Notar- Devil's Playground (Tyrannosaurus Rec)

While there are plenty of new faces moving up the ranks in the world of young rappers, few have the diversity, background and seemingly natural talent that NYC via New Haven, Connecticut’s Notar holds. Having shared the stage with Counting Crows last summer, Notar proved himself to be an exceptional talent, often stealing the show, and he left a mark so indelible that Adam Duritz (frontman of Counting Crows) even put this debut album out on his label Tyrannosaurus Records.

A true renaissance man (Notar is also a producer), he flexes his eclectic muscles here with a precise blend of rock, funk, pop and even some jazz swagger amid his hip-hop sensibilities. While some might mistakenly think Devil's Playground is purely a rap disc, he’s just as likely to deliver hook filled guitar melodies amid the raw beats that, according to Notar are cut up ‘eight different ways so it doesn’t become so boring’. Add this idea with some forthright, candid wordplay and you get the voice of a man who deserves to be and is well on his way to being heard by legions of new ears.

I can’t imagine anyone would hear Notar and think this is the sound of a man who was trained as a trumpet player. But then again, he is pretty much the shattering all preconceived ideas of how rap should be delivered, and his first full length offering is a captivating display of varied instrumentation that separates this from the myriads of similar artists. The disc even ends on an eerie piano number- further proof that Notar is avoiding all things mundane here. Aligning himself with an all star group of collaborators and guest musicians including Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional), Adam Duritz and Young Cash, and Grammy Winner Ken Lewis (Kayne West, Beastie Boys) lending a hand producing the disc, Notar walks away with one of the most talked about releases of 2011. Keep an eye out for a tour soon, too- his live show has already become a legendary performance.

For fans of: Gorilla Warfare Tactics, The Niceguys, John Lefler

Official Site: http://www.notarnyc.com

Buy It: http://www.tyrannosaurusrecords.net