J Nolan

J. Nolan, the artist behind “Rise” on the DEHH Approved The Mixtape Vol. 1, just recently dropped a collaborative album with producer Yung B Da Producer. If you dig the “Rise” track from the mixtape, you’ll definitely love this. Check out the steam below and you cane either download it (Name Your Own Price) or cop it off iTunes. - DeadEndHipHop.com

J. Nolan, the artist behind “Rise” on the DEHH Approved The Mixtape Vol. 1, just recently dropped a collaborative album with producer Yung B Da Producer. If you dig the “Rise” track from the mixtape, you’ll definitely love this. Check out the steam below and you cane either download it (Name Your Own Price) or cop it off iTunes. - DeadEndHipHop.com

There are a few people who have made it to my “musical bookmark,” so to speak. Basically, I hear their music, I know for a fact that their skills can very well get them far, so I make a mental note to come back to them soon to see if it has. J. Nolan was one of the first people I “bookmarked” after hearing a couple of tracks off of his last project, “Resilience.” This time around, I was blessed to get his new project almost two months early for a review, but technical difficulties kept other people from hearing what I heard, so I just remained quiet about it.

Now that the project is out and the cat’s out of the bag, I can share with you why I think you should begin to check out his music too.

The Good:

First off, the whole project has a nice hip-hop feel to it. The production is nice, but it’s not overpowering/overshadowing his lyrics. It’s a nice compromise from normal mixtapes that seem to focus more on beats to compensate for weak lyrics. J. Nolan’s lyrical fascination is something to be heard; the way he rhymes and makes his verses flow are calculated, but smooth. No breaking up words to make them rhyme here; it’s effortless for him.

The songs are good, and the project has that same vibe to it throughout the entire playthrough, which in this case is a good thing. The most interesting thing about “Broken Dreams” is that there’ no profanity from J. Nolan at all (although there are a few words on the project as a whole, it’s 98 percent swear-free). I’ve always thought that excessive profanity shows lack of vocabulary, so to see someone who doesn’t use it in raps shows a huge intelligence advantage over other artists trying to make it. The fact the lyrics string together so well without the profanity shows yet another intelligence advantage.

The Bad:

When I first got the project, I was expecting to find more mistakes to critique, but honestly, Nolan did a great job on making the whole presentation solid throughout. Aside from a couple of tracks seeming louder/quieter than the others, and a couple of song hooks that I personally didn’t like, the project is a really good one.

Bottom Line:

I definitely was surprised at the level of quality put into each song, from the Jill Scott-inspired “Golden,” to the piano-fueled “Real or Not,” to the syllabic assault on “Shake and Break,” to the all-around soul feel to “When Love Calls.” This is one of those good mixtapes that, if anything, serves as a sign of what we can expect from J. Nolan. If this means anything, the future’s going to be a great place for J. Nolan when his audience expands.

Eljay’s Favorites:

“Real or Not”
“When Love Calls”
“Keep It Moving”
“Shake and Break” - K1ngEljay.com

Thankfully I didn’t have to wait too long for this since I only “discovered” Jamar last week.

If you read my post about him way back then you’ll know I gushed all over the shop, he’s by far my most exciting Hip-Hop discovery of the year so far and one of my top all-around discoveries. The few songs he sent me back then got me really fucking excited about Hip-Hop again, but this time it’s an entire album to take in, and holy shit does it deliver. It rolled out yesterday and showed up on blogs and sites from here to there and back again, but I wanted to hold off on posting it so it didn’t get drowned out in the crowd.

He let me upload a few songs of my choosing from the album, so I’ve gone with three new and two that I had in my post last week. The whole thing is free from his Bandcamp page (where you can listen to and download 11 of the 18 tracks and there’s a link to download the full thing), and that’s the FREE free, not the “pay what you want” free. I kinda wish he would’ve offered the pay what you want option because I’d absolutely pay for this, and I’d make sure you did too. - ListenBeforeYouBuy.net

Thankfully I didn’t have to wait too long for this since I only “discovered” Jamar last week.

If you read my post about him way back then you’ll know I gushed all over the shop, he’s by far my most exciting Hip-Hop discovery of the year so far and one of my top all-around discoveries. The few songs he sent me back then got me really fucking excited about Hip-Hop again, but this time it’s an entire album to take in, and holy shit does it deliver. It rolled out yesterday and showed up on blogs and sites from here to there and back again, but I wanted to hold off on posting it so it didn’t get drowned out in the crowd.

He let me upload a few songs of my choosing from the album, so I’ve gone with three new and two that I had in my post last week. The whole thing is free from his Bandcamp page (where you can listen to and download 11 of the 18 tracks and there’s a link to download the full thing), and that’s the FREE free, not the “pay what you want” free. I kinda wish he would’ve offered the pay what you want option because I’d absolutely pay for this, and I’d make sure you did too. - ListenBeforeYouBuy.net

Pure love reveals the fate of motivation in order for one to complete his quest. A person that has reached the path in his journey that introduces him to the promised land of his epic journey will release knowledge as he absorbs wisdom. Aware of the danger that lurks on land, a leader knows that as an originator it is expected to be imitated. Accepting the responsibility as “The Archetype,” J. Nolan does not hesitate to “Excel” lyrically as he presents an exhibit of his “Chaos Theory.” Holding onto a “dream that you’ve never seen” while displaying immeasurable moral depths that will not be negotiated as he aims to achieve his goal. J. Nolan is a humble emcee that embraces confidence. Dividing himself from the frail that lean on the opinion of the masses, he does not follow the trends of patterns & enlists an 18 year old producer from Virginia Beach, VA by the name of Reese to act as his canvas to what he presents to listeners as a masterpiece. - DMVCulture.com

Pure love reveals the fate of motivation in order for one to complete his quest. A person that has reached the path in his journey that introduces him to the promised land of his epic journey will release knowledge as he absorbs wisdom. Aware of the danger that lurks on land, a leader knows that as an originator it is expected to be imitated. Accepting the responsibility as “The Archetype,” J. Nolan does not hesitate to “Excel” lyrically as he presents an exhibit of his “Chaos Theory.” Holding onto a “dream that you’ve never seen” while displaying immeasurable moral depths that will not be negotiated as he aims to achieve his goal. J. Nolan is a humble emcee that embraces confidence. Dividing himself from the frail that lean on the opinion of the masses, he does not follow the trends of patterns & enlists an 18 year old producer from Virginia Beach, VA by the name of Reese to act as his canvas to what he presents to listeners as a masterpiece. - DMVCulture.com

With an album name like “Broken Dreams” you’d expect an album that was either ultra depressing without such great music, but I guess that’s part of the appeal of Atlanta emcee J.Nolan’s album.

“Broken Dreams” is the new project from J.Nolan, presented by The Connoisseurs of Culture. Over 18 tracks featuring original production, Nolan raps with a simplistic flow which makes him completely coexist with the mellow music featured on the project, and did I mention his wordplay and subject content are crazy?

The albums opens with “Golden” which has such a dope vibe and starts the theme that’s shown on essentially every song on this album—true and authentic hip-hop and great production.

This album is a summer necessity and something needed for everyone I believe. I believe that every song on this album is dope whether it’s the subject, the beat or whatever, but I have my personal favorites—actually 12: “Golden,” “Decision” “Real or Not” “Inner City Beauty” “One Life” “Feeling Good” “When Love Calls” “Lost Art” “Weekend Melody” “Dream Big” “Amazing” and “Shake and Bake.”

This album is available for free download here. - RaweMag.org

GFM fam we wanted to take some time today and let you know about J. Nolan an Atlanta based emcee who’s visibility should certainly be on the rise very soon. Currently he is promoting his latest project Broken Dreams which is being presented by The Connoisseurs of Culture, which is comprised of DifferentKitchen.blogspot.com, PleaseDontStare.com, & TheCouchSessions.com .

I want you all to put your ears on the lead single which is entitled “Preparation” produced by B. Dilla. “Preparation” is a study in contrasts: mellow chords from the piano, against a frantic drum track, harmon muted trumpet against J. Nolan’s ‘ye-esque flow with a sense of urgency. There is plenty of space in the track for the vocal to breathe and all of the lines that compliment the vocal are very, very tasteful. No gimmicks or cartoony hooks, this is a different type of sonic landscape, devoid of the ever omnipresent 808 sounds and fills and that other constant track accoutrement that I dare not mention.

“Preparation” is a declaration of a man on a mission. Someone who is not afraid to blaze his own trail and well aware of the rewards and consequences of going your own way. Full of substance “Preparation” requires the listener to become contemplative for its 4:17 duration, but this is not a taxing request, but one that is necessary and pleasurable all at the same time.

This reviewer is really poised to hear more from J. Nolan and his team. The rap crews that J. Nolan name checks towards the end of the track speaks volumes about the musical preparation(pun intended) that he’s done. Now it’s up to us: Are we duly and truly prepared for J. Nolan? - Ivan Orr

GFM fam we wanted to take some time today and let you know about J. Nolan an Atlanta based emcee who’s visibility should certainly be on the rise very soon. Currently he is promoting his latest project Broken Dreams which is being presented by The Connoisseurs of Culture, which is comprised of DifferentKitchen.blogspot.com, PleaseDontStare.com, & TheCouchSessions.com .

I want you all to put your ears on the lead single which is entitled “Preparation” produced by B. Dilla. “Preparation” is a study in contrasts: mellow chords from the piano, against a frantic drum track, harmon muted trumpet against J. Nolan’s ‘ye-esque flow with a sense of urgency. There is plenty of space in the track for the vocal to breathe and all of the lines that compliment the vocal are very, very tasteful. No gimmicks or cartoony hooks, this is a different type of sonic landscape, devoid of the ever omnipresent 808 sounds and fills and that other constant track accoutrement that I dare not mention.

“Preparation” is a declaration of a man on a mission. Someone who is not afraid to blaze his own trail and well aware of the rewards and consequences of going your own way. Full of substance “Preparation” requires the listener to become contemplative for its 4:17 duration, but this is not a taxing request, but one that is necessary and pleasurable all at the same time.

This reviewer is really poised to hear more from J. Nolan and his team. The rap crews that J. Nolan name checks towards the end of the track speaks volumes about the musical preparation(pun intended) that he’s done. Now it’s up to us: Are we duly and truly prepared for J. Nolan? - Ivan Orr

Presented by The Connoisseurs of Culture, (comprised of Different Kitchen, Please Don’t Stare, & The Couch Sessions) J. Nolan brings a smooth vibe to the game with clever lyrics and mellow beats.
Firstly? The word play (i think personally) is on point, using snappy rhymes to enhance his lyricism. What also caught me eye is that he’s not too chorus heavy and easily slips into as opposed to making a huge scene out o’ the thang! Overall the production is on point since I love these (seemingly) Dilla-inspired beats, yet Nolan doesn’t seem to stretch himself and his ability, being almost too comfortable on the whole album/mixtape.
But wholly, this is something you can jam to at home as it’s not too intrusive and besides from the questionable album art, the whole things pretty decent. I don’t review things so no rating but that’s just my say on Nolan, I can see him being pretty big one day if he puts his mind to it 134%. I recommend you guys cop this so you can tell your friends you knew him “before he was famous” as this guy’s GOLD. - Klaash

Raw. If a faceted, progressive, and layered project like Chasing Cool can be summed up in one word, then that word would be raw. From start to finish, there is an unprocessed skill, knowledge and passion behind this project. Allow me to introduce, J.Nolan. This young man’s laid back flow will lull you into a calm so that you never expect it when he launches into a poetic spectacle that reminds of a young Q-tip. After listening to just the first few songs of the project, even the casual listener will recognize how well the music acts as the perfect backdrop for the soulful voice and cadence of the oldest-young man in the game.

The mixtape, set to be released on May 5th is a candid look at the life of an hungry young hip-hop hopeful with the perspective of a man who has been in the game for years. Nolan offers an open window into his life and the issues that he encounters daily, packaged in the warm sounds of Jazz and Soul samples. His lyrical style is reminiscent of a young Talib Kweli without the NY swagger and the wordplay of a Food & Liquor-esqe Lupe Fiasco. On top of that, Chasing Cool managed to corral a group of young producers under the idea of the late 90’s and early 2000’s neo-soul sound that seems to be his forte.

The first track eases you into what to expect during your listening session as Jamar freestyles off the top of his head and accepts the unpolished product of such an ambitious idea. The result is that he manages to land on a level of introspection generally reserved for the likes of Joe Budden and Eminem. From there, Nolan who hails from Atlanta, explores a distinctly Chicagoan sound as he raps over bass guitar driven melodies accompanied by soft piano and organ sounds. On “96? which is the 4th track of the mixtape, we hear the lament of the loss of what hip hop sounded like a few years before the turn of the century (when the artist was still in elementary school!). He delivers the lines with such clarity of knowledge and impassioned sense of loss that one might think that he was there! “Nice guys finish last” and “3rd time’s a charm” showcase J’s ability to draw us in to his story and personality. The title track, “Chasing Cool” is an obvious nod to Lupe-inspired concept of coolness and it’s disconnect from reality. “Let it Go”, “Motivation to Live”, and “My Team Supreme” are the songs that feature the best of this artists lyrical abilities and (probably by no accident) some of the best beats as well.

The Good: Chasing Cool features J.Nolan at the top of his game with witty lines, level-headed social commentary, stylistic and thematic consistency, and fantastic production. If you were a fan of hip-hop before the game got A.D.D. and every rapper had to make up a dance, then you will like this project

The Bad: Time will provide more polish to his game, but hopefully not water down his content. The skill is there, but it needs a little something. There is also a distinct lack of voices on Chasing Cool with only a couple of guest features.

Overall: The album is fresh, soulful, and musically solid. On May 5th, head over to J.Nolan’s MySpace profile to pick it up. - Nahshon Landrum

After I checked out a underground artist J. Nolan’s release “Resilience” I had to sit back for a second to absorb what I just heard. I felt both impressed and left wanting more. I felt his potential was both realized AND unmet. Upon first listen, you IMMEDIATELY recognize this cat is as hungry with the pen as anyone you can think of. Initial comparisons bring up J. Cole. A less technical Elzhi. Talib in his Rawkus days. His lyrics are a medley of rapid fire wordplay, honest vulnerability and multi-syllabic structures. His content is pure. Golden era positivity. Lyricism of the great era of the early 90’s. Punchline and metaphor usage approved by today’s current favorites. It’s ALL there. His voice is sure and confident. Delivery is strong. From “Protect My Soul” on, you hear these qualities in EVERY song. But, that may be the very thing that keeps this album from making the noise it needs to make…
One of my favorite songs on the album, “Quest for Recognition” sets the tone for this project. Samples. Hard drums. And a message to mine out of watery wordplay. The sample on this song will be instantly recognizable for anyone who has ever seen the classic musical “The Wiz”. The usage of the sample is genius. The way J. Nolan flips the hook is clever. The flow is on point and the soul food is fulfilling. I want to wonder why this song did not bring the album in rather than “Protect My Soul”. Expecting to hear something as innovative as that sample and song, I fall upon “Aint Foolin Me”. Though not bad at all, the concept and subject matter is stale. The underground rapper complaining about the state of the music industry is such a tired topic. I usually skip over these songs. But I listened to this song all the way through, just knowing the creative juices will resume in the tracks to come.
I was wrong. “Just Lose It” is a creative concept away from being a standout album cut. But it lacks direction. “Thrill is Gone”, “Thrown Away”, “For My People” and “Goodbye” are ALL very decent songs. But they are all the SAME SONG. You could interchange the verses from each song and you would never know the difference. Furthermore, the tempo remains the same thru every track. Sample. Hard Drums. Mid to High Tempo. The formula becomes noticeable. After skipping a track, I fell upon “Cracked Cement” and was immediately drawn back in. What a sample! J. rides the beat superbly. But I notice another disturbing trend that TOO many lyrically superior rappers like to ignore. The thing that lays in between your verses, its called a hook for a reason. Its supposed to HOOK the listener in while waiting for the next verse. Not enough rappers understand this. There is a reason why J. Cole is getting the attention he is these days. Yes, he is lyrically sharp. But his hooks are there too. If J. Nolan can pick up on some of J. Cole’s (similar names there…) moves in the hook department, he will be a force to be reckoned with.
Just as I was beginning to write off J. Nolan as another Skyzoo, I made it to two of the album’s standouts. “Hope” and “Going In”, both featuring Zayani Rose are truthfully the fist attempts by J. to craft a catchy hook. And he succeeds. Nothing too flashy or over the top. Simple. Repetitive. Melodic. Very fresh songs. Bring the album back up before it falls down again over the next four, forgettable tracks. Are the tracks bad? NO. There isnt one song on this album that you can categorize as garbage. “I Need You” suffers from a bad beat, but it doesnt hurt your ears. I did skip it after a minute. By the time I made it to “Official”, I was exhausted from the drums beating over my head! But this song made me crave that sample chopped, boom bap again. This sample NEVER gets old, and I am not a crate digger, so I couldnt tell you who it originally belongs to! This song is very good. One of my top 5 favorite songs. It has NO business being track 18. Shame on the man in charge of J. Nolan’s sequencing. But maybe J. was saving the best for last. Because the next two songs, “Resilience” and the outro “Being Here” are unbelievably good. “Being Here”, with a Consequence like verse from producer Ben Styles, is as captivating an outro as I have heard this year. Very nice finish.
All in all, this new artist is definitely ready for his chance. HOWEVER, J. Nolan HAS to understand that the golden era is gone. We need more rappers like him in the game, but you will never get there if you don’t EXECUTE. Nonetheless, this album is not only worth an ear, but worth a couple dollars. You just might have to trim a few songs off your iPod once you get it. - The Mayor