As Capone-N-Noreaga -- which naturally translates into the clever initials CNN -- were recording their debut album, Capone was sent to jail, leaving Noreaga to handle the majority of The War Report himself, with the occasional help of such stars as Nas. It's a testament to the talents of both Capone and Noreaga that C's absence is barely felt and The War Report turns into a stellar debut. Both rappers have a distinctive rhythmic style and aren't afraid to deviate from traditional hardcore rap themes. Nor are they constrained by musical stereotypes, since The War Report explodes with impressionistic samples, gritty and evocative loops, and funky rhythms. The only thing that makes The War Report a disappointment is the knowledge that it would have been an even better album if Capone had been able to participate in the entire recording. As it stands, it's merely superb. - AllMusic. Over the years, we've learned a lot about what went into the making of the album, how Capone and Noreaga met, handled recording between bids; Tragedy Khadafi's role behind the scenes, and so-on. BUT, I'm happy to edit this post to include Noreaga's latest Drink Champs podcast with co-host DJ EFN because they paid tribute to the album on its 25th Anniversary and they dove much deeper. Capone and Noreaga are joined by the power players that were part of the creation of their debut album The War Report, guests like: Tragedy Khadafi, Neil Levine, Geno Sims, Marty Most, Gregory Taylor, and the one and only Busta Rhymes. Lots of great stories that you don’t want to miss! From Iraq to Kuwait... watch that Drink Champs episode HERE, and below you can (and should) revisit The War Report. Art above by the ever-talented Torre Pentel. 25 Years!
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A veteran of New York hip-hop, Tragedy Khadafi was there from the start. Still a child in the late '70s, he lived in the infamous Queensbridge Housing Projects and witnessed some of the earliest days of rap's incubatory phase before getting into it himself as a teenager. Working under a variety of different monikers, the music he made and his presence in New York's hip-hop circles would be highly influential for the wave of artists that included Mobb Deep, Capone, and Noreaga. First making records as Intelligent Hoodlum before changing his name in 1997, Tragedy Khadafi stayed on a consistent grind of new material that spanned several important eras in the development of rap and hip-hop culture. Born Percy Chapman in 1971 to a single mother in the projects of Queens, New York, Tragedy Khadafi grew up surrounded by music. When he was nine years old he first heard hip-hop, which itself was just beginning to develop in the South Bronx and other New York neighborhoods. It was when he heard LL Cool J's "Rock the Bells," however, at a community function in Astoria that Chapman knew that he wanted to rap, too. Calling himself Jadeski, he hooked up with DJ Hot Day and, as the Superkids, they self-released a couple of songs in 1986. These caught the ear of Marley Marl, who eventually ended up encouraging Chapman to split from Hot Day and join his influential group, the Juice Crew. He recorded some tracks for Marley's 1988 album, In Control ("The Rebel," "Live Motivator"), but before he could see their release he was sent to the Elmira Correctional Facility for three years, at just 16 years old. While in jail, Chapman began reading the work of Malcolm X and upon his release he entered community college with the intention of studying Black history; he was still interested in hip-hop, but he wasn't planning on pursuing music as a career. However, after meeting Joe Fatal at a show, Chapman was convinced by the MC to get back into rap. Signing with A&M, he released two albums under the name Intelligent Hoodlum, the 1990 self-titled record and 1993's Tragedy: Saga of a Hoodlum. Who the F#ck Is Khadafi? Cont'd below
Changing his name to Tragedy Khadafi, the rapper began to work with other artists, even discovering the duo Capone-N-Noreaga on the streets and helping to conceive their spectacular 1997 debut The War Report. He worked collaboratively with other artists throughout the '90s, recording with Mobb Deep and acting as part of the group Iron Sheiks with longtime friend Imam T.H.U.G. His first album as Tragedy Khadafi, Against All Odds, was originally slated to come out in 1999, but was pushed back two years. The album marked the debut of HeadRush Napoleon, who would show up again on future albums. In 2003 Still Reportin' hit shelves, followed by Thug Matrix in 2005. Two mixtapes arrived the next year, Blood Ballads and Thug Matrix 2, and in 2007, Chapman was arrested for drug dealing and went to prison. Before his sentencing, eighth album The Death of Tragedy was released in the summer of 2007. While locked up, he continued releasing music, appearing on 2009's Lethal Weapon, a collaborative album with Trez that included guest spots from Big Noyd, Willie Stubbs, and others. He was released ahead of schedule for good behavior in 2011 and back to music-making like never before, prolifically releasing new songs, mixtapes, and collaborations that continue straight through to current day. His "recent/2020" interview with Drink Champs - which also features Conway the Machine - gives a great amount of history and context for an artists whose career has extended through multiple eras. Give the video a full watch below...
Skeletal, smart, politically literate and seemingly effortless, Intelligent Hoodlum’s (a/k/a Tragedy Khadafi) debut is the stuff of conscious hip-hop dreams. Intelligent Hoodlum’s concerns are timeless, and, sadly, still much too relevant. Take “No Justice, No Peace,” a track that recounts the killing of a black man at the hands of police, which, in light of recent events, is as anthemic as ever, eerily prophetic: ” ‘Cause if we don’t have justice, there is no peace/No peace, this is the message you’re sending me/Killin’ my brothers makes you my enemy…America’s a prison.” While not as sonically lush as Trag’s equally underrated sophomore effort, Tragedy: Saga of a Hoodlum, with cuts like “Arrest the President” and “Black And Proud,” Intelligent Hoodlum just hits that much harder. Despite being a member of the notorious Juice Crew and consistently name-dropped by legends like Nas, Intelligent Hoodlum remains a slept-on talent, a forgotten linchpin of the early ’90s. - Village Voice.
18 year old Tragedy, a product of the Queensbridge projects and a member of the "Juice Crew" posse, made his vinyl debut at 13 under the name MC Jade. His progress was however curtailed by a six month sentence in a Bronx detention centre. This led to spells in Riker's Island and Elmira State Prisons by the time he turned 17. These periods of enforced inactivity were interspersed with the recording of two tracks for Marley Marl's "In Control Vol 1" LP, his first under the Tragedy trade mark. Transformed politically and spiritually by his prolonged incarceration he rejoined Marley Marl recording the material that earned him his current deal with A&M. This largely autobiographical single ("Back To Reality") marks the first statement from a poet with a truly positive program. As Tragedy himself says: "Hoodlum is the Past, Intelligent is the Future." - UK Press Release (9/1990).
This an unofficial pressing of Capone-N-Noreaga's "Married To Marijuana" and "Calm Down," unreleased joints from around The War Report days, and "Yo!" from Sadat X. I'm especially thankful for the instrumentals, since the vocal versions had been floating around for some years. Otherwise, "Calm Down" was my favorite track on this 12", featuring Tragedy Khadafi & Nas. The rumor had been that Nas (allegedly) had issues with Tragedy removing E-Money Bag's verse from the record, so he wouldn't clear the record for Capone-N-Noreaga to use on "The War Report." To smooth it over, Nas put Noreaga on The Firm album with his breakthrough track, "I'm Leaving." Afterall, his problem wasn't with Noreaga. That worked out to Nore's benefit as it helped jumpstart his solo career, and was the gateway to a lot more money. In the end, "Calm Down" is still very dope! Listen to it below...
Released in 1997, DJ Krush dropped a 12" in advance of his album "MiLight," showcasing more of the Hip-Hop side of what might otherwise be considered a trip-hop or electro album. Diggin' into the underground, DJ Krush tagged Mos Def, Tragedy Khadafi, and Finsta Bundy as featured MCs, along with an instrumental feature from Shawn J. Period. Despite being released on a label that was dance music-focused called FFRR (Full Frequency Range Recordings), "Selections" has all the makings of a classic-sounding boombap 12". Mo Wax Records had a bunch of the DJ Krush and DJ Shadow records, which also makes sense. Anyhow, you can stream all four tracks from the full 12" below...
"T.O.N.Y." was the 3rd - and most successful - single release by Capone-N-Noreaga in promotion of their debut album, "The War Report," in 1997 on Penalty Records. The Source featured the single in their Sure Shot Singles section, where Elliot Wilson gives a full breakdown of the record, saying: "To the uninitiated, Capone-N-Noreaga are that other dope-ass duo coming out of the Q borough. Backed by the constant support of their mentor and guiding force, Tragedy, the C N' N crew continue to deliver their brand of street news from an uncompromising, rotten apple perspective. After first garnering attention on the controversial "LA, LA," and then hitting the masses with the double-sided, underground pavement shaker, "Illegal Life/Stick You," the Lefrak-Queensbridge connection are now ready to attack the rap world on a national level. The first offering from their upcoming full-length, War Report, is "T.O.N.Y. (Top Of New York)." Watch the video below, cont'd...
"Produced by Bad Boy entertainment upstart Nashiem Myricks, this ominous but melodic track fits the two MC's perfectly. While many of you are already enamored by Noreaga's word association style poetics, his raspy-voiced, no-nonsense partner Capone also comes equipped to spray the hip-hop nation. He vividly adds his own fresh perspective on the hustling lifestyle: "I did it for the love of cash, your honor / Trafficking across the Verrazano, coke dealing, marijuana / See my persona, glitters in gold / Unlike them other money getters who stack, turn quitters and fold." Continuing to establish themselves as one of rap's most promising duos, Capone N Noreaga are putting together a musical program that you don't want to miss. Stay tuned." You can read the full review below.
"Capone and Noreaga, the Queensbridge stick-up kids who introduced their skills on "L.A., L.A.," return with their first joint for dolo, "Stick You," an epic saga of a drug deal gone bad and the fatal consequences suffered by the Dominican drug lord who double crosses the C&N Crew. The track starts off with an ominous sounding rainstorm in the background, as Capone and Noreaga (plus special guest MC Tragedy) discover that the product they've bought off their supplier is less than dope. The rain continues as a drum track kicks in and then a sparse piano loop sets the tone for some tales from the criminal side." Hear the 2nd single from "The War Report" below, con'td below...
"From the simple piano loop to the chant that ends the song - "Not your ordinary shit / Thug shit that you're used to / Q.U. / We stick you" - "Stick You" has an undeniable Mobb Deep influence. MCs Capone and Noreaga have obviously studied their Queensbridge predecessors and now want to follow in their footsteps. "Stick You" is a step in this direction, another dose of those patented criminology rhymes that put their section back on the map." - The Source (August, 1996). (Updated)
