Street Curriculum 101 with rapper J Nolan

It only took a few of life’s curveballs  and influences to push, rapper J Nolan to embark on his musical career.  From Atlanta, Georgia by way of Hartford, Connecticut; J Nolan has taken all the positives and negatives to nurture his love and dedication to music.

About J Nolan

J Nolan started writing music at the age of 8 after being challenged by his older brother.  This was the fuel that started the fire.

J Nolan is an artist who strives for excellence and he has built a solid reputation for his wordplay and imagery.

Throughout Atlanta, many have witnessed his relentless flow whether it be in ciphers, battles, or live performances.

J Nolan’s music has gained the respect of notable figures such as: 9th Wonder, Don Cannon, Heather B, and DJ Ames.

Beyond performing, J Nolan and Yung B Da Producer have formed The Manifest Movement which has the mission is to create an all-purpose platform for artists to express themselves while encouraging fellowship within the community. Christian faith plays a large role in their decision-making, although  the music is far from limited to one specific view on life.

Interview

Unheard Voices Magazine asked J Nolan some great questions for artists on the rise. Take some time to learn more about J Nolan and listen to his track “It’s On Me” which can be found on the Humble Legends EP.

UV: When did you fall in love with music?

J Nolan: It’s hard to say an exact moment, but I know when I was about 3 or 4 years old I used to really love hearing Wreckx-N-Effect’s “Rump Shaker” and Kris-Kross’ “Jump.” I’d say that was my introduction. I didn’t really start listening to music on my own time until like 3rd or 4th grade, shortly after DMX and Eminem came out.

UV: How long have you been creating and performing music?

J Nolan: I started dedicating time to writing lyrics at 12, but I didn’t get into recording until my sophomore year of high school. That gives me about 12 years of experience in creating and I’ve been performing for about 4 years.

UV: Tell the Unheard Voices readers what your passions are and who or what motivates you to continue to strive in a cut throat industry?

J Nolan: I just really love making music. From writing, recording, listening to the finished product, to releasing it for the public; I’m dedicated to it all. Outside of that, God is ultimately my motivation. I feel as though I was given this talent to bring people together and use whatever platform I have to share my faith. It’s not Gospel Rap by any means, but you know where I stand as an individual when I go in detail lyrically.

UV: How would you describe your music?

J Nolan: It’s like street curriculum. I’m an educated person that wants to help make the world a better place, but I’m also someone that’s witnessed some ugly events in my life. So when I express my thoughts on a track you get an equal balance of both sides. I want you to come away from my music with some sort of fulfillment at the end of the day.

UV: Describe your style in one or two words.

J Nolan: Genuine.

UV: How would you describe rap today?

J. Nolan: Unbalanced. I want to see more rappers embrace the actual craft of writing. I like the club records and how women react to them just as much as anyone, but there’s just too many people jumping in the studio for no reason right now.

UV: What` forthcoming projects are currently in progress?

J Nolan: The Humble Legends EP which is a collaboration between myself and Reese Jones, an upcoming producer from Virginia Beach. That’s coming out on January 27 and we’re also going to release a full length LP called Keep It Cordial in a few months.

UV: How long have you been a member of Reverbnation?

J  Nolan: Since 2010. I was invited by a Reverbnation staff member to join back at that time.

UV: How do you feel about Reverbnation creating this opportunity?

J. Nolan: I think it’s a great thing. I’m personally grateful for every opportunity that I get to be a part of because there was a time not too long ago when my greatest feat was adding people on Myspace trying to get them to play a song or two. I can’t take these kind of things for granted.

UV: Who are your musical influences?

J. Nolan: I can really go on for days with this. On the short list are: 2Pac, Nas, Outkast, the entire Wu Tang Clan, and early Lupe Fiasco.

UV: What influenced you to begin your music career?

J Nolan: I became obsessed with music and writing when I got to high school. I’d be jotting down rhymes all throughout the school day at any point of free time – homeroom, the few moments before each class started, after doing my work or turning in a test; you really can’t ignore something like that. One of my friends took notice to what I was doing and decided to turn his room into a mini studio so we could make the dream somewhat real. That started it all.

UV: What advice do you have for other indie artists trying to succeed?

J Nolan: Make sure that you truly love doing this. I don’t condone half-cooked music and I’d advise them to do as much research as possible before even wasting their time. If everything checks out, don’t be afraid to look crazy along the way. Most people will think it’s a cute hobby in your teens, but when you hit your 20s and it hasn’t taken off the way you expected, that’s when you see how lonely this journey really can be.

UV: What is the hardest challenge you have encountered with building your fan base?

J. Nolan: I’ve been pretty blessed to convert people into listeners fairly easily, but the challenge is keeping them on-board throughout this process. Some people hit rough spots in their life and disappear from the online world for a while. By the time they make it back, they’ve forgotten that you still do music. Also, having them appreciate my music to the same degree as the more established artists. That really becomes a challenge.

UV: How in tune are you with your fans?

J Nolan: I stay in tune with my supporters. There’s very few people who can say they’ve reached out to me and I just left them hanging with no response. I’m a fan of other artists as well, so I’ll always do my best to stay clued in on what’s happening out here. It just becomes an issue where some people get too familiar and expect me to do free features on their music because they like mine.

UV: Has anyone ever given you negative feedback on your music, if so how did you react to it?

J. Nolan: Most of the negative feedback I’ve gotten has come from written reviews opposed to actual in person feedback. I’ve always been open to criticism, though. It doesn’t mean they’re right or necessarily wrong. It’s just something to consider because you can never know how everyone hears your music.

UV: What do you hope to gain by being featured in Unheard Voices Magazine?

J Nolan: I hope to gain exposure from viewers that never knew I existed as well as a supportive relationship with the Unheard Voices team in the future. I believe we all can play a positive role for each other.

UV: How important and how difficult is it to support your career with your own funding?

J Nolan: It’s extremely important and difficult at the same time. There’s so much that requires funding in this field, you come to realize that it’s no different from a start-up business and that’s pretty much how you have to approach it. It took me a long time to understand that aspect because we never really got to know that part of artists’ stories when we were coming up.

UV: Would you rather be signed or remain independent and why?

J Nolan: It really depends on the situation. Being signed can give you a lot more access to promotion and marketing. These major labels have departments dedicated to just that. Remaining indie allows you to retain ownership and creative control. You basically eat what you catch in very literal terms. My ideal situation would be a partnership that merges those two aspects and I don’t see why it can’t happen in this day and age. Artists are coming to understand the real stake we have in keeping this industry alive, with or without large labels.

UV: If you want to be signed, which label peaks your interest and why?

J. Nolan: I think Sony Red and All Def Digital have very interesting models behind them. They have the capacity to respect new artists’ visions and that’s what I’d need if I were to go that route.

UV: How has social media affected your career?

J Nolan: It’s shaped my career in many ways. I’ve been able to release and promote my music on my own, for better or worse. So now I’m just looking to couple the social media side with real world marketing. You won’t see me having a meltdown via Twitter. I can say that much.

Be sure to check out “It’s On Me” by J. Nolan.