noreaga ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Why 1996 Had The Perfect Storm To Split Hip-Hop In Two

On the most recent episode of Drink Champs, co-host N.O.R.E. told guests Talib Kweli, Yasiin Bey, and Dave Chappelle about the moment he felt Hip-Hop became divided. The co-founder of Capone-N-Noreaga opined to Black Star that he feels The Roots' 1996 "What They Do" music video was a dividing line... Read more

September 12, 2022 Video

Kanye West Details The Secret Warfare Drake Has Waged On Him

Since releasing Donda this August, Kanye West has not done a sit-down interview. That changes with this morning's (November 5) episode of Drink Champs. Ye (as he is now formally known) sat down with N.O.R.E and DJ EFN for several hours. Throughout the chat, Kanye discusses various aspects of his... Read more

November 5, 2021 News, Video

LOUD Records’ Founder Details Getting Arrested For Bringing The Ruckus For Raekwon

Steve Rifkind, the founder of LOUD Records, is known for creating the record company that introduced much of the world to Wu-Tang Clan, Xzibit, Tha Alkaholiks, Funkmaster Flex, and dead prez, among others. The Long Island, New York native is the son of Spring Records executive (Jimmy Spicer, James Brown,... Read more

February 11, 2020 Video

Lil Wayne Says He Refused To Get Bodied By Eminem On Their Collaborations (Video)

In the late 1990s, Eminem and Lil Wayne burst onto the Rap around the same time. Both MCs' careers date back earlier into the decade. However, the same 1999 Marshall Mathers released The Slim Shady LP, The Hot Boys' Weezy dropped breakout solo, Tha Block Is Hot. Each artist had... Read more

February 1, 2020 Video

Method Man & N.O.R.E. Knock Out Bars Like Drink Champs In Their New Video

Method Man continues to go all in for his 2018 Meth Lab 2: The Lithium compilation campaign. The same week that Wu-Tang Clan gears up for its Of Mics & Men documentary to air on Showtime, Mr. Mef' (who co-produced the Sacha Jenkins-directed work) twists the cap off of his... Read more

May 8, 2019 Video

De La Soul Are Fighting To Own The Music They Created (Video)

In the last two weeks, the three members of De La Soul have been at the center of a discussion surrounding ownership of catalog and the fairness of record label contracts. That discourse stems from the trio of Dave, Maseo, and Posdnuos notifying fans on social media that they are... Read more

March 11, 2019 News, Video

Talib Kweli & dead prez Give The Best Explanation Yet Of What’s Happened To Kanye (Video)

For more than two years, Kanye West's career and public image have become a point of discourse in the mainstream, especially for the Hip-Hop and Black communities. Months after the release of 2016's The Life Of Pablo, a turn of events transpired. West's wife, Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint... Read more

November 21, 2018 Lifestyle, Video

T.I. Outlines What He Sees As The Positive Aspects Of The Crack Era (Video)

Although the crack epidemic is one of the most tragic times for addiction, poverty, and crime, it has an odd relationship with Rap music. Iconic songs and albums have used the free base form of cocaine as thematic inspiration. This ranges from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's "White Lines... Read more

November 10, 2018 Lifestyle, Video

Swizz Beatz Reveals The Hidden Secrets He Learned At Harvard (Video)

Less than one week ago, Swizz Beatz released his first album in more than a decade. The arrival of POISON has the hit-maker for DMX, JAY-Z, Beyoncé, T.I., and Styles P promoting the Epic Records LP. However, few interviews in Swizzy's 20-plus-year career are as engaging as his second sit-down... Read more

November 5, 2018 Video

Swizz Beatz Explains Why The JAY-Z, Nas & DMX Collabo Has Not Come Out (Video)

Yesterday, Swizz Beatz released his POISON album. For the Bronx, New York representative, it is his third retail release over the last 16 years. Rather than bring attention to his catalog, the Grammy Award-winning producer, rapper, DJ, and musician has spotlit so many moments for his peers in Rap, R&B,... Read more

November 3, 2018 Video

Method Man Invites Some Respected MCs To His Meth Lab. See The Tracklist & Trailer (Video)

This fall, Method Man is releasing the second installment in his Meth Lab series. The esteemed Wu-Tang Clan veteran is again working closely with fellow Shaolin MC Hanz On, who curates the "season 2" project which will drop on November 13 via his eponymous imprint. While 2015's first volume showed Meth'... Read more

September 5, 2018 Fresh, Video

N.O.R.E. Is Already A Drink Champ. He & Fat Joe Go For Dodge Ball Next (Video)

For more than 20 years, N.O.R.E. has been a beacon for New York Hip-Hop. The Lefrak City-born, Queensbridge representative is one half of respected duo in Capone-N-Noreaga who shaped a style in the streets since the late '90s. However, in modern years, the rapper once known by Noreaga is a... Read more

July 27, 2018 Video

Capone-N-Noreaga Join Forces With Cormega To Rule A Track Like Queens Kings (Audio)

It's been four years since Cormega released an album. Still, the Queens, New York representative has stayed busy releasing books, a la carte singles, and maintaining his ironclad reputation for feature work. 2014's Large Professor-produced Mega Philosophy is an album that offered plenty to sustain fans of introspection and cultural... Read more

April 23, 2018 Audio

N.O.R.E. Says He Knows Who Ruined Prodigy’s Mural & Why (Video)

One of July's most disturbing stories in the Hip-Hop space was when a Queens, New York mural honoring the late rapper Prodigy was defaced on July 6. The attack came just two weeks after the Mobb Deep co-founder's death. Artists Jeff Henriquez and Eli “Eos” Lazare had created the work... Read more

July 28, 2017 Video

Pete Rock & DJ Premier Compare Stories On Producing Jay Z, Nas & Biggie (Video)

DJ Premier and Pete Rock are reportedly working on a joint album. The two producers have shared credits, each producing classic singles for Nas' Illmatic. They've also positioned tracks alongside one another on LPs by Heavy D & The Boyz, Rakim, and Non-Phixion, among others. Even when they compete, the... Read more

March 16, 2017 Video

Puffy Daddy Details How He Helped Biggie Walk The Line Between Hardcore & Mainstream

During his life, The Notorious B.I.G.'s three Top 10 solo singles were all produced by Puff Daddy. The founder and CEO of Bad Boy Records worked with his "Hitmen" on each of "Big Poppa," "One More Chance (Remix)" and 1997's "Hypnotize." Those three records, as well as 1994's "Juicy" (which peaked... Read more

January 26, 2017 Video

Finding The GOAT Producer: The Neptunes vs. Just Blaze. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Producer” begins. The third installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest producers vying for the #1 spot. Thirty producers were pre-selected by a panel of experts, and two slots will be reserved for wild-card entries, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to ensure no deserving... Read more

January 20, 2017 Finding the GOAT

Q-Tip Recalls Playing The “One Love” Beat For Nas The First Time They Met

Q-Tip, Jarobi White, Busta Rhymes, and Consequence appear on this week's episode of Drink Champs. N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN interview A Tribe Called Quest members and affiliates about a litany of subjects. Q-Tip, who speaks at length about producing "Bonita Applebum," as well as A.T.C.Q's 2016 material, spoke about his... Read more

January 13, 2017 Throwback

Nas Auditioned For A Lead In “Paid In Full” According To Dame Dash (Video)

In the early 2000s, Roc-A-Fella Records was fast expanding its film division. The label, founded by Jay Z, Damon "Dame" Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke was also entrenched in one of the most exciting Rap battles of the last 15 years, thanks to Jay's beefing on wax with Nas. In... Read more

September 17, 2016 TV/Film, Video

Here’s What Biggie Would Have Sounded Like On Kanye West Tracks (Audio)

Last week, a Kanye West beat tape surfaced from 1997. While Kanye would land placements on records by Foxy Brown and Jermaine Dupri a year later, he had yet to break through in '97. Still, the beats contained on the tape showed the promise of what was to come from... Read more

June 1, 2016 Audio

KRS-One Explains Why Drake Is “Underrated” & Says Some The Best MCs Have Writers (Audio)

KRS-One is the latest guest on N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN's Drink Champs Podcast. There, the iconic Boogie Down Productions MC sipped hand-crafted mai tai's and discussed a litany of topics, at incredible length. Known for lecturing at some of the most prestigious universities around the globe, publishing books, and educating... Read more

April 23, 2016 Audio

Royal Flush Iced Down New York City’s Late ’90s Run Alongside N.O.R.E. (Video)

1997 was one of Rap's most transitional years. In the settling dust of the East Coast vs. West Coast feud, both shorelines produced some standout Hip-Hop albums. Not all of the material necessarily made the charts, but it was in this resettling that movements such as Rawkus, No Limit, Cash... Read more

September 3, 2015 Do Remember, Throwback

Capone, Noreaga & Tragedy Khadafi Celebrate The Stand Up Men in Their Lives (Audio)

Too often in life, we celebrate those who have passed away after it's too late for them to hear the praises. Capone, Noreaga and Tragedy Khadafi seek to rectify that in the latest release from C-N-N's upcoming Lessons album. On "U.M.A.R." (Ur Man's All Real), the three MCs take time... Read more

July 15, 2015 Audio

Noreaga Speaks on Why Eminem is a King of Hip-Hop (Video)

Eminem was recently voted by AFH readers as the greatest MC of all-time. Noreaga recently spoke in detail about why he believes Eminem is a King of Hip-Hop and why he's been so successful over the years. In an animated discussion with DJ Vlad, Nore spoke point by point on... Read more

June 2, 2015 Video

Capone-N-Noreaga Bust Through A Thematic Blend Of Nas & Mary J. Blige (Audio)

Late last year, N.O.R.E. found a cool pocket, when he and Royal Flush flexed on a Queens instrumental, courtesy of borough brethren The Beatnuts. The sound was fresh, but nostalgic, and something that resonated with the voices of the '90s MCs. Now with Capone in tow, Capone-N-Noreaga are back in... Read more

January 7, 2015 Audio, Fresh

Capone-N-Noreaga Reunite With Tragedy Khadafi, Join Raekwon For Flame-Thrower (Audio)

For fans of that militant Queens, New York Hip-Hop, December has been mighty healthy. First Tragedy Khadafi released Pre Magnum Opus, a street album available in full, free stream. Then, Tragedy's star pupils of the mid-1990s, Capone-N-Noreaga revamp their Thugged Out Militainment roster and imprint, and release the digital compilation... Read more

December 27, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Capone-N-Noreaga Bring the Gods Back with Sadat X (Video)

Capone-N-Noreaga link with Sadat X to drop some "grown man bars" on "Bringing the Gods Back." The track hails from CNN's forthcoming new album and finds each veteran MC in top form as they dice up the bombastic track. Check out the video. Related: Capone, Noreaga, Cormega & Nature Form... Read more

October 13, 2014 Video

Capone, Noreaga, Cormega & Nature Form Rap’s Mount Rushmore (Audio)

Capone, Noreaga, Cormega and Nature link on a Hazardis Soundz track to form Rap's Mount Rushmore. What's your ideal 4-person super group? Check out "Rap Rushmore." Related: Capone-N-Noreaga Talk Chasing Fame With Big L, Say AZ Stole Sugar Hill (Video)... Read more

September 10, 2014 Audio

REKS Teams With Saigon & N.O.R.E. For Some Message Music With Garvey (Audio)

The revolutionary comparisons drive the musical car, as REKS links with Saigon and N.O.R.E. on "Garvey," named after the Jamaican leader of the Black Star Line. N.O.R.E.is in form, Saigon stamps down one of his signature thought-provoking verses, while REKS shows one of his many sides—in a lengthy career that's... Read more

July 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Joell Ortiz Is Finally Feeling Comfortable In His Own Shoes (Video)

Joell Ortiz is having quite the active first half of 2014. The Slaughterhouse affiliate has completed House Rules, a mixtape with the rest of the Shady Records Hip-Hop group, and has recently signed to Penalty Entertainment to assist in the release of his upcoming solo album, House Slippers. Housing such... Read more

June 17, 2014 Fresh, Video

N.O.R.E. Recalls His First Real Rap Battle, Behind Bars (Video)

If you've ever hung around N.O.R.E., or listened to the Lefrak City, Queens MC discuss Hip-Hop, you'll know he is absolutely, positively, a Head. The man also known as P.A.P.I. has always balanced his Reggaeton transitions, or his club-minded hits with tracks that not only provided major label opportunities to... Read more

November 20, 2013 Fresh, Throwback

Capone-N-Noreaga – Blood Money (Video)

Outta nowhere, Capone-N-Noreaga just decided to drop a video for Blood Money from their 1997 debut album The War Report. Check it out below. Related: Raekwon - Chupacabra featuring Capone-N-Noreaga... Read more

July 26, 2012 Video

Raekwon – Chupacabra ft Capone-N-Noreaga

Here's some new Raekwon featuring Capone-N-Noreaga. Check out Chupacabra.... Read more

November 10, 2011 Audio