Cory McKay (March 2, 1973), better known by his stage name Cormega often ab… Read Full Bio ↴Cory McKay (March 2, 1973), better known by his stage name Cormega often abbreviated to Mega, is an American rapper from Queens, New York. Cormega’s streetwise poetics and perseverance has made him one of the most respected East Coast lyricists.

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.

Tony Montana Remix feat. Ghostface Killah
Cormega Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I play hard for nine innings dressed in fine linen
Cause pussy is the best next thing besides women
All the position I've been in couldn't explain how I'm living
My vision my intuition has risen
Here take a listen I'm hitting
Up to bat with precision
Sealing bags in the kitchen
Slinging crack to these pigeons

For the fact that I'm driven
My linebackers is missing
Send you back and good rides
Trapped in this mission where snakes and rats is forbidden
Keep my gun hidden niggas is bitches signing petitions
And they providing convictions
See I survive through the system under the livest conditions
My riders ride on a mission for snitching
You get your back blown right out of commission
You'll be missing like them crazy Christians and swimming with all the fishes
Your misses will come and visit your body with hugs and kisses
Now tell me is that nutritious we party with chips and liquors
Your wisses is coming with us for real kid they bought me presents
The difference is this is business big biscuits big figures
We click on religious niggas for acting too superstitious
Move cause the group is viscous
Shoot if you want your wishes to blow
See trife in the Bentley with a group of bitches

My design is already made
So young an so strong
And just waiting to be saved
My life's no longer in the hands of district attorneys or envious niggas
Who thirsty cause I'm OT with prince with thirty moving like magic
But niggas ain't worthy like Michael cooper when I shoot I aim sturdy
Mother maiden mother fuck em
Rhymes so dope I hope I make it through customs
We can take it to the streets like a game at the rucker
They claim they love us but all that changes
When you on and they fucked up dog ain't no flaws in a hustla
I ain't no longer in state greens and chuckers
Waiting for the beach port and the breaks streets oughta relate
I see it all in your face the window to your soul ain't tinted
You want to see me falling from grace
No way nigga I'm stretching my weight like cocaine dealers
What they gonna say now the flow way iller
If dough change things I'm no longer the same
But what I became does not conflict with from where I cam
I was dealing with caine like cold chilla back when lyricist rained
And dope was killing em, any MC who think they ill as me
Or real as me should chill I mean that's your opinion
But my raps is relentless like a mac with an infra
And I'm back with a vengeance, like Sprewell smashing the Knicks
After they shipped him despite the fans resistance

Big and 'Pac is up top so the nicest man living is right here
Its quite clear like diamonds that glisten

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cormega's song "Tony Montana Remix" feat. Ghostface Killah, portray the harsh and gritty realities of life as a drug dealer in the inner city. Cormega boasts about his prowess as a drug dealer, claiming to play hard for nine innings, dressed in fine linen, and stating that pussy is the best next thing besides women. He acknowledges the dangerous and risky position he's in as a dealer but says that his intuition and vision have risen, enabling him to make precision moves even while sealing bags in the kitchen and slinging crack to these pigeons.

He also talks about the constant threat of violence and betrayal from rival drug dealers, corrupt law enforcement officials, informants, and even former associates. He paints a vivid picture of what happens to informants, saying that they get their back blown right out of commission and end up missing like crazy Christians, swimming with all the fishes. Cormega implies that he does not take any risks and is not afraid to use his gun to keep those who betray him in line. The second verse talks about how Cormega has made it and is no longer under the control of district attorneys or envious individuals. He talks about rhyming so dope that he hopes he makes it through customs, and how he is no longer waiting for the beach port and the breaks streets.

Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of the harsh realities of the drug trade, and how those involved in it have to constantly look over their shoulders and take extreme measures to protect their interests. Cormega's lyrics are raw and unfiltered, painting a vivid picture of life in the inner city.

Line by Line Meaning

I play hard for nine innings dressed in fine linen
I work hard and dress well, and I'm not into women the way most men are.

Cause pussy is the best next thing besides women
I like women, but I also like having sex with men.

All the position I've been in couldn't explain how I'm living
I've been through a lot, but it doesn't fully explain how I'm doing so well now.

My vision my intuition has risen
I have a better ability to anticipate and act on things now.

Here take a listen I'm hitting
Listen to my music, it's great!

Up to bat with precision
I'm doing well and succeeding in my endeavors.

Sealing bags in the kitchen
I'm packaging and selling drugs.

Slinging crack to these pigeons
I'm selling crack to people who are acting stupid like pigeons.

For the fact that I'm driven
I'm motivated to succeed despite the risks.

My linebackers is missing
My support team is gone.

Send you back and good rides
I'll make sure you never do anything against me again.

Trapped in this mission where snakes and rats is forbidden
I'm involved in a dangerous situation where betrayal and snitching is not allowed.

Keep my gun hidden niggas is bitches signing petitions
I'm keeping my gun hidden because people who testify against me are cowards.

And they providing convictions
They are testifying to incriminate me.

See I survive through the system under the livest conditions
I was able to stay alive and thrive despite being in a difficult situation.

My riders ride on a mission for snitching
My crew is on a mission to take down anyone who snitches or betrays me.

You get your back blown right out of commission
You'll be severely hurt or killed if you try to go against me.

You'll be missing like them crazy Christians and swimming with all the fishes
You'll be dead and tossed in the water with others who were killed.

Your misses will come and visit your body with hugs and kisses
Your family will mourn you when you're gone.

Now tell me is that nutritious we party with chips and liquors
Is that a good way of life?

Your wisses is coming with us for real kid they bought me presents
Your family members will be with us now and they gave me gifts.

The difference is this is business big biscuits big figures
I'm all about making money and doing what it takes to succeed.

We click on religious niggas for acting too superstitious
We don't respect people who take religion too seriously, and we may take advantage of them.

Move cause the group is viscous
Be careful because my crew is dangerous.

Shoot if you want your wishes to blow
You'll regret it if you try to fight against me or my crew.

See trife in the Bentley with a group of bitches
I'm driving around with some women.

My design is already made
I already have a plan.

So young an so strong
I'm still young and have a lot of power.

And just waiting to be saved
I'm waiting for someone to rescue me from my situation.

My life's no longer in the hands of district attorneys or envious niggas
I'm no longer worried about the law or jealous people trying to bring me down.

Who thirsty cause I'm OT with prince with thirty moving like magic
These people are jealous of how well I'm doing, even though I'm in a dangerous situation.

But niggas ain't worthy like Michael cooper when I shoot I aim sturdy
These people are not deserving of my respect or time.

Mother maiden mother fuck em
I don't care what these people think or say.

Rhymes so dope I hope I make it through customs
I'm hoping my lyrics won't get me in trouble.

We can take it to the streets like a game at the rucker
We can fight it out if need be.

They claim they love us but all that changes
People may claim to care, but they'll change when they see how successful you are.

When you on and they fucked up dog ain't no flaws in a hustla
When you're doing well, people won't care about your past mistakes.

I ain't no longer in state greens and chuckers
I'm no longer in prison clothing.

Waiting for the beach port and the breaks streets oughta relate
I'm waiting for my chance to leave and start fresh.

I see it all in your face the window to your soul ain't tinted
I can see right through you.

You want to see me falling from grace
You want me to fail.

No way nigga I'm stretching my weight like cocaine dealers
I'm determined to keep succeeding and growing in power.

What they gonna say now the flow way iller
People can't criticize my skills as a rapper anymore.

If dough change things I'm no longer the same
Money changes things and can make people act differently.

But what I became does not conflict with from where I cam
I'm still true to who I am and where I come from.

I was dealing with caine like cold chilla back when lyricist rained
I've been involved with drugs and rap for a long time.

And dope was killing em, any MC who think they ill as me
I'm one of the best rappers and people can't compete with me.

Or real as me should chill I mean that's your opinion
People can have their own opinions, but it won't change how great I am.

But my raps is relentless like a mac with an infra
My raps are powerful and intense, like a machine gun.

And I'm back with a vengeance, like Sprewell smashing the Knicks
I'm back and stronger than ever, like Sprewell was when he played for the Knicks.

After they shipped him despite the fans resistance
Despite resistance from fans, he was still a great player.

Big and 'Pac is up top so the nicest man living is right here
I'm one of the best rappers alive, even better than Biggie and Tupac.

Its quite clear like diamonds that glisten
It's obvious how great I am, like the sparkle of diamonds.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Nayvadius Wilburn, Willie Jerome Byrd, Rodney R. Jr. Hill, Aubrey Drake Graham

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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