N.O.R.E. | |
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 N.O.R.E. in 1999 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as |
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| Born | Victor James Santiago Jr. (1977-09-06)September 6, 1977 (age 48) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Capone-N-Noreaga |
| Formerly of | Flipmode Squad |
| Website | www |
Victor James Santiago Jr. (born September 6, 1977), better known by hisstage namesN.O.R.E. (an acronym forNiggaOn theRunEating) andNoreaga, is an American rapper. Santiago first rose to prominence as one half of theEast Coast hip-hop duoCapone-N-Noreaga, which he formed in 1995 with fellow Queens-based rapperCapone. The duo released five studio albums, briefly disbanding after their second to pursue solo careers.
Santiago signed withPenalty Recordings as a solo artist to release hisself-titled debut studio album in 1998.[a] The album peaked at number three on theBillboard 200 and spawned theBillboard Hot 100-top 40 single "Superthug". He followed up with his second album,Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler (1999) before signing withDef Jam Recordings to release his third album,God's Favorite (2002). Matching his debut in chart position, it spawned his highest charting-single "Nothin'" (featuringPharrell), which peaked at number ten on theBillboard Hot 100. He signed withJay-Z'sRoc-La-Familia to release his fourth albumN.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe (2006), which saw his departure from hip hop in favor ofreggaeton. It spawned the single "Oye Mi Canto" (featuringNina Sky andDaddy Yankee), which peaked at number 12 on the chart.[2]
His independently-released fifth and sixth albums,Noreality (2007) andStudent of the Game (2013) marked his return to East Coast hip hop. The latter narrowly entered theBillboard 200 and was issued through fellow New York rapperBusta Rhymes'Conglomerate label, although Santiago has since launched his own label imprint, Militainment Business. He signed withNas'Mass Appeal Records to release his seventh album,5E (2018).
Outside of music, Santiago is the co-host (withDJ EFN) of thetalk show andpodcastDrink Champs, which centers aroundcelebrity interviews. The show has been described as "The Premier Hip Hop Interview Show" and won "Best Hip Hop Platform" at the2022 BET Hip Hop Awards.[3]
Santiago was born inQueens,New York City, to aPuerto Rican father andAfrican-American mother.[4][5] He was raised in apartment 5E in theLeFrak City apartment complex located in theCorona neighborhood of Queens.[6]
Santiago began his career in 1995, performing under thepseudonym Noreaga (afterPanamanian rulerManuel Noriega),[7] as part of the duoCapone-N-Noreaga alongside friend and fellowQueens-based rapperCapone, whom he met while serving time in prison. Santiago would spend time hanging out in Capone’s neighbouringQueensbridge Houses.[8][9] They signed toPenalty Recordings in 1996, and released their debut albumThe War Report, in 1997.The War Report was a commercial and critical success that made the duo well known among hip hop audiences. The album received praise for using the "traditional grimey boom-bap" sound of classicNew York City hip hop, which at that time was falling out in favor of a more futuristic sound. The album peaked at No. 21 on theBillboard 200, and the singles "Illegal Life", "Closer", and "T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)" all charted on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart.[10]
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 albumN.O.R.E, was released in 1998. The title, a shortening of the artist's name, used thebackronym "Niggaz on (the) RunEatin'". The album became even more successful than the duo's debut, charting at No. 3 on theBillboard 200 and beingcertified platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album featuresguest appearances from fellow NYC rappersNas,Kool G Rap,Big Pun andBusta Rhymes. It also features a different production style thanThe War Report, including the modern futuristic sound, with tracks produced by then-up-and-coming producersThe Neptunes andSwizz Beatz. The Neptunes produced the hit "Superthug", which reached No. 36 on theBillboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on theHot Rap Tracks chart. The song, along withMase's hit "Lookin' At Me", was one of the Neptunes' first major productions.
In 1999, Noreaga released his second solo album,Melvin Flynt - Da Hustler, which was a moderate success, reaching the top 10 of theBillboard 200 and becomingcertified gold by the RIAA. The album's most successful single (produced by The Neptunes) was "Oh No", which reached No. 49 on theHot 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, titledThe 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 "WithThe Reunion, Capone-N-Noreaga take a step backward." The group would then go on 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 third solo studio albumGod's Favorite, was released in 2002. The album peaked at No. 3 on theBillboard 200. It contained the major hit "Nothin'" (produced by The Neptunes), which reached No. 10 on theBillboard Hot 100. It became N.O.R.E.'s highest-charting hit.
FollowingGod's Favorite, N.O.R.E. changed his musical focus. He began recordingSpanish-language songs to reflect hisPuerto Rican background and madereggaeton music, rather than traditionalhip hop. The reggaeton single "Oye Mi Canto", was released in 2004 and became a major hit, peaking at No. 12 on theBillboard Hot 100. The song was originally supposed to be a single from an upcoming album titled1 Fan a Day, but the album was never released. Instead, N.O.R.E. released a reggaeton/hip hop album in 2006, titledN.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe, which included the lead singles "Oye Mi Canto" and "Mas Maiz". The album, released underJay-Z'sRoc-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 theBillboard 200.
N.O.R.E. went on to release two more solo albums. The first, his fifth albumNoreality, was released 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 andBabygrande Records. The album features guest appearances fromJadakiss,Three 6 Mafia,Kanye West,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.[12]
The second albumS.O.R.E., was controversially released in 2009. N.O.R.E. would go on to denounceS.O.R.E., calling it an album he had nothing to do with,[13] as he asked fans not to purchase it.[14] The album is a reference to hisstage name and hisfirst album which is abackronym 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'", featuringLil Wayne. N.O.R.E. said in a video blog that he didn't approve of this album. He stated the album'sartwork 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 asN.O.R.E. Pt. 2: Born Again, later retitledStudent of the Game.[15]
In 2009, N.O.R.E. collaborated with Capone once again, to release their third studio albumChannel 10, which charted at No. 136 on theBillboard 200. A fourth Capone-N-Noreaga album, titledThe War Report 2, was released in 2010. Its lead single was "Hood Pride", featuringFaith Evans. In June 2011, fellow American rapperBusta Rhymes, with whom N.O.R.E. has collaborated several times in the past, stated on his Twitter account that he had officially signed N.O.R.E. to his newly founded record labelConglomerate Records.[16] N.O.R.E. has since launched his own label imprint, Militainment Business.[17]
Between 2009 and 2011, N.O.R.E. teamed up withDJ 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.[18]
In early 2013, N.O.R.E. stated that he would yet again change hismoniker, this time to P.A.P.I. (Acronym forPowerAlwaysProvesIntelligence),[11][19] which stirred mixed reactions from his fans. On April 16, he releasedStudent of the Game and announced a sequel 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 stated he planned to stop touring and releasing solo albums to focus on being a music executive and CEO.[21] On October 30, 2015, he tweeted: "New and last album in July!!!",[22] followed by "Melvin Flynt 2? OrN.O.R.E. 2?".[21][23] 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 onRevolt.[24] In 2017, N.O.R.E. signed withNas'Mass Appeal Records.[25] He released his seventh album,5E, in July 2018.[26]
On February 24, 2009, N.O.R.E. was arrested at aFatburger restaurant inMiami Beach, FL, after a fight with a customer.[citation needed]
Studio albums
The rapper appears as himself and is a playable character in the video gamesDef Jam Vendetta (2003) and its 2004 sequelDef Jam: Fight For NY.
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