S. Samuel
CNN's Noreaga is on the verge of saying farewell to the rap game for good after announcing his upcoming Melvin Flynt II: Da Final Hour will likely mark an end to a memorable career.
With an emphasis on stepping behind the scenes and focusing on executive duties, N.O. said he has reached his conclusion as a hip-hop artist.
“I just feel like I’ve done everything that’s needed to be done in music. I’ve done everything but actually make somebody else a star,” N.O. told MTV News. The C-N-N rapper has tried to put on artists in the past; there was Muse-n-Maze and others that were signed to his Thugged Out Millitainment label, but it was difficult for N.O.R.E. to put others first as long as he was still in artist mode. “That’s your competitive spirit and it’s just what an artist natural does,” he said. “I think I need to step away from the game in totality as an artist per say, as N.O.R.E. to give these new artists their full shot.” (MTV)
N.O also believes the follow-up to his original 1999 LP will make up for not delivering his best material.
With that heavy on his heart, it’s only fitting that N.O.R.E.’s final solo album rights his musical wrongs. “To end my career the best way possible would be [to correct], what is in my opinion, my only mistake,” he told us. “I know there’s people out there who loved Melvin Flynt. It went gold… [but] I didn’t like that album because I didn’t give 100 percent.” (MTV)
Following his announcement, massive amounts of shock shot across the Internet and, notably, the Twitter universe.
“@noreaga I would say you deserve it man. I know its old but, Superthug will always be my shit. #Goodluck in the future.,” @Bongfacekilla tweeted September 28.
“One thing I can about @noreaga retiring is that you picked the same day my father had his last day of work on and he’s retired too now,” @Cornbread804 tweeted.
“@noreaga 15 years ago I forged a gift certificate to pick up the first War Report. Hooked since. You’re the last of a dying breed. Sad day.,” @growcase tweeted.
“Now playin @noreaga Sometimes this joint is timeless. I swear N.O.R.E and Melvin Flynt da Hustler are classic albums.,” @ImOnDatGshit tweeted. (Twitter)
N.O. previously spoke to SOHH about his deep-rooted hip-hop connections.
“I just think I have my [hip-hop connects] from me being humble. Once upon a time I was one of the hottest dudes in the game and I’ve remained the same up to who I am right now. It doesn’t matter if I’m the hottest or the coldest or if I’m the mediumest. As long as I maintain my humbleness and I can show people I can relate to them and they can relate to me, I am the everyday man. If it wasn’t a Joe Budden and there wasn’t a Fat Joe my rap name would be Regular Joe. That’s exactly who I am. I just enjoy things. I enjoy the maintenance man. I enjoy having a conversation with the maintenance man the same way I enjoy having a conversation with President Obama. He follows me on Twitter.” (SOHH)
