Nicholas Craven Becomes First Montreal Artist to Release Music On Roc Nation
The producer's new single “No Blemishes” with Detroit rapper Boldy James arrives ahead of their new collaborative project Criminally Attached, due in November.
Nicholas Craven (right) and Boldy James.
Nicholas Craven is blazing the way on an iconic hip-hop label.
The Aylmer-born hip-hop producer has released a new collaborative single with Detroit rapper Boldy James, “No Blemishes," on Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label imprint. It’s a historical feat for Quebec musicians, as he becomes the first Montreal artist to release music on the label.
The song is the first taste of a new collaborative project between Craven and James, set to arrive in November. The producer revealed its title and release date in an Instagram post, all while celebrating his achievement.
“IM OFFICIALLY THE FIRST MONTREAL ARTIST TO RELEASE ON ROC NATION 💯🫡 NO BLEMISHES OUT NOW!!! CRIMINALLY ATTACHED NOV 14TH,” he said.
"No Blemishes" carries Craven's signature style: a soft soul sample loop with slightly sinister undertones that perfectly marries James' cold affirmations about his validity in the streets. "Got the most vividest, vaguest of images / On my resume, it ain't no stains or no blemishes / You can't put no smut on my name when you mention it / The gang I'm in you just can't claim without no membership," he raps on the chorus.
Criminally Attached marks their fourth full-length collaborative effort overall and second this year, following July’s Late to My Own Funeral. Its standout single “Nice Try Wrong Guy,” a cold-blooded collaboration that effectively pairs James’ unforgiving lyricism with Craven’s somber sample-based beats, received a nod in Billboard Canada’s Fresh Sounds series that same month. “Marrero," taken from the same album, was named as an R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Pick of the Week by Billboard.
Roc Nation posted about the song’s release on X and Instagram, giving the Montreal-Detroit duo a further stamp of approval.
