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.
Ain't Gone Change
Cormega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't forget the hunger pangs
Stomach growlin like thunder and rain
Fame calmed the savage that I once became
My status wasn't established from trying to get a name
It came from serving addicts lead and automatics bang
My physical form grew stronger in a Riker's Island cage
Only as to weaken so many of my people
Or kids blowing ashes from trays
I possess the ghetto essence of that which I portray
I'm an emotional chamelon, see how I adapt to pain
Before we enjoy the sun we must first get past the rain
A lyricist similar to Donnie Hathaway
Clearly superior to many all I really lacked was fame
The +True Meaning+ that fact remains
My presence is felt like the Knicks when Patrick reigned
I'm living now, fuck back in the day
Does freedom have a meaning if you trapped in your ways
I'm Queensbridge most respected rapper
That ain't gone change...
In these lyrics, Cormega reflects on his past life as a drug dealer and a criminal, expressing gratitude for his current successful career as a respected rapper. He acknowledges the hunger and poverty he faced in the past, contrasted with the fame and success he now enjoys. He recognizes how his status was not achieved through seeking fame, but rather through his work on the streets as a drug dealer, where he served addicts and faced danger by using firearms. He also acknowledges the toll that his criminal lifestyle had on his community, as many people around him passed away due to drug addiction and violence.
Cormega further admits that his time spent in prison on Riker's Island was pivotal in his growth and strengthening as a person. He sees how many others from his community have passed away or fallen victim to the prison system. He recognizes the influence that the ghetto had on him and how it shaped his identity, yet he is able to adapt to pain and overcome adversity as a lyricist. He acknowledges that he lacked fame, but puts more value on the true meaning of his work and his impact on the rap scene.
Overall, Cormega sends a message that he is fortunate to have made it out of the cycle of poverty, violence and addiction that is so prevalent in Queensbridge. He has risen above his past and transformed himself into a respected rapper, but he will always maintain his connection to his roots and offer his respect to the community that he came from.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't forget the hunger pangs
I still remember what it was like to be hungry and struggling
Stomach growlin like thunder and rain
My hunger was so intense that it felt like violent thunder and rain
Fame calmed the savage that I once became
Becoming famous helped me leave behind the negative aspects of my past self
My status wasn't established from trying to get a name
My success was not achieved by simply trying to gain fame
It came from serving addicts lead and automatics bang
My status came from providing drugs and weapons to addicts, leading to power and influence
My physical form grew stronger in a Riker's Island cage
Being imprisoned at Riker's Island made me physically stronger
Only as to weaken so many of my people
Unfortunately, many of my peers weakened and died while I grew stronger in prison
Passed away like leaves in the wind
My peers died and were forgotten quickly
Or kids blowing ashes from trays
Others turned to drugs as a way to cope with their struggles
I possess the ghetto essence of that which I portray
I embody and represent the essence of the ghetto in my music and persona
I'm an emotional chamelon, see how I adapt to pain
I am skilled at adapting to and conveying different emotional states through my music
Before we enjoy the sun we must first get past the rain
In order to appreciate the good things in life, we must first overcome obstacles and hardships
A lyricist similar to Donnie Hathaway
I am a talented and respected lyricist, often compared to other greats like Donnie Hathaway
Clearly superior to many all I really lacked was fame
I know that my talent is great, but recognition and fame were the only things missing
The fact remains, my presence is felt like the Knicks when Patrick reigned
Although I may not have achieved mainstream success, my influence is still palpable and significant
I'm living now, fuck back in the day
I am focused on the present and the future, and am not interested in dwelling on the past
Does freedom have a meaning if you trapped in your ways
Even if you are technically 'free', being stuck in negative patterns and habits can be just as limiting
I'm Queensbridge most respected rapper
I am highly regarded and respected as a rapper from the Queensbridge area
That ain't gone change...
I will always be a respected artist from Queensbridge, and that will never change
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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