September 6th, 1977 marked the date Mr. Victor Santiago Jr. came to be—but you might know him better as the Queens-based Hip-hop/Reggaeton artist N.O.R.E.
Formerly known as Noreaga, Santiago debuted into Hip-hop as one-half of the Capone-N-Noreaga tandem in 1995. Signed under Penalty Recordings, the duo released their premier album The War Report which raised stunning success from Hip-hop audiences, peaking at the Billboard 200’s #21 spot.
In 1998, Noreaga made his debut as a solo artist with his album N.O.R.E. which stood for “N****z On (the) Run Eatin”, which surpassed the success of the duo’s debut record, rising to #3 on the Billboard 200 as well as achieving certified platinum by the RIAA.
The album also signified Santiago’s transition from War Report’s traditional New York blend of Hip-hop in exchange for a more modern sound. In the years that followed, Santiago progressed through the scene as both a well-known and well-respected artist, coming out with Melvin Flynt – Da Hustler in 1999 and God’s Favorite in 2002—both of which meeting prominent acclaim. At the same time, Santiago would release throwback collaborative projects with former partner Capone
.After the success of his third album, Santiago made another turn in genre as he decided to expand more on his Puerto Rican heritage. Now officially flaunting the N.O.R.E. persona, Santiago released his first reggaeton single “Oye Mi Canto” in 2004, which ranked the Billboard Hot 100 at #12.
In 2006, N.O.R.E released N.O.R.E. y la Familia… Ya Tu Sabe, his fourth album which featured an intrinsic blend between Hip-hop and Reggaeton. Signed under Jay-Z’s Roc-La-Familia label, the album featured both English and Spanish tracks.
Truth be told, the list would go on and on if I were to expand more on Santiago’s very decorated catalog. From the several artists he’s worked with to his explorations towards transitioning styles, Santiago, aka Noreaga aka N.O.R.E., embodies the definition of perseverance inherent among many Hip-hop greats.
Blessings go out to Mr. Victor Santiago Jr!
By Jods Arboleda for RAPStation.com
