Cormega was raised in Long Island City, Queens, forming childhood friendships with future rappers such as Nas, AZ, Nature, and Capone-N-Noreaga.
1980s
He was featured on Hot Day's "Going Straight Up" from his album "It's My Turn". He was also featured on Blaq Poet & DJ Hot Day's track "Set It Off" from their album "Without Warning" in 1991.
1990s
Cormega was sentenced to 5–15 years in prison for armed robbery in 1991. Despite his incarceration, Cormega gained some attention following a shout-out from Nas on his song "One Love", from the critically acclaimed Illmatic album.
Cormega was released from prison on appeal after serving almost 4 years in New York's Mid-State Correctional Facility. Following his release in 1995, Cormega became determined to pursue rapping. Nas included him on a song entitled "Affirmative Action" for his second album It Was Written. The song also featured AZ and Foxy Brown, and became The Firm's first appearance. Based on his performance, he was signed to Def Jam and recorded an album called The Testament. Based on the buzz from "Affirmative Action," Nas, his manager Steve Stoute and producers Dr. Dre and Trackmasters joined to produce The Firm. Cormega was replaced with another artist, Nature, because either he would not sign a contract with Stoute or Stoute felt Nature was a better rapper. This led to an alleged altercation between Cormega and Nature. Cormega's dispute with Stoute also ended his friendship with Nas. Following the end of his membership in The Firm, Alex Trojano contributed in producing his album The Testament. Meanwhile, following a falling-out over creative differences with his manager Chris Lighty and Def-Jam imprint Violator Records, his debut album The Testament was indefinitely shelved. During the recording for The Testament Cormega responded to Nas' "One Love" in the form of a letter also entitled "One Love".
2000s
In 2000, he was released from his contract and he started his own record company, Legal Hustle Records. Cormega vented his disappointment with Nas and The Firm in a mixtape song titled "Never Personal".This song was never directly pointed to Nas, but the media made it look like that. In 2001, he released his new debut album, The Realness, which was acclaimed by critics. Many of the songs share a theme of betrayal. Nas responded to Cormega on his song "Destroy and Rebuild" from his album Stillmatic. Cormega retaliated with more mixtape tracks, "A Slick Response" and "Realmatic". Nas revisited the Cormega beef in his song "The Cross" on the album God's Son. In reference to Cormega, Nas rapped "What I've discovered is my brother's tryin to be/The next me, yeah I support him but he's blinded I see/ Jealousy he love me to death and I'm buggin I love him for life/ We both still mournin on our mother's life" (referencing the fact that Cormega's mother was murdered when he was four).
Cormega's follow-up album, The True Meaning won the Source Magazine's prestigious Underground Album of the Year Award. In 2004, he followed up with Legal Hustle (a compilation album showcasing his label's artists) and other talented hip-hop lyricists such as Ghostface Killah, Large Professor, AZ, Kurupt, Jayo Felony, and several others. This album is considered by some as more of a project than an actual solo album; nonetheless it was well received. In 2005, he was able to release The Testament on his own label, which saw good reviews and sales and featured the original banned version of "Dead Man Walking" as a hidden track.
In early September 2005, Cormega posted a statement on his website that he and Nas had spoken and ended their feud. Cormega explained that their conversation had come about due to the death of Cormega's grandmother. Both rappers have stated the possibility of a collaboration. On December 22, 2006 at the Nokia Theatre Times Square, Cormega appeared on stage at a Nas concert and went on to perform with Nas (and Foxy Brown as well), further evidence that their feud is over.
The feud was settled in Cormega's home in early December 2005, when Cormega and Nas realized that it was destructive for each of them. It is not known who was responsible for their meeting but both artists are now working alone. In the mid-2000s Cormega helped produce a few albums and was featured on several songs with The Jacka and the Mob Figaz.
An album collaboration with Lakey The Kid entitled My Brother's Keeper was released independently on August 22, 2006. On November 20, 2007, Cormega finally released his DVD in-the-making Who am I?. The DVD took over four years of filming of Cormega in all aspects of his life and what others thought of Cormega, unedited. The DVD was released as a soundtrack plus DVD. Cormega intended to release an album which was to be entitled Urban Legend before T.I.'s album of the same name was released (Cormega mentions this on the Who Am I DVD, dated circa 2003); the new title is Born and Raised. The album was released October 20, 2009. The first single is called "Journey."
2010s
Cormega has stated his desire to work with a variety of artists including Scarface, Lauryn Hill, Slick Rick, as well as past collaborators M.O.P., Mobb Deep, and tha Dogg Pound.
Cormega's Album "Raw Forever" was released on 2011.
His latest work is the Album Mega Philosophy. It was produced by Large Professor and released on July 22, 2014.
Dead Man Walking
Cormega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This how it went down...
I had to undergo therapy, not surgery
the nigga wetted me but, he didn't murder me
dun, I survived
he thought that I died
now it's time to throw the nine clip in, mission revenge
once was friends, now that shit's dead
that stupid muthafucka shoulda shot me in the head
so I went to Brooklyn and met with Dread
and told Dread, I want the pussy clot shot dead
that nigga started a war fuckin with me yo
hit me with a four-four and jetted with a kilo
he hit me in the chest
lucky I was wearing a vest, but the impact hurt my fuckin flesh
right after he left, I noticed I was bleeding by my neck
and I was type-scared to death
yo, I blacked out
I woke up, my man had the mac out
said we gonna get the nigga back no doubt
he told me to rest
I seen my nigga standing at the door with a tec
in case a muthafucker flex
I told him how the muthafuckin kid co-flipped
and he said parlay son, payback's a bitch
yo, shit is real, I feel better
word out on the street is that a four-four can't stop Mega
the nigga musta heard I didn't die, son he hidin'
I snatched up his man inside a van and started drivin'
his man started dymin'
said the nigga drivin' in 735 and he knows where to find him
cool, tell my man to drop the kid off
soon as we hit the next darn block, blew his fuckin wig off
now that's one down, one nigga to go
just drive slow so we don't have to worry 'bout five-o
now it's time to get even,
we in, five jeeps deep with the mad heat and steamin
oh shit, I see him, he gettin out the seven
my man started wetting at the nigga with a mac-11
I specialize in war
now it's time to blow him, I'ma show him how to use a fuckin four-four
I said "yo son, ya games over"
I let off, and yo my shit was spittin fire like a flamethrower
he started wettin back
I caught him in his fuckin back
when he flung, I think his lungs collapsed
he just a dead man walking
ay yo, fuck that shit.... I'm through talking
(gunshot)
The lyrics of Cormega's song Dead Man Walking tell a violent tale of revenge. The singer survives an attempt on his life and decides to seek revenge on his now former friend who shot him. He seeks the help of his friend Dread and together they plan to kill the person who tried to kill the singer. The lyrics illustrate the brutality of the situation and the singer's willingness to take matters into his own hands. He is clearly traumatized by what has happened to him and his actions are motivated by both a desire for revenge and a need to protect himself from further harm.
The lyrics of Dead Man Walking explore themes of death, revenge, and the thin line between friendship and betrayal. The song highlights the deadly consequences of getting caught up in a life of crime and the risks that come with seeking revenge. The singer's tale is a cautionary one that warns against the dangers of getting involved in a life of violence.
Overall, Cormega's Dead Man Walking is a powerful and emotional exploration of the brutal reality of living a life of crime. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a world where violence is the norm and life is cheap. The singer's tale is a stark reminder of the consequences of getting involved in such a world and the importance of living a life of peace and non-violence.
Line by Line Meaning
He got the slip on you
Someone successfully ambushed Cormega.
This how it went down...
Cormega is recounting the story of his ambush and subsequent revenge.
I had to undergo therapy, not surgery
Cormega survived the attack, but it was a traumatic experience.
the nigga wetted me but, he didn't murder me
Cormega was shot, but not fatally wounded.
dun, I survived
Cormega is proud to have fought off his attacker.
he thought that I died
Cormega's assassin believed he had killed him.
now it's time to throw the nine clip in, mission revenge
Cormega is planning to get revenge on his attacker.
once was friends, now that shit's dead
Cormega and his attacker were formerly friends, but now Cormega despises him.
that stupid muthafucka shoulda shot me in the head
Cormega would have preferred to have been killed than survive the attack.
so I went to Brooklyn and met with Dread
Cormega seeks help from a friend named Dread in Brooklyn.
and told Dread, I want the pussy clot shot dead
Cormega tells Dread that he wants his attacker killed.
that nigga started a war fuckin with me yo
Cormega is angry at his attacker for starting a war.
hit me with a four-four and jetted with a kilo
Cormega's attacker shot him and fled with drugs.
he hit me in the chest
Cormega was shot in the chest.
lucky I was wearing a vest, but the impact hurt my fuckin flesh
Cormega was fortunate to have been wearing a bulletproof vest, but it still hurt to be shot.
right after he left, I noticed I was bleeding by my neck
Cormega was injured in more than one place during the attack.
and I was type-scared to death
Cormega was terrified.
yo, I blacked out
Cormega lost consciousness after being shot.
I woke up, my man had the mac out
Cormega's friend was armed with a machine gun.
said we gonna get the nigga back no doubt
Cormega's friend is ready to help him get revenge.
he told me to rest
Cormega's friend wants him to recover before seeking revenge.
I seen my nigga standing at the door with a tec
Cormega's friend is prepared for any possibility.
in case a muthafucker flex
Cormega's friend is ready to retaliate if necessary.
I told him how the muthafuckin kid co-flipped
Cormega informs his friend about his attacker and his involvement with drugs.
and he said parlay son, payback's a bitch
Cormega's friend encourages him to seek revenge on his attacker.
yo, shit is real, I feel better
Cormega feels prepared to carry out his revenge.
word out on the street is that a four-four can't stop Mega
Cormega has a reputation for being tough and resilient.
the nigga musta heard I didn't die, son he hidin'
Cormega's attacker is hiding from him.
I snatched up his man inside a van and started drivin'
Cormega kidnaps his attacker's associate and uses him to find his attacker.
his man started dymin'
The associate Cormega has kidnapped is scared for his life.
said the nigga drivin' in 735 and he knows where to find him
The associate tells Cormega where to find his attacker.
cool, tell my man to drop the kid off
Cormega wants to let his associate go.
soon as we hit the next darn block, blew his fuckin wig off
Cormega kills his attacker as soon as he sees him.
now that's one down, one nigga to go
Cormega has killed one of the people involved in the ambush but still has one more to seek revenge on.
just drive slow so we don't have to worry 'bout five-o
Cormega and his friend want to escape the scene without attracting attention from the police.
now it's time to get even
Cormega is not satisfied with only one revenge killing.
we in, five jeeps deep with the mad heat and steamin
Cormega and his friends are heavily armed and ready for another attack.
oh shit, I see him, he gettin out the seven
Cormega sees his second target leaving a car.
my man started wetting at the nigga with a mac-11
Cormega's friend opens fire on the target with a machine gun.
I specialize in war
Cormega is experienced in violent conflict.
now it's time to blow him, I'ma show him how to use a fuckin four-four
Cormega uses a .44 caliber pistol to kill his second target.
I said "yo son, ya games over"
Cormega tells his second target that he has lost the game.
I let off, and yo my shit was spittin fire like a flamethrower
Cormega's gun is powerful and deadly.
he started wettin back
Cormega's second target tries to fight back by shooting at him.
I caught him in his fuckin back
Cormega's shot his second target in the back.
when he flung, I think his lungs collapsed
Cormega's shot was fatal for his second target.
he just a dead man walking
Cormega's second target was doomed from the moment Cormega saw him.
ay yo, fuck that shit.... I'm through talking
Cormega is done talking and ready to carry out his revenge.
(gunshot)
The sound of a gunshot signifies Cormega's successful revenge against his attackers.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN VINCENT JONES, JAIME LEE OLSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind