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.
Love in Love Out
Cormega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I came home from jail we was brothers
Your beef was my beef
remember that time with Butta on your video set
When he was talkin' bout shootin'
If you don't pay him, then I got into it
Son you gave me a hundred dollars when I came home
I didn't complain I wasn't in it to gain
Now we enemies, 'til we enter the grave
When I got signed to Def Jam I offered you ten grand
You said you didn't want it, then you started acting funny
It started with the cover of YSB
A picture of The Firm, everyone except me
Then my voice disappeared off La Familia
That's when it was clear to me there wasn't no real love
I was out The Firm, unless I signed a production deal
Which I didn't do cus son, that wasn't real
I was never jealous of you
In fact I was proud of you
I smiled when I heard you on "Live at the Barbeque"
I respect you as an artist thou I'm no longer fond of you
I gave you love from the heart unlike the people surrounding you
(Chorus)
Love in, Love out
Nowaways is no honor, only drama
Your friend today can be your enemy tomorrow
Never show weakness, tell 'em no secrets
What's deep is, I had love for you
But due to situations, I can't fuck with you
Trust is a luxury I can't afford
Betrayal's something that I can't ignore
(Verse 2)
My love is real
Some earn it, some are unworthy
Some, walk in the prescence of men with thoughts to hurt me
And wonder why I throw shade and stay to myself
Cus I'm me, plus I'm not betraying myself
I'm free from the burden of extending my hand
To my man's that don't deserve it
I only trust fam
When I was locked up, you was doing you excluded me
You should be happy now that I'm doing me
Niggas, acting like I won't give up a habit
I got a question: Who came to spank weight empty handed?
You smile in my face yet your eyes reveal the hate
Next time you talk about me, mention I ain't fake
I'm living my dream, live yours
I gave sweat and tears
You didn't even buy my CD, you say you my man? (uh)
You so jealous your emotions make you careless
I hope when you hear this it makes you think before you staring
At your last I hear you scheemin'
I'm reading you your last right
Get your mind off primitive thoughts and get your cats right
I'm not limited, without rap I'd still be gettin' it
Yours truly, the dealer / lyricist
(Chorus)
In the first verse, Cormega talks about his relationship with a friend, who he considers a brother. He mentions a time when they had each other's backs, but things changed. The friend started to act funny towards Cormega when he got signed to Def Jam and the situation got worse when Cormega's voice disappeared off La Familia. Eventually, Cormega was kicked out of The Firm unless he agreed to sign a production deal, which he didn't want to do. Cormega mentions that he was never jealous of his friend, but he was hurt that there wasn't real love between them.
The chorus reinforces the theme of the song, which is that in this day and age, there's no honor, only drama, and people can turn on you without warning. Cormega talks about how he had love for his friend, but certain situations changed their relationship. He cannot trust anyone who betrays him, and he has had to cut off people who were once close to him. It's a commentary on how difficult it is to maintain authentic relationships in a world where betrayal seems to lurk around every corner.
In the second verse, Cormega touches on the concept of trust and how it is a luxury he can't afford. He has had to learn to stay away from people who don't deserve his love and friendship, even if they were once close to him. He highlights the hypocrisy of people who talk behind his back despite smiling in his face. He encourages his friend to get his "cats" right, meaning to put his priorities in order and get his mind off primitive thoughts. Cormega ends the verse by reminding the listener that he is a dealer and a lyricist, meaning he can survive without rap, but he has a passion for it that he won't let anyone take away.
Line by Line Meaning
When I came home from jail we was brothers
We had a strong bond when I got out of jail.
Your beef was my beef
Your problems became my problems too.
remember that time with Butta on your video set
I recall a specific moment with Butta on your video set.
When he was talkin' bout shootin', If you don't pay him, then I got into it
Butta was talking about violence and I had to intervene.
Son you gave me a hundred dollars when I came home
You were kind enough to give me a hundred dollars when I returned home.
I didn't complain I wasn't in it to gain
I didn't expect anything in return and didn't complain.
You my nigga when you hot and when the temperature changed
You were my friend when things were good and even when they weren't.
Now we enemies, 'til we enter the grave
We are no longer friends and will remain enemies until we die.
When I got signed to Def Jam I offered you ten grand
I offered you ten thousand dollars when I got signed to Def Jam.
You said you didn't want it, then you started acting funny
You declined the offer and then started acting strange towards me.
It started with the cover of YSB
Our issues began with the cover of YSB.
A picture of The Firm, everyone except me
A photo of The Firm was published, but I was not included.
Then my voice disappeared off La Familia
My voice was removed from a project called La Familia.
That's when it was clear to me there wasn't no real love
I realized that there was no true love or loyalty from you.
I was out The Firm, unless I signed a production deal
I was no longer in The Firm, unless I agreed to a production deal.
Which I didn't do cus son, that wasn't real
I decided not to sign the deal because it didn't seem genuine.
I was never jealous of you
I was never envious of your success.
In fact I was proud of you
I was happy and proud of your achievements.
I smiled when I heard you on 'Live at the Barbeque'
I was pleased to hear your music on 'Live at the Barbeque'.
I respect you as an artist thou I'm no longer fond of you
I still have respect for you as an artist, but I no longer have positive feelings towards you.
I gave you love from the heart unlike the people surrounding you
My love and loyalty came from the heart, unlike others around you.
Love in, Love out
Love comes and goes between friends.
Nowaways is no honor, only drama
These days, there's no loyalty, only drama.
Your friend today can be your enemy tomorrow
A friend can easily become an enemy in the future.
Never show weakness, tell 'em no secrets
Don't reveal your vulnerabilities and secrets to anyone.
What's deep is, I had love for you
I had genuine love for you.
But due to situations, I can't fuck with you
Due to our situations, I can no longer associate with you.
Trust is a luxury I can't afford
I cannot afford to trust anyone anymore.
Betrayal's something that I can't ignore
I cannot overlook betrayal from others.
My love is real
My love for others is genuine and sincere.
Some earn it, some are unworthy
Some people deserve my love, while others do not.
Some, walk in the prescence of men with thoughts to hurt me
Some people have malicious intentions towards me, but I am aware of them.
And wonder why I throw shade and stay to myself
They are confused as to why I keep my distance and act suspiciously.
Cus I'm me, plus I'm not betraying myself
I'm simply being myself, and I refuse to betray my own values.
I'm free from the burden of extending my hand
I no longer feel obligated to help others.
To my man's that don't deserve it
I won't help those who don't deserve it.
I only trust fam
The only people I trust are my family.
When I was locked up, you was doing you excluded me
When I was in jail, you didn't include me in your activities.
You should be happy now that I'm doing me
You should be glad that I'm doing well for myself now.
Niggas, acting like I won't give up a habit
Some people don't believe that I can change my ways.
I got a question: Who came to spank weight empty handed?
I'm questioning who came to visit me in jail without bringing anything.
You smile in my face yet your eyes reveal the hate
You act friendly towards me, but I can tell you secretly hate me.
Next time you talk about me, mention I ain't fake
If you talk about me in the future, remember that I am not fake.
I'm living my dream, live yours
I am pursuing my own dreams, and you should do the same.
I gave sweat and tears
I worked hard and put in effort.
You didn't even buy my CD, you say you my man? (uh)
You didn't even support me by buying my CD, so are you really my friend?
You so jealous your emotions make you careless
You're so envious that you're not thinking clearly.
I hope when you hear this it makes you think before you staring
I hope this song makes you reflect on your actions and behavior.
At your last I hear you scheemin'
I hear that you're plotting against me behind my back.
I'm reading you your last right
I'm warning you that your actions will have consequences.
Get your mind off primitive thoughts and get your cats right
Stop focusing on negative thoughts and fix your own problems.
I'm not limited, without rap I'd still be gettin' it
My success doesn't only come from rap, I am capable of achieving it in other ways.
Yours truly, the dealer / lyricist
I am a dealer and a lyricist, sincerely, Cormega.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Cory McKay
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Dechesser
This isnt just a nas diss. Its way deeper than that. Nas was just a popular person to use as an example for some of the thoughts he was getting across. This is one of the realest songs ever!
Gabrielle Elliott
@Viewz From These Streets mega the truth
Marcus Barnes
@Viewz From These Streets nas real snoop said it live how gangsta respected he is back when PAC was alive however who knows it was fire music from both artists spitting on life events
spearPYN
@Nick Martino this music died back in late 90s. Grow up! We aint livin in the projects anymore. I love my peeps but life moved on...i love listening to these tracks and reminisce about the past.
Nick Martino
@Viewz From These Streets whose gonna Honorably Mention Tragedy Khadafi for the realedt plus any tracks wit IMAM THUG just takes it 2 a whole new level. Those niggaz had chemistry. N everyone def still keep sleepin on NATURE- 1 OF DA SMOOTHEST THUNZ TO COME BUSTIN OUTTA Q.B. AFFACIAL FACTS
Viewz From These Streets
@SHA420QB yeah but not haft as hot as the songs Mega made. Mega is a real street nigga who lived what he speaks about unlike Nas who never was known for being gangsta. He tells other people's stories, becuz he has none of his own. Nas is over rated. To me Mega got way better songs imo, even if he didn't go commercial.
james green
Cormega is so slept on. He has an amazing catalogue
Tre Breeze
@Benji777 top 2-4 albums for me this year.
Benji777
@Gabrielle Elliott trust I love cormega his new album is fire 🔥
Gabrielle Elliott
@Benji777 thats true