Noreaga
| N.O.R.E. | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Victor Santiago, Jr. |
| Also known as | Noreaga, P.A.P.I. |
| Born | September 6, 1977 |
| Origin | LeFrak City, Queens, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop, reggaeton |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | Penalty |
| Associated acts | Capone-N-Noreaga, Dame Grease, DJ Clue?, Busta Rhymes, Big Pun, Nas, Mobb Deep, The LOX, DMX, Ja Rule, Scarface, Raekwon, The Neptunes, Nina Sky |
Victor Santiago, Jr. (born September 6, 1977), best known by his stage name N.O.R.E., formerly Noreaga, is an American hip hop and reggaeton recording artist. Santiago first rose to prominence as one half of the East Coast hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga (C-N-N), alongside fellow Queens-based rapper Capone. He would also have success as a solo artist with the singles "Superthug", "Banned from T.V.", "Nothin'", "Oye Mi Canto" and "Mas Maiz".
Santiago has released music under various record labels, including Penalty, Roc-La-Familia, Def Jam, and Babygrande Records. In June 2011, it was announced Santiago partnered with fellow American rapper Busta Rhymes' Conglomerate label, where he released his 2013 album Student of the Game, issued under E1 Music. Santiago is also chief executive officer (CEO) of his own imprint, Militainment Business.
Santiago's career began to take off in 1995, while under the pseudonym Noreaga (after Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega), as part of the duo Capone-N-Noreaga (C-N-N), alongside friend and fellow Queens-based rapper Capone (whom he met while serving time in prison). They signed to Penalty Recordings in 1996, and released their debut album The War Report, in 1997. The War Report was a commercial and critical success which made the duo well known among hip hop audiences. The album received praise for using the "traditional grimey boom-bap" sound of classic New York City hip hop, which at that time was falling out in favor of a more futuristic sound. The album peaked at #21 on the Billboard 200, and the singles "Illegal Life", "Closer", and "T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)" all charted on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart.
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