Student of the Game

The album was originally titled N.O.R.E. Pt. 2: Born Again (the album was intended to be a sequel to Noreaga's debut album N.O.R.E.).[http://57thave.com/?p=8989 N.O.R.E. Does Not Support "S.O.R.E." (N.O.R.E. Pt. 2: Born Again Coming Soon)] 57th Ave. However, the title was later changed to S.U.P.E.R.T.H.U.G., referencing his 1998 hit single "Superthug".[http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9145509# XXLMag.com's Channel Live: Spotlight N.O.R.E.] Ustream. However, N.O.R.E. later announced that he had changed the title to Student of the Game, on the advice of the film company producing the movie Super Thug, which he intended to premiere following the release of the album, as the film would contain no music from the album.{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|title=N.O.R.E. Changes Title of Upcoming Album to Student of the Game|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2012/06/n-o-r-e-changes-title-of-upcoming-album-to-student-of-the-game/|work=XXL|publisher=Harris Publications|accessdate=July 11, 2012|date=June 29, 2012}}

Mentioned guest appearances on the album included Lil Wayne, Pharrell Williams, Busta Rhymes, Cory Gunz, and he also expressed wanting to work with Saigon, on a Just Blaze beat on the album, in which Just Blaze responded to, and gladly accepted.[https://www.twitter.com/JustBlaze/status/94390256396283904 @noreaga there it is. @therealsaigon wake up and get to writing!! oh wait i gotta make a beat. i gotta cook up somethin queensworthy] Twitter.

The first promotional single from the album was "Nutcracker". The song credits Flavor Flav as a feature on the song, but his part is a sample from Public Enemy's song "Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya, Man", but he appears in the music video.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.11628/title.nore-nutcracker |title=N.O.R.E. - Nutcracker | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2011 |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2010-07-29 |accessdate=2013-03-24}} The promo single "Finito", featuring Pharrell Williams and Lil Wayne, was released on June 13, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.15364/title.nore-f-lil-wayne-pharrell-finito |title=N.O.R.E. f. Lil Wayne & Pharrell - Finito | New Hip Hop Music & All The New Rap Songs 2011 |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2011-06-13 |accessdate=2013-03-24}} On September 17, 2011, the music video for "Finito" featuring Pharrell Williams and Lil Wayne was released.{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2011/09/17/new-video-n-o-r-e-ft-lil-wayne-pharrell-finito/ |title=New Video: N.O.R.E. Ft. Lil Wayne & Pharrell "Finito" |publisher=Rap Radar |date=2011-09-17 |accessdate=2013-03-24}}

On January 5, 2013, the first official single "Tadow" featuring French Montana, Pusha T and 2 Chainz was released.{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2013/01/05/new-music-p-a-p-i-ft-french-montana-pusha-t-2-chainz-tadow/ |title=New Music: P.A.P.I. Ft. French Montana, Pusha T, & 2 Chainz "Tadow" |publisher=Rap Radar |date=2013-01-05 |accessdate=2013-03-24}} On January 5, 2013, the song "Built Pyramids" featuring Large Professor was released.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/listen-papi-f-large-professor-built-pyramids |title=Listen: P.A.P.I. f/ Large Professor "Built Pyramids" |publisher=Complex |date=2013-01-05 |accessdate=2013-03-24}} On January 6, 2013, the music video was released for "Tadow" featuring French Montana, Pusha T and 2 Chainz.{{cite web | url=http://www.thesource.com/articles/260998?thesource-prod=h559ni6rr8ivnb1rjnkngsljj7 | title=Video: P.A.P.I. ft. French Montana, 2 Chainz & Pusha T - Tadow | publisher=L. Londell McMillan | work=The Source | date=January 6, 2013 | accessdate=January 6, 2013 | author=Stevens, Kaitlin | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130216215312/http://www.thesource.com/articles/260998?thesource-prod=h559ni6rr8ivnb1rjnkngsljj7 | archivedate=February 16, 2013 }} On February 25, 2013, the second single "Fowl Niggaz" was released.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/fowln-z-single/606937725 |title=iTunes - Music - Fowln****z - Single by N.O.R.E. (a.k.a. P.A.P.I.) |publisher=iTunes |date=2013-02-26 |access-date=2013-03-24}} On March 17, 2013, the music video for "Built Pyramids" featuring Large Professor was released.{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.mtv.com/videos/nore/888914/built-pyramids-featuring-large-professor.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319173331/http://www.mtv.com/videos/nore/888914/built-pyramids-featuring-large-professor.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 19, 2013 |title=Built Pyramids featuring Large Professor | N.O.R.E. | Music Video |publisher=MTV |date=2013-03-17 |accessdate=2013-03-24}} The third single "The Problem (Lawwddd)" featuring Pharrell was released on March 25, 2013.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/problem-lawwddd-feat-pharrell/624711009 |title=iTunes - Music - The Problem (Lawwddd) [feat. Pharrell] - Single by N.O.R.E. (a.k.a. P.A.P.I.) |publisher=iTunes |date=2013-03-22 |access-date=2013-04-17}} On April 15, 2013, the music video was released for "Dreaming" featuring Tech N9ne and ¡Mayday!.{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2013/04/15/new-video-p-a-p-i-ft-tech-n9ne-x-mayday-dreaming/ |title=New Video: P.A.P.I. Ft. Tech N9ne x ¡Mayday! "Dreaming" |publisher=Rap Radar |date=2013-04-15 |accessdate=2013-04-17}} On June 11, 2013, the music video for "The Problem (Lawwwddd)" featuring Pharrell was released.{{cite web|url=http://rapradar.com/2013/06/11/new-video-p-a-p-i-x-pharrell-the-problem-lawwwddd/ |title=New Video: P.A.P.I. x Pharrell "The Problem (Lawwwddd)" |publisher=Rap Radar |date=2013-06-11 |accessdate=2013-06-18}}

Student of the Game debuted at number 116 on the Billboard 200 selling 4,100 copies in its first week of release.{{cite web|last=Paine |first=Jake |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23688/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-4-21-2013 |title=Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 4/21/2013 |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-04-24 |accessdate=2013-04-28}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Lymangrover |first=Jason |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/student-of-the-game-mw0002496877 |title=Student of the Game - N.O.R.E. |publisher=AllMusic |date=2013-04-09 |accessdate=2015-09-17}}

| rev2 = HipHopDX

| rev2Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Smith |first=Bruce |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/album-reviews/id.2067/title.n-o-r-e-aka-p-a-p-i-student-of-the-game |title=N.O.R.E. (a.k.a. P.A.P.I.) - Student Of The Game |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-04-18 |accessdate=2013-04-28}}

}}

Student of the Game received mixed reviews from [[music criticism|music

critics]]. Bruce Smith of HipHopDX gave the album three out of five stars, saying "N.O.R.E tries to recreate “Banned From T.V.” with “Faces of Death.” The features of Raekwon, French Montana, Busta Rhymes and Swizz Beatz can't match the original lineup of Nature, Big Punisher, Styles and Jadakiss. The beat composed by Jahlil Beats doesn't give off the epic feel Swizz did on the original. Student of the Game has its moments, but they are few and far between, lost amongst filler, comical skits, and some very poor attempts of to keep up with what is popular now. N.O.R.E doesn't have to prove anything to anyone, and his attempts to do so drag this album down."

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s){{cite web|url=http://ughh.com/nore-student-of-the-game/EOM2484CD/ |title=N.O.R.E. - Student Of The Game - Audio CD - Underground Hip Hop - Store |publisher=Ughh.com |date=2013-04-09 |accessdate=2013-04-17}}

| total_length = 53:29

| title1 = Kenny Smith Speaks

| writer1 =

| extra1 =

| length1 = 0:15

| title2 = Student of the Game

| note2 =

| writer2 = Victor Santiago

| extra2 = Cookin' Soul

| length2 = 2:39

| title3 = Tadow

| note3 = featuring French Montana, 2 Chainz & Pusha T

| writer3 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• Karim Kharbouch
• Tauheed Epps
• Terrence Thornton
• Ray Fraser
• Shandel Green

}}

| extra3 = {{flatlist|

• Illa
• Infa

}}

| length3 = 4:09

| title4 = Hang Hang Resume

| note4 =

| writer4 =

| extra4 =

| length4 = 1:48

| title5 = The Problem (Lawwwddd)

| note5 = featuring Pharrell

| writer5 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• Pharrell Williams

}}

| extra5 = Pharrell

| length5 = 3:30

| title6 = What I Had to Do

| note6 = featuring Scarface

| writer6 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• Brad Jordan
• Edwin Almonte

}}

| extra6 = SPK

| length6 = 3:04

| title7 = Victor Cruz Speaks

| note7 =

| writer7 =

| extra7 =

| length7 = 0:15

| title8 = Vitamins

| note8 = featuring Pete Rock

| writer8 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• Peter Phillips

}}

| extra8 = Pete Rock

| length8 = 3:41

| title9 = Thirsty

| note9 =

| writer9 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• C Barrionuevo JR.

}}

| extra9 = Charli Brown Beatz

| length9 = 3:12

| title10 = Scott Disick Speaks

| writer10 =

| extra10 =

| note10 =

| length10 = 0:29

| title11 = Fowl Niggaz

| note11 =

| writer11 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• Fresser
• Green

}}

| extra11 = {{flatlist|

• Illa
• Infa

}}

| length11 = 2:20

| title12 = She Tried

| note12 = featuring Lil Wayne

| writer12 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• Fresser
• Green
• Dwayne Carter

}}

| extra12 = {{flatlist|

• Illa
• Infa

}}

| length12 = 2:40

| title13 = Camouflage Unicorns

| writer13 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• Percy Chapman
• Kejuan Muchita
• Marc Shemer

}}

| note13 = featuring Tragedy Khadafi & Havoc

| extra13 = {{flatlist|

• Scram Jones
• DJ Thoro

}}

| length13 = 3:20

| title14 = Only Bad Ones

| note14 = featuring Jeremih

| writer14 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• Jeremih Felton
• C Barrionuevo JR.

}}

| extra14 = Charli Brown Beatz

| length14 = 4:12

| title15 = God’s Angel

| note15 = featuring Mick Jones & Chris Jones

| writer15 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• Christian Rodriguez

}}

| extra15 = Hazardis Soundz

| length15 = 3:31

| title16 = Built Pyramids

| note16 = featuring Large Professor

| writer16 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• William Mitchell

}}

| extra16 = Large Professor

| length16 = 4:28

| title17 = Faces of Death

| note17 = featuring French Montana, Swizz Beatz, Raekwon & Busta Rhymes

| writer17 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• Kharbouch
• Kasseem Dean
• Corey Woods
• Trevor Smith
• Orlando Tucker

}}

| extra17 = Jahlil Beats

| length17 = 4:15

| title18 = Drunkerer

| writer18 =

| extra18 =

| length18 = 1:50

| title19 = Dreaming

| note19 = featuring ¡Mayday! & Tech N9ne

| writer19 = {{flatlist|

• Santiago
• C. Barrionuevo JR.
• Aaron Yates

}}

| extra19 = Charli Brown Beatz

| length19 = 3:50

}}

;Sample credits

• "Faces of Death" contains a sample of "Banned from T.V.", as performed by Noreaga and produced by Swizz Beatz.

{{reflist|2}}

{{N.O.R.E.}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2013 albums

Category:N.O.R.E. albums

Category:Albums produced by Pharrell Williams

Category:Albums produced by Scram Jones

Category:Albums produced by Pete Rock

Category:Albums produced by Large Professor

Category:Albums produced by Jahlil Beats