Noreaga, has been around for a long time in the music industry. Weither he was recorded as a duo or with rapper Capone, Noreaga was never a serious force in hip hop until now. His first Def Jam Records release, is -=God's Favorite=-, the cocky, conceted title that has already spawned 2 of summer's most successful club smashes. N.O.R.E. (as he is often referred as) brings it hard with possible cross-over smashes and club bangers, without compromising his street credibility.
Noreaga drops clever one liners as he breezes over hip hop's hottest production and backdrops so far this year. The album starts off with 3 of the singles already released from this album: "Grimey" (the album's first single for its original release date in December), "Nahmeanuheard" (the album's promotional single) & "Nothing" [featuring Pharallel of alternative band N.E.R.D.] (the album's official single). The album stumbles for a second on "Big D" (which featues "My Neck My Back" artist Khia), but quickly slides into the album's hottest numbers, the Ja Rule laced "Live My Life" & the album's hottest track (and the possibly the years' hottest track) "Full Mode".
From there it slides into "Love Ya Moms" which again shows a softer side of Noreaga without compromising his thugged out image. The track is a posse cut, featuring Capone, Musaliny-N-Maze, Gold Oro & The Complexions. The Neptune's production shows up on another track "Head Bussa" again featuring Pharallel Williams of N.E.R.D. By this time in the album, I realize that there is 26 guest artists on 19 tracks, which is the album's biggest downfall. "Banned From another Club" is a crazy party joint, and the guest spot from Final Chapter is hot. "Now I Pray" is a hot song with Mussolini and is very street, and then another guest spot comes from Kelis on "Consider This", but she is always at her best and the hook is catchy so this one is welcomed.
Some of hip hop's hottest (Fat Joe, Cam'Ron & Capone) show up on "Nahmeanuheard" (remix). I love how Noreaga included the remix on the album, because most of the time the remix is hotter then the original and is only released on radio and underground mixtapes. Noreaga proves that he is wise well beyond his years and the progression that he has made since his debut in 1996 is clearly evident.
God's Favorite is one of rap's standout albums this year. Noreaga puts all his best efforts together and releases an album full of anthems for any kind of fan. This is an album that you will hear blasting out the cars of countless hip hop fans in urban areas around the world, so if you are in that catigory, make sure you scoop this one up, because you will be the only person not to have it. I hope Noreaga continues to bring it just as hard in the future as he does on this album.
off the hook the beats and lyrics are slammin with satisfactional hits like "nothin'","grimey","mr. ceo", it's a hip hop classic, if you are a cnn follower you have to check out his album and listen top these tight tracks. All the people who gave this a bad review, man I don't know if you guys are really cnn fans, look at what you listen to a little alternative and country sounds like your choices. To all N.O.R.E fans get this album it is off the hook and it worth buying.
Really, I Don't Understand why this cd has sold only 300/400K copies... it's a very good cd.... "Full Mode" is a bomb.... "Nothin", "Head Bussa", the Swizz Beatz joint "Nahmeanuheard" & the remix ft. cam'ron, fat joe et cassidy...
Really, i don't understand...
I was dying for this album to come out. It was suppose to be out in December, then February then July, then moved up to June. I like the album. It disappoints a little because it seems like N.O.R.E. is getting lazy with his lyrics and flows. The tracks by Swizz Beats, EZ-Elippe, and the Neptunes make the album listenable. He needs Capone by his side. Capone is the better of the duo CNN. This album is good to have.
this was a very satisfiying cd from nore. and i can't wait for his one fan a day cd to come out.
