RN0: From Classroom Project too Rising Rap Star

When raleigh Nolan stepped onto a small, makeshift stage at a homecoming after-party this fall, he didn’t expect the crowd to erupt like it did. But as soon as the beat dropped, the room shifted to an atmosphere unlike any other. Kids were jumping, shouting his lyrics back at him, turning the space into a mini concert.

“It was awesome,” Nolan said. “Everyone was going crazy, the energy was unreal.”

For an artist who only started rapping because of a high school assignment, moments like that still feel surreal.

Nolan, who goes by RN0, a name created from his initials and a last-minute change from “RN0LAN” just minutes before his first release, didn’t grow up planning to be a rapper. His journey started in a junior year law class, when he and his friend, Vince, were paired for a project.

“me and Vince decided to present our project through a song,” Nolan said.”He was already into music, and when he heard me on the track, he asked me to feature on one of his own songs.It all went from there.”

what started as a simple school assignment ended up revealing a level of talent even his closest friends hadn’t seen before.

Since releasing his first single “Tomorrow” in November 2024, Nolan has quietly built a resume of 12 released songs, each experimenting with different flows, moods, and styles.

Nolan credits Juice WRLD as the artist who inspired him the most, but he’s far from a copy cat. Nolan prides himself on blending different styles and making his sound unique to his own.

“He’s not a one-trick pony,” said senior Will Lancaster. “Every song has something different in it.”

His manager,Idelmar,puts his sound into clearer terms.

“A blend of rap and melodic with that underground feel.It’s fresh, it’s a break from all the drill music. Raleigh is always trying something new, whether it’s his beat selection or his presets. He’s always looking for new ways to capture people’s attention,” Idelmar said.

Nolan typically works with Net Spend-type beats,purchasing the rights online before shaping the track into something personal. As for lyric writing, he keeps it simple.

“The lyrics kind of just come to me,” he said.”It’s natural,comes with time”

Like many other underground artists,the biggest challenge is to get people to listen,which has been the same problem throughout Nolan’s journey. This isn’t because the music isn’t there, but rather

Published: 2025/11/24 03:17:59