Noreaga

Victor "Noreaga" Santiago, one half of the Queens hardcore rap duo Capone-N-Noreaga, first encountered Kiam "Capone" Holley in 1992 during overlapping prison sentences. After the pair signed with Penalty Records in 1996, they issued their intense debut album The War Report in June 1997, yet Holley’s return to jail on a parole violation prompted Santiago to launch a solo project. His debut effort, N.O.R.E.—an acronym for “Niggas on the Run Eating”—assembled an all-star roster that included Foxy Brown, Nas, Busta Rhymes, and Jay-Z. Melvin Flynt -- Da Hustler arrived in 1999, and his third album, God’s Favorite, reached stores in mid-2002 following repeated delays. In 2006 Santiago joined the Def Jam imprint Roc la Familia, issuing the largely reggaeton album N.O.R.E. y la Familia...Ya Tú Sabe with guest turns from Nina Sky, Big Mato, and Daddy Yankee.