Capone-N-Noreaga

Queens rap duo Capone-N-Noreaga enjoyed massive street credibility with the release of their debut album, The War Report, which earned them a devoted following in the hardcore rap world. <a href="spotify:artist:5tZCG7dzZBfmr64xw9elgL">Capone</a> (born Kiam Holley) and <a href="spotify:artist:2GqgiChw79vIYobk2zJFsO">Noreaga</a> (born Victor Santiago) grew up in the projects of Queensbridge and LeFrak City, respectively, and endured rough childhoods and multiple run-ins with the law. They met in 1992 while serving kitchen duty together at Collins Correctional Facility in New York, and became friends; upon their release, they decided to team up as rappers, taking their performing names from two legendary gangsters. In 1996, they signed with Penalty Records; their first release was the single "Illegal Life," and they next teamed up with <a href="spotify:artist:6O2zJ0tId7g07yzHtX0yap">Mobb Deep</a> for "L.A., L.A.," another salvo in the East Coast/West Coast feud.

Before their debut album was completed, <a href="spotify:artist:5tZCG7dzZBfmr64xw9elgL">Capone</a> was sent back to prison for violating his parole on a weapons possession charge. <a href="spotify:artist:2GqgiChw79vIYobk2zJFsO">Noreaga</a> finished The War Report on his own, and it was a substantial underground success upon its release in 1997, making the R&B Top Five and going gold. With <a href="spotify:artist:5tZCG7dzZBfmr64xw9elgL">Capone</a> incarcerated, the duo's thugged-out image rang true, and the singles "Closer" and "T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)" saw some action on the rap charts. <a href="spotify:artist:2GqgiChw79vIYobk2zJFsO">Noreaga</a> capitalized on the album by starting a solo career, but remained loyal to <a href="spotify:artist:5tZCG7dzZBfmr64xw9elgL">Capone</a>, visiting his friend often and giving <a href="spotify:artist:5tZCG7dzZBfmr64xw9elgL">Capone</a> executive producer credits on the two popular solo albums (N.O.R.E. and Melvin Flynt -- Da Hustler) he recorded over 1998-1999.

<a href="spotify:artist:5tZCG7dzZBfmr64xw9elgL">Capone</a> was released from prison in early 1999, and the two immediately reteamed for the much-anticipated The Reunion, which was released in 2000 on Tommy Boy. Dissatisfied with the promotion, Capone-N-Noreaga asked to be released from their contract and signed with Def Jam in 2001. Later that year, <a href="spotify:artist:5tZCG7dzZBfmr64xw9elgL">Capone</a> ran into further trouble with the law; he was charged with assault following a nightclub brawl involving gunfire in Queens, but the charge was dropped due to lack of evidence. Not long after the incident, he was arrested at a Greensboro, NC, airport for possession of marijuana, but avoided jail time. <a href="spotify:artist:2GqgiChw79vIYobk2zJFsO">Noreaga</a> released his third solo album, God's Favorite, in 2002, and <a href="spotify:artist:5tZCG7dzZBfmr64xw9elgL">Capone</a> was reportedly working on his own solo debut at the same time. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi