We recently connected with Joel NR Powell and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Joel NR thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is actually a series of five EPs—NR City, Visions In My Eyes, God Blessed Yute, Rise Up, and The Delivery—where I handled every aspect of the creative process, writing, performing, producing, mixing, and mastering each track from start to finish.

What made this journey so profound was the complete artistic ownership and vulnerability it required. There’s something transformative about being solely responsible for bringing a vision to life, from the initial spark of an idea to the final polished sound. Each EP became a deeply personal statement, a snapshot of where I was creatively and emotionally at that moment. Without collaborators to lean on, I had to trust my instincts, push through technical challenges, and grow exponentially as an artist.

This experience taught me that true creative freedom comes with complete accountability—and that’s where the magic happens. It proved to myself that I could execute a vision from conception to completion, which has fundamentally shaped how I approach all my creative and entrepreneurial endeavors. NR City through The Delivery aren’t just music projects; they’re evidence of what’s possible when you refuse to let limitations define your art.

Joel NR, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Joel NR Powell—DJ, recording artist, author, and entrepreneur. My journey into entertainment started with a deep love for music and connecting with people, which led me to found Ninja Ryders Sound and build a devoted following through my internet radio program, The Layer Show. Over the years, I produced over 500 promotional mixtapes that reached audiences throughout North America, the Caribbean, and Europe, establishing myself not just as a DJ, but as a cultural connector. What sets me apart is that I hold the unique distinction of being the only professional disc jockey to ever release a book, film, and soundtrack under my own brand, NR Entertainment Inc. This cross-disciplinary approach reflects my belief that creativity shouldn’t be confined to one medium. My work transcends genre boundaries and includes historic collaborations like “They Look at Me” featuring Lil Eazy-E—the first-ever Toronto-Compton musical partnership.

Beyond entertainment, I’m deeply committed to social justice and empowerment. My award-winning self-help book Black Empowerment & Minority Issues examines challenges facing visible minorities and was adapted into the documentary Empowerment Through Awareness, accompanied by a 7-track EP soundtrack. I’ve toured extensively throughout Toronto, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama with my “Ultimate Empowerment Tour,” combining speaking engagements, live performances, DJ sessions, and book signings to amplify messages of empowerment for marginalized communities.
I bring business acumen to everything I do, holding a diploma in Business Management, which helps me navigate the entrepreneurial side of my craft. I’ve performed at events for global brands including T-Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Starbucks, and Subway Restaurants, and made history as the first Canadian recording artist to perform at Juneteenth Atlanta, where I had the honor of closing the show with the late great Angie Stone.

What I’m most proud of is my ability to use multiple platforms—music, literature, film, and live performance—to tell stories that matter and create experiences that resonate. Whether I’m behind the turntables, in the studio, on stage, or speaking to audiences about empowerment, my mission is to inspire, connect, and push creative boundaries. I want people to know that my brand represents authenticity, excellence, and the relentless pursuit of breaking barriers—showing what’s possible when you refuse to be defined by a single lane.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I believe people in the non-creative industry will struggle daily to understand my passion and the importance it takes to push towards my goals. The challenge is that creative work often doesn’t follow a linear path—there’s no guaranteed paycheck, no clear promotion ladder, and success isn’t always immediately visible or measurable. What non-creatives might not fully grasp is that this isn’t a hobby or a side interest—it’s a calling that demands the same dedication, strategic thinking, and sacrifice as any traditional career, often with far less security. When I’m writing, producing, mixing, and mastering an EP entirely on my own, or touring to promote a book, film, and soundtrack simultaneously, I’m not just “doing what I love.” I’m building a business, managing logistics, investing resources, and betting on myself when there’s no safety net.

The creative journey requires an unwavering belief in your vision, even when results aren’t instant. It means working late nights after everyone else has clocked out, reinvesting earnings back into your craft instead of immediate comforts, and constantly pushing against doubt—both internal and external. Non-creatives might see the finished product—the performance, the release, the award—but they don’t always see the years of groundwork, the rejected pitches, the financial risks, or the emotional resilience it takes to keep going.

Here’s the insight I’d offer: creativity isn’t just about talent or inspiration—it’s about discipline, strategy, and an unrelenting commitment to bringing something meaningful into the world. If you know someone on a creative path, understand that their “struggle” isn’t a phase or a lack of ambition. It’s the price of building something authentic from nothing, and that takes courage most people will never have to summon in their careers.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I truly wish that schools, especially colleges and universities, had provided more resources towards becoming an entrepreneur rather than forcing the 9-5 mentality. The traditional education system is designed to prepare people to work for someone else, not to build their own empires or pursue creative entrepreneurship. What I wish I had known earlier is that entrepreneurship—especially in creative industries—requires a completely different skill set than what’s taught in most academic settings. I needed to understand cash flow management, contract negotiation, intellectual property rights, brand building, marketing strategies, and how to monetize creativity without compromising artistic integrity. These are survival skills for independent artists and entrepreneurs, yet they’re rarely part of the curriculum.
I also wish I had access earlier to mentorship networks and communities of people who had successfully navigated the path I was on. Learning from those who’ve built sustainable creative businesses would have saved me years of trial and error. Resources on how to scale a personal brand, leverage digital platforms effectively, and create multiple revenue streams from one core offering would have been game-changing.
The irony is that we’re taught to follow a formula that prepares us to make someone else wealthy, rather than empowered to create wealth and impact on our own terms. If I could tell my younger self—or any young creative—one thing, it would be to actively seek out entrepreneurial education outside the traditional system. Find the courses, the books, the mentors, and the communities that teach you how to build, not just how to work

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joelnrpowell.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelnrpowell
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joelnrpowell
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelnrpowell
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/joelnrpowell
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@joelnrpowell
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/joelnrpowell
  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/joelnrpowell, https://www.tiktok.com/@joelnrpowell

Image Credits
NR Entertainment Inc