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The Report from Capone-N-Noreaga's War
Before I write off the Capone-N-Noreaga group as over-it was nice while it lasted-I should explain how the group got its start. Capone (one half of the group) and Noreaga (the other half) both were from Queens. But that's not where they met? Then where? Jail, that's where. Both guys were doing time as teenagers and met up.
When they both got out, they formed the power group Capone-N-Noreaga. They signed in 1996 with 25 to Life Records and started gaining some attention in the New York area. Then they started on what would become their masterpiece. But believe it or not, before they finished it, Capone got shipped back to the pen. Never fear. Noreaga worked to get the record finished without his other half.
A Good Report
That next year, in 1997, the first Capone-N-Noreaga album would come out, called "The War Report." The record got acclaim both from rap fans and from rap critics. Perhaps it had to do a lot with the fact that the record had top notch producers working on it, including Clark Kent, Lord Finesse, and Mobb Deep's Havoc.
But you have to say that a reason for the success of the War Report has a lot to do with the Capone-N-Noreaga sound. If you listen to Capone-N-Noreaga, you get a sense that they are a unique voice in the industry. Like many hardcore rapper, Capone focuses on the gritty details of the streets that he grew up on, but Noreaga counters that with almost a Flavor-Flav comical sensibility.
The two, however, have trouble staying out of jail. In 1999, Capone went back to prison. Meanwhile, they got into issues with West Coast rappers like Snoop Dogg. Capone also got into a fist fight with Hussein Fatal. What about their music?
Capone-N-Noreaga No More
Through it all, they managed to release another Capone-N-Noreaga album. This one was called "The Reunion." It went gold, but that was considered a disappointment for the group, and they ended up leaving Tommy Boy with the feeling that their last record hadn't been promoted enough.
They went to Def Jam, but Tommy Boy wouldn't let go so easily. The record label refused to give up its copyright to the names Capone-N-Noreaga and Noreaga. So the group had to switch to the name CNN. Noreaga now went by the name of NORE.
The move didn't play out as well in other areas as well. What do I mean? Their 2003 record "What up 2 Da Hood" didn't even get released because the lead Capone-N-Noreaga song off of it, "Yes Sir," didn't do well. The group then seemed to break up when Capone left Def Jam. Is that true? Who knows. Rumor has it that a new Capone-N-Noreaga album is coming out in 2008, called "Reporting the War."
From Capone-N-Noreaga to Hip Hop Music
