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.
LOYALTY
Cormega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The tragedy and casualties of wars every hour
Show me a battlefield and know that I won't cower
It's all good, it's all good, yeah
This loyalty's a new wave
Can't respect a nigga movin' two-face
Had to cut my chick off, it's a new day
And it's all good, it's all good, yeah (yeah, KGR yo, uh)
Lesson of life, keep a lawyer quick, be keep a loyal bitch
If not and you slip, pop be in some royal shit
You fuckin' with wolves, you feed 'em from a long spoon
The wrong tune'll have niggaz cockin' they long soon
A wack bitch'll set you up over jealous reasons
They heart change with the seasons, 'til they develop treason
Go from delicate beefin', like I could tell that you're cheatin'
From nothin' but a celibate greetin'
Tell a fly pelicans you pelican briefin'
Bitch know all about you, now she tell it to heathens
Have niggad loadin' shotgun pellets and squeezin'
They be knowin' your house plans 'cause her mouth ran
40 grand up inside of the Maxwell House can
The key is loyalty, never fuck with that spoiled meat
That half sleep put you right on top of that boiled heat
She put the lucci first, Gucci's earth, Gucci purse
Bitch got Marilyn Monroe shades with the Lucy furs
Nigga cake and she let him fuck until her coochie hurt
Shorty's straight hood, was raised in the loony turf
I let her down, fall back down to the dude she worth, for real
It's all good, my loyalty's my armor and my power
The tragedy and casualties of wars every hour
Show me a battlefield and know that I won't cower
It's all good, it's all good, yeah
This loyalty's a new wave
Can't respect a nigga movin' two-face
Had to cut my chick off, it's a new day
And it's all good, it's all good, yeah
Pockets on flat flat, but it's all good
Some chick I'm fuckin' with her ass flat, but it's all good
Some niggas kicked me out my own crib, it's all good
It's nothin' new, ain't even own shit, it's all good
It's like angels, angles on bad bitches, pictures of puppies
Lovey-dovey shit in first months with yo' hubby, don't judge me
It's that good shit, like exotic herbs, shit from outer Earth
Still heatin' up when shit is goin' south, I'm like a flock of birds
First off I'm the greatest
Like Ali had a baby with Jordan and then
Jesus was courted and then they dated, and
Still you niggaz hate it, I guess it's in yo' habits
Where I'm from you either had to fuckin' get it or ain't have it
Savage, life like "Boy Meets World", through bad advice
To pads with ice, the pads I write to added price, the Adam fights
Big Apple gettin' gentrified, it's still all hood
Some birds told me I would never fly, it's still all good
It's all good, my loyalty's my armor and my power
The tragedy and casualties of wars every hour
Show me a battlefield and know that I won't cower
It's all good, it's all good, yeah
This loyalty's a new wave
Can't respect a nigga movin' two-face
Had to cut my chick off, it's a new day
And it's all good, it's all good, yeah
I stayed out the kitchen when I notice a friend go
Rogue over the stove, feedin' my enemy info
The course was set for me to taste defeat
But, the table's turned, now they got beef
A coward dies a thousand times before his death
Livin' is just existin' with no honor and respect
Can't be bought, though many who attempt lack sweat
Equity to match what I possess
Integrity, I never ran off from my connect
I walk with esteem and I never miss a step
I thank God every day I wake, I feel blessed
And I never sold my soul to the devil for success
Contentment, moderation, less resentment
Isn't complicated at all, pay attention
Birds of the same feather flock together habitually
Fearin' winds of change from their nest of insecurity (uh)
It's all good, my loyalty's my armor and my power
The tragedy and casualties of wars every hour
Show me a battlefield and know that I won't cower
It's all good, it's all good, yeah
This loyalty's a new wave
Can't respect a nigga movin' two-face
Had to cut my chick off, it's a new day
And it's all good, it's all good, yeah (it's Crooked, C.O.B.)
I'm in the party sippin' Bacardi 151, but I'm hardly bent
Two Colt .45's, "Man of Steel", niggaz call me Kent
That shotty clap like a audience (clap)
One of 'em to smile at you, one of 'em to frown at you
Niggaz got "Two Faces" like Harvey Dent (word)
But I'll be damned if I sell my soul, I'm livin' by the code of a samurai
And if I never analyze my life, what kind of man am I?
Niggaz talk tough, 'til the Canons start flashin', they get camera shy
Integrity in this game is why it took us longer
Writin' scriptures in the belly of the beast like it's the Book of Jonah
I'm duckin' bullets on a crooked corner
Where the hookers pushin' pussy, niggas pushin' doja to the crooks and stoners
Forever wilin', I put it in a poem like Edgar Allen
Cover of Double-X-L and I'm never smilin'
I don't do it to seem thug, it's team love
If one of my niggaz ain't winnin', we all mean mug, fuck that
It's all good, my loyalty's my armor and my power
The tragedy and casualties of wars every hour
Show me a battlefield and know that I won't cower
It's all good, it's all good, yeah
This loyalty's a new wave
Can't respect a nigga movin' two-face
Had to cut my chick off, it's a new day
And it's all good, it's all good, yeah
In Cormega's song Loyalty, we are given a glimpse into the importance of loyalty in life. He starts off by explaining how a jealous person is dangerous because emotions can cloud their judgment and interfere with intelligence and common sense. He then proceeds to explain how loyalty is worth more than wealth in a world where people are selfish and only think of themselves.
Cormega describes how some of his friends only contact him when they need something and expect him to show them love that they don't reciprocate. He wonders if it's worth risking his freedom for them when he has so much to lose. Cormega acknowledges that he has a lot of secluded thoughts, but he cannot help it, especially when he has people clocking his dick just like the Blue Van.
He then goes on to talk about the importance of loyalty in a world where betrayal is rampant. He mentions how he saved the life of a true friend who then turned around and betrayed him for money. He advises people to be careful of the people around them, especially those who know their secrets because they can use them to harm them. He emphasizes that loyalty is not just something that should be given away; it should be earned.
Overall, Cormega's song Loyalty is an essential reminder of the importance of loyalty in life. He emphasizes how loyalty is worth more than wealth and how betrayal can lead to a lot of pain and heartache.
Line by Line Meaning
A Jealous Nigga is a dangerous nigga 'cause he's dealing with emotion you know what I'm saying and emotions conflicts with intelligence and common sense.
Being jealous can cloud one's judgment and make them act irrationally, causing harm to themselves and others.
You see a loyal nigga is more vallable to Brute force because Brute force can be turned against him
A loyal person can be vulnerable to being taken advantage of because their allegiance can be used against them.
Yo Loyalty's worth more than wealth in a world where niggas be all for self
In a world where everyone is looking out for themselves, having loyal friends is more valuable than wealth.
I got friends who never called until they want help and expect me to show love I don't receive for them it hurts me because I would bleed for them but is it worth me risking being free for them?
Some friends only come around when they need something and don't reciprocate the loyalty. Cormega questions if it's worth the risk to be loyal to them when they wouldn't do the same for him.
Nigga's I'm wiritng this way to up they want to stop you now they talk about you now even your friends wanna rob you.
People will try to bring you down when you're on the rise, even those who you thought were your friends.
Shit is Real give me a mental face of a friend who won't snake you and loyalty unlike my previous label and all my niggas on the run be careful the cops don't know your secrets but your mans do
Finding a truly loyal friend is rare and valuable, especially compared to a disloyal record label. It's important to be cautious of who you trust, since even friends can give away your secrets to the authorities.
Loyalty never give it til it's earned nigga, that's the reason why I wasn't with the firm nigga all I got was big spank and sherm nigga something that a lot of snakes don't deserve Loyalty never give it til it's earned all I ogt was Big spank and sherm Nigga
Loyalty should be earned, not given freely. Cormega didn't join the Firm due to concerns about the loyalty of its members, and instead only gave loyalty to those who have proven themselves trustworthy.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Written by: Christopher Lee Rios, Nathaniel Thomas Wilson, Cory McKay, Dominik Wicliffe, Matthew Crowder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Poetics
Cormega is just one of the most profound and conscious/conscientious lyricists to eva walk the planet. I mean this dude spits nothin but "The Realness" on every bar. Top 5 MC for sho: 1. Nas and Blackdove, 2. Cormega and Talib Kweli, 3. Immortal Technique, 4. AZ, & 5. Tupac and Common.
InfamousConglomerate Entrapranuer
This is why Cormega is my favorite lyricist, when you listen to this, you realize how true everything he says is. Cormega always keeps it real, He is just straight fire man, It's raw Poetry in motion.
Rolando Torrez
How come nun these new cats don't let the OG spit on sum...sum givm the mike!!
Rolando Torrez
WHER YOU AT MEGA! REP FOR US OLDER GEN! HALF EM DONT KNOW THIS RAW ISH
Mangani Phiri
The Queens Bridge sound, amazing. A shame he had a falling out with Nas and The Firm.
Mangani Phiri
That's what I thought too but when you listen to Cormega's interviews that's not the case. He's always been cool with Nas.
AnytimeTelevision
"See a loyal nigga....
Illuminated Scarfaces
One of the greatest hip hop songs ever …
Sean Gannon
Mega is pure logic combined with the kind of common sense gathered from his life's experience. Love this shit. The anti sellout.
InfamousConglomerate Entrapranuer
LOYALTY NEVER GIVE IT TILL ITS EARNED