Saba & No ID From The Private Collection Of Saba And No ID
Saba and No ID’s From The Private Collection Of Saba And No ID arrives as a warm, deliberate celebration of Chicago lineage and collaborative craft, and the critical consensus suggests it largely succeeds. Across three professional reviews the record earned an 84/100 consensus score, praised for its detailed, sample-based production and Saba’s melodic rap that balances grief, spirituality, and wry observation. Critics consistently point to moments of intimacy and playful swagger rather than grandstanding as the album’s greatest strengths.
Reviewers highlight several standout tracks that define the album’s tone: “Every Painting Has a Price (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid and Eryn Allen Kane)” and “Woes of The World” emerge repeatedly as emotional cores, while “head.rap (ft. Madison McFerrin, Ogi, Jordan Ward)” and “Stop Playing With Me” showcase Saba’s easygoing flow over No ID’s plush, soulful production. Critics note the record’s guest vocal interplay and cross-generational collaborations as key selling points, from Raphael Saadiq and Kelly Rowland’s contributions on “Crash” to the communal feel that threads through tracks like “Westside Bound Pt. 4 (feat. MFnMelo)”.
While reviewers celebrate the album as a creative reinvention and a high point for both artists, they emphasize its modesty: strengths lie in small, well-crafted moments rather than didactic statements. The critical reception frames From The Private Collection Of Saba And No ID as a must-listen for those interested in Chicago roots, soulful, sample-forward production, and collaborative rap that foregrounds memory, comfort, and spiritual inquiry. Scroll down for full reviews and track-by-track reactions from music critics.
Critics' Top Tracks
The standout songs that made critics take notice
Stop Playing With Me
1 mention
"There’s a tickle to his voice on “Stop Playing With Me,” a teaser of a track set to a swinging piano melody"— Pitchfork
head.rap (ft. Madison McFerrin, Ogi, Jordan Ward)
2 mentions
"He saunters over the crisp drums and warm coos of “head.rap,” peppering jokes"— Pitchfork
Every Painting Has a Price (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid and Eryn Allen Kane)
3 mentions
"Funky opener ‘Every Painting Has A Price’ is sheer No ID"— Clash Music
There’s a tickle to his voice on “Stop Playing With Me,” a teaser of a track set to a swinging piano melody
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
Every Painting Has a Price (feat. BJ The Chicago Kid and Eryn Allen Kane)
Breakdown
Crash (feat. Raphael Saadiq and Kelly Rowland)
Woes of The World
Stop Playing With Me
Westside Bound Pt. 4 (feat. MFnMelo)
head.rap (ft. Madison McFerrin, Ogi, Jordan Ward)
Acts 1.5
Reciprocity (feat. Ibeyi)
Stomping
BIG PICTURE (feat. Ogi)
30secchop (feat. Joseph Chilliams and Jean Deaux)
How to Impress God
She Called It (feat. Frsh Waters and Tru)
a FEW songs (feat. Love Mansuy, Ogi, and Smino)
What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 3 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
Saba and No ID sound like collaborators having fun, and the best songs on From The Private Collection Of Saba And No ID prove it. The review revels in Saba’s easygoing swagger on “Stop Playing With Me” and the playful confessions of “head.rap”, both framed by No ID’s plush, sample-rich production. The piece praises how tracks such as “Breakdown” blend humility and bravado, and it foregrounds the album’s wins as moments of intimacy and musical craftsmanship. Overall, the critic presents the album as a confident, affectionate tribute to Chicago rap that foregrounds small moments over ostentation.
Key Points
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“Stop Playing With Me” is the best song because it crystallizes the album’s easygoing, intimate mood with a swinging piano and playful vocal tickle.
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The album’s core strength is its attentive, sample-rich production paired with Saba’s relaxed, observational lyricism that favors small moments over ostentation.
Themes
Critic's Take
Saba and No ID reach a high point on From The Private Collection Of Saba And No ID, where the best songs like “Westside Bound Pt. 4” and “Every Painting Has a Price” showcase a melding of Chicago soul and introspective rap. The record feels like a labor of love - relaxed grooves and spiritual rhymes make tracks such as “Woes of the World” and “How to Impress God” standout moments. Rob Sheffield’s voice finds the duo pushing beyond comfort zones, and those standout tracks crystallize how tradition and experimentation meet on this album.
Key Points
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The best song, "Westside Bound Pt. 4," is the album's emotional high point and a proud love letter to Chicago.
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The album's core strengths are soulful production, generational collaboration, and sincere spiritual introspection.
Themes
Critic's Take
In his typically assured tone Robin Murray celebrates Saba and No ID's joint triumph on From The Private Collection Of Saba And No ID, arguing that the best songs - notably “Every Painting Has A Price” and “Woes Of The World” - showcase both vintage No ID craft and Saba's mic mastery. He praises the album's surprises and guest use, singling out “Crash” as a tour de force thanks to Raphael Saadiq and Kelly Rowland, and positions the record as a career high for both artists. The narrative keeps returning to collaborative strengths and meticulous production as the reasons these are the best tracks on the album.
Key Points
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The best song is exemplary production and vocal interplay, with “Every Painting Has A Price” pairing No ID's vintage sampling and Saba's leadership.
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The album's core strengths are collaborative chemistry, meticulous production detail, and rooted Chicago musicality.