10 Things You Didn’t Know about N.O.R.E.
Originally known as Noreaga, N.O.R.E entered the rap game in the mid-1990s as 1/2 of the dup Capone -N- Noreaga. N.O.R.E quickly became known for his raw style, and although he never gained huge amounts of commercial success, he has always been highly regarded by serious hip-hop fans. These days, however, N.O.R.E is best known for being the host of the Drink Champs Podcast. Now, instead of being the one in the hot seat, N.O.R.E is the one asking the questions as he interviews some of the biggest artists and behind-the-scenes people in rap music. When he started his career, he probably never imagined that he’d end up here, but it’s probably safe to say that he’s happy with how things turned out. Continue reading to learn 10 things you didn’t know about N.O.R.E.
1. He’s Had Some Trouble With The Law
N.O.R.E has earned a lot of fame and notoriety over the years, but he’s also had his fair share of bad times as well. In 2018, he was arrested after fighting a customer outside of a FatBurger restaurant in Miami. He was charged with misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct but was released from jail shortly after.
2. He Has Latin Roots
N.O.R.E, whose real name is Victor Santiago Jr., was born and raised in Queens, but he is half Puerto Rican. He is very proud of his Latin roots and eventually decided to incorporate his culture into his music by recording music in Spanish. He ultimately became one of the first people to popularize reggeaton.
3. He’s A Family Man
Even after all of the years, N.O.R.E has spent in the entertainment industry, he has never been the type to share a lot of information about his personal life. That being said, we do know that he is married to a woman named Neri who recently appeared on Love and Hip-Hop: Miami. The couple appears to have one child together.
4. He Was Part Of Pharrell Williams’ Early Success
N.O.R.E’s rap career may not have had a ton of commercial success, but he was instrumental in helping other people in the music industry become commercially successful. His song, “Superthug (What, What)” was the first hit produced by The Neptunes (Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams).
5. He’s Done Some Acting
Music and podcasting have definitely been N.O.R.E’s main focuses over the years, but he’s also branched out to try other things. He made his acting debut in 2001 in the movie Prison Song which starred Q-Tip and Mary J. Blige. He has also had a few other small acting roles over the years.
6. He Explained Why His Interview With Lamar Odom Went Left
In 2020, N.O.R.E. invited former professional basketball player Lamar Odom to the Drink Champs Podcast, but the conversation started to go in the wrong direction and Lamar expressed that he was feeling uncomfortable. Viewers/listeners were very confused and many criticized N.O.R.E for making Lamar look bad. N.O.R.E later explained that the tension was the result of a misunderstanding. According to Complex, N.O.R.E said, “I kept bringing up the fact that he has a ring, but I did not know that he actually lost his rings. So in retrospect, he might’ve thought I was joking or making fun of him. So, he basically lost his rings, which he thought was public knowledge, but I didn’t know. He thought that I was clowning him so he was upset with that. And I made it known that I wasn’t aware.”
7. He Loves Being Near The Water
Thanks to all of the work N.O.R.E has put in over the years, he has gotten lots of chances to travel across the United States and to other parts of the world. No matter where he goes, though, he loves to be on the beach. Even though N.O.R.E is from New York City, he really is an island boy at heart.
8. He Threw A Flower Pot At Nas
Rap can be a very competitive genre, so beef often comes with the territory. Several years ago, Nas and N.O.R.E found themselves at odds after Nas criticized N.O.R.E’s lyricism. According to stories, N.O.R.E threw a flower pot at the fellow Queens native. Fortunately, the two have since peaced it up.
9. He Used To Have A Food Show
Drink Champs wasn’t N.O.R.E’s first attempt at doing something creative in the industry outside of acting and music. N.O.R.E briefly had a food show called On the Run Eatin where he tried a wide variety of foods in different places. It doesn’t appear that he has any plans to revisit this.
10. He Believes In Loyalty
Most people would agree that loyalty is a very important quality to have. During an interview with the Breakfast Club, N.O.R.E stressed the importance of loyalty. He said that it’s something he firmly believes in even though it seems like not many people do anymore.
