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.
American Beauty
Cormega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My pen's beggin' me to write rhymes
Cory's a felony despite time
I erase the urge on the tip of my tongue
I taste the words a story is born, my glorious song
Hip hop cannot ignore me for long
I know her last man abused her, I can't refuse her
A lotta niggas used her, treated her like shit even confused her
When Marley had her, her face was more pure body fatter
Primo treated her good, made her the queen in my hood
She used to be out in Queens with D-M-C
And on the rooftop with Big, Fritz, and R-P
She was fly she kept her shit tight
Yo if he didn't go to jail dun, she mighta been Slick Rick's wife
Disappeared a few years, she was "Stranded On Death Row"
Dre had her on another level in the west coast
She met a lame with with a drug dealer name
He had a lot for a while, then his whole style changed
You know the wisdom is reflected the knowledge when its manifested
If not fed in due time the mind is anorexic
You understand the message
I know I'm gettin' to deep for some
Rhyme, uncut raw, the beat numb
Back to the subject in hand, I called her and said I miss her
Stop fuckin' with my fake crew 'cause they dissed her
Then along came the are, reminding her of her essence
Rza said she like a sister blessin' her with lessons
She was stressed because she missed Pac
She still crying after B-I-G died askin' when will this shit stop?
I love her like a mother, my physical path
She even overlooked the fact about my criminal past
And stayed with me in jail beyond gates visitors passed
No longer is she lettin' niggas fuck her just for cash
What's her name dun?
In the song "American Beauty," Cormega expresses his love and loyalty to hip hop. He personifies hip hop as a woman who has been mistreated and abused by others in the past. Cormega confesses that he loves hip hop like a mother and is determined to treat her with respect, unlike others who have exploited her for profit. He acknowledges the various artists who have taken care of her, such as Marley Marl, Primo and RZA, and how she has been involved with Slick Rick, D-M-C, Biggie, and Tupac in the past. The rap artist also addresses how people have influenced her over the years, the physical changes she has undergone, and how she still mourns the loss of some of her greatest contributors.
The song's lyrics highlight the struggle of hip hop to maintain its integrity in the music industry. Cormega is one of the many rappers who have stayed true to the roots of hip hop, refusing to dilute its essence for commercial purposes. He is conscious of the negativity in the industry and is committed to nurturing hip hop and helping her regain her rightful place as a Queen. Cormega's use of metaphors and personification in this song demonstrates his poignancy in expressing his thoughts and feelings about the current state of hip hop.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, it's nighttime I can't sleep
The artist is awake and unable to sleep at night.
My pen's beggin' me to write rhymes
The artist is compelled to write rap lyrics.
Cory's a felony despite time
The artist has a criminal record despite serving time in jail.
I erase the urge on the tip of my tongue
The artist resists the temptation to commit illegal acts.
I taste the words a story is born, my glorious song
Writing lyrics gives the artist a sense of creative fulfillment.
Hip hop cannot ignore me for long
The artist believes that his rap music will gain recognition and popularity.
I know her last man abused her, I can't refuse her
The artist empathizes with the genre of hip hop, which has been mistreated in the past.
A lotta niggas used her, treated her like shit even confused her
Many people in the music industry exploited and mistreated hip hop, causing confusion.
She had class now she sellin' it all for cash
Hip hop has become commercialized and is primarily motivated by financial incentives.
When Marley had her, her face was more pure body fatter
Hip hop was more genuine and uncorrupted in the past.
Primo treated her good, made her the queen in my hood
DJ Premier's music helped hip hop attain a prominent status in the artist's community.
She used to be out in Queens with D-M-C
Hip hop was originally popular in Queens, New York, where DMC is from.
And on the rooftop with Big, Fritz, and R-P
Artists such as Notorious B.I.G., Fritz and R.P. have performed hip hop on rooftops.
She was fly she kept her shit tight
Hip hop was once appealing and had a tight-knit community.
Yo if he didn't go to jail dun, she mighta been Slick Rick's wife
Slick Rick was once on the verge of popularity in the hip hop scene.
Disappeared a few years, she was "Stranded On Death Row"
Hip hop became stagnant and overlooked by the music industry.
Dre had her on another level in the west coast
Hip hop exploded in popularity on the West Coast due to artists such as Dr. Dre.
She met a lame with with a drug dealer name
The music industry was infiltrated by individuals more interested in making money than upholding the integrity of hip hop.
He had a lot for a while, then his whole style changed
Commercialization of hip hop led to a shift in tone and style.
You know the wisdom is reflected the knowledge when its manifested
Hip hop music can be insightful and reflective of a society's knowledge and experiences.
If not fed in due time the mind is anorexic
Neglecting to nourish creative expression can lead to feelings of emptiness or deprivation.
You understand the message
The artist may be challenging the audience to think more deeply about his music and its meaning.
I know I'm gettin' to deep for some
The artist may be aware that his music and lyrics are intended to be thought-provoking and that not all listeners will appreciate it.
Rhyme, uncut raw, the beat numb
The artist is describing his own music as passionate, raw, and unfiltered.
Back to the subject in hand, I called her and said I miss her
The artist is passionate about hip hop's past and calls for a return to more authentic expression.
Stop fuckin' with my fake crew 'cause they dissed her
The artist is calling out those who compromise or exploit hip hop for personal gain.
Then along came the are, reminding her of her essence
Artists such as RZA and their music helped hip hop re-discover its authentic nature.
Rza said she like a sister blessin' her with lessons
RZA's music provided insight and guidance for the hip hop community.
She was stressed because she missed Pac
Hip hop lost valued artists (Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.) to violence, causing much grief and turmoil in the community.
She still crying after B-I-G died askin' when will this shit stop?
Hip hop's loss of many talented and prominent artists to violence has resulted in much trauma and emotional pain.
I love her like a mother, my physical path
The artist has devoted much of his life and career to hip hop and feels a strong sense of loyalty and dedication to the genre.
She even overlooked the fact about my criminal past
Hip hop is accepting and forgiving of those who may have made mistakes in the past, so long as they uphold the values and spirit of the genre.
And stayed with me in jail beyond gates visitors passed
Hip hop provides comfort, solace, and a sense of community during difficult and trying times.
No longer is she lettin' niggas fuck her just for cash
Hip hop has reached a point where creativity and authenticity are more important than commercial success.
What's her name dun?
The artist is referring to hip hop using a metaphorical feminine persona and calls for a return to its authentic spirit and values.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CORY MCKAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind