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.
One Love
Cormega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(from Illmatic, "One love")
Yea I'm about to write this letter, lay it down you know?
[Verse 1]
Dear Nas, what up son it's Mega
I got your letter, me and my cousin Oogie here together
you should know the situation cause we dealing with the same crew
and you can tell that crab shorty I'm a hurt her
for fucking with them niggaz from that crew she know we want to murder
a yo that shit about Jerome's niece is foul
she was bringing niggaz mad loud when we was locked down
put around town the 4 pounds of glocks
on the dime block
labels are marked now they have they full time lock
son fuck the stupidness
shorty be trooping it
next time you see her hit her off with some loot and shit
don't forget the kicks I already got flicks
Big Ice hid the bricks from see-76
homocide thieves are ready to blitz
travelers think
string with the grin his razor blade blew six
ayo
[Chorus]
one love, one life, one mind dreaming
son one day I'm leaving
one thug showing you love for one reason
for all my niggaz that's locked down and bleeding (2x)
[Verse 2]
Anyway I heard Black Jay was getting paper
tell my nigga Nut his man Bass is here from Jamaica
I was holding down a fourth and for a other ton
you couldn't touch a jack unless you had gats or box cutters
I seen an ox cutter, so many features
niggaz sneaking up and blowing motherfuckers for their sneakers
I seen this kid cut police up, for real money creeped up
slid the ills out and blew the beast up
yo handcuffs can make a man tough and suffer
my rhymes keep your mind stimulated like a lye puffer
yo this life is type bugged
I'm surrounded by dope fiends and thugs
but I'm a still maintain my brain frames so...
one love, one life, one mind dreaming
son one day I'm leaving
one thug showing you love for one reason
for all my niggaz that's locked down and bleeding (2x)
[Verse 3]
Yo the other day I got it on in my dorm
I had Fila slippers on then I transformed
my man dawg from ?Nostra? in the back posting
money started looking when he seen dawg approaching
I said, yo black we could take it to the back
but that's about the time the razorblade made contact
I got relaxed, the fact he collapsed and bitched up
and got ripped up and stitched up for trying to ?get ya'll?
I picked up my ill-son said chill
yo parlay and walked away the kids face build
stashed my ox in case they throw my ass in a box
I could splat the first idi-ot looking for props
the phone time locked, my chrome ox makes domes hot
if I can't live then I'ma blow up your whole spot
seen shorty on her visit and gave her a hug
when she cried I recognized we symbolized one love..
The song One Love by Cormega and Nas is a conversation in which Cormega responds to a letter Nas sent him while he was in prison. The song is filled with street language and interesting references that provide an almost cinematic experience for the listener. Cormega tells Nas about his current situation and updates him about their shared acquaintances. He also talks about a girl with whom they are both familiar and how she got involved with a group of guys that they are having trouble with. Cormega warns Nas that he is going to hurt her and asks him to give her some money before he leaves. Throughout the song, comparisons are made between the streets and prison life as Cormega aims to maintain his mental sanity in a hostile environment.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear Nas, what up son it's Mega
Cormega is introducing his letter to Nas and acknowledging Nas' previous letter to him.
I got your letter, me and my cousin Oogie here together
Cormega is informing Nas that he is reading his letter with his cousin Oogie.
Aiyyo your man Duke came through
Cormega is informing Nas that Duke, their mutual friend, visited him.
you should know the situation cause we dealing with the same crew
Cormega is implying that Nas is aware of the situation because they are involved in the same group.
and you can tell that crab shorty I'm a hurt her
Cormega plans to harm a woman who is associated with a dangerous group.
for fucking with them niggaz from that crew she know we want to murder
The woman Cormega plans to harm has ties to a group who intends to kill them.
a yo that shit about Jerome's niece is foul
Cormega believes the situation related to Jerome's niece is unfair and wrong.
she was bringing niggaz mad loud when we was locked down
The woman had been bringing people to their location and making too much noise when they were locked up.
put around town the 4 pounds of glocks
Weapons were distributed among the group around the town.
on the dime block
A block where narcotics are often sold.
labels are marked now they have they full time lock
The police have marked the area and are now watching it full time.
son fuck the stupidness
Cormega disregards the senseless acts that have been occurring.
shorty be trooping it
The woman is with the wrong crowd and behaving recklessly.
next time you see her hit her off with some loot and shit
Cormega advises Nas to give the woman some money when he sees her next time.
don't forget the kicks I already got flicks
Cormega requests Nas to buy a pair of shoes for him and mentions a photo he has taken.
Big Ice hid the bricks from see-76
A person named Big Ice has hidden some drugs from a group named see-76.
homocide thieves are ready to blitz
People who have killed in the past are preparing for an attack.
travelers think
People who visit the area are fooled by its facade.
string with the grin his razor blade blew six
A person used a razor blade to harm someone referred to as the string.
Yo the other day I got it on in my dorm
Cormega got into a physical altercation in his dormitory.
I had Fila slippers on then I transformed
Cormega wore Fila slippers and then transformed himself in some way.
my man dawg from Nostra in the back posting
A person named Dawg from a group named Nostra is at the back and waiting to attack.
yo parlay and walked away the kids face build
Cormega walked away without escalating the situation further.
stashed my ox in case they throw my ass in a box
Cormega hid his gun to ensure he had protection in case he got into trouble.
if I can't live then I'ma blow up your whole spot
Cormega will not let anyone else take control of his life and will fight until the very end.
seen shorty on her visit and gave her a hug
Cormega saw the aforementioned woman and gave her a hug.
when she cried I recognized we symbolized one love
After the woman cried, Cormega realized that they share a bond and harbor the same feelings of unity.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICHARD LYNN CARPENTER, JOHN BETTIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AJ
Just a supreme example of why I hold Mega in such high regard. Around these times, Mega, the Mobb and Nas were the shining jewels in the QB crown.
L1am21
Sotv!
Charles Riles
All lyrical painter.. mist talented neighborhood in the history of rap
Joshua Davis
Mega still got it.
Gwola from da Ville
I was raised off them boys right there.
Carmelo Flores
yo mega is the realness his flow his bars is like water he's definitely on my top five
Jocelyn Duffoo
THIS is hip hop.
TheKing0fHalo
A lot of the dudes on this comment have no self esteem.
Fernando Pimentel
@Dean Slegos 🤡🤡
Dean Slegos
@Mr. D Brown 10/10 wack factor