N.O.R.E. has responded to the backlash over Kanye West’s latest Drink Champs interview, admitting “regret” over how the episode unfolded.
The Chicago rap icon made a number of controversial remarks during the three-and-a-half-hour conversation, which premiered on REVOLT over the weekend.
In addition to calling rap peers like Diddy and Meek Mill “fake hard n-ggas,” Kanye launched into another diatribe against “the Jewish people” and even suggested George Floyd was killed by fentanyl, not ex-cop Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck for almost nine minutes.
Drink Champs co-host N.O.R.E. has faced criticism for how he moderated the interview, specifically for failing to push back against Ye’s offensive — and in some cases factually inaccurate — statements.
The rapper-turned-podcaster joined Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning on Monday (October 17) to discuss the fallout from the interview, which he called a “learning experience.”
N.O.R.E. apologized to “anybody that was hurt by Kanye’s words and actions” and to “anybody who felt like I let them down.” He also pointed out that he did “check” Ye numerous times during the interview, but admitted he could’ve controlled the conversation in a more “responsible” way.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I can sit there and say, ‘That’s only Kanye West, it’s only what he said.’ But I have a responsibility when I have an audience … When I watched myself, I was embarrassed. I was like, ‘Wait a minute? You just let him say that?!’ I’m irresponsible for letting it go.”
As for how he’d do things differently if he had the opportunity, N.O.R.E. said: “I would’ve been the better journalist that I am. I probably would’ve stayed sober the whole time and stayed on the subject.
“I still believe people have a right to speak, whether it’s something you agree with or not, but you have a right to also check them — and check them immediately. That’s what I regret.”
As for why the episode was released in the first place, N.O.R.E. said he initially didn’t agree with the “powers that be” trying to take it down because he wanted to “defend freedom of speech” and empathizes with feeling “blackballed” by the music industry — but has since changed his mind.
“Now that I think about it, sometimes freedom of speech just ain’t free,” he reflected.
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Despite the controversy surrounding the Yeezy billionaire, N.O.R.E. isn’t willing to give up on Kanye West and believes there’s still hope for him yet.
“By the way, I love Kanye West. I really think that we shouldn’t give up on Kanye West,” he said. “I just got off the phone with Talib Kweli and I said: ‘Talib, I think you should reach out to him.’ I think he needs a Mos Def conversation … a Dave Chappelle conversation because he’s not having these.”
Kanye West’s Drink Champs interview came on the heels of a recent firestorm of criticism stemming from his “White Lives Matter” Yeezy Season 9 shirt and ensuing anti-Semitic remarks, which resulted in his Twitter and Instagram accounts being restricted.
Ye was due to also appear on LeBron James’ YouTube series The Shop earlier this month, but the episode was pulled due to him spouting “more hate speech and extremely dangerous stereotypes,” Maverick Carter announced.
the machine was not of agreed with this.
must not*
Dude is so fake, bigger fake than Kanye. You literally tweeted about how good the podcast episode did, all the numbers! And now you want to act like YOUR show did those numbers not Kanye? I don’t like Kanye but this dude is such a snake with his dumb old guy pencil goatee.
NORE is selling his soul for views. Take down the interview if you mean what you say. Otherwise NORE is a sellout.
By letting someone speak their mind? It is always the libs who are for censorship of views they don’t like.
How bout you lib these nuts in your mouth and STFU.
I assumed he was just letting Kanye speak his mind . I don’t think NORE did anything wrong . Kanye always been off the wall. What was nore suppose to do lol . Everyone sensitive like nipples:
Sad to see but if you’ve peeped the podcast, NORE openly fishes for clickbait to pad stats. Like @SMH said, feel bad about it, pull the episode. But integrity is not for many.
nore stfu, you knew what u were gettin urself into by askin Ye to come and speak. Nore is a cuck to the industry, this is proof
Straight up, he can keep blowing Duddy’s candles….I haven’t watched drink champs since how they did Lamar Odom, nore is the very definition of a soul seller
THIS APOLOGY WAS MORE HALF ASSED THAN THAT MELVIN FLYNT ALBUM HE DROPPED.
Why apologize? You knew before he came on there tht he needed his medication. Besides you’re like a reporter or judge, you have to be neutral and let people have their say…
That very disrespectful interview from Kanye was finally removed from Revolt and YouTube. It shouldn’t have released to begin with. Shame on you Kanye, Revolt, and Drink Champs.
kanye doesn’t care about what dave chappelle thinks. He doesn’t care what Talib Kweli thinks. Get over it, Noreaga. Sheesh. Let the fool sink his own career. Moron.
Nore is just mad that Canibus and DMX exposed him as a wack rapper back in the day HOT97 freestyle.
YEAH, HE WAS DEFINITELY NOT THE SAME AFTER TRAGEDY STOPPED WRITING FOR HIM.
Facts on Floyd! You can’t cheek that many fentanyl pills and live. Open your eyes people! The officer should’ve never been on his neck that long but that isn’t what killed him it was an overdose.
I thought the toxicity report said the amount in his system wasn’t fatal,really not sure what to believe in on that matter
Read the Autopsy Report. He died of asphyxia due to the compression of his diaphragm by Derek Chauvin and the boys. Ye just been getting bad information by the GOP crazies
Believe facts. Believe the toxicology report. Believe what you watched with your own eyes
So your basically saying he would of died in the same time span whether or not the cop was there….is that what you saying? You sound ridiculous
Nore just bent over for cancel culture and took a big BLM/Antifa cock up hos ass.
I mean, the most ‘credible’ HipHop podcast is hosted by a drunk. And he wants him to talk to Mos Def? The only rapper more DUSTED out than Kanye? Can we just admit that HipHop is dead, and either needs to be rebuilt or let go? This is sad. Everything about the ‘culture’ is a disgrace. The OGs won’t speak on anything because they’re broke and want to endear themselves to the young IGNORANT rappers who they think they can extend their dwindled career off. The young rappers have no reverence or respect for the ‘culture’ because why would they, when they don’t respect anything? They don’t even understand the concept of ‘respect’. There are absolutely no stalwarts or gate keepers in HipHop anymore keeping things on the level. HipHop is over. What now?
COAST CONTRA✊? Thank me later ?
Far from over….just over commercialize….if you are observing and listening to bullshit then expect to feel like it…there’s stil a lot of good hip hop music and artistry out there minus the bullshit….lend your ears to that instead
That was the most fawning, sycophantic interview that I ever had the displeasure of witnessing. NORE was sickening and embarrassing and Kanye just took over, hateful, braggadocios, arrogant and egotistical as usual. I had to switch it off way before it ended.
I ain’t even bother to watch it….I’m so passed this bullshit. But those are the same descriptions I knew the interview would be…so thanks for confirming
10-20 years ago, nobody gave a fuck what people had to say controversial or not. This pussy generation though on the other hand cry about every fuckin thing. They wearing skirts under their tight jeans like most of the commenters here.
Yeah, people are smarter now and know how words can affect people. It’s not about getting “offended”, young smart people are just tired of ignorant old heads saying dumb shit all the time.
So smart that they will be lining up for the next Yeezys drop.
20 years ago I didn’t know what a smartphone was, although I have a very basic flip phone. Didn’t know what youtube was, instagram, twitter, tik tok didn’t exist. The music I consumed I either heard on the radio or I bought the cds. That was a different universe. Technology and our need for constant connectivity has changed everything. And no, it’s not like everyone would publicly state crazy opinions full of hate at every turn, we weren’t keyboard warrior back then. The anonymity of comment sections has encouraged people to be their worst selves and think that’s acceptable.
20 years ago you couldn’t rile people up on a social media platform with racist shit that will incite violence towards a group of people. Hate crimes have been way up in the past 20 years, particularly in the past 7 years when Commander Bone Spurs became a politician. Words have consequences, and the shit Kanye and the Fox News dumb fucks are pushing is literally getting people hurt / killed.
How can Nore still love the boi when he (ConYe) literally became Donald Trump The Black Version? Guys like that will do anything to get their share, it’s just really enjoyable watching ConYe implode and explode as he digs his own grave. Nore don’t need to apologize for shit!
Bullsh*t. Dude knew he would get views with that, made money of it and now pretends to be mad
But damn homie, weren’t you boosting that the internet is yours for the weekend due to the Kanye interview? You knew what you’re getting yourself into from the start, and you were all giggles and laughs during the interview. What made you changed your mind?
facts, he knew what he was doing, and looks like clown now acting otherwise.
Freedom of speech this and freedom of speech that… Americans and they way of thinking…folks really need to get it together for real….Don’t you know that in other countries you would get clapped in broad daylight just for saying things like “F the president” or certain group of people etc etc. This freedoms is speech thing is all relative ….. just appreciate the freedoms you have here….and yes there is freedom of speech but there is limitations to it just like anything in life….and consequences to trashy disrespectful rhetoric Period
back it up in the street if you’re so mad. f the world say what you want everyone gon die in the end nobody living in this bitch forever f all them hoes ye gon be ye all day don’t like it unplug the internet
How’s the view down there kanye nut sucker?
The View seems like your type of show
1. NORE is only regretful because he got named checked on every media outlet for letting all that bullshit slide.
2. That said, he’s a rapper who gets shit faced drunk for several hours while talking with other rappers. Perhaps people shouldn’t look for him as the beacon of journalistic integrity.
we all know these media people brag behind closed doors about how they control what black folks think and say they laugh they know exactly how much LeBron make who he pay where it all go they run the NBA they run rap they run the media that write about music and we know behind closed doors they brag about this and how we work for them and nobody else. when anyone brings it up they want to cry about something that happened 80 years ago in Europe. Why are they so quick to make this connection when they are the ones with the wealth and power?
” cry about something that happened 80 years ago in Europe.”…. The craziest part is, it never actually happened.
it looks to me like ye need to take a long rest – he has to think about people he employs, people who depend on him for a check. he may feel like he wants to burn it all down but what about the people who been in his corner and repped for him showed love and defended him. he’s hanging them out to dry with this reckless behavior. he knows he can’t fight these battles in one day and he knows bad people will just take advantage even if he’s able to skate with these comments. needs to reevalutate right now or he’ll be finished for good
kanye is a biatch.. and an even bigger moron
i really enjoyed the unfiltered and rawness of conversation…..everywhere you go people are scared to say what sits in their stomach…god this is so refreshing, whether i agree with Ye or not is Not what i am highlighting in this comment, i am strictly expressing joy at the level of rawness i seen in that interview
Dude did a full 180 from his initial reactions and claims about the interview. His handlers must’ve said “denounce NOW!”.
Kanye is an example of how some black people sabotage themselves and their communities. Don’t blame this on white people this is all on you
White people everywhere thank kanye for doing the dirty work for them. Thanks bro lol
He’s simply stating his position/thoughts on certain matters. If you don’t agree that’s cool, state your case. A lot can be learned from ye good and bad. He’s definitely a creative juggernaut.
The chosen people applyin that pressure
NORE is not a journalist- plain and simple. He’s a rapper who gets drunk and chops it up on camera with other celebs.
Sounds like N.O.R.E.’s small hat wearing, j0oish handlers got him apologizing.
Someone needs to knock Kanye out. He always makes stupid comments. No wonder Kim ditched him. His music is horrible too. His last couple albums have been complete trash!!!!
Donda should’ve swallowed
Better apologize, getting to close to the truth. Nore shouldve said suck it to someone asking him to apologize. The best trick the media has pulled off is getting everyone to think Kanye is crazy, They focus on his articulation instead of the message.
He is frickin crazy. That much is obvious, he’s going to be in the straps again sooner or later
Nore, you thinking small. You need to think bigger B*tch!
Get out there and show us how it’s done then!
What anti-Semitics remarks did Kanye West say?
The interview was boring just shock value from antisemitic comments and him leaking private conversations. He said nothing deep and actually made many inaccurate statements.