N.O.R.E / GOD’S FAVORITE – 2XLP [NOREAGA]

Personnel includes N.O.R.E., Capone, Camron, Fat Joe, Cassidy, Chinky, Mualiny, Final Chapter, Complexions, Mashonda, Gold, Ja Rule, Akinyele, Kia DWNLZY (rap vocals); Kelis (vocals); Nas, Ice T, Nelly, Tyson Beckford (spoken vocals); Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo (various instruments); SPK (keyboards, bass). Producers include Kyze, The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, EZ Elpee, Irv Gotti. Personnel includes N.O.R.E., DWNLZY, Musaliny-N-Maze, Gold, Troy Outlaw, Akinyele, Ja Rule, Capone, Complexions, Camron, Fat Joe, Cassidy, Busta Rhymes, Chinky (rap vocals); Kelis (vocals); Nas, Ice-T, Mike Kyser, Nelly, Tyson Beckford (spoken vocals); Pharrell Williams, Kyze, Chad Hugo (various instruments); SPK (keyboards, bass); L.E.S. (programming). Producers include The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, Irv Gotti, EZ Elpee, SPK. Its interesting that Victor (N.O.R.E.) Santiago commences this bangin collection of thug rap with an apology for his last effort. He was unfocused, understandably, with the loss to jail time of his partner in the erstwhile Capone-n-Noreagea duo Kiam Capone Holley. But he rapidly shows hes going to set matters to rights with a swift one-two punch to gangsta rapper pretenders in Nothin, and a freewheeling track called Grimey thats one of the most commercial cuts on offer here. GODS FAVORITE finds N.O.R.E. back on top of his game in a wide-ranging set that encompasses hard-core gangsta rap and a lift from Cyndi Laupers Time after Time. The album is prefaced by a collection of skit phone calls from Santiagos peers including Nelly, Ice T, and Nas, all paying their respects to this lifers return to form in the street-life stakes. He shows their respect is justified again and again on cuts such as Mr. CEO, a skewering of big money in the music biz, and Live My Life which features an appearance from the inimitably throaty Ja Rule. But ultimately its in the regretful, angry Black Clouds that we get a true glimpse into the rappers tortured soul.