N.O.R.E. has been on the Hip Hop scene for more years than most of his fans have been alive — and the rapper-turned-podcaster was recently brought to tears while celebrating a major milestone in his career.
In an Instagram post on Saturday (July 15), the Queens, New York native reflected on the 25th anniversary of his seminal self-titled debut album, admitting he secretly cried during a dinner party marking the occasion.
“I got to celebrate 25 years of my first album !!!” he wrote in the caption. “I cried in the bathroom didn’t want anyone to see !!! I’m so thankful and greatful and humble !!! If u a cnn fan, a Nore fan or drinkchamps fan I LOVE U AND THANK U!!!”
Busta Rhymes,Fat Joe, Ice T, and Talib Kweli all left touching comments on the post.
“CONGRATS ALMIGHTY!!” Busta wrote along with several fire emojis, while Kweli put: “We love you champ you just getting started!”
Joey Crack and Ice-T showed their support via a series of red heart emojis and fist emojis, respectively.
N.O.R.E. — an acronym for N-ggas On the Run Eating — was arrived on July 7, 1998 via Tommy Boy Records, marking the former Capone-N-Noreaga member’s first full-length project as a solo artist.
The album was far from a solitary affair, though, as N.O.R.E. was joined on the mic by the likes of Nas, Cam’ron, Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss and Styles P, along with The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, Marley Marl and more behind the boards.
Powered by the hit single “Superthug,” N.O.R.E. debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart with a reported 165,000 first-week sales, and was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
As might be expected, N.O.R.E. has been reflecting on his career a lot lately. Last month, he shared his fond thoughts of the late, great Big Pun, whom he called “the greatest person I ever met in my life.”
“Pun was probably the greatest person I ever met in life,” N.O.R.E said of the Terror Squad titan during the Hip Hop X Siempre documentary. “Not the greatest Puerto Rican — the greatest person I ever met in life.”
The Drink Champs host went on to highlight the generosity of Pun, who would always cop gifts for N.O.R.E. whenever he was in the hood.
“I remember me and Pun both being platinum,” he recalled. “And if he found out I was in the Bronx, he would buy me an Avirex and a PlayStation. And I was like, ‘Yo bro, I’m getting’ the same amount of money as you,’ but he always wanted to give.”
Revisit N.O.R.E. below:
