Urban vault caught up with Detroit, Michigan based emcee & producer Nolan The Ninja, to ask him some questions about his music, collaborations, and inspirations

Nolan Chapman, also known as Nolan The Ninja, is a 25-year old emcee & producer from Detroit, MI. Hailing from the hometown of likes such as J Dilla (Slum Village) & Eminem, the young ninja maintains a pressure-free determined path through his own style of recordings & instrumentals. With influences such as Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest) & Redman, Nolan delivers a special blend of two different styles, nostalgic yet modernized.

What is your name?

Nolan

 Where are you from?

Detroit, Michigan

How long have you been making music?

About 4-5 years…

How many songs /albums have you released to date?

I mean, I’ve released a bunch of stuff on the internet over the years. But my official debut LP didn’t release until mid-2016 with ‘He(art)’. Then you have ‘YEN’, beat tapes, features, production for others, etc.

Can you tell us about your new song/album, the background, and inspirations behind it?

Well, ‘YEN‘ came about late 2015, early 2016. After releasing a couple projects with solid reception throughout 2015, I felt more driven than ever to tackle my goals. Things that were mere fantasy were now becoming a possibility. My yearn for achievement became bigger in many ways. A perfect example of that is ‘Lex’, which is the first song on the LP. The song is a synopsis of just a kid from around the way looking to do great things for not only himself but his surroundings. And the key to doing this is remaining righteous in doing so. Modesty is key. God is gracious to the humble, ALWAYS!

Who have you collaborated with so far in your Career?

Blu, Royce 5’9”, Guilty Simpson, Dabrye, Rockness of Heltah Skeltah, Conway The Machine & more.

Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?

A lot of folks. So much talent, it’s crazy. Nas, Wale, Pusha T, Kendrick Lamar, Knxwledge & so forth. I want to work with R&B artists as well. I think I’d do something cool with Jill Scott, for sure…

What inspires you when you make your music?

Just living life. Experiencing new lessons & being able to learn from them. Again, constant growth!

How have you ended up in the music industry?

Basically, my manager (DJ Soko) put me on. He had a situation with Fat Beats back in like 2013-2014 & he saw how hard I was working on my own. He offered to help me put out my stuff in a proper manner & the rest is history…

What do you think of the music industry in 2018?

Pros & cons just like everything else. haha

What have you got planned for 2018?

New music & much more!

What’s your favorite track at the moment?

Jean Grae & Quelle Chris – ‘Gold Purple Orange’. The video is so great…

What do you do when your not making music?

Relaxing, just vibing out. But even when I’m not making music, I’m still working somehow. haha

Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter

In a few words sum up your thoughts about Urban Vault and what we’re trying to do?

From what I see, just a dope platform looking to put on up & coming artists. We need more like you!

Thank you for your time and may you carry on making dope, fresh music…

Nolan The Ninja teams up with fellow Detroiters Finale (whose latest album with producer Oddisee) and DJ Soko to book for a European tour late spring/early summer 2018.
Zoo Book Agency is now booking dates for Europe and the UK, for all promoters interested in bringing this tour to their city/country please email cyril@zoobook-agency.com

www.facebook.com/nolantheninja
https://twitter.com/NolanTheNinja
https://soundcloud.com/nolantheninja-1
https://instagram.com/NolanTheNinja/