N.O.R.E. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids N.O.R.E.
N.O.R.E. in 1999
Background information
Birth name	Victor James Santiago Jr.
Also known as	Noreaga P.A.P.I. Melvin Flynt
Born	(1977-09-06) September 6, 1977 (age 47) New York City, U.S.
Genres	East Coast hip-hop hardcore hip-hop reggaeton
Occupation(s)	Rapper songwriter podcaster
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Mass Appeal Penalty E1 Conglomerate Thugged Out Violator Def Jam Roc-La-Familia Tommy Boy Babygrande

Victor James Santiago Jr. (born September 6, 1977), known as N.O.R.E. or Noreaga, is an American rapper. He first became famous in 1995 as half of the East Coast hip-hop group Capone-N-Noreaga. He formed this duo with his friend Capone. They released five studio albums together.

Santiago also had a successful solo career. His first solo album, N.O.R.E., came out in 1998. It reached number three on the Billboard 200 chart. The album featured the hit song "Superthug". His third album, God's Favorite (2002), also reached number three. It included his biggest hit, "Nothin'", which peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100.

Later, N.O.R.E. explored reggaeton music. His 2006 album, N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe, included the popular song "Oye Mi Canto". This song reached number 12 on the chart. He has continued to release albums and is also known for co-hosting the popular Drink Champs podcast.

Early Life and Beginnings

Santiago was born in Queens, New York City. His father was Puerto Rican and his mother was African-American. He grew up in the LeFrak City apartment complex in the Corona neighborhood of Queens.

Musical Journey

Starting with Capone-N-Noreaga (1995–1997)

Santiago began his music career in 1995. He used the name Noreaga, inspired by Panamanian ruler Manuel Noriega. He formed the duo Capone-N-Noreaga with his friend Capone. They signed with Penalty Recordings in 1996.

Their first album, The War Report, was released in 1997. It was very successful and made them well-known in hip-hop. The album was praised for its classic New York City hip hop sound. The War Report reached #21 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Solo Success and Debut Album (1997–2000)

After their first album, Capone had to take a break. This led Noreaga to start his solo career. His first solo album, N.O.R.E., came out in 1998. This album was even more successful than the duo's debut. It reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and sold over a million copies.

The album featured famous rappers like Nas and Busta Rhymes. It also had a new, modern sound from producers like The Neptunes and Swizz Beatz. The Neptunes produced the hit song "Superthug". This song reached No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100.

..... It was also successful, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard 200. The song "Oh No" was a popular single from this album. Capone was released in 1999, and the duo made another album together called The Reunion in 2000.

Name Change and Reggaeton Music (2001–2007)

Noreaga continued his solo career and officially changed his stage name to N.O.R.E. His third solo album, God's Favorite, was released in 2002. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. This album featured his biggest hit, "Nothin'", which reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

After God's Favorite, N.O.R.E. started making Spanish-language songs. He wanted to show his Puerto Rican background. He began creating reggaeton music instead of just traditional hip hop. The reggaeton song "Oye Mi Canto" came out in 2004. It became a big hit, reaching No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2006, N.O.R.E. released a reggaeton and hip-hop album called N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe. This album included both English and Spanish songs. His fifth album, Noreality, was released in 2007. It featured artists like Kanye West and Pharrell.

In 2009, an album called S.O.R.E. was released. N.O.R.E. later said he had nothing to do with this album. He asked fans not to buy it because it used old songs and artwork he didn't approve of.

Later Albums and Podcasting (2009–Present)

In 2009, N.O.R.E. and Capone reunited for their third album, Channel 10. They released a fourth album, The War Report 2, in 2010. In 2011, rapper Busta Rhymes announced that N.O.R.E. had joined his record label, Conglomerate Records. N.O.R.E. also started his own label called Militainment Business.

In 2013, N.O.R.E. released his album Student of the Game. He also started using the name P.A.P.I. for a short time.

In March 2016, N.O.R.E. teamed up with DJ EFN to host the "Drink Champs" podcast. On this show, celebrity hip-hop guests share stories and updates. The podcast has become very popular, with millions of listens each month. Since November 2016, the show has been available on Revolt. In 2017, N.O.R.E. signed with Nas' Mass Appeal Records. He released his seventh album, 5E, in July 2018.

Video Game Appearances

N.O.R.E. appears as a playable character in the video games Def Jam Vendetta (2003) and Def Jam: Fight For NY (2004).

Discography

Studio albums

• N.O.R.E. (1998)
• God's Favorite (2002)
• N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe (2006)
• Noreality (2007)
• Student of the Game (2013)
• 5E (2018)