N.O.R.E. Albums (6)
'N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe'
Release Date 7/18/2006
Tracks 17
Label Roc-A-Fella
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
About a year and a half after the unpredictable and underproductive rapper N.O.R.E. promised the album One Fan a Day with the Neptunes, Mariah Carey, and Beanie Sigel as his guests stars, the reggaeton-flavored N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe appeared in its place. With a high-profile album in the can and the lucrative reggaeton train bringing everybody who rides it plenty of bling in 2006, there's every reason to suspect La Familia is an embarrassment waiting to happen, but it's hardly that at all. While N.O.R.E. might not be the first to mix hip-hop and reggaeton, only mixtapes, mashtapes, and bootleg white labels have blended the two genres with such abandon, weaving a hip-hop stance into a hyped-up bachata number or dropping smooth Latino crooning over an old-school boom-bap beat. The latter is what "Soy un Gangsta" does perfectly, but most of the album draws upon reggaeton beats, many thanks to SPK, who previously brought the spice to some Tony Touch tracks. "Mas Maiz" is one of the producer's best efforts, with an extravagant set of guest stars that goes from Fat Joe to the darling Nina Sky. Elsewhere, slick dancehall team T.O.K. makes an appearance, Ja Rule hangs for a track, and reggaeton vets Don Omar, Ivy Queen, and Daddy Yankee step up to the plate. The album's bulging guest list does make this more of a N.O.R.E.-hosted party than a N.O.R.E. album, something that might disappoint fans coming off his very focused, very hip-hop album God's Favorite. But as track after track swirls and hypnotizes with infectious raps and hooks, the fact that this isn't a grimy hustler or a N.O.R.E.-centric album matters less and less. The inclusion of "Oye Mi Canto" -- an in-your-face reggaeton stunner that was originally released to promote One Fan a Day -- as a bonus track is just the icing on the cake, and if you can't get over the sharp left turn the rapper's discography takes, it's your loss and reggaeton's gain. La Familia is a spicy thug party that breaks plenty of rules and never feels contrived or anything but inspired. After listening to it, an album with a Mariah Carey duet as its centerpiece doesn't seem that exciting at all. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
On Noreaga's long-awaited and oft-delayed third album, God's Favorite, the thuggish New York rapper returns with many of the same producers who contributed to his previous album, Melvin Flynt - Da Hustler (1999), namely Ez Elpee, the Neptunes, and Swizz Beatz. Likewise N.O.R.E. teams up with a gang of rappers on God's Favorite, many of whom had contributed to Melvin Flynt. There is one glaring difference between this album and its so-so predecessor, however: Noreaga comes out of the gate here both hungry and focused. Gone is the conceptual framing of Melvin Flynt, as God's Favorite simply consists of hard-hitting jams, one after the other, most of which center on hooks yet are filled with bars upon bars of hardcore rapping. As usual, the Neptunes turn in a couple head-spinners, in this case "Nothin'" and "Grimey." Swizz Beatz turns in some bangers, chief among them "Nahmeanuheard" and its remix, but the Neptunes steal the show throughout God's Favorite, continually lightening up Noreaga's thuggery with their candy-sweet, yet still tough, hooks. Above all, it's good to see N.O.R.E. stick to the basics on God's Favorite. As a rapper, he's as rough as they come and certainly has presence, but he doesn't have the charisma it takes to pull off a conceptual album such as what he tried to do on Melvin Flynt. That's why he works so well with producers like the Neptunes and Swizz Beatz. They take care of the song ideas and let Noreaga roam free to do what he does best, bring the heat, something he does here on God's Favorite in prime form. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
'Melvin Flynt - Da Hustler'
Release Date 8/23/1999
Tracks 19
Label Penalty
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
In the grand tradition of rappers from Ice Cube to Nas, Noreaga's second album comes complete with an alternate identity, Melvin Flynt. As the cover portrays, Noreaga is struggling between himself and what the music industry wants him to become to sell more records. The record begins with a death that creates his alternate identity, and the rapper does in fact seem reborn on street-level tracks like "Gangsta's Watch," "Da Hustla," and "Wethuggedout." It's more than just an easy way to revel in gangsta imagery and themes without having to worry about criticism; Melvin Flynt - Da Hustler works because Noreaga puts feeling into the tracks. Though the production is a bit off compared to 1998's N.O.R.E., the album is an interesting addition to gangsta lore. ~ Keith Farley, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
With his colleague Capone, Noreaga released an exciting debut album, The War Report, in 1997. Shortly after its release, Capone was sent to jail, leaving Noreaga to fend for himself on the follow-up. N.O.R.E. doesn't quite live up to the expectations set by The War Report, mainly because Capone is absent, but it often hits head-spinning high notes. Noreaga lined up an impressive team of guest rappers -- Nas, Mase, Kool G Rap, Cam'ron, Big Punisher, and Busta Rhymes, among others, are all present, and most contribute some great, hard-hitting raps. Still, the whole thing adds up to the less than the sum of its parts. Maybe the thrilling interplay and fresh beats on The War Report raised hopes too high, but N.O.R.E. doesn't transcend expectations like you may anticipate. Instead, it simply delivers the goods. That does make for some great listening, but it's hard not to think that Noreaga is capable of greatness, not just merely good work. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
