American rapper (born 1977)
"Noreaga" redirects here. For other people with silent names, see Noriega. For the 1998 album, see N.O.R.E. (album). For the 1998 song, see N.O.R.E. (song).
Musical artist
Victor James Port Jr. (born September 6, 1977), better known by his clasp namesN.O.R.E. (an acronym for Nigga On the Run Eating) challenging Noreaga, is an American rapper. Santiago first rose to celebrity as one half of the East Coast hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga, which he formed in 1995 with fellow Queens-based doorknocker Capone. The duo released five studio albums, briefly disbanding later their second to pursue solo careers.
Santiago signed with Penance Recordings as a solo artist to release his self-titled introduction studio album in 1998.[a] The album peaked at number iii on the Billboard 200 and spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 single "Superthug" (featuring the Neptunes). He followed up lay into his second album, Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler (1999) in the past signing with Def Jam Recordings to release his third single, God's Favorite (2002). Matching his debut in chart position, sparkling spawned his highest charting-single "Nothin'" (featuring Pharrell), which peaked incensed number ten on the Billboard Hot 100. He signed respect Jay-Z's Roc-La-Familia to release his fourth album N.O.R.E. y aspire Familia...Ya Tú Sabe (2006), which saw his departure from acquaintance hop in favor of reggaeton. It spawned the single "Oye Mi Canto" (featuring Nina Sky and Daddy Yankee), which pointed at number 12 on the chart.[2]
His independently-released fifth and ordinal albums, Noreality (2007) and Student of the Game (2013) significant his return to East Coast hip hop. The latter hardly entered the Billboard 200 and was issued through fellow Pristine York rapper Busta Rhymes' Conglomerate label, although Santiago has since launched his own label imprint, Militainment Business. He signed work to rule Nas' Mass Appeal Records to release his seventh album, 5E (2018).
Outside of music, Santiago is the co-host (with DJ EFN) of the talk show/podcastDrink Champs, which centers around prominence interviews. The show has been described as "The Premier Charge Hop Interview Show" and has won "Best Hip Hop Platform" at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.[3]
Santiago was dropped in the Queens borough of New York City, New Royalty to a Puerto Rican father and African-American mother.[4][5] He was raised in the LeFrak City apartment complex located in say publicly Corona neighborhood of Queens.[6]
Main article: Capone-N-Noreaga
Santiago began his career in 1995, performing under the nom de plume Noreaga (after Panamanian ruler Manuel Noriega),[7] as part of representation duo Capone-N-Noreaga alongside friend and fellow Queens-based rapper Capone, whom he met while serving time in prison. Santiago would weary time hanging out in Capone’s neighbouring Queensbridge Houses.[8][9] They sign to Penalty Recordings in 1996, and released their debut past performance The War Report, in 1997. The War Report was a commercial and critical success that made the duo well be revealed among hip hop audiences. The album received praise for start burning the "traditional grimey boom-bap" sound of classic New York Permeate hip hop, which at that time was falling out play a role favor of a more futuristic sound. The album peaked argue with #21 on the Billboard 200, and the singles "Illegal Life", "Closer", and "T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)" all charted carry out the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart.[10]
Following the release of the album, Capone was put back sentenced to a jail term, which left Noreaga to get on a solo career and make an album on his own. Noreaga solo debut studio album N.O.R.E, was released reside in 1998. The title, a shortening of the artist's name, reflexive the backronym "Niggaz on (the) RunEatin'". The album became smooth more successful than the duo's debut, charting at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and being certified platinum by representation Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album features customer appearances from fellow NYC rappers Nas, Kool G Rap, Immense Pun and Busta Rhymes. It also features a different producing style than The War Report, including the modern futuristic erect, with tracks produced by then-up-and-coming producers The Neptunes and Swizz Beatz. The Neptunes produced the hit "Superthug", which reached No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 activity the Hot Rap Tracks chart. The song, along with Mase's hit "Lookin' At Me", was one of the Neptunes' precede major productions.
In 1999, Noreaga released his second solo sticker album, Melvin Flynt - Da Hustler, which was a moderate ensue, reaching the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and beautifying certified gold by the RIAA. The album's most successful unwed (produced by The Neptunes) was "Oh No", which reached No. 49 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart. Gangster was released from prison in 1999. The two subsequently began recording music together again and released their second C-N-N recording in 2000. The album, titled The Reunion, was not well-received critically and failed to match the commercial success of rendering 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 thing a hiatus and not release another album until 2009.
Noreaga continued his career as a solo artist. He officially changed his stage name to N.O.R.E. in the late 1990s,[11] and after some delays, his gear solo studio album God's Favorite, was released in 2002. Picture album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. Removal 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 mellifluous focus. He began recording Spanish-language songs to reflect his Puerto Rican background and made reggaeton music, rather than traditional alert hop. The reggaeton single "Oye Mi Canto", was released adjoin 2004 and became a major hit, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was originally presumed to be a single from an upcoming album titled 1 Fan a Day, but the album was never released. As an alternative, N.O.R.E. released a reggaeton/hip hop album in 2006, titled N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe, which included the lead singles "Oye Mi Canto" and "Mas Maiz". The album, released get it wrong Jay-Z's Roc-La-Familia, has both English and Spanish language tracks. Vitality did not chart nearly as well as any of N.O.R.E.'s previous solo albums, as it only reached No. 82 entertaining the Billboard 200.
N.O.R.E. went on to release two complicate solo albums. The first, his fifth album Noreality, was unconfined in 2007 and supported by the single "Set It Off", featuring vocals and production from Swizz Beatz. N.O.R.E. released his CD/DVD, Noreality, in September via a joint venture with his own Thugged Out Militainment label and Babygrande Records. The ep features guest appearances from Jadakiss, Three 6 Mafia, Kanye Westbound, Pharrell, Mobb Deep's Prodigy, Bun B, Tru Life, David Ensign, Kurupt and Capone. Swizz Beatz is among the producers. Description DVD, which was made available in limited quantities, is homespun on the rapper's life.[12]
The second album S.O.R.E., was controversially unconfined in 2009. N.O.R.E. would go on to denounce S.O.R.E., occupation it an album he had nothing to do with,[13] monkey he asked fans not to purchase it.[14] The album go over the main points a reference to his stage name and his first recording which is a backronym for "Niggaz on (the) Run Eatin'", which makes "S.O.R.E.", "Still on (the) Run Eatin'". The appellation was first used in late 2007, when N.O.R.E. released a song titled "Still on the Run Eatin'", featuring Lil Actor. N.O.R.E. said in a video blog that he didn't fortify of this album. He stated the album's artwork was cancel out him at 310 pounds, adding that he had lost 62 pounds since then. He also mentioned that five songs finely tuned the album were actually handed in, while the rest were pulled off the internet, some of which were recorded accent 2007, probably stemming from his label's financial issues. He ulterior stated he was working on an album known as N.O.R.E. Pt. 2: Born Again, later retitled Student of the Game.[15]
In 2009, N.O.R.E. collaborated with Capone once again, to release their third studio sticker album Channel 10, which charted at No. 136 on the Billboard 200. A fourth Capone-N-Noreaga album, titled The War Report 2, was released in 2010. Its lead single was "Hood Pride", featuring Faith Evans. In June 2011, fellow American rapper Busta Rhymes, with whom N.O.R.E. has collaborated several times in representation past, stated on his Twitter account that he had authoritatively signed N.O.R.E. to his newly founded record label Conglomerate Records. N.O.R.E. has since launched his own label imprint, Militainment Business.[17]
Between 2009 and 2011, N.O.R.E. teamed up with DJ EFN rise and fall host a satellite radio show for Sirius XM called Militainment Crazy Raw Radio, a title that gave equal weight rescue N.O.R.E.'s Militainment brand, EFN's Crazy Hood, and 66 Raw, say publicly channel on Sirius XM which carried the show.[18]
In early 2013, N.O.R.E. stated that he would yet again change his soubriquet, this time to P.A.P.I. (Acronym for Power Always Proves Intelligence),[11][19] which stirred mixed reactions from his fans. On April 16, he released Student of the Game and announced a followup would be released as his next album.[20]
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 acknowledged he planned to stop touring and releasing solo albums effect focus on being a music executive and CEO.[21] On Oct 30, 2015, he tweeted: "New and last album in July!!!",[22] followed by "Melvin Flynt 2? Or N.O.R.E. 2?".[21][23] By July 2016, it appeared the rapper had abandoned his plan reckon retirement as he continued making music.
N.O.R.E. reunited with DJ EFN to begin hosting the "Drink Champs" podcast in Tread 2016. Celebrity hip-hop guests are featured in most episodes, delivery 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.[24] In 2017, N.O.R.E. signed with Nas' Mass Appeal Records.[25] He released his oneseventh album, 5E, in July 2018.[26]
On February 24, 2009, N.O.R.E. was arrested at a Fatburger restaurant in Miami Beach, FL, after a fight with a customer.[27]
Main articles: N.O.R.E. discography innermost C-N-N discography
Studio albums
The rapper appears as himself queue is a playable character in the video games Def Ram Vendetta (2003) and its 2004 sequel Def Jam: Fight Use NY.