N.O.R.E. [PA]

Performer: Noreaga
Artist: Nas; Nature; Carl Thomas; Busta Rhymes; Cam'Ron; The Lox; Chico DeBarge; Big Punisher; Kid Capri; Kool G. Rap; Jadakiss; Styles; Maze; Musolini; Spliff Star
Distributor: Alternative Dis. Alliance

Notes: Personnel includes: Noreaga, Nature, Big Punisher, Cam'Ron, Styles, Jadakiss, Maze, Musolini, Kool G. Rap, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Spliff Star, Maze, Kid Capri (rap vocals); Carl Thomas, Chico DeBarge (vocals); Avon Marshall, Robert Mays (various instruments); Portia (guitar); Vinia Mojica, Tammy Lucas, The Neptunes (background vocals). Producers include: Swizz, EZ Elpee, Poke & Tone, SPK, Marley Marl. Engineers include: Martin Moor, Pat Viola, Chris Conway. Personnel includes: Noreaga, Nature, Big Punisher, Cam'Ron, Styles, Jadakiss, Maze, Musolini, Kool G. Rap, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Spliff Star, Maze, Kid Capri (rap vocals); Carl Thomas, Chico DeBarge (vocals). Producers include: Swizz, EZ Elpee, Poke & Tone, SPK, Marley Marl. Engineers include: Martin Moor, Pat Viola, Chris Conway, Joe Quinde, Stephen T. Dent. With his colleague Capone, Noreaga released an exciting debut album, The War Report, in 1997. Shortly after its release, Capone was sent to jail, leaving Noreaga to fend for himself on the follow-up. N.O.R.E. doesn't quite live up to the expectations set by The War Report, mainly because Capone is absent, but it often hits head-spinning high notes. Noreaga lined up an impressive team of guest rappers -- Nas, Mase, Kool G Rap, Cam'ron, Big Punisher, and Busta Rhymes, among others, are all present, and most contribute some great, hard-hitting raps. Still, the whole thing adds up to the less than the sum of its parts. Maybe the thrilling interplay and fresh beats on The War Report raised hopes too high, but N.O.R.E. doesn't transcend expectations like you may anticipate. Instead, it simply delivers the goods. That does make for some great listening, but it's hard not to think that Noreaga is capable of greatness, not just merely good work. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine As one half of the critically acclaimed group Capone-N-Noreaga, Noreaga established himself as a true rap artist, lyrically talented and musically diverse. Within one year, he created a heavy demand for his vocal talents, which are incredibly distinct. His thuggish style brings a street flavor back to hip-hop, and with his solo debut N.O.R.E., Noreaga schools listeners on what rap music is meant to be. The album N.O.R.E. is all about street credibility, lyrics that play with your head and beats that invoke serious head-nodding. "Banned From TV" is a posse cut that features only the hottest MCs, such as Cam'Ron, Big Punisher and The Lox. "I Love My Life" and "The Way We Live" show Noreaga's crossover potential, while production for tracks like "The Assignment" and "Superthug" make N.O.R.E. much more worthy of praise than the average debut. As one half of the critically acclaimed group Capone-N-Noreaga, Noreaga established himself as a true rap artist, lyrically talented and musically diverse. Within one year, he created a heavy demand for his vocal talents, which are incredibly distinct. His thuggish style brings a street flavor back to hip-hop, and with his solo debut N.O.R.E., Noreaga schools listeners on what rap music is meant to be. The album N.O.R.E. is all about street credibility, lyrics that play with your head and beats that invoke serious head-nodding. "Banned From TV" is a posse cut that features only the hottest MCs, such as Cam'Ron, Big Punisher and The Lox. "I Love My Life" and "The Way We Live" show Noreaga's crossover potential, while production for tracks like "The Assignment" and "Superthug" make N.O.R.E. much more worthy of praise than the average debut.

The Source (8/98, pp.166-167) - 4 Mics (out of 5) - "...Noreaga proves...that he can hang with the rest of the lyrical masterminds that have come outta the illustrious borough....It's his signature characteristic, his language..." The Source (8/98, pp.166-167) - 4 Mics (out of 5) - "...Noreaga proves...that he can hang with the rest of the lyrical masterminds that have come outta the illustrious borough....It's his signature characteristic, his language..." Rap Pages (9/98, p.119) - 4 (out of 5) - "...Noreaga maintains his post and continues to report from the streets with his choppy, stutter-step, spit-in-your-face delivery..." Rap Pages (9/98, p.119) - 4 (out of 5) - "...Noreaga maintains his post and continues to report from the streets with his choppy, stutter-step, spit-in-your-face delivery..."

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