N.O.R.E.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Noreaga" redirects here. For other people with similar names, see Noriega. For the 1998 album, see N.O.R.E. (album). For the 1998 song, see N.O.R.E. (song).
N.O.R.E.
N.O.R.E. in 2009
N.O.R.E. in 2009
Background information
Birth nameVictor James Santiago, Jr.
Also known as
  • Noreaga
  • P.A.P.I.
  • Melvin Flynt[1]
Born (1977-09-06) September 6, 1977 (age 46)
Queens, New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • broadcaster
DiscographyN.O.R.E. discography
Years active1995–present
Labels
Member ofCapone-N-Noreaga
Formerly ofFlipmode Squad
Websitewww.drinkchamps.com

Victor James Santiago, Jr. (born September 6, 1977), better known by his stage names N.O.R.E. and Noreaga, is an American rapper and broadcaster. Born and raised in Queens, New York,[2][3] Santiago first rose to prominence as one half of the East Coast hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga (C-N-N), which he formed in 1995 with fellow Queens-based rapper Capone. The duo released five studio albums, briefly disbanding after their second to pursue solo careers.

Santiago signed with Penalty Recordings as a solo artist to release his self-titled debut studio album in 1998.[a] It peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 single "Superthug" (featuring the Neptunes). He followed up with his second album, Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler (1999) before signing with Def Jam Recordings to release his third album, God's Favorite (2002). Matching his debut in chart position, it was supported by the single "Nothin'" (featuring Pharrell), which peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains his highest-charting song.

Outside of music, Santiago is the co-host (with DJ EFN) of the talk show/podcast Drink Champs, which centers around celebrity interviews. The show has been described as "The Premier Hip Hop Interview Show" and won "Best Hip Hop Platform" at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.[4]

Musical career

1995–1997: Career beginnings with Capone

Main article: Capone-N-Noreaga

Santiago began his career in 1995, performing under the

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart.[8]

1997–2000: Solo career and debut album

Following the release of the album, Capone was again sentenced to a jail term, which left Noreaga to take on a solo career and make an album on his own. Noreaga solo debut studio album

Hot Rap Tracks chart. The song, along with Mase
's hit "Lookin' At Me", was one of the Neptunes' first major productions.

In 1999, Noreaga released his second solo album,

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart. Capone was released from prison in 1999. The two subsequently began recording music together again and released their second C-N-N album in 2000. The album, titled The Reunion, was not well-received critically and failed to match the commercial success of the duo's debut or Noreaga's solo albums. AllMusic
reviewer Matt Conaway summed up the album by stating "With The Reunion, Capone-N-Noreaga take a step backward." The group would then go on a hiatus and not release another album until 2009.

2001–2007: Name change and reggaeton era

Noreaga continued his career as a solo artist. He officially changed his stage name to N.O.R.E. in the late 1990s,[9] and after some delays, his third solo studio album God's Favorite, was released in 2002. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. It contained the major hit "Nothin'" (produced by The Neptunes), which reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became N.O.R.E.'s highest-charting hit.

Following God's Favorite, N.O.R.E. changed his musical focus. He began recording

Mas Maiz". The album, released under Jay-Z's Roc-La-Familia
, has both English and Spanish language tracks. It did not chart nearly as well as any of N.O.R.E.'s previous solo albums, as it only reached No. 82 on the Billboard 200.

N.O.R.E. went on to release two more solo albums. The first, his fifth album

Pharrell, Mobb Deep's Prodigy, Bun B, Tru Life, David Banner, Kurupt and Capone. Swizz Beatz is among the producers. The DVD, which was made available in limited quantities, is based on the rapper's life.[10]

The second album S.O.R.E., was controversially released in 2009. N.O.R.E. would go on to denounce S.O.R.E., calling it an album he had nothing to do with,[11] as he asked fans not to purchase it.[12] The album is a reference to his stage name and his first album which is a backronym for "Niggaz on (the) Run Eatin'", which makes "S.O.R.E.", "Still on (the) Run Eatin'". The term was first used in late 2007, when N.O.R.E. released a song titled "Still on the Run Eatin'", featuring Lil Wayne. N.O.R.E. said in a video blog that he didn't approve of this album. He stated the album's artwork was of him at 310 pounds, adding that he had lost 62 pounds since then. He also mentioned that five songs on the album were actually handed in, while the rest were pulled off the internet, some of which were recorded in 2007, probably stemming from his label's financial issues. He later stated he was working on an album known as N.O.R.E. Pt. 2: Born Again, later retitled Student of the Game.[13]

2009–present: Student of the Game and podcasting career

In 2009, N.O.R.E. collaborated with Capone once again, to release their third studio album

Conglomerate Records.[14] N.O.R.E. has since launched his own label imprint, Militainment Business.[15]

Between 2009 and 2011, N.O.R.E. teamed up with DJ EFN to host a satellite radio show for Sirius XM called Militainment Crazy Raw Radio, a title that gave equal weight to N.O.R.E.'s Militainment brand, EFN's Crazy Hood, and 66 Raw, the channel on Sirius XM which carried the show.[16]

In early 2013, N.O.R.E. stated that he would yet again change his

moniker, this time to P.A.P.I. (Acronym for Power Always Proves Intelligence),[9][17] which stirred mixed reactions from his fans. On April 16, he released Student of the Game and announced a sequel would be released as his next album.[18]

On September 27, 2013, N.O.R.E. told MTV that his next album, Melvin Flynt II: Da Final Hustle, would be his final album. He stated he planned to stop touring and releasing solo albums to focus on being a music executive and CEO.[19] On October 30, 2015, he tweeted: "New and last album in July!!!",[20] followed by "Melvin Flynt 2? Or N.O.R.E. 2?".[19][21] By July 2016, it appeared the rapper had abandoned his plan for retirement as he continued making music.

N.O.R.E. reunited with DJ EFN to begin hosting the "Drink Champs" podcast in March 2016. Celebrity hip-hop guests are featured in most episodes, sharing stories and updates while drinking alcohol. The podcast has achieved more than five million listens per month. Since November 2016, the show has been aired on Revolt.[22] In 2017, N.O.R.E. signed with Nas' Mass Appeal Records.[23] He released his seventh album, 5E, in July 2018.[24]

Legal issues

On February 24, 2009, N.O.R.E. was arrested at a

Miami Beach, FL, after a fight with a customer.[25]

Discography

Main articles:
C-N-N discography
Studio albums

Video game appearances

The rapper appears as himself and is a playable character in the video games

Def Jam: Fight For NY
.

Notes

  1. ^ At the time of its release, he was known as Noreaga, although he changed his stage name to the album's title, N.O.R.E. in late 1999.

References

  1. ^ "N.O.R.E. At Venue". 20 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Noreaga - Biography, Albums, Streaming Links - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "N.O.R.E. talks "On The Run Eatin'" food show on #SwayInTheMorning [VIDEO]". hip-hopvibe.com. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
  4. ^ Thorpe, Isha (November 11, 2022). "DJ EFN says the sky's the limit for Drink Champs". Revolt.com.
  5. ^ Breihan, Tom (2017-05-30). "Noreaga Pays Tribute To Noriega". Stereogum. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  6. ^ Sanfiorenzo, Dimas (2017-07-29). "N.O.R.E. Explains Why People Kept on Defacing the Prodigy Mural". Okayplayer. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  7. ^ "N.O.R.E. Changes His Name To P.A.P.I." The Source. 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  8. ^ Stanley, Leo (1997-06-17). "The War Report - Capone-N-Noreaga". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-04-17.[dead link]
  9. ^ a b Coleman II, C. Vernon; High, Kemet (2023-03-08). "Rappers Who Unsuccessfully Tried Changing Their Names". XXL Mag. Retrieved 2023-08-05.
  10. ^ "Bits: Grand National, N.O.R.E., Molotov & More". Billboard. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  11. ^ "Video: N.O.R.E.: Don't Support S.O.R.E." Nah Right. 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  12. ^ Langhorne, Cyrus (2009-09-13). "N.O.R.E. Pleads W/ Fans To Not Cop "S.O.R.E." LP, "That's Not My Real Album" (Video)". Sohh.Com. Archived from the original on 2009-11-25. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  13. ^ "VIDEO: N.O.R.E. Says Don't Support "S.O.R.E."". broken cool. 2009-09-24. Archived from the original on 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  14. ^ "Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  15. ^ Langhorne, Cyrus (2011-06-26). "Busta Rhymes Clears Up N.O.R.E. Situation, "I Didn't Really Sign Him" (Video)". Sohh.Com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  16. ^ "Militainment Crazy Raw Radio on Hip-Hop Nation | 57thAve". Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
  17. ^ "N.O.R.E. Changes His Name to P.A.P.I." Complex. 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  18. ^ Cooper, Roman (2013-04-20). "N.O.R.E. (a/k/a P.A.P.I.) Reveals Plans For "Student Of The Game 2"". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  19. ^ a b "N.O.R.E. Says He Will Focus On Being CEO After Next LP 'Melvin Flynt II: Da Final Hustle' - XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  20. ^ "N.O.R.E on Twitter: "New and last album In July !!!"". Twitter. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  21. ^ "N.O.R.E on Twitter: "Melvin flynt 2? Or N.O.R.E 2?"". Twitterm. Retrieved 2016-04-28.
  22. ^ Schwindt, Oriana (2016-11-17). "'Drink Champs' Podcast Coming to Diddy's Revolt TV Network (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  23. ^ Estevez, Marjua (2017-09-20). "N.O.R.E. On Signing With Mass Appeal And Reviving Friendship With Nas (Watch)". Vibe. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  24. ^ WALLACE, RILEY (2018-07-30). "REVIEW: N.O.R.E. KEEPS IT AVERAGE ON "5E"". HIPHOPDX. Retrieved 2021-07-01.
  25. ^ "New York rapper N.O.R.E. arrested after fight at Miami burger joint - NY Daily News". New York Daily News. Associated Press. Retrieved 22 October 2018.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=N.O.R.E.&oldid=1215549385"