The War Report
Encyclopedia
The War Report is the influential debut album by rap duo Capone-N-Noreaga
(C-N-N for short). The album features the classics "L.A., L.A."; "T.O.N.Y."; "Neva Die Alone"; "Driver's Seat"; "Illegal Life"; "Capone Bone"; "Bloody Money"; "Closer"; "Iraq (See The World)"; and Noreaga's dedication to Capone, "Live on, Live Long." Tragedy Khadafi
was in many ways the mastermind behind the project and was at the time considered an unofficial third member. He appears on more than half of the album's songs. Other guest appearances include Imam T.H.U.G., who appeared on the track "Driver's Seat"; Castro; Mussolini; Mendosa; Troy Outlaw; Mobb Deep
. Despite its strong underground overtones, the album was, surprisingly, a commercial success, making 1997's Hip Hop/R&B Top Five.
references, established the duo as a household name within the hardcore hip hop
community. Furthermore, the album created a large and devoted cult following for the group and launched the solo career of Noreaga
, who subsequently went on to achieve significant mainstream success (most notably with the Neptunes-produced club anthem "Superthug").
More importantly, The War Report is often credited with reviving East Coast
and hardcore hip hop
, signaling a return to realistic and gritty hardcore street aesthetics (defined by unapologetic tales of violence and drugs) and spelling an end to the surrealistic, ostentatious, and fictional narratives of mafioso rap. Beginning in the end of 1996 and throughout 1997 (during the commercial height of Puff Daddy's pop-oriented Bad Boy Records
during its Arista Records years), mafioso hip-hop gradually lost its critical acclaim within the underground scene from which it originated. As it crossed over into the mainstream, the concept was becoming increasingly generic and comatose (as seen with the hip hop supergroup the Firm, which rhymed almost exclusively about mafioso fantasies). Upon the release of The War Report, however, Capone and Noreaga brought new life into the gangsta rap
sub-genre, becoming an instant underground phenomenon that foreshadowed the rise of similarly styled emcees who went on to cross into the mainstream for the remainder of the late 1990s (i.e., DMX
, and Ja Rule
) and into the following decade (i.e., 50 Cent
and Jadakiss
).
The success of the album managed the group to make a sequel titled The War Report 2: Report the War originally to be released on June 15, 2010, almost exactly 13 years after the original, but pushed back a month later to July 13, 2010.
^Busta Rhymes' part is cut off before he starts. He only appears on the last 20 seconds of the song, ad-libbing to the hook.
The songs "Stick You"; "Parole Violators"; "Halfway Thugs"; and "L.A., L.A (Kuwait Mix)" are partially edited, even though the album was released with an explicit-lyrics sticker.
Capone-N-Noreaga
Capone-N-Noreaga was an American hip hop duo that consisted of Capone and Noreaga.-History:In 1996 the duo signed with Penalty Records; it also appeared in The Source magazine's Unsigned Hype column...
(C-N-N for short). The album features the classics "L.A., L.A."; "T.O.N.Y."; "Neva Die Alone"; "Driver's Seat"; "Illegal Life"; "Capone Bone"; "Bloody Money"; "Closer"; "Iraq (See The World)"; and Noreaga's dedication to Capone, "Live on, Live Long." Tragedy Khadafi
Tragedy Khadafi
Percy Chapman IV, known by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi, and formerly known as Intelligent Hoodlum, is an American rapper and producer who hails from the Queensbridge housing projects in Queens, New York, which has spawned other hip hop artists such as Nas, Cormega, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga,...
was in many ways the mastermind behind the project and was at the time considered an unofficial third member. He appears on more than half of the album's songs. Other guest appearances include Imam T.H.U.G., who appeared on the track "Driver's Seat"; Castro; Mussolini; Mendosa; Troy Outlaw; Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep
Mobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones...
. Despite its strong underground overtones, the album was, surprisingly, a commercial success, making 1997's Hip Hop/R&B Top Five.
Significance and Impact
Considered a street classic by many, The War Report's signature sound was distinctively underground and hardcore for its time, a trademark that garnered the group outstanding street credibility. The unique chemistry of Noreaga's unorthodox lyrical delivery, combined with Capone's streetwise slang and Five PercenterThe Nation of Gods and Earths
The Nation of Gods and Earths, sometimes referred to as NGE or NOGE, the Five-Percent Nation, or the Five Percenters is an American organization founded in 1964 in the Harlem section of the borough of Manhattan, New York City, by Clarence 13X, a former student of Malcolm X, who left his mosque...
references, established the duo as a household name within the hardcore hip hop
Hardcore hip hop
Hardcore hip hop, also referred to as hardcore rap, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that developed through the East Coast hip hop scene in the 1980s. Pioneered by such artists as Schoolly D, Spoonie Gee, Boogie Down Productions, and Kool G Rap, it is generally characterized by anger, aggression and...
community. Furthermore, the album created a large and devoted cult following for the group and launched the solo career of Noreaga
N.O.R.E.
Victor Santiago, Jr., best known by his stage name N.O.R.E. or Noreaga , is an American rapper of Puerto Rican descent...
, who subsequently went on to achieve significant mainstream success (most notably with the Neptunes-produced club anthem "Superthug").
More importantly, The War Report is often credited with reviving East Coast
East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City, USA during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the East Coast...
and hardcore hip hop
Hardcore hip hop
Hardcore hip hop, also referred to as hardcore rap, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that developed through the East Coast hip hop scene in the 1980s. Pioneered by such artists as Schoolly D, Spoonie Gee, Boogie Down Productions, and Kool G Rap, it is generally characterized by anger, aggression and...
, signaling a return to realistic and gritty hardcore street aesthetics (defined by unapologetic tales of violence and drugs) and spelling an end to the surrealistic, ostentatious, and fictional narratives of mafioso rap. Beginning in the end of 1996 and throughout 1997 (during the commercial height of Puff Daddy's pop-oriented Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records is a record label founded in 1993 by producer/rapper/entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Warner Music Group, and is distributed by Atlantic Records.-Beginnings:...
during its Arista Records years), mafioso hip-hop gradually lost its critical acclaim within the underground scene from which it originated. As it crossed over into the mainstream, the concept was becoming increasingly generic and comatose (as seen with the hip hop supergroup the Firm, which rhymed almost exclusively about mafioso fantasies). Upon the release of The War Report, however, Capone and Noreaga brought new life into the gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
sub-genre, becoming an instant underground phenomenon that foreshadowed the rise of similarly styled emcees who went on to cross into the mainstream for the remainder of the late 1990s (i.e., DMX
DMX (rapper)
Earl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is a multiplatinum American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's...
, and Ja Rule
Ja Rule
Jeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...
) and into the following decade (i.e., 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
and Jadakiss
Jadakiss
Jason Phillips , better known as Jadakiss, is an American rapper. He is a member of the group The LOX. Jadakiss is one of the three owners of the imprint known as D-Block. In early 2007, Jadakiss signed to Roc-a-Fella Records / Def Jam Records.-Early life:By the age of 16, Jadakiss was a freestyle...
).
The success of the album managed the group to make a sequel titled The War Report 2: Report the War originally to be released on June 15, 2010, almost exactly 13 years after the original, but pushed back a month later to July 13, 2010.
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Featured Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Intro" | Charlemagne | |
| 2 | "Bloody Money" | EZ Elpee | |
| 3 | "Driver's Seat" | Nashiem Myrick & Carlos "6 July" Broady for The Hitmen The Hitmen (production team) The Hitmen is a production team formed by Sean "Diddy" Combs to produce hip hop and R&B records for his Bad Boy label's recording artists. Because of its great success, the group has also been hired for projects outside of Bad Boy-Production:... |
Imam T.H.U.G. |
| 4 | "Stick You" | Naughty Shorts | Tragedy Khadafi Tragedy Khadafi Percy Chapman IV, known by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi, and formerly known as Intelligent Hoodlum, is an American rapper and producer who hails from the Queensbridge housing projects in Queens, New York, which has spawned other hip hop artists such as Nas, Cormega, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga,... |
| 5 | "Parole Violators" | Tragedy Khadafi | Havoc & Tragedy Khadafi |
| 6 | "Iraq (See the World)" | EZ Elpee | Castro, Musaliny, Mendosa & Troy Outlaw |
| 7 | "Live On, Live Long" | G-Money, a.k.a. Ramell S. Gee, Brooklyn, New York, (GM704) | |
| 8 | "Neva Die Alone" | Buckwild Buckwild Buckwild is a Hip hop producer hailing from The Bronx, New York. Originally a DJ, Buck began producing after meeting MC/Producer Lord Finesse. He later joined Finesse's super-crew D.I.T.C., along with Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, and the late Big L and brought O.C. with him... |
Tragedy Khadafi |
| 9 | "T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)" | Nashiem Myrick & Carlos "6 July" Broady for The Hitmen | Tragedy Khadafi |
| 10 | "Channel 10" | Lord Finesse Lord Finesse Lord Finesse is a Hip hop artist and producer, hailing from The Bronx, New York, best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. rap crew.- Career :... |
Tragedy Khadafi |
| 11 | "Capone Phone Home" (Interlude) | ||
| 12 | "Thug Paradise" (album incorrectly lists "Stay Tuned (Interlude)," which is a different track that does not actually appear on any pressing) | D-Moet (uncredited) | Tragedy Khadafi |
| 13 | "Capone Bone" | Marley Marl Marley Marl Marlon Williams , better known as Marley Marl, is an American DJ and record producer, who is considered one of the most important and influential hip-hop producers in the history of hip hop.-Biography:... |
|
| 14 | "Halfway Thugs" | Charlemagne | |
| 15 | "L.A., L.A." (Kuwait Mix) | Marley Marl, J. Force (uncredited) | Mobb Deep Mobb Deep Mobb Deep is an American hip hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast hip-hop groups." The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery, as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones... & Tragedy Khadafi |
| 16 | "Capone-N-Noreaga Live" (Interlude) | ||
| 17 | "Illegal Life" | Tragedy Khadafi, Havoc | Havoc |
| 18 | "Black Gangstas" | Buckwild | Tragedy Khadafi |
| 19 | "Closer" (some pressings include the Sam Sneed remix of "Closer" in place of the original) | DJ Clark Kent | Nneka |
| 20 | "Capone Phone Home" (Outro) |
^Busta Rhymes' part is cut off before he starts. He only appears on the last 20 seconds of the song, ad-libbing to the hook.
The songs "Stick You"; "Parole Violators"; "Halfway Thugs"; and "L.A., L.A (Kuwait Mix)" are partially edited, even though the album was released with an explicit-lyrics sticker.
Samples
- "Bloody Money"
- "Impeach the President" by the Honey DrippersThe Honey DrippersThe Honey Drippers might refer to*The Honeydrippers, 1980s British-American rock band.*The Honey Drippers , a 1960s and 1970s soul band that had the hit "Impeach the President."...
- "Philadelphia Morning" by Bill ContiBill ContiWilliam "Bill" Conti is an American film music composer who is frequently the conductor at the Academy Awards ceremony.-Early life and career:...
- "Impeach the President" by the Honey Drippers
- "Capone Bone"
- "Step into Our Life" by Roy AyersRoy AyersRoy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers...
- "Cruisin'" by D'AngeloD'AngeloMichael Eugene Archer , better known by his stage name D'Angelo, is an American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known for his production and songwriting talents as much as for his vocal abilities, and often draws comparisons to his influences,...
- "Step into Our Life" by Roy Ayers
- "L.A., L.A. (Kuwait Mix)"
- "The Letter" by Al GreenAl GreenAlbert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
- "The Letter" by Al Green
- "Iraq (See the World)"
- "Night Song" by Noel PointerNoel PointerNoel Pointer was an American jazz violinist and record producer.He was nominated for a Grammy award in 1981. Pointer's reputation as an outstanding jazz musician and literary advocate garnered him honorary citizenship in cities across the United States...
- "Night Song" by Noel Pointer
- "T.O.N.Y (Top of New York)"
- "Speak Her Name" by Walter JacksonWalter JacksonWalter "Red" Jackson was a professional ice hockey player who played 84 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Boston Bruins and New York Americans. He was born in Instock, England, but moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba as a boy.- References :...
- "Speak Her Name" by Walter Jackson
- "Live On, Live Long"
- "Who's Gonna Take The Blame" by Smokey RobinsonSmokey RobinsonWilliam "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
& The MiraclesThe MiraclesThe Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
- "Who's Gonna Take The Blame" by Smokey Robinson
- "Closer"
- "Closer Than Friends" by SurfaceSurfaceIn mathematics, specifically in topology, a surface is a two-dimensional topological manifold. The most familiar examples are those that arise as the boundaries of solid objects in ordinary three-dimensional Euclidean space R3 — for example, the surface of a ball...
- "Promise Me" by Luther VandrossLuther VandrossLuther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
- "Closer Than Friends" by Surface
Album singles
- "Illegal Life"
- Released: 1996
- B-side: "L.A,. L.A."; "Stick You"
- "T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)"
- Released: 1996
- B-side:
- "Closer"
- Released: 1997
- B-side: Closer (Sam Sneed Version) Produced By Sam SneedSam SneedSam Sneed is a producer and rapper. He originally got his start working as a producer for K-Solo and the Hit Squad.-Death Row Records:...
- "Capone Bone"
- Released: 1997
- B-side: "Calm Down" (featuring Tragedy KhadafiTragedy KhadafiPercy Chapman IV, known by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi, and formerly known as Intelligent Hoodlum, is an American rapper and producer who hails from the Queensbridge housing projects in Queens, New York, which has spawned other hip hop artists such as Nas, Cormega, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga,...
& NasNasNasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
)
Album chart positions
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | ||
| 1996 | The War Report | 21 | 4 |
Singles chart positions
| Year | Song | Chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles Hot Rap Tracks Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | ||
| 1996 | "Illegal Life" | - | 84 | 18 | 18 |
| "L.A., L.A." | - | - | 39 | - | |
| 1997 | "T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)" | - | 56 | 16 | - |
| "Closer" | - | 63 | 9 | - |