Cormega - The Realness
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Music CD Cover
Artist: CormegaEdition: Music CD
Format: Explicit Lyrics, Import
CD Release Date: 2001-07-24
Music Label: Landscape Germany
Soundtracks:
- Dramatic Entrance
- American Beauty
- Thun & Kicko (featuring Prodigy of Mobb Deep)
- The Saga
- R U My Ni**a?
- Unforgiven
- Fallen Soldiers
- Glory Days
- Rap's A Hustle
- Get Out My Way
- You Don't Want It
- 5 For 40
- They Forced My Hand (featuring Tragedy Khadafi)
- Fallen Soldiers (remix)
Free Music Notes for The Realness
Free Music Review: The saga begins
Hit: 4 Stars
After his 1995 Def Jam album The Testament was shelved and he was used and abused by major labels, Queensbridge rapper Cormega went the independent route for his debut "The Realness" in 2001. Here, Mega really established himself as a street poet and lyrical visionary. In the footsteps of his neighbors Nas, Tragedy Khadafi, Mobb Deep, and Capone-N-Noreaga, Cormega's poetic passion and deep philosophy often make him a wonder to listen to. Something I have always admired about him is that despite his elevated content, his words always hit home on a level you can feel. On "The Realness," he only talks about where he comes from, with his background as a drug dealer and hustler. He reminisces over times past and friends lost. Cormega strikes me as one of most realistic rappers around, and his words are true commentary of life in the projects. The beats on "The Realness" maintain a pretty low-fi feel, and they aren't yet the more dramatic, nostalgic music that he would later embrace. It's a gritty sound that works well. I highly recommend "The Realness," Mega's one of the underground's finest MCs and too many are still sleeping on him.
The album opens with the well-titled "Dramatic Entrance," an introductory track with some slick production and words that set the tone for the album. "American Beauty" takes a metaphorical look at hip hop in an "I Used to Love H.E.R." way, speaking of the music as a woman. The beat is familiar and effective, the type that Mega shines over. Mobb Deep's Prodigy guests on "Thun and Kicko," a gritty collaboration, followed by a true highlight in "The Saga." This track showcases Mega at his dramatic finest, reflecting on the personal struggles of urban youth and hustling, using a great narrative. "R U My N..." has some more deep and thoughtful reflections, and I also like the brief "Unforgiven." He drops some philosophy on death, almost in a 2Pac-like manner, on "Fallen Soldiers," and on the great "Glory Days" he reminisces over growing up and acknowledges the former "ghetto legends." "Rap's a Hustle" has a great beat and fits right into the tracklist. The horn fanfare pumps up "Get Out My Way," a powerful statement. He spits some fury on "You Don't Want It," and recites some a cappela on "5 for 40." My favorite song, without a doubt, is the incredible "They Forced My Hand," a Tragedy Khadafi collaboration that I first heard on Khadafi's 2000 album Against All Odds. Spunk Bigga's gorgeous beat provides a perfect backdrop for the Queensbridge legends to drop philosophy that still gives me chills. The hook is awesome, and this song showcases two of the best at their best. The album closes with a nice remix of "Fallen Soldiers," anchored by the sound of an emptying liquor bottle, and a cool bonus track with Mobb Deep.
I like his 2002 follow-up The True Meaning a little better than "The Realness," but they're both great works of lyrical, beautiful hip hop. Both of the aforementioned albums went out of print, but can now be purchased together for the price of one in the set Special Edition. For those who haven't experienced Cormega's music, it's some of the most powerful hip hop around.
The Realness Poster
If rap's a hustle and only the strong survive, then Cormega must be an ironman. Better known for what he hasn't appeared on, 'Mega's name first came to light when Nasty Nas mentioned during "One Love" that he'd been incarcerated. Then came his much-publicized non-tenure with Nas's supergroup, The Firm. After years of dealing with street-music biz madness, Cormega has taken his time to craft The Realness. Similar in theme to his friend Prodigy's H.N.I.C., The Realness mainly deals with day-to-day life in the ghetto, while throwing a sideways nod to industry drama and the art of rhyming. On first listen, this might seem to be little more than that ol' bittersweet thug reflection people love to indulge in, but the quiet beats and somber lyrics will grow on you. The real gem here is "American Beauty," a succinct, multidimensional breakdown of the development of hip-hop at the hand of her creators. Are you listening, Nas? --Rebecca LevineRap & Hip-Hop Music CDs
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