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Pivot Podcast

N.O.R.E American rapper on creating Drink Champs, always ahead of the curve, getting out of jail to finding his Euphoria, discovering Reggaeton, Bad Bunny, Michael Jordan regret, Kanye naming North after him, joy in being a grandpa and running.

Pivot Podcast

The Pivot Podcast Network

Sports, Football, Society & Culture

4.9 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 4 November 2025

⏱️ 67 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

“My biggest Pivot is when I set out to do something and people doubt me. I like to have my back against the wall, that’s something that makes me.” Norega What happens when a rap legend trades the stage for the mic, and then turns that mic into a cultural movement? Ryan, Channing and Fred sit down with N.O.R.E.—once frontman of the Queens duo Capone‑N‑Noreaga, still a platinum-selling solo act, and now one of hip-hop’s most trusted voices behind the mic. We get to know N.O.R.E behind the fame and see him as the family man who loves being a grandpa, building wealth with his wife, who wakes up at 4am to embark on training for the NYC marathon, the guy in the group chat who is always motivating you and the friend who reaches out just to check in. In this wide-ranging conversation, we cover his journey through music, from his early days in Queens, going from jail to how meeting NAS changed his entire perspective on life to being one of the originals to boast Reggaeton to shifting into podcasting, co-founding the hit show Drink Champs with DJ EFN to becoming constant presence in hip hop culture. He takes the guys behind-the-scenes of hip-hop’s biggest names, the compliment from 50 Cent that impacted his legacy to Kanye West naming his first child after him to the unexpected collaborations to the “you wouldn’t believe” stories to his regret with Michael Jordan and how he's continuing to shape culture in a forever changing society. N.O.R.E shares how he developed a "whatever it takes" mentality to stay relevant as he's seen the culture he's helped build evolve three times over—on the mic, in the studio, in media. This episode is filled with raw energy, unfiltered truths, sharp humor, and the kind of storytelling only someone who’s lived it can deliver. Whether you grew up riding the “Super Thug” beat or you’re discovering N.O.R.E.’s impact for the first time, this episode is a bridge—between then & now, between rap and media, between the grind and the growth and where we are headed next. Tune in for a conversation that reminds us- a pivot isn’t just a change—it’s a choice and a continuous movement of evolution. And when you’ve seen it all, it’s what you do next that counts. Don't forget to like, comment and subscribe, we love hearing from you Pivot Family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Decades ago, Victor Santiago Jr. was incarcerated.

0:04.0

When he walked out, Noriega found freedom.

0:06.0

And that's who we sit with today.

0:08.0

He recently became a grandfather to young Messiah.

0:11.0

But before that, he fathered so many other ideas that people just weren't ready for.

0:15.0

Reggae tone, hip-hop podcasting.

0:18.0

Yeah, all him.

0:19.0

And if you don't believe me, just ask him.

0:26.0

He takes us back to attempts to get Daddy Yankee a record deal and talks about one company who refused to give him a contract.

0:28.1

At least they offered him apparel, though.

0:30.1

Also, the way he connected with his Dominican roots when he realized rap music just don't

0:35.5

get this party started like I wanted to.

0:38.2

He relives a call he had with Marcus Jordan about his father Michael, yes, that Michael Jordan,

0:44.0

who needed to reaffirm to Noriega that he actually did love rap music.

0:49.3

He talks to Origin of Drink Champs and Life's other favorite moments like Kanye naming a child after him and

0:55.8

although North wasn't the sweetest when they met Kim was and then he tells us about his favorite

1:01.1

day on drink champs when 50 cent told his security to stay at the car and he spent three hours

1:06.9

on the set all alone it's a great time to have the New Yorker. He's fresh off of his first marathon.

1:12.3

A habit he picked up from his father, amongst other things he didn't love while his father

1:17.1

was alive.

1:18.0

But he does love reality TV guys, and he wants to do more shows.

1:21.5

And those will probably be with Ray J.

...

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