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.
Beautiful Mind
Cormega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
claiming they live but if you pop em they snitching
some wise from the building, the game knowledge of dealers
knowing they lack the heart of those who out on the benches
I was out in the trenches
which enables me to paint such a powerful picture
like Apocalypse Now
I put my heart in my lyrics, every time I sit down
I must have been an mc in my past life
presently I'm unquestionably poetic, I'm that nice
people act like, I don't deserve nothing I got
I grew up in the spot
my sleep was interrupted by customers knocks
some of y'all should just stop the animosity you got for me
luck it was not
for years we ran the projects like a marathon
these catastrophic, my time depth of pride became my own conquest
subsequently some are with me others ain't yet, the gun is within me
I wish for nothing except that my mother was with me
some place judgment against me based on nothing but envy
they pray for my downfall like the song by biggie
born in the city which never sleeps till rest in peace
its carved in stone some starved while others bled to eat
rap is my legacy I leave my seed my destiny
except I hope she never see the treachery success will bring
the trife life and death of kings
I'm from the rarest breed of people who rep the street and spit poetically
never sleep, rest assured mega is dope in its pure form
the dealer mc, keeping it real is my protocol
fall back I got you hoping off the style- I was working on it
the beat is lifeless, till I put my verses on it
I reminiscence confinement as I read a kite from
my people with secret inditements
freedom and trying, contemplating putting streets on the tires
dominating this beef with my rhyming as if you need a reminder
I spit that drug dealer shit you might have seen on the wire
what other lyricist is known for giving people consignment?
I'm eager to find my equal at rhyming
I rock, iceberg jeans with the nikes
an extremist when rhyming deep as poseidon
we lived in violence now I live in a peaceful environment
a secret asylum from the streets where people be wiling
some blind with fury from seeing my shining
like a phoenix arising from the depths showing the reaper defiance
In Cormega's song "Beautiful Mind," he expresses his frustration with people who gossip and snitch, claiming that they live but lacking the heart to survive on the streets. He reflects on his experiences growing up in the trenches, where he learned to paint vivid pictures with his lyrics. He puts his heart into his music and draws inspiration not from ratings or accolades, but from his true passion for Hip Hop.
Throughout the song, Cormega faces animosity and envy from those who wish to see him fail. But he stays true to his roots as an MC, representing the streets and spitting poetically. He reflects on the trife life and death of kings, and his legacy as a rapper, leaving behind a message for his daughter and hoping that she never experiences the treacherous side of success.
Cormega's lyrics are raw and authentic, reflecting his experiences growing up in New York City and his passion for Hip Hop. He uses language and imagery that paint a vivid picture of his life on the streets, while also reflecting on the deeper meaning and legacy of his music.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sick of gossiping bitches and niggaz who gossip like bitches
I don't like people who gossip and snitch on others, especially those who act tough and claim to be street-smart.
claiming they live but if you pop em they snitching
They brag about their street credibility but they're actually informants who would betray their own crew if caught.
some wise from the building, the game knowledge of dealers
Some of us are smart and street-wise because we grew up around drug dealers and learned their tactics.
knowing they lack the heart of those who out on the benches
We know that these weak people lack the courage of those who sit on the benches in the park, watching the world go by.
I was out in the trenches
I grew up in the hood and experienced the violence and struggles of living in poverty.
which enables me to paint such a powerful picture
These experiences have given me the ability to vividly depict the harsh realities of ghetto life in my lyrics.
like Apocalypse Now
My depictions of urban decay and despair are as powerful and epic as a movie like 'Apocalypse Now.'
I put my heart in my lyrics, every time I sit down
I pour my emotions and soul into my music, crafting lyrics that are honest and impactful.
I write, my source of inspiration ain't 3 and a half mics
I don't rely on the opinion of critics or ratings to motivate me to create music; I do it because it's my passion and purpose.
I must have been an mc in my past life
My love and talent for rapping is so ingrained in me that it feels like it's been a part of me since a previous life.
presently I'm unquestionably poetic, I'm that nice
My skills at writing and rapping are undeniable and celebrated.
people act like, I don't deserve nothing I got
Some people are envious and resentful of my success and try to discredit my talent.
I grew up in the spot
I come from a rough and impoverished area and faced many hardships growing up.
my sleep was interrupted by customers knocks
As a drug dealer, I would be woken up in the middle of the night by people coming to buy drugs from me.
some of y'all should just stop the animosity you got for me
Some people need to let go of their hatred and resentment towards me and accept my success.
luck it was not
I didn't achieve success and acclaim by luck, but through hard work and dedication.
for years we ran the projects like a marathon
My crew and I had control and influence over our neighborhood for a long time, like a marathon runner persevering through the race.
these catastrophic, my time depth of pride became my own conquest
Despite the destructive nature of my involvement in the drug trade, I became proud of my accomplishments and success in it.
subsequently some are with me others ain't yet, the gun is within me
Some people support me and believe in me, while others are still skeptical or disapproving. However, I have the strength and power within me to continue on.
I wish for nothing except that my mother was with me
The one thing I desire more than anything is to have my mother still alive and by my side.
some place judgment against me based on nothing but envy
Some people criticize me unfairly and without reason, due to their own jealousy and envy.
they pray for my downfall like the song by biggie
Some people actively hope for my failure and demise, as was the case in a popular song by the rapper Notorious BIG.
born in the city which never sleeps till rest in peace
I was born and raised in a bustling and busy city that never seems to slow down or rest.
its carved in stone some starved while others bled to eat
The harsh reality of life in the city is that some people have to struggle and suffer just to survive, while others profit off their misfortune.
rap is my legacy I leave my seed my destiny
My music and artistry is the legacy I will leave behind for future generations, and is the destiny that I have cultivated for myself.
except I hope she never see the treachery success will bring
I hope that my daughter never has to experience the pitfalls and dangers that come with achieving success in the music industry.
the trife life and death of kings
The harsh and dangerous lifestyle of those who come from the streets, and the likelihood of an early death or downfall.
I'm from the rarest breed of people who rep the street and spit poetically
I am part of a unique and talented group of rappers who come from the rough urban areas and bring an artistic and poetic sensibility to their music.
never sleep, rest assured mega is dope in its pure form
I am always striving and working to perfect my craft, and my music reflects my pure and authentic talent.
the dealer mc, keeping it real is my protocol
I am not just a rapper, but also someone who has experience dealing drugs and knows the gritty realities of the streets. Authenticity and honesty are my top priorities.
fall back I got you hoping off the style- I was working on it
People try to imitate or copy my style, but I am constantly evolving and refining it to stay ahead of the game.
the beat is lifeless, till I put my verses on it
I have the ability to bring energy and life to a beat through my skillful rapping and lyrical content.
I reminiscence confinement as I read a kite from
I remember being locked up in prison and receiving letters (called kites) from friends and family.
my people with secret inditements
These letters were often from people who were part of the criminal underworld and had legal trouble, but couldn't openly discuss their situation.
freedom and trying, contemplating putting streets on the tires
I am thankful for my freedom and am always trying to stay on the right path, though I am aware of the dangers and lure of returning to a life of crime.
dominating this beef with my rhyming as if you need a reminder
I am confident in my abilities and can easily defeat any rivals or opponents in the rap industry.
I spit that drug dealer shit you might have seen on the wire
My music and lyrics often describe and reference the world of drug dealing that was portrayed in the popular TV show 'The Wire.'
what other lyricist is known for giving people consignment?
I am unique and innovative in my approach to music, going so far as to reference the idea of giving people consignment (selling drugs on credit) in my lyrics.
I'm eager to find my equal at rhyming
I am always striving to improve and be challenged, and am hopeful to find another rapper who is on my level.
I rock, iceberg jeans with the nikes
I have a distinct and fashionable sense of style that often includes wearing iceberg jeans and Nike shoes.
an extremist when rhyming deep as poseidon
When I am rapping, I am fully committed and go to great depths to craft meaningful and powerful lyrics, like the Greek god Poseidon ruling over the sea.
we lived in violence now I live in a peaceful environment
I come from a background of violence and chaos, but have been able to escape that world and create a more peaceful and stable life for myself.
a secret asylum from the streets where people be wiling
I have a private and safe space away from the dangerous and unpredictable streets, where people often behave recklessly.
some blind with fury from seeing my shining
Some people cannot handle or accept my success and talent, and become angry and resentful when they see how well I am doing.
like a phoenix arising from the depths showing the reaper defiance
Just like the mythical bird the phoenix, I have been able to rise from the depths and overcome obstacles, showing my defiance to the inevitability of death and destruction.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD ASHCROFT, SIMON JONES, NICK MC CABE, PETER SALISBURY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind