Noreaga Didn't Know Rappers Were "Making Up Sh*t" In Their Rhymes Early On

BY Erika Marie 4.3K Views
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Noreage, N.O.R.E., Drink Champs
When he first started his career, N.O.R.E. claims he was unaware that his peers were exaggerating about their lives in their raps.

By now, Rap fans know that many of their favorite artists often exaggerate, sometimes heavily, when writing songs. Many who have penned rhymes about killing people, hooking up with women, dealing drugs, and other deeds haven't come close to living the lives they've spun tales about, but it has become such a staple in music that fans no longer seem to mind.

Beanie Sigel recently joined Noreaga and Co. on Drink Champs, and during their conversation, N.O.R.E. revealed that early on in his Rap career, he didn't know that his peers were embellishing the truth. "When I first came into the game, when I first started rappin', I didn't know how to exaggerate," said Noreaga. "I didn't know that other rappers were making up sh*t in they raps."

"So, a person had to tell me, 'Relax. Like, you can't be puttin' all that sh*t.'" He asked Beanie if he went through a similar struggle. "I feel like in your early sh*t, you went through the same sh*t," Noreaga added, saying that he didn't know that rhymes weren't supposed to include so much truth about an artist's life. Beanie seemed to agree. "Everything was personal... I think you supposed to still do that," said Sigel. "If you ain't going through it, at least you got knowledge firsthand or next to it. Everything is a facade now. There's no substance in it."

Siegel suggested that music is "supposed to resonate" with people and believes that truth-tellers are needed. Check out the clip of the discussion as well as the full video of their Drink Champs appearance below.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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