N.O.R.E.

One-half from the Queens hardcore rap duo Capone-N-Noreaga, Victor “Noreaga” Santiago met Kiam “Capone” Holley in 1992 even though both were offering prison sentences. Authorized to Penalty Information in 1996, the set released a hard-hitting debut (The Battle Statement) in June 1997, but after Holley was tossed back in prison on the parole violation, Santiago started recording a single album. His single debut, N.O.R.E. — an acronym for “Niggas away from home Feeding on” — was an all-star affair, with efforts from Foxy Dark brown, Nas, Busta Rhymes, and Jay-Z, amongst others. Melvin Flynt — Da Hustler adopted in 1999. His third recording, God’s Preferred, was delayed many times, but finally made an appearance in middle-2002. In 2006, he relocated to the Def Jam imprint Roc la Familia and released N.O.R.E. con la Familia…Ya Tú Sabe, a mostly reggaeton album featuring visitor celebrities like Nina Sky, Big Mato, and Daddy Yankee, but just the next 12 months he signed to Babygrande to issue Noreality, a more-standard rap record.