Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City and the largest in area and the second-largest in population. Since 1899, Queens has had the same boundaries as Queens County, which is now the second most populous county in New York State and the fourth-most densely populated county in the United States. Queens, as well as neighboring borough Brooklyn, sits on the west end of geographic Long Island. Queens is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world with a population of over 2.2 million, 46% of whom are foreign-born, representing over 100 different nations and speaking over 138 different languages.
Were each New York City borough an independent city, Queens would be the nation's fourth largest city, after Los Angeles, Chicago, and Brooklyn. Queens has the second-largest and most diversified economy of all the five boroughs of New York City.Long Island City, on the Queens waterfront across from Manhattan on the East River, is the site of the Citicorp Building, the tallest skyscraper in New York City outside of Manhattan and the tallest building on geographic Long Island.
Capone-N-Noreaga was an American hip hop duo that consisted of Capone and Noreaga.
In 1996 the duo signed with Penalty Records; it also appeared in The Source magazine's Unsigned Hype column. In 1996, before the group’s debut album was completed, Capone was imprisoned for a parole violation, and Noreaga finished the debut album, The War Report, with the help of various other QB/NY hip-hop acts. The album was met with critical and commercial acclaim; it saw the group partake in the conflict between Death Row Records and Bad Boy Entertainment, making it a more widespread East Coast/West Coast rivalry, responding to Tha Dogg Pound's single " New York, New York" with its own "L.A L.A"
In 2000, the group released its sophomore effort, The Reunion, on Tommy Boy Records. Similarly star-studded, the album went platinum, but suffered from mixed reviews. Additionally, Capone was once again sent to prison before its release for violating a probation sentence on gun possession, which undermined promotion of the album. Soon after, in 2001, Capone-n-Noreaga jumped ship to prominent label Def Jam. As Tommy Boy retained the rights to the names Capone-n-Noreaga and Noreaga because the company claimed that the duo owed it more recordings, the group shortened its name to CNN, and Noreaga billed himself as N.O.R.E. (or NORE) for his solo work. The duo recorded a new album in 2003 called What up 2 Da Hood, with a lead single, "Yes, Sir," which was issued on mixtapes and promoted by a video. The single failed to make an impact, and the album was shelved. It was released later in 2004 as a mixtape (What Up 2 Da Hood Thugged Out).
Mobb Deep is an American Hip-Hop duo from Queensbridge, Queens, New York, U.S., that consists of Havoc and Prodigy. The duo is "one of the most critically acclaimed hardcore East Coast Hip-Hop groups". The group is best known for its dark, hardcore delivery as exemplified by the single "Shook Ones Pt. II". Mobb Deep have become one of the most successful rap duos in Hip Hop having sold over three million records. The majority of their albums have been critically acclaimed, in particular The Infamous in which is considered to be classic among avid Hip-Hop listeners and general fans. They are partially credited for the resurgence of East Coast rap in the early to mid-'90s. Havoc and Prodigy were also judges for the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers and breakthroughs.
Percy Chapman IV, (born August 13, 1971, in Queens, New York, USA) known by his stage name Tragedy Khadafi, and formerly known as Intelligent Hoodlum, is an American rapper and producer who hails from the Queensbridge housing projects in Queens, New York, who helped spawn other hip hop artists such as Nas, Cormega, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga, and many others both through production and influence. His name is a reference to former Libyan head of state Muammar Gaddafi. He was one half of the group the Iron Sheiks, along with Imam T.H.U.G., which produced the underground classic "True Confessions."
He began his career as half of the duo Super Kids, along with DJ Hot Day (then known as PHD), who also had worked with rappers like Blaq Poet, releasing the single "Go, Queensbridge" in 1985. It was this output that caught the attention of Marley Marl, who produced the duo's next two singles, and Chapman was also made a junior member of the Juice Crew alongside artists such as Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, and MC Shan. After a conviction for robbery followed by time in a correctional facility, Chapman became a Five Percenter and began working under the alias Intelligent Hoodlum. His self-titled debut, Intelligent Hoodlum, released in 1990 and produced by Marley Marl, was full of political commentary, Five-Percenter rhetoric, and controversial messages in tracks such as "Arrest the President" and "Black and Proud." He returned in 1993, releasing his second album, Tragedy: Saga of a Hoodlum, which would be his last album under that moniker.
(Noreaga talking)
Outlaw, Outlaw
Uhh-uhh. Yo give me some of that haze man. That purple haze.
I don't wanna smoke that fucking haze wit this wood no more.
Hydro. Shit got my hydro tasting like smydro.
I'ma smoke a straight haze right now.(straight haze)
Pone roll up there. ya heard me?
Yo Slaam roll up there ya heard me? Ok Slaam.
It's like this yo...
(Noreaga)
Yo, yo Blood money is the anthem, its never a myth
I smoke weed and I get drunk, and ride with gifts
If I don't roll, then my nigga Baby he just twist
He rolls Phillies and he busts the big the four-fifth
See shit change because I normally came
On the R train now me and 5 in the Range
We used to twist Phillies and fuck hoes, switch cars and trade guns
Them Queens niggaz then we landed in the millions
Iraq and the Bridge, the only difference is the buildings
The same crime rates and the same damn killings
A slice of pizza, and quarter water my juice
but now I'm Carhart and bullet proof is under my goose
and go to hell to that nigga that snitched on deuce
the curly-haired fro, I cut my hair but my beard grow
Yo where my beers go? Send them right here yo
Yo party's over tell the rest of the crew
Stash the drugs, the guns go to section two
See me, all my life yo I had to sell drugs
While you grew up with straight nerds I grew up with thugs
While you grew up with straight nerds I grew up with thugs
(Chorus: Complexions)
Through the test of time, I strive to get my shine
Upon them lives, slanging rocks cuz the world is mine
I look out for you, and you look out for me
And we hold it down, you just wait and see
Platinum chains and Carti' frames and jewels
Now these broke niggaz start to act a fool
Don't you know Thugged Out straight eat ya food
We keep guns on our sides, you know how dunn thugs do
Cause I'll be there with my thugs
I'll be right here waiting on you
(Capone)
For my niggaz who bust pies
the customized fives
to the vals, to the railroaded trails I cuss cops
enough shots and any generation
I spit dead a plot in the making I ride for every thug in the basement
my soul is cuffed to the corner, every gate, every car table
every welcome to the hood sign
batting good times
Its on over the projects a dark cloud one sided
till death bitches burning in gossip
Its my turn to deposit
the real, the logic, no college
just dollars and criminal knowledge
me and my codies, pass ?rodies?
I flash mo' wheat, than cash Cody
Keep the mac on me
When U stack niggaz act phony
shit in the ghetto, I spread love and shed blood
never swear to a dead thug
my name should be brough up in fame
never said in vain
Spread like a letter chain
In criminal slang.
(Chorus)
We done had some time
I strive to get my shine
On the block, slanging rocks cuz the world is mine
I look out for you, and you look out for me.
And we hold it down, you just wait and see
Platinum chains and ?cardy? frames and jewells
Now these broke niggaz start act a fool
Don't you know thugged out, straight eat ya food
We keep guns on our sides
You know how dunn thugs do
Cuz I'll be there with my thugs
I'll be right here waiting on you.
(Beat fading away)