By Odeisel

When Prodigy came home from jail earlier this month, his book My Infamous Life came with him, and in that book there are a few unflattering things that came out about Capone N Noreaga. With that high profile backdrop, N.O.R.E. decided to use that attention to push his latest music, using Prodigy interviews to frame the discussion on project NOREaster, symbolic for the date of release and the intensity of Noreaster storms. The project is of varying quality and a far cry from the crisp rapping done on War Report 2, but it’s a listenable experience.

The issue with Noreaga is not a lack of skill but a maddening inconsistency that vacillates from credible rapper when focused to underwhelming when he’s on that bullshit. This tape is more of the same. The tape opens with “N.O.R.E. Shot Somebody” amidst blaring police sirens and pounding drums.  Long-time collaborator, The Neptunes, add pop panache (and cowbells) to “Like The Way.” The track is radio ready and club tough.

“Look At me Now” packs a synth-heavy punch but is full of trademarked Noreaga ignorance (“got keys in a baseball glove”) and is probably an older song with reference to former NY Governor Pataki. “Stay Up” changes pace with a slower rhythm and introspection. Victor Santiago plays hood supporter and makes reference to God a few times, but he’s a fish out of water on this. Juvenile steals the show with his impassioned delivery and “I’m a sinner, but I remember to pray every night” feels legit coming from him.

Slow, crushing drums push the Masspike Miles-crooned “Something That’s.” Phantom. Louboutins. Cash. Hoes. “Got underwater money like a octopus.” Meh. Mysonne rocks the Hazardis Soundz-produced banger “Warrior” with legitimate hardcore force.  Gloria from Astoria makes a guest appearance in N.O.R.E.’s rhymes and he’s at his best just rhyming without trying to make some fake meaning or force cohesion.

808 drums and pianos blend with snare drums on “I Understand.” N.O.R.E. waxes poetic about the good old days when rappers cared about crafting complete albums and didn’t pander to radio. He’s surprisingly coherent, despite his lyrical limitations. “Living My Life” picks the pace back up, musically and Nore returns to random connectivity, but it works, sonically. The drowsy synth rhythm is too slow to tolerate N.O.R.E’s basic rhyme. The noise is high and the skill is low.

Curren$y and Ace Hood drag Noreaga’s pedestrian skills off the track on “Stand Tall.” The song is not fast enough to take advantage of N.O.R.E.’s randomness and energy and finds him trying to Rick Ross flow the track without the talent to do so. “My bullets stick into your mouth like a thumbtack?” Fail. The album ends with “Bottles Go Bang,” featuring Syles P and…Prodigy. Once again N.O.R.E. gets wiped on a slow heavy synth track. He does flow well at least but his connectivity lacks.

N.O.R.Easter is a mixed bag with guests that rescue the songs on which the title artist flops.  Giving Prodigy the last verse on the album was a surprising strategy that wins out and there are a couple highlights, but ultimately, the lack of rhyme skills and cohesion sink this work.
 2.75 out of 5

Follow Odeisel on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/odeisel

Follow Us on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/planetill

Join Us on the Planet Ill Facebook Group for more discussion

Follow us on Networked Blogs