no id. It's called from the Private Collection of Saba and no ID to come out real soon. How did working with no ID make you a better songwriter? And then how did it make you a better producer?
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Saba
Okay, so to try and describe what some of these sessions are like, I usually start my sessions around 2pm I get to the studio, and sometimes there's just no ID and Rafael Siddiq just in a room talking.
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Alison Stewart
That's pretty good talk.
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Saba
It's a. It's a great time. Like, man, they could charge. They could charge for this panel. And I would be one of the people who, you know, bought a ticket to attend the panel. So I'm just hearing the information that they're saying, and that's what they're talking about. Like, it would be like Raphael and him talking about what makes a good song to them, you know, what. What they witness and they. And, you know, they've been in this for generations. Like, they. They just talking about what they've observed, what they witnessed, and I'm like, wow, I get to hear all of this information, and then I get to write a song after hearing it. Like, I get to use some of the tools. I get to use some of the. Some of the things that they're actually mentioning. So I think that's the biggest thing. He's very open with information. Like, he's not. Like, some people are really protected. They learned all of these tips and tricks to make music, and they hoard it. He's the opposite. Like, you know, if you in a room and. And he's. He's there, he's usually, like, really open with, this is how I did this. This is how you should do this. You should try this. Like, you know, it's not gatekeeping at all. At all. So that's a. That's a big part. And then I would say, as a producer, he's one of the people that always is. You know, I think I get caught in my. In my rapper role a lot of times, because that's what most people know me for. So as a producer, I usually produce some of my own music, and then I'll just usually, like, play the background. As far as being a producer, like, I don't go out and produce for a lot of people besides, like, my friends and stuff. And he's one of the people who usually be on, like, on me, like, hey, like, where the beats at? Like, are you. Are you making beats right now? Like, to kind of stay in practice? So I would say just having. Having someone even just like, as a producer, part of that is just craft. It's just practice. It's just like, you have to be in practice. Are you. Are you making. Are you. Are you doing the job? Yeah. Yeah. And I think just having. Having him be on it that way is like. It's a reminder to myself sometimes. Because sometimes I forget, like, literally, like, that's just. It's like an unfortunate truth. But it's like, sometimes I forget, like, it's like, oh, yeah, you have. You have other talents, you have other gifts. You have. It's like producing is almost like, to me, it's like. It's kind of like tastemaking. It's like being a good curator or like a good interior designer. Like, you know, you put this sound with this sound, and somebody else might not have done that. But those ideas come straight from your experience and your brain. So it's like only you can make it sound like that. So it's like you gotta do. You know, you gotta do your due diligence and get it done. So it's cool to just have somebody, you know, checking in, making sure that that's also something that is growing. And just as much time is being put into that as well.
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Alison Stewart
Let's listen to a couple of songs from the album. This is Head Wrap. We paid a little bit at the beginning. It's been released as a single. Tell me about where the song came from.
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Saba
I was in a studio with a few of my friends, and somehow the conversation became just stories. Like, we looked around the room. The engineer had locks. One of my other friends had locks. I had mine. And it was like everybody that was in there had, like, decent, like, kind of long locks. And we was just talking about it and what it meant for us, how we started them, how we. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's like so many stories behind it. And I got to explaining to my friends, I'm like, yeah, what actually happened for me is one of my friends got. They got arrested and they went in with a full. You know what I'm saying? Like, a full head of locks. And by maybe the second or third court date, they had waves. And I'm like, whoa. Where did. Like, you know what I'm saying? It's like, you don't even recognize this person. And I was growing my hair at the time, and it just made me want to. I'm like, I'll try. I never, like, did it on purpose. Like, it was, like, kind of an accident, but I stumbled into it. And just seeing the room and what it meant, it kind of inspired. Like, I'm like, I could just tell this story on the song, you know, and that's kind of where. Where it came from.
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Alison Stewart
And the song has Madison McFerrin.
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Saba
Madison McFerrin, bringing her on this show.
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Alison Stewart
Love her. OG and Jordan Ward. How'd that group come together, man?
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Saba
Okay, so Madison McFern was sampled. Okay, so no ID had, like. That was one of the hundred beats. That. One of the 100 beats was this Madison McFerrin sample. And OG and Jordan. Jordan Ward both also work with no ID so it's kind of like the. It's like no Brainers, almost like no ID Was playing them some music, and that's how they ended up on it. Like, I called Jordan maybe, like, right before he was going on tour, and him getting, like, man, I don't know. Like, everybody's just so talented. Like, it's like. It's really, it's really awesome when it's like. Like, that's the alchemy that I was talking about. Like, where it's like everything just falls into the right place and people say the right things. Like, Jordan energy was, like, perfect for OG Writing the chord. It was like. It was just a lot of things that went perfect for me in terms of getting this song to the finish line. So it was like, really? I don't know. It was one of them for me.
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Alison Stewart
Let's listen. This is Saba.
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Saba
This is the county.
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No ID
We all find See my homie cut his dreads this time I was growing my hair but I never considered trying locking it up, you know, Turn the root to divine soft freeform slim kid far side for the first time in the running video, I thought what I look like in an alternate light Getting off into detail this is all about my locked journey. Took the bus on diversity Hoping that I don't die the days bright and early she looked at me like she loved a nappy boy fro Pressed down like a tabloid Searching for an avenue Ways to reflect my current attitude, views of the world I'm a leak to my grandma who used to braid my hair But I had to cut him at the school and it was black ran I'm just a black man looking for a good day good stay lap dance I play the game but I won't tap dance now you might see me out in a head wrap fitted but I didn't get it on Fairfax I'll show you where I'm at like air tax I deserve a subtle flex and a rare brag? Cause I'm the one who put the dreads in the car hat, cut him and immediately grew my hair back that's when they started letting me fly.
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Alison Stewart
You're listening to Saba, my guest. You listen to all of it. Allison Stewart. Let's talk about the song called how to Impress God, which has you talking to God. He's kind of taking you down a peg maybe a little bit.
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Saba
You know, we talk.
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Alison Stewart
What is God saying to you in this song? Let me not. Let me not qualify it.
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Saba
To me, God is saying. And 1. I think it's definitely more of self reflection than just talking directly to God. But in the self reflection, it's. I guess I had this version of what it would be like in my head before doing all of these things that, you know, accolades, milestones, like things that I thought would feel different and I guess getting to a point and recognizing that it's still. It's still the same self work that's required, it's still acceptance, it's still like grace is still like all of these things that are required for it to feel how you need it to feel. So I think for me it was like, it was, it's. It's cool, it's amazing. I'm very grateful for all of the things that I've been able to like in that song kind of list out. Like, oh, you, you, you bought a house, you toured, you have all of these people who listen to your music. You did like all of these things that you dreamt of doing, you done them. But that's not like. And this is just my version of the story, you know, I'm not necessarily trying to say this is what it should be, but to me those things aren't what, like the metaphorical God in this song, that's not what he's looking at as the certificate of greatness. Like that don't make you better or. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's like you gotta get in tune with yourself. Like, keep unlocking, keep going deeper, keep learning yourself and that, that. I think I just wanted to make a song that in my way kind of said that, like challenged myself to maybe not look for the validation as much or maybe not look for the external as much, but to keep, you know, keep growing the, the. The inside, you know, on as best as I could, you know.
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Alison Stewart
Let's listen to How To Impress God by Saba.
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No ID
I had a year full of tour day last I checked I said I never gonna change then got dressed it felt like I heard guys say I'm not impressed had I pressed but I'm not pressed she said I love you anyway from my mess I'm trying to think of to say so I'd match Instead I heard God say I'm not impressed ye I'm not impressed by your jewels, your cars, your clothes of course I know what it took you to get it I'm not impressed by pivot or that you independent I'm not impressed time invested in any women I'm not impressed your family feel you really did it I'm not impressed you streamed over 200 million I'm not impressed Bought a crib, put your people in it I'm not impressed the years that you've been getting bigger I'm not impressed that you've inspired millions of people that needed you or so you believe they do they gave you a reason to live and make it easy too propel to from poverty practically packing out arenas. Woo. Not impress me either.
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Alison Stewart
That is Saba. You know, last time you were on the show, it was for a few good things. And we ended the interview. I said I wanted to know about something good that happened in your life. And this is what you said.
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Saba
Yesterday, I ordered a really expensive couch and it got to my house and it was defective. So I called to return it and they were like, all right, we'll send you all of your money back. We don't want the couch back. So I got to keep the couch and the money. So that was that. You know, that's a win. That's a win.
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Alison Stewart
That's a win.
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Saba
Huge win.
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Alison Stewart
Do you still have the couch?
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Saba
Hell yeah. Hell yeah. I still got that couch. A free couch. Yeah, I still got that.
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Alison Stewart
So tell me when the new album is going to come out.
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Saba
Okay. That's. I wish I could just say it.
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Alison Stewart
Yeah.
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Saba
Because I wish I knew it.
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Alison Stewart
Okay.
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Saba
But it's done on my. On my end. It's done.
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Alison Stewart
Okay.
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Saba
It's. It's in.
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Alison Stewart
It's in the universe.
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Saba
It's in the universe. It's beyond my pay grade. It's like, you know, first quarter, it was supposed to be this month, might be next month, might be next month. It's like, we'll get it when we get it. I'm clearing samples.
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Alison Stewart
Okay.
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Saba
I'm doing every. You know, I'm doing everything in my power to get it done as soon as possible. And it's just.
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Alison Stewart
We're just gonna have to wait.
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Saba
And it'll be worth the wait.
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Alison Stewart
It'll be worth the wait like that.
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Saba
I promise. It'll be worth the wait. It's like, you know, it'll be right on time when it happens. That's.
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Alison Stewart
You know what? I believe it.
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Saba
It'll be right on time. Like I, you know, I. I believe it. Yeah, absolutely.
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Alison Stewart
It's gonna be called from the private collection of Saba and no id. My guest has been Saba. Thanks for being with us.
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Saba
Thank you for having me.
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Alison Stewart
We're gonna go out on Saba with now and then.
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No ID
Y'all say whatever, please.
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Alison Stewart
Now.
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No ID
I demand that I'll be brought back then.
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Saba
I was glad to be a time around.
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No ID
We going to need more or next time around we might need.
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Saba
Back in the day.
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No ID
This time is different.
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