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.
Unforgiven
Cormega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, I'm contemplatin'
My soul is in a custody fight with God and Satan
The rap or crack, I go hard for paper
Niggas ain't even as smart as Daja
And think they rockin' me to sleep or poppin' me with heat
I don't even take you serious, I think you envious
I feel it, I was born to deal bricks
The Realness, who you think you deal with
I don't fear shit nigga, fuck around and get hit up
Ya blood stains the pavement like paint from a portrait I painted
Ya moms seen the coffin and fainted
You swimmin' with the sharks and the water is tainted
If you feel it in your heart (bring it)
My infrared beam is on ya head
My Desert Eagle severs people when I squeeze it
I measure keys, you smalltime, barely felony
Only bigtime with jealousy, my mind tellin' me
Fight like a mantis, you triflin' badgers want to see me in a casket
Stop dreamin, life's a bitch I'm not leavin'
I'm not even, cheatin' on, or bring it on, so I can start squeezin'
My nigga Biggie must have prophesized
When they said somebody got to die
My nigga Pac must have felt deception
When he asked nigga do you want to ride or die
[Cormega]
y'all niggas better duck when you fuck with me
Trust is a luxury, I can't afford it, so I prepare for war
I smear the wall two of ya mans with plans you sweared were flawless
I turned kids to orphans and live with caution
You can't match the status, in a Jag with 10 crack commandments
Blazin', fake niggas can't stand it
I got shit established, strugglin' your hustlin' skills are average
Look and learn bitch, my cooker turn
A key to a key and a half, and he don't even use a lot of heat on the glass
I surpass Nino, blast like Callito, die slow
'cause Sass like to even up the side or blow
Like a nigga who need time on the phone, you get it?
Forget it son, I'm in a zone, I'm a live nigga
When I decide niggas, must die, kiss ya loved ones goodbye nigga
It's fucked up, but it's just the thought I got cliques
That go through brick and whips customized motherfucker
I get money, sit on bricks and twenties
Niggas ain't takin' shit from me
In "Unforgiven," Cormega contemplates the battle between good and evil, suggesting that his soul is caught in a custody fight between God and Satan. He raps about his connection to the streets and his determination to succeed by whatever means necessary. He boasts about his ability to measure keys and his skill in the drug game, as well as his fearlessness when it comes to violence. He emphasizes the importance of loyalty, but acknowledges that it's a luxury he can't afford, stating that he prepares for war instead. He suggests that he's willing to go to any lengths to protect his status and reputation, and that anyone who tries to cross him will be dealt with harshly.
Throughout the song, Cormega references other artists who have discussed death, such as Biggie Smalls' "Somebody's Gotta Die" and Tupac's "Ride or Die," implying that his own mentality is just as ruthless. He portrays himself as a force to be reckoned with and warns his enemies to watch out, boldly proclaiming that no one can take anything away from him.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, I'm contemplatin'
I'm deep in thought
My soul is in a custody fight with God and Satan
I'm struggling between good and evil
The rap or crack, I go hard for paper
I'll do anything to make money
Niggas ain't even as smart as Daja
Most people aren't very smart
And think they rockin' me to sleep or poppin' me with heat
Others underestimate me or try to harm me
I don't even take you serious, I think you envious
I don't think much of people who are jealous of me
I feel it, I was born to deal bricks
I believe I was destined to sell drugs
And come through the hood in ill whips
I show off my expensive cars in the neighborhood
The Realness, who you think you deal with
Don't underestimate me or my power
I don't fear shit nigga, fuck around and get hit up
I'm not afraid of anyone and will retaliate if provoked
Ya blood stains the pavement like paint from a portrait I painted
I leave a bloody mess when I kill someone
Ya moms seen the coffin and fainted
Your mother fainted at your funeral
You swimmin' with the sharks and the water is tainted
You're in dangerous territory and you don't even know it
If you feel it in your heart (bring it)
If you have the guts to confront me, do it
My infrared beam is on ya head
I have a gun pointed at your head
My Desert Eagle severs people when I squeeze it
My gun is very powerful and deadly
I measure keys, you smalltime, barely felony
I deal with large quantities of drugs, you're unimportant
Only bigtime with jealousy, my mind tellin' me
Jealousy is the only thing that makes some people significant. I worry about this.
Fight like a mantis, you triflin' badgers want to see me in a casket
Fight like a praying mantis to kill those who want to harm me
Stop dreamin, life's a bitch I'm not leavin'
Stop hoping for things, life is hard but I'm not giving up
I'm not even, cheatin' on, or bring it on, so I can start squeezin'
I'm not cheating or provoking anyone, so don't mess with me
My nigga Biggie must have prophesized
I think Biggie predicted the future
When they said somebody got to die
Life is dangerous and someone always suffers the consequences
My nigga Pac must have felt deception
I think Pac experienced betrayal
When he asked nigga do you want to ride or die
When he asked if you're willing to face life's challenges head-on
y'all niggas better duck when you fuck with me
Be careful when messing with me
Trust is a luxury, I can't afford it, so I prepare for war
I don't trust people because it can be a liability, so I'm always ready for any situation
I smear the wall two of ya mans with plans you sweared were flawless
I'll expose your plans and ruin them, even if you thought they were perfect
I turned kids to orphans and live with caution
I'm responsible for causing people to become parentless and I'm always careful
You can't match the status, in a Jag with 10 crack commandments
You're not on my level, driving an expensive car while dealing drugs
Blazin', fake niggas can't stand it
I'm doing well and fake people can't handle it
I got shit established, strugglin' your hustlin' skills are average
I'm successful and have stability, while you're still struggling with basic hustling skills
Look and learn bitch, my cooker turn
Watch and learn, I'm good at cooking drugs
A key to a key and a half, and he don't even use a lot of heat on the glass
I can produce a lot of drugs with minimal effort
I surpass Nino, blast like Callito, die slow
I'm better than fictional drug kingpin Nino Brown and will harm those who try to harm me
'cause Sass like to even up the side or blow
I'm a vengeful person and will retaliate
Like a nigga who need time on the phone, you get it?
Like someone asking for more time on the phone, are you getting the message?
Forget it son, I'm in a zone, I'm a live nigga
Let it go, I'm focused and living
When I decide niggas, must die, kiss ya loved ones goodbye nigga
When I make the decision for someone to die, make sure you say goodbye to your family
It's fucked up, but it's just the thought I got cliques
It's a messed up thought, but I have groups of people who will do what I need them to do
That go through brick and whips customized motherfucker
I have people who will do anything for me, whether it's drugs or cars
I get money, sit on bricks and twenties
I make a lot of money and have stacks of drugs and cash
Niggas ain't takin' shit from me
No one can take anything from me because I'm prepared to defend myself
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CORY MCKAY, J. STEWART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind