The War Report
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| The War Report | |||||
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| Studio album by Capone-N-Noreaga | |||||
| Released | June 17, 1997 | ||||
| Genre | Hip Hop | ||||
| Length | 70:43 | ||||
| Label | Penalty/Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records 03041 |
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| Producer | Charlemagne EZ Elpee Nashiem Myrick Carlos "6 July" Broady Naughty Shorts Tragedy Khadafi G-Money Buckwild Lord Finesse Marley Marl DJ Clark Kent |
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| Professional reviews | |||||
| Capone-N-Noreaga chronology | |||||
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The War Report is the influential debut album by the hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga (C-N-N for short). The album features C-N-N 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". Guest appearances include Imam Thug, Castro, Mussolini, Mendosa, Troy Outlaw, Mobb Deep, and most importantly Tragedy Khadafi (who at the time many considered an un-official 3rd member of C-N-N and the catalyst of the album). Despite its strong underground-overtones, the album was surprisingly a commercial success, making the Rap/R&B Top Five.
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[edit] Significance & Impact
Considered a "street classic" by many, The War Report's signature sound was distinctively underground and hardcore for its time, a trademark which garnered the group outstanding street credibility. The unique chemistry of Noreaga's unorthodox lyrical delivery combined with Capone's street-wise slang, 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 a large degree of mainstream success (most notably with the Neptunes-produced club anthem Superthug).
More importantly, The War Report is often credited with reviving East Coast 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-orientated Bad Boy Records), Mafioso Rap 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 rapped 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, and foreshadowing the rise of similarly-styled rappers 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).
On a side note, an interesting aspect of this album is the Islamic references made by Noreaga and Tragedy Khadafi. "Allahu Akhbar, AlhamduliLah, AstagfirLah," among other forms of Islamic Dhikr, can be heard on various tracks throughout the CD. Tragedy says "La ilaha ilaLah (ilaLah) on L.A. L.A.
[edit] Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Performer (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Intro" | Charlemagne | *Interlude* |
| 2 | "Bloody Money" | EZ Elpee | Noreaga |
| 3 | "Driver's Seat" | Nashiem Myrick & Carlos "6 July" Broady for The Hitmen | Imam Thug, Noreaga |
| 4 | "Stick You" | Naughty Shorts | Tragedy Khadafi, Capone, Noreaga |
| 5 | "Parole Violators" | Tragedy Khadafi | Havoc, Noreaga, Tragedy Khadafi |
| 6 | "Iraq (See the World)" | EZ Elpee | Noreaga, Castro, Musolini, Mendosa, Troy Outlaw |
| 7 | "Live On Live Long" | G-Money | Noreaga |
| 8 | "Neva Die Alone" | Buckwild | Noreaga, Capone, Tragedy Khadafi |
| 9 | "T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)" | Nashiem Myrick & Carlos "6 July" Broady for The Hitmen | Noreaga, Capone, Tragedy Khadafi |
| 10 | "Channel 10" | Lord Finesse | Capone, Tragedy Khadafi, Noreaga |
| 11 | "Capone Phone Home (Interlude)" | *Interlude* | |
| 12 | "Stay Tuned" | Charlemagne | Capone, Noreaga |
| 13 | "Capone Bone" | Marley Marl | Capone |
| 14 | "Halfway Thugs" | Charlemagne | Noreaga |
| 15 | "L.A. L.A. (Kuwait Mix)" | Marley Marl | Noreaga, Mobb Deep, Capone, Tragedy Khadafi |
| 16 | "Capone-N-Noreaga Live (Interlude)" | *Interlude* | |
| 17 | "Illegal Life" | Tragedy Khadafi | Havoc, Noreaga, Capone, Tragedy Khadafi |
| 18 | "Black Gangstas" | Buckwild | Tragedy Khadafi, Noreaga, Capone |
| 19 | "Closer" | DJ Clark Kent | Noreaga, Nneka |
| 20 | "Capone Phone Home (Outro)" | *Interlude* |
[edit] Album singles
- "Illegal Life"
- Released: 1996
- B-side: "L.A. L.A.", "Stick You"
- "T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)"
- Released: 1997
- B-side:
- "Closer"
- Released: 1997
- B-side: Closer (Sam Sneed Version) Produced By Sam Sneed
- "Capone Bone"
- Released: 1997
- B-side: "Calm Down" (featuring Tragedy Khadafi & Nas)
[edit] Album Chart Positions
| Year | Album | Chart positions | ||
| Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | |||
| 1997 | The War Report | #21 | #4 | |
[edit] Singles Chart Positions
| Year | Song | Chart positions | |||
| Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | 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 | - | |
