— Prolific Atlanta-based wordsmith, J Nolan, delivers his latest project, Price of Admission, with the help of DJ RedHanded.
When it comes to the independent grind, J Nolan is about as real as it gets. As one of Atlanta’s most talented lyricists, he’s made it his mission to share important industry knowledge as he gets it — whether through his Pen Game Portfolio book series or his fast-growing social media platforms. Still, through all of this growth and evolution, he’s somehow maintained his musical prowess, even getting better with each drop. Now, after a steady flow of high-quality singles and even an appearance on episode 18 of our More Bars Please freestyle series, he’s dropped his first official project since 2018, Price of Admission.
Whenever J Nolan gets on a track, you’re instantly reminded of how rare his lyrical proficiency is. From the moment his first word is spoken, he’s always sure to shock and awe with a combination of dynamic flows, clever wordplay, introspection, rapid-fire bars, and overall stellar songwriting. Nolan’s approach on Price of Admission is no different. In fact, this project would indicate that he’s reached a new level.
From top to bottom, the 9-track 30-minute project is as complete as can be despite its conciseness. Thanks to the efforts of both J Nolan and the project’s primary producer, DJ RedHanded, there’s not a single skip on Price of Admission.
One one end, not only did DJ RedHanded flip classic funk and soul samples into his own creatively modernized instrumentals, but he was also able to masterfully curate a cohesive sound while still making each track its own. On the other end, J Nolan uses his otherworldly lyrical talents to deliver some of his best raps to date as he pops his shit, bares his soul, and even attacks some important social topics in an incredibly captivating performance from start to finish.
J Nolan kept features light on Price of Admission, only enlisting the help of frequent collaborator, Ke Turner, and Denver native, Disobey303. Ke Turner’s appearance on “Late” was one of the highlights of the project and Disobey303’s knack for creating catchy hooks and half-sung flows was a perfect complement to J Nolan and DJ RedHanded’s contributions on both “Sidewalk” and “Smooth Operator”.
Although it’s incredibly tough to choose, I’d say that the album’s standout tracks include “Deserve It”, “Legal Hustle”, “Late”, “Smooth Operator”, and “Take A Picture”.
Listen to the full project right here and be sure to follow J Nolan on Instagram and Twitter to see what he has coming next.