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.
Intro
Cormega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
younawmsayin' son?
shit is real
yo, I'm from a place where niggaz get it on
and bullshitters get shitted on
and dead niggaz keep living on
and memories once the henny's pourin'
I see the sadness of so many mourned
and the only man I trust is god
cause the devil come in many forms
on the day I rest eternally
I'll be a thug for eternity
the longer word is fire burning me
but you younger thugs could learn from me
love is love..
In Cormega's song "Intro," the lyrics reveal an honest and raw reflection of his experiences growing up in a neighborhood where life was hard and unforgiving. The opening lines, "younawmsayin' son? shit is real," set the tone for the entire song, declaring that the brutal reality of life is something that cannot be ignored or denied. He then goes on to explain that in his neighborhood, people who talk the talk but don't back it up will be quickly put in their place. Meanwhile, those who have passed away still live on in the memories of those who knew and loved them.
Cormega recognizes the sadness of those who have been lost but also sees the beauty in the children who are born every day. The only person he can truly trust is God because evil comes in many forms, and it is ubiquitous in his environment. The pain and struggle of life is a fire that burns inside him, but he still wishes to impart his wisdom onto younger generations so that they too can understand the value of love amidst a harsh reality.
Overall, this song showcases Cormega's talent for painting vivid pictures with his words and conveying the harsh realities of life in an honest and direct manner.
Line by Line Meaning
younawmsayin' son?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
shit is real
The situation is serious and urgent.
yo, I'm from a place where niggaz get it on
I'm from a tough neighborhood where people are constantly in conflict.
and bullshitters get shitted on
Those who talk nonsense face the consequences.
and dead niggaz keep living on
The memories of those who have died remain alive.
and memories once the henny's pourin'
Memories become more intense and poignant when alcohol is involved.
I see the sadness of so many mourned
I witness the grief of those who have lost loved ones.
yet the beauty of so many born
At the same time, I witness the joy and wonder of new life.
and the only man I trust is god
I only have faith in a higher power.
cause the devil come in many forms
Evil can take many different shapes and forms.
on the day I rest eternally
When I die and my body is laid to rest forever.
I'll be a thug for eternity
My spirit and legacy will always embody a fearless, tough persona.
the longer word is fire burning me
The passion and intensity of my words and actions consume me like flames.
but you younger thugs could learn from me
Younger people who aspire to be tough can gain wisdom from my experiences.
love is love..
In the end, love and compassion are the most important things.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: John B Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind