Counting Crows' Adam Duritz Serves as Rapper NOTAR's Mentor (VIDEO)

When you think of hip hop, one of the last people to come to mind is likely Counting Crows' lead singer Adam Duritz, but the Oakland and Berkely native is a huge fan of rap, and as it turns out, is one helluva hip-hop talent scout and mentor. The dredded singer signed rising rhymer NOTAR to his Tyrannosaurus Records after hearing some demos, and is working closely with the emerging artist. NOTAR, who hails from New Haven, CT, dropped his self-titled EP in September and will release his full-length album tentatively titled Devil's Playground sometime in 2011. In the mean time, the rapper is playing select tour dates (he hit the road with Crows on their Traveling Circus tour earlier in the year), and plotting his next moves.

I met up with the duo -- now close friends who finish each other's sentences -- in New York City last week, and found them equally excited at what's in store for NOTAR.