N.O.R.E. Says His Transition From Rapper To Media Wasn’t Seamless

N.O.R.E. was known as a rap icon who delivered raw lyrics, street anthems Now, as the host of the award-winning podcast Drink Champs, he’s found a second calling in the media world—bringing viewers unfiltered conversations that only he can facilitate as a Hip-Hop insider for those who want to transition from artist to podcaster and think it’s as easy as laying down a hot 16—N.O.R.E. begs to differ. The emcee opened up about his journey to becoming “media” and letting go of certain flaws as an artist. N.O.R.E. gave insight into what it’s like being on both ends of the microphone to which, surprisingly, hasn’t been a seamless transition for him the 47-year-old learned quickly is that most artists have a hard time letting go of the tendency to be late. And after years of an accustomed rapper lifestyle, he realized, “If you come late to your own show, the show won’t even happen. A lot of artists still are not time-friendly.” However, time management isn’t the only challenge according to the Queens-bred pundit. Being in front of a microphone is one thing—but asking the right questions from the other side is a completely different game. “I made it seem easy because I was in the locker room with all these guys,” he explained about his advantage of knowing most of his subjects personally. “I was on tour with all these people. I knew these people, so it made it interesting interviewing my friends. But I don’t know everybody in Hip-Hop. It’s awkward meeting somebody on camera and then asking them personal questions or asking them business questions.” That “discomfort” is a lesson many artists-turned-media-voices have to learn if they want to get in the podcast game. Although natural charisma might get you in the door, knowing how to navigate conversations—especially when emotions run high—is a different skill set altogether. As his Drink Champs podcast is famous for its tipsy interviews, sometimes subjects may say things they regret or get offended by how the co-hosts react to what is being discussed. N.O.R.E. and his team actually “bet” how an interview will go based on what the subject orders from his in-studio bar. “If they order Hennessy, we know it’s going to be a ratchet-a** interview,” he joked. “If they order Chardonnay, sparkling wine or Champagne, we know this is going to be a cool one. If they order Bacchus, there’s probably going to be a lot of talking going on. If they order Tequila, this show might not last long,” he said. Beyond the drinks and the jokes, one of the hardest lessons he’s learned is how thin-skinned artists can be—especially when the cameras are rolling. “If someone makes a joke about someone else, and I laugh, I just co-signed it,” he admitted. “I’m part of the f**kery now, so I’m part of the beef.

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