N.O.R.E. Biography

The American hip hop artist known as Noreaga was born Victor Santiago, Jr., in 1977. Santiago adopted the moniker Noreaga in 1995, when he teamed up with Queens-based rapper Capone to create the duo Capone-N-Noreaga. In 1997, the duo released a debut album, The War Report, which was well received by audiences and critics alike, rising into the top forty on the mainstream charts and spawning the singles “Top of New York,” “Closer,” and “Illegal Life.”

After Capone was sentenced to a jail term, interrupting the duo’s ability to move forward, Noreaga launched his own solo career with the released of his debut, N.O.R.E., in 1998. Much to his surprise, the album was an even greater success than The War Report, rising into the top five on the mainstream charts and reaching platinum status. The album gave fans the number one rap single “Superthug” and set the stage for the additional albums:  Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler (1999), God’s Favorite (2002), N.O.R.E. y la Familia… Ya Tu Sabe (2006), and Noreality (2007.) The albums spawned the additional rap hits: “Nothin” (featuring Pharrell) and “Oye Mi Canto” (featuring Nina Sky and Daddy Yankee.)

In addition to his own singles, Noreaga has appeared as a featured or guest artist on a number of other notable songs, including: “Crashin’ A Party” (with Lumidee); “Blood Money Pt. 2” (with Nas); “Glory” (with Cam’ron); “Give Me” (with A Tribe Called Quest); “Sometimes” (with Maze); “We Ride” (with R. Kelly and Jay-Z); “Why You Wanna Hate For” (with Memphis Bleek); “Gorillas” (with Screwball); “Come Thru” (with Styles P); “Put ‘Em Up” (with The Neptunes); “Boss Dealings” (with Curren$y); and “Ghetto Symphony” (with Mack Main and Flow.)

Noreaga continues to perform and record as a solo artist. His most recent album, Student of the Game, was released in 2013 and he is schedule for another album release in 2015 or 2016. Noreaga can be heard on the 2015 Fabolous single, “Monday Night Mixtape 98 Freestyle.”