Since hip hop’s inception, rhythm and poetry has consistently existed as a reporting tool. Through this act, rappers educate the world on culture, joy, discrimination, prejudice, and classism, thus making them the journalists of their neighborhoods and barrios. Sony Music Entertainment signee, J Noa, embodies this reality and in a short span of time, the world-renowned lyricist has charmed and scored international support for her gritty lyricism, direct delivery and sharp verses.
Born Nohelys Jimenez in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, the young composer’s humble upbringing was filled with culture and music. The neighborhood that raised her fed her lyricism and dance at every turn. While the boys and young men practiced the art of battle rap she would make her way in the cyphers, at just five years old studying and analyzing.
J Noa composed her first verse at the tender age of 8 and her first song at 11 upon watching a Super Nuevo interview that would convince her to take rap seriously, as he shared words of empowerment and advice that related to J Noa and her experience — the sight of representation and a rags to riches story confirmed that her dream was worth chasing.
Known as “la hija del rap” — which translates to “daughter of rap” — she began to build a cult following and viewership through her on-camera rap verses and lyrical battles, where she would traditionally stand as the only young woman in the cyphers. It is because of this reality that she pushes themes on gender equality and anti-machismo. These videos grew organically and caught the attention of many in the industry including veteran rappers who celebrated her bars. Upon signing to Sony Music Entertainment, she was chosen by the Noise Colectivo platform to star in the first edition of a documentary series titled, ‘Mi Barrio’, which aims to show the new generation of outstanding musicians in the Latin urban movement.
“We [rappers] are the journalists of our hoods. My entire project is approached that way. On ‘Que Fue’ I begin with saying Area 51 needs my head to find solutions with what’s going on in society, because the way things are getting is atrocious. I explain my frustrations and the things that are poisoning my hood like drugs, deaths over materialistic things — it’s urban journalism, urban reporting,” explains J Noa.
In 2023, J Noa made her debut on NPR’s Tiny Desk, which went viral and attracted the attention of many of her famous colleagues. That same week, she received her first Latin GRAMMY nomination for Best Song Rap/Hip Hop for “Autodidacta,” the focus track from her acclaimed debut EP, Autodidacta. On top of that, J Noa garnered recognition from various prominent media platforms and figures such as Rolling Stone, Billboard, NPR, Ebro Darden, Vibe Magazine, Complex, Pop Sugar, CNN en Español, Univision, Telemundo and People en Español, to name a few.
As an artist, her abilities transcend one genre: her talent can skate vocals and rhymes on various homegrown genres like bachata, merengue típico, and dembow. Her rap style is particularly married to the socio economic reality of her country, thus making her a voice and advocate for freedom of speech, educational equality, and against corruption. While she continues to develop and grow one reality will remain consistent: there is no compromising her authenticity and lyrical integrity as an artist.
