Cormega

Cormega (2008)

Cormega (born in Brooklyn , New York ; real name Cory McKay ) is an American rapper . Cormega was first known through his earlier friendship and the later argument with Nas as well as through his differences with Def Jam Records.

biography

McKay grew up in the Queensbridge Projects, from which Nas, Mobb Deep , Tragedy Khadafi and Capone von Capone-N-Noreaga also originate. As is not uncommon in the area, he earned his living with drug trafficking . Even before he had to serve a five-year prison sentence in 1991, he recorded two songs with the duo PHD (Poet & Hot Day) : "Straight Up & Set it Off".

1990s

Nas, who was his best friend at the time, dedicated a line to him in the song "One Love" written as a letter: "What's up with Cormega, did you see 'em, are y'all together?" On his first LP Illmatic , released in 1994.

In 1996 Nas' second album " It Was Written " was released. Appearing in the eighth song of the album "Affirmative Action" Cormega, Nas , AZ and Foxy Brown , both from Brooklyn, for the first time as "The Firm," which, among others, Dr. Dre and the Trackmasters should be produced. Nas' manager Steve Stoute put Cormega in a contract for The Firm project, which he refused. Therefore, Cormega was replaced by the Queensbridge rapper Nature. His previously recorded contributions to The Firm album have been deleted. There are two versions of the song "La Familia". One with Cormega, which was never officially released, and one with Nature, which was released on the single for the Foxy Brown song "I'll be". There is also a remix of the song "Affirmative Action", which was released on the B-side of Nas' single "Street Dreams".

Since then, Cormega has been at odds with both Nas and Nature. He released several disstracks against the two, including: "Fuck Nas & Nature, A Slick Response & Realmatic". Nas referred to Cormega in the songs "Stillmatic Freestyle" and "Destroy and Rebuilt".

Due to the success of "Affirmative Action" Def Jam became aware of Cormega and signed him. The debut solo album The Testament was supposed to be released in 1998, but Def Jam kept postponing it. Dissatisfied with the situation, the label released him from his contract in 2000; The Testament , known by some as The Greatest LP Never Heard , was only available as a bootleg for a long time , with some songs circulating on the Internet . The album also features the song "One Love", which is an answer to Nas' "One Love" and is also written as a letter. There Cormega describes the events depicted in Nas "One Love" from his point of view.

2000s

In 2001 , the album "The Realness" was released through the Legal Hustle Records label he founded . In 2002 he released his second LP The True Meaning , which won the "Underground Album of the Year" award from The Source magazine . In the song "Love in Love out" he tells his version of the argument with Nas. Both albums sold an estimated 100,000 copies each. In 2004, a label compilation by Legal Hustle was released , on which, in addition to the new label MC Kira, established hip-hop greats such as Ghostface , MOP , Kurupt and AZ can be heard. In 2007 and 2008, Cormega helped produce productions for The Jacka and Mob Figaz. In addition, the DVD including the soundtrack Who Am I? published, which Cormega presents biographically.

A new album called Urban Legends is announced on DVD, but this will be Born And Raised and will be released in 2009.

2010s

In July 2014 the album Mega Philosophy was released with the single "Industry" , which was produced entirely by Large Professor . AZ , Redman and Styles P played on the track "Mars" and Raekwon on the track "Honorable" .

Discography

Chart positions Explanation of the data

Albums

The realness   US 111 08/11/2001 (8 weeks) The True Meaning   US 95 07/13/2002 (2 weeks) Legal hustle   US 174 06/12/2004 (1 week)

Albums

• 2001: The Realness
• 2002: The True Meaning
• 2005: The Testament
• 2009: Born and Raised
• 2014: Mega Philosophy

Guest contributions (selection)

• 1999: "What's Ya Poison" - Mobb Deep "Murda Muzik"
• 2000: "Three" - Prodigy "HNIC"
• 2000: "Cormega [skit]" - Tony Touch "The Piece Maker"
• 2000: "Da Bridge 2001" - Nas & Ill Will Records Presents QB's Finest
• 2000: "Straight outta QB" - Nas & Ill Will Records Presents QB's Finest
• 2001: "Loyalty" - Screwball "Loyalty"
• 2001: "We Gon Buck" - Lake Entertainment Presents: The 41st Side
• 2002: "U Crazy" - The Beatnuts "The Originators"
• 2005: "Reckless" - Dayton Family "Family Feud"
• 2010: "Born Survivor" - Inspectah Deck "Manifesto"
• 2014: "The Tunnel" - Onyx "Wakedafucup"

Filmography

• 2007: Who am I? (Documentation)

Web links

• Official Cormega Homepage (English)
• Cormega at laut.de
• Cormega at Allmusic (English)
• Interview with Cormega (English)
• Cormega in the Internet Movie Database (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Chart sources: US