Her hesitation to open herself up to the press may seem at odds with her songs, a refreshing and necessary blend of confessional and poetic rap music that culminated in her long-awaited debut project "Telefone," undoubtedly one of the best full-lengths of 2016, which was released last July. It also feels at odds with her breakout success, which saw her appearing with Chance the Rapper to perform "Finish Line/Drown" on "Saturday Night Live" in mid-December, just days before her interview with RedEye. But as we sit and chat at the Argo Tea in the Tribune Tower, I realize that her undeniable warmth and perceptiveness in conversation illuminate a truly independent artist in charge of her image and music—something that's defined her short career since she first appeared with a verse on Chance the Rapper's "Lost," a highlight of his 2013 tape "Acid Rap."