N.O.R.E. Reveals Legendary MC Who Refuses To Appear On ‘Drink Champs’

N.O.R.E. recently joined VIBE for a candid conversation discussing his award-winning podcast Drink Champs.

Over the years, Drink Champs has become a go-to platform for Hip-Hop’s biggest stars—delivering unfiltered conversations and unforgettable “tipsy” moments. But despite its growing guest list (and possible waitlist), there’s one legendary MC who remains elusive—while still keeping a close eye on the show.

While chatting on Zoom this week, N.O.R.E. revealed that although JAY-Z is both a fan and supporter of Drink Champs, he has consistently turned down invitations to appear on the pod. “Jay-Z will talk to me about the show—and we would talk for hours and we speak on the phone—we text, most of the time,” N.O.R.E. shared. “And he’ll tell me everything about the show and then say to me, ‘Well, I don’t feel like dealing with media now.’ And I’m like, ‘I’m media? All these texts, and I’m still media?’”

The revelation isn’t too surprising, as Hov’s approach to media and interviews has been rather mum—however, the 47-year-old asserts the MC and businessman has deep respect for Drink Champs. “He says it jokingly. He says, ‘When you’re behind that mic, you are [media].’ And I’m like, he’s right,” N.O.R.E. admitted. “Because as much as we’re friends and we have a good relationship, I do have a job and a responsibility when he sits down with me. And I will wipe out the friendship for that hour… because I want to ask the questions that the people want to know.”

That fine line between friendship and business is one that the Queens star has had to navigate with several high-profile guests, including Nas—who, unlike Jay-Z, eventually made his Drink Champs debut. “Nas is my friend. I love Nas to death, so it’s hard to ask a friend for a favor because you don’t want to come across like you’re using your friendship as leverage,” he explained.

However, Nas beat him to the punch. “He was like, ‘Yo, you’re not going to ask me to get on the show?’ And I was like, ‘Yo, bro, I didn’t know how to ask.’” N.O.R.E. recalled. But when Nas finally agreed and flew to Miami to tape the episode, there was a scheduling mix-up—leaving him standing outside an empty office. “It was amazing that I was like, ‘Damn,’ and we couldn’t pull it together.” Determined to make it happen, N.O.R.E. and his team later flew to New York to film with Nas in front of a live audience.

Aside from the two Hip-Hop giants, N.O.R.E. also reflected on some of the most intense moments from Drink Champs, including the controversial Kanye West interview. “The things that y’all saw were edited. As bad as some of his comments were—think about that—that was edited,” he revealed.

“He called me on a Wednesday at 12:00 AM, which I’m always in bed. I’m old at heart,” he explained of how the chaotic episode came to be. “I’m always in bed at 8:00, 10:00. If I’m [outside] at 11:00 PM, something’s wrong. Or I’m getting paid,” he joked. “But he called me at 12:00 and said, ‘Can we do the interview tomorrow at 7:00 in the morning?’ I said ‘yes.’ Not calling the crew, not calling EFN, not calling nobody. I just said ‘yes.’ Knowing I wasn’t ready, but I just was like, yo, when Kanye calls, you got to show up to the occasion.”

What happened next was signature Ye. “He lands at 6:00AM, and he was so ill with it, he stayed at McDonald’s until we got there,” N.O.R.E. further explained. “He flew in on a private jet and went to McDonald’s. That is legendary itself.”

As a rapper-turned-media personality, the “Banned From TV” artist has learned some tough lessons about navigating interviews—especially when it comes to artists’ sensitivity. “Male and female artists has called me and sent clips of me laughing, and it was just me laughing at a normal joke,” he revealed without naming anyone. “They are so sensitive,” he joked. “They are not as hardcore as they seem. If it’s me, you, and the artist laughing, that’s cool. But laughing at them in front of 9,000,000, I can’t. Even if they get the joke, they’re still going to be mad at your a**.”

“That’s what I had to learn, especially with Kanye,” he continued. “Every time he spoke about anybody and I laughed a little bit, these people were mad at me. They texted me, they called me, they showed me the pictures, they showed me the videos. And since that episode, I do not laugh when a person laughs at someone or makes a joke with someone.”

Given the show’s name, it was only right that N.O.R.E. discussed who has truly lived up to the title of a “Drink Champ.” While many guests have gone toe-to-toe with N.O.R.E. and EFN at the bar, one artist stood out the most according to the host. “T-Pain drank the most tequila I’ve ever seen in a sitting,” N.O.R.E. recalled. “Even when I yelled cut, he finished another one. Most of the time when we yell cut, I say bye to the artist… but T-Pain stood there, and I just wanted to watch him because he drank so much.”

To make things even crazier, Pain didn’t stop when the cameras did. “He ordered another bottle after the show and then another bottle, and he drank all three Michael Jordan Cincoro Tequilas by himself—the whole bottle,” N.O.R.E.’s said before jokingly advising, “If you ever see T-Pain out drinking, get away from him. He’s serious. He’s not to be played with.”

Despite all the behind-the-scenes drama, the larger-than-life personality is clear on one thing—he values the friendships he’s built in Hip-Hop more than any interview. “As long as we maintain friends…” he said. “Friendships are important in this world. Everybody’s got kids. Everyone is growing up. Hip-Hop is grown now.”

For N.O.R.E., even if Jay-Z never steps into the Drink Champs hot seat, the respect they have for one another remains mutual. And if he ever does join the two hosts, N.O.R.E. says the only logical next guest would have to be Barack Obama.