Cormega

Cory McKay (born December 3, 1970), better known by his stage name Cormega, is an American rapper who attained notice when he was shouted out by Nas on his song "One Love", from the critically acclaimed 1994 album ''Illmatic''. The album was released during Cormega's time in prison, but the mention sparked his career and created anticipation for his own rapping.

Early life

Cormega was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and raised in Queens. He was childhood friends with Nas, Havoc and Capone, who all went on to become successful rappers. A frequent theme of his music is the countless number of his friends and family that have been killed by violence.

Career

1990s

He was featured on Hot Day's "Going Straight Up" from his album ''It's My Turn''. He was also featured on Blaq Poet and DJ Hot Day's track "Set It Off" from their album ''Without Warning'' in 1991. During a period of incarceration, Cormega gained some attention following a shout-out from Nas on his song "One Love", from the ''Illmatic'' album released in 1994.
Following his release from jail in 1995, Cormega became determined to pursue rapping. Nas included him on a song entitled "Affirmative Action" on his album ''It Was Written'' released on July 2, 1996. The song also featured AZ and Foxy Brown, and became The Firm's first appearance. He was signed to Def Jam and recorded an album called '' The Testament''. Nas, his manager Steve Stoute and producers Dr. Dre and The Trackmasters joined to form The Firm. However, Cormega was replaced with another Queensbridge artist, Nature, because Nas and/or Stoute favored Nature. That ended Cormega's friendship with Nas. After he fell out with his manager Chris Lighty and his label 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''. 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".

Cormega's follow-up album, ''The True Meaning'' won the Source Magazine 's Underground Album of the Year award. In 2004, he followed up with ''Legal Hustle'', a compilation album showcasing his label's artists. In 2005, he released '' The Testament'' on his own label.

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.

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 was '' Born and Raised''. The album was released October 20, 2009. The first single is called "Journey."

2010s

Cormega's latest album, ''Mega Philosophy'', was entirely produced by frequent collaborator Large Professor.

On December 26, 2018, he released his first EP ''MEGA''.

Cormega appeared on Nas' '' King's Disease'' in 2020, reuniting with members of the defunct The Firm supergroup.

In November 2022, Cormega released his long awaited album, ''The Realness II'', to rave reviews. Serving as a sequel to his 2001 debut album ''The Realness''.

Discography

* ''The Realness'' (2001)
* ''The True Meaning'' (2002)
* '' The Testament'' (2005)
* '' Born and Raised'' (2009)
* ''Mega Philosophy'' (2014)
* ''The Realness II'' (2022)

Film

* ''Who Am I? (2007)

References

External links

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{{Authority control

African-American male rappers
American prisoners and detainees
MNRK Music Group artists
Living people
People from Long Island City, Queens
Rappers from New York City
Underground rappers
21st-century American rappers
1970 births
The Firm (hip hop group) members
21st-century American male musicians
Gangsta rappers
21st-century African-American musicians
20th-century African-American people