The War Report

The War Report
Studio album by Capone-N-Noreaga
Released	June 17, 1997
Recorded	1996–1997
Genre	East Coast hip hop, hardcore rap
Length	70:43
Label	Penalty/Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records 03041
Producer	Charlemagne EZ Elpee Nashiem Myrick Carlos "6 July" Broady Naughty Shorts Tragedy Khadafi G-Money Buckwild Lord Finesse Marley Marl DJ Clark Kent
Professional reviews
Allmusic link The Source link
Capone-N-Noreaga chronology
The War Report (1997) The Reunion (2000)

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." Tragedy Khadafi was in many ways the mastermind behind the project and was at the time considered an unofficial third member. He appears on more than half of the album's songs. Other guest appearances include Imam Thug, Castro, Mussolini, Mendosa, Troy Outlaw, Mobb Deep, and Busta Rhymes. Despite its strong underground overtones, the album was, surprisingly, a commercial success, making 1997's Rap/R&B Top Five.

Significance and Impact

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2009)

This article may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (February 2009)

Considered a street classic by many, The War Report's signature sound was distinctively underground and hardcore for its time, a trademark that garnered the group outstanding street credibility. The unique chemistry of Noreaga's unorthodox lyrical delivery combined with Capone's streetwise 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 and 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-oriented Bad Boy Records), Mafioso hip-hop 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 rhymed 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 that foreshadowed the rise of similarly styled emcees 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." These are not references to traditional Islam, however, because they are members of the Nation of Gods and Earths, which can be heard during the opening moments when one calls the other God and the other calls the first Allah.

Track listing

^Busta Rhymes' part is cut off before he starts. He only appears in the last 20 seconds of the song, ad-libbing to the hook. The following songs: Stick You, Parole Violators, Halfway Thugs and L.A., L.A (Kuwait Mix) are partially edited, even though the album was only released in an explicit version.

Samples

• "Bloody Money"
  • "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
  • "Philadelphia Morning" by Bill Conti
• "Capone Bone"
  • "Step into Our Life" by Roy Ayers

Album singles

• "Illegal Life"
  • Released: 1996
  • B-side: "L.A. L.A.," "Stick You"

• "T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)"
  • Released: 1996
  • 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)

Album chart positions

Singles chart positions