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.
Endangered Species
Cormega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dress don't impress me (uh)
Ain't no love, your death won't affect me
How dare you? Think I fear you
Or won't retaliate,
Nigga, bring it to me I strike immediately
I see the envy, you lust what I posses
Guns at my address await you
I don't hate you
I never gave you a reason, but fuck it: BRING IT!
You want to, put my life in your hands like dice
I got money in the bank, you ain't stop
Your jealousy may stop, appear more clear
Strategy's more severe
I'm in your mind so much you see me in your mirror
I crush you and won't hesitate to buck you
Can't rock me to sleep, I don't trust you
I'm not prey, I'm'a fuck a predator
I'm'a still be here while you're dead and gone...
(Chorus)
These animals wild life
Niggas want to challenge me
Snake mothafuckas with guerrilla mentality
These cats be spineless, to alkaline batteries
Enter the picture, and switch up anatomies
(Verse 2)
You must've forgot, I got guns too
And son too will take your miserable life, from you
What the fuck you think
If sleeping is a weakness
Amongst the illest, I hung with killers,
Slung with dealers, my gun the illest
In the projects, the fully automated sterling
Will make your world end
So fast and shatter like a coke glass with too much heat
Too much beef is hard to digest (uh)
You can't defy death (what)
Your man can die next when I press the trigger
Direct shots will hit you fatally, I play for keeps
stay away from me, we not peoples, we not equal
When its on, ends: there's not a sequel!
Life will leave you when I squeeze, duke
I know rage is blind but I'm'a see you
It's only right, apologies to your only kin and lonely wife
Cus you ain't coming home tonight (uh)
(Chorus)
(Verse 3)
Nothing sweeter than revenge
The vengeance is splendid, your body extended
White chalk and forensics
I'm... prepared, never scared
You the least of my fears
My niggas shed blood, your niggas shed tears
I'm like a soldier, your life is over
I'm'a strike like a cobra and smile like the joker
You a statistic, your shit all twisted
I, unleash the beast without three sixes
Wish we could've fixed it
Now, I'm staring at your muralized picture
Streets cried with you but the beef died with you
You wanted war? I complied with cha
I got to choose now
I'm the prince of the street for laying you down
I reign supreme, niggas never should've never came for me
It's over la, close your eyes,
When you die its on the rise
You got sent to God's kingdom
For opposing mines!
(Gun cocks, then fires)
In the song "Endangered Species," Cormega portrays himself as a predator, making it clear that he is not to be mistaken for prey. He will not be intimidated by anyone who challenges him and will retaliate immediately. He perceives those who envy his possessions and success as spineless, like alkaline batteries, and that he sees himself as a beast who is in his challengers' minds so much that they see him in their reflections. Cormega makes it clear that he is not afraid of anyone who wants to bring negativity his way; he has guns, friends who are killers or dealers, and a "guerrilla mentality" to protect himself.
In the chorus, he compares his challengers to animals in the wild, implying that they are unpredictable, dangerous and will do anything to take him down, using any lethal means. Cormega is constantly on guard against these predatory figures, who are planning to hurt him. He emphasizes that once the war is kicked off, there's no room for a dialogue or a sequel. The song is a warning to anyone thinking of crossing him, that they will face fierce retaliation, and that justice and revenge will be his. In conclusion, the song is a declaration of war, and Cormega presents himself as an invincible predator in the world of street life.
Line by Line Meaning
Dress don't impress me (uh)
Your material possessions do not intimidate me
Ain't no love, your death won't affect me
I am not emotionally attached to you, your death will not have an impact on me
How dare you? Think I fear you
You are audacious to believe that I am afraid of you
Or won't retaliate,
I will definitely fight back if need be
Nigga, bring it to me I strike immediately
If you challenge me, I will attack you without hesitation
I see the envy, you lust what I posses
I can tell that you are envious of what I own and crave it for yourself
Guns at my address await you
I have weapons readily available to defend myself
You slept, I'm'a erase you
You let your guard down, and now I will eliminate you
I don't hate you
I do not dislike you
I never gave you a reason, but fuck it: BRING IT!
I have not done anything to provoke you, but if you want to fight, let's do it
You want to, put my life in your hands like dice
You are willing to gamble with my life
I got money in the bank, you ain't stop
I have wealth, and you cannot take that away from me
Your jealousy may stop, appear more clear
Your envy may subside, becoming more obvious
Strategy's more severe
My game plan is more intense
I'm in your mind so much you see me in your mirror
You cannot stop thinking about me, to the point where you see me everywhere
I crush you and won't hesitate to buck you
I will defeat you, and I am not afraid to use force
Can't rock me to sleep, I don't trust you
You cannot deceive or trick me, I do not have faith in you
I'm not prey, I'm'a fuck a predator
I am not an easy target, I will fight back against anyone who tries to harm me
I'm'a still be here while you're dead and gone...
I will continue to exist even after you have been eliminated
These animals wild life
These individuals are dangerous and unpredictable
Niggas want to challenge me
Individuals desire to provoke me or test me
Snake mothafuckas with guerrilla mentality
Sneaky individuals with violent and aggressive behavior
These cats be spineless, to alkaline batteries
These individuals lack courage and are fragile, like weak batteries
Enter the picture, and switch up anatomies
If someone challenges me, they will be hurt or killed
You must've forgot, I got guns too
You seem to have forgotten that I also possess weapons
And son too will take your miserable life, from you
My associates will also harm or kill you
What the fuck you think
What is your thought process?
If sleeping is a weakness
Resting is seen as a vulnerability
Amongst the illest, I hung with killers,
I associate with dangerous individuals
Slung with dealers, my gun the illest
I have connections with drug dealers, and possess a powerful weapon
In the projects, the fully automated sterling
In my neighborhood, I have access to a high-tech firearm
Will make your world end
It can cause the end of someone's life
So fast and shatter like a coke glass with too much heat
It can cause someone's death or destruction quickly and brutally
Too much beef is hard to digest (uh)
Too many conflicts or enemies can be overwhelming and difficult to handle
You can't defy death (what)
You cannot escape death
Your man can die next when I press the trigger
Your accomplice can also be eliminated if I choose to shoot
Direct shots will hit you fatally, I play for keeps
If I shoot, my aim will be deadly and final, I will not falter in my actions
stay away from me, we not peoples, we not equal
Do not come near me, we are not on the same level of importance or worth
When its on, ends: there's not a sequel!
If a conflict arises, it will end in a permanent and violent manner
Life will leave you when I squeeze, duke
Your life will be taken away from you when I pull the trigger
I know rage is blind but I'm'a see you
Although I am angry, I can still identify and target you
It's only right, apologies to your only kin and lonely wife
It is justifiable, although I feel bad for your loved ones who are now without you
Cus you ain't coming home tonight (uh)
Because you will not return home alive
Nothing sweeter than revenge
Retribution is a satisfying and fulfilling feeling
The vengeance is splendid, your body extended
It feels great to see you suffer and your corpse laying there
White chalk and forensics
Your death will be investigated by authorities
I'm... prepared, never scared
I am confident and unafraid
You the least of my fears
You are the least of my concerns or worries
My niggas shed blood, your niggas shed tears
My associates and I are willing to fight and kill, while your side will experience pain and sorrow
I'm like a soldier, your life is over
I am like a warrior, and I have ended your life
I'm'a strike like a cobra and smile like the joker
I will attack suddenly and without warning, while appearing to be joyful about it
You a statistic, your shit all twisted
You are just a number, disposable and insignificant
I, unleash the beast without three sixes
I can act brutally and savagely without any supernatural influence
Wish we could've fixed it
I regret that we could not solve our problems peacefully
Now, I'm staring at your muralized picture
I am now looking at an image or representation of you, such as a memorial portrait
Streets cried with you but the beef died with you
There may have been public mourning for you, but the conflict has come to an end with your death
You wanted war? I complied with cha
You challenged me, and I responded with aggression and violence
I got to choose now
I must now make a decision
I'm the prince of the street for laying you down
I am powerful and respected in my neighborhood for ending your life
I reign supreme, niggas never should've never came for me
I am dominant and superior, and others should not have challenged me
It's over la, close your eyes,
Your life has ended, you are now deceased
When you die its on the rise
Your death will bring about further conflict, tension, or chaos
You got sent to God's kingdom
You have been sent to the afterlife
For opposing mines!
For opposing me and my interests
(Gun cocks, then fires)
The sound of a gun being loaded and then fired
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lance Sir
This is the dopest flow Mega ever spit clearly, super gritty, cleverly articulated, fluid, unforced delivery, technical mastery, theatricality perfected, authenticity of self
PrettyOkAndy
yea, sounds 'bout right.
20FreeWill
Massive mega fan for over a decade now. This is in my top 5 of his tracks with possibly the saga remix, fallen soldiers, journey and basically the full legal hustle album. I respect the truth
Lance Sir
Unforgiven is definitely in my Top 5
Tom C
It's straight gasoline
20FreeWill
Love in love out , built for this , I try, valuable lessons , live and learn ........ every mega album is special . Peace to you all 👊
Jose Troncoso
If I was a fighter this would be my entrance music. This is hard to the core man.
Rob Santosuosso
One of my favorite Rappers ALLTIME , One of the best Tracks/flow ever He murders this beat !!! BEYOND ME HIOW HE NEVER BLEW UP OR GOT THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVED !!!
Poetics
Cormega's a lyrical fountain and a mastermind of wordplay and story-tellin. He definitely represents everything that's associated with "The Realness" cuz "True Meaning" is all he eva renders... and this song is "The Testament".
Syed Ali
This is a TRUE NY rapper.. I grew up in LES this is what my culture is