For months now, Queens emcee slash producer Large Professor has been tucked away in the studio with Cormega working on MEGA PHILOSOPHY, the first album of all new material from the former dealer emcee in years.
Press play on the video posted above to get a sneak peek into the creative concept and professional reasons that brought these two hip hop icons together to produce a full body of work.
In the comments below, you’ll find a bit.ly link to the first leak from Mega Philosophy, called “MARS.”
Catch Cormega and Rock of Heltah Skeltah @SouthpawBK 11/30/2011 [handles: @realcormega @_Rockness_]
Monsta Mondays and da G Spot welcome Cormega to Beatminerz Radio to discuss his latest release, Cormega- Raw Forever a compilation of rhymes over the sounds of a live band, as well as recorded work. To watch the interview - Click here »
Or if you have flash, you can view the interview video below.
For details on Cormega’s new release, check the wrap up below.
Cormega: Raw Forever to be released September 27th.The double disc set features a collection of Cormega’s classics as selected by fans and a companion disc featuring a live band, The Revelations (of Wu-Tang’s Chamber Music and Legendary Weapons fame) whose remixes bring a new live sound and instrumentation to some of Mega’s classics.
The music on the second disc, Cormega X Revelation, is a mixture of original songs and Cormega classics remixed and reinterpreted by The Revelations Band and features Lil Fame of M.O.P. and Baby Pun (Big Pun’s son); AZ and Nature; Blaq Poet, Tragedy Khadafi and Havoc; Red Alert, Parrish Smith, Grand Puba, KRS One & Big Daddy Kane.
“The first time I worked with The Revelations was on the Wu Chamber Music project. The idea was really raw to me. I always had the curiosity of working with a live band, but what actually manifested our collaborations was seeing the audience’s response when we performed together at Santos [Party House in New York City] September 1, 2010. The response from the crowd was over-whelming!
It was incredible!” After the show, we recorded and leaked a remix of my song, ‘Journey’ and it too got a lot of love, so I decided to take the experiment even further and see how it would sound if they redid some of my other songs and that’s how this project came about.”
I’m diggin’ in the proverbial blogger crates which contain cool music and other items that people graciously provide for me to check out. If you’re interested in sending me something to check out, visit my contact page and send me a message.
When a DVD has a menu page like the one pictured, you know you’re in for a bit of a rough ride. I mean, this is basically a rendering of a bathroom wall without the usual “Becky was here” or “For a good time…” etchings. Instead I recognized the name of a person Cormega has lost to death.
I got the tissues out and pressed play. Don’t judge me. Women have feelings. That’s part of what makes us special. And yes, I do use the actual kleenex brand. The lotion in there feels softer when I dab my eyes.
MY FAVORITE VIDEO INTERLUDE
A number of different videos appear in between interviews but my favorite is “Get Out My Way.” The song was produced by Sha Money and XL who made tidy work of a set of horn samples that blare over the track as though heralding the coming of something, or someone great. You feel pretty regal listening to it.
“Gimmie mine or I’mma take what’s yours/Spray up doors/ Make love war/Get out my way/ …Who want what?/ Say no more/ Matta fact.. take that chain off dog.”
Sounds like the Cormega I’ve yet to meet! I’m more familiar with the side of him that is a philanthropist who won’t shoot me or take my costume jewelry. Lucky me.. but from the looks of the video I’d say the rest of you might want to tread carefully.
Seriously though- “Get Out My Way” deserves a post all its own. I have so many questions about some of styling and the video treatment. I’ll save my questions for another time. Maybe I can request a sit down with the artist for his take on it. My second favorite video was “Live Your Life” more for the message that the creative treatment.
TRAGEDY
I can honestly say the tissue prep I mentioned earlier was a good call. While the DVD had happy moments (like the baby shower for Mega’s daughter) , there were many moments in the movie that underscored the loss of friends and family.
Cormega saw his mother die as a child. Do people ever get over that kind of trauma? I am not sure. Seeing it is different than having it happen out of your sight. Even hearing him say it on film gave me a chill. I never want to see a family member, friend or other soul die.
I reached for the kleenex when the story of Tye played out. He was someone well liked, but met his end at the hands of police in Brooklyn.
There was something deeply disturbing about it. Perhaps it’s the knowledge that gun violence relieves young black men of their lives in similar ways in similar cities around the world all the time. Perhaps it was knowing that any of these violent gun-related deaths could easily be Cormega, my brother or a friend of yours. It was disturbing that’s all I want to convey.
SMALL WORLD. DANGEROUS WORLD.
A lot of people in the DVD had R.I.P. signs superimposed on their scenes, but I recognized someone who didn’t. His name was Clarence “Drawz” Williamson and I met him last year at an AZ/Cormega/Jon Hope show in New York. Let’s just say he was VERY PRO CORMEGA when we spoke at the show.
The reason Drawz didn’t have a rest in peace sign on his portion of this DVD? He was shot and killed way after it was filmed. I recall in early in 2011, while working on a project, Cormega became difficult to reach. Emails went unanswered. I wondered if he wanted to proceed with the project or not.
We finished the project but I remember being horrified at the thought of this artist making it to adulthood and finding himself still subject to losing friends to senseless violence year after year. That part of the DVD was hard to watch but it reminded me to let people know that you care for them before they’re gone.
COMEDY
I laughed at a few scenes where people who knew Cormega told funny stories but the funniest had to be Kurupt (of tha Dogg Pound) describing how he and the artist first met. Let’s say they joined forces in “persuading” someone to do something. Buy the DVD to hear that story. It was a mean one but I did laugh. Thanks Kurupt, for all your special voices and unique intonation when telling the story.
FAMILIAR FACES
The DVD showed me Cormega’s philanthropic side existed way before we met. There was a testimonial from a young person whose college tuition he paid for, a story about a free trip to great adventure (for the entire projects) and a cheerful visit to wheel chair bound elders for a little hip hop and basketball. I smiled at all of those scenes!
I also smiled at a few familiar faces that I began to recognize.
Choke No Joke! A video director who can be seen seated to Cormega’s right at this event.
I recognized a few other people. Buckwild and others who had kind things to say about Cormega as a friend as and as artist.
MY OVERALL IMPRESSION OF THE DVD
This DVD is long but it provides some insight into the life of an artist that some people still make assumptions about. I saw a lot of places where edits could have been made to shorten the runtime a bit. As far as the overarching themes, stories and testimonials- I thought it was pretty fascinating to hear stories from people in Queens, Co-Op City and Brooklyn. They spoke candidly and provided a lot of colorful of examples of what life with Cory was like- from the big guns to the charity events.
Two bowties up for this DVD… I say pick it up via Amazon here if you are interested in hip hop and the drug culture that permeates some facets of it, and what a person who grew up hustling has to say about it as an adult. You might learn something.
You can still help Haiti. Check out this video roundup from the Press Conference for the Haiti Benefit song “I Made A Difference” by Cormega, Steele, Lil’ Fame from M.O.P, Maya Azucena, Redman and Stic.Man from Dead Prez.
If Cormega’s “blogger care package” is any indication, he does indeed have more albums than just “Born & Raised” (which was the only album I had of his so far).
Meanwhile he has a new one coming out titled “Cormega Raw Forever” (artwork in the banner below). So I guess I have until its release date (Sept 27, 2011) to digest this catalogue of work!!
.. my older brother is the only reason I know Cormega’s music at all (he used to play it for me, but I didn’t vibe with it as a kid).
I really like the born & raised album but apparently I need to catch up!
This package came with other stuff ( related to the anniversary of his album “The Realness”).
Though it’s fun doing charity events with Cormega, I really wasn’t familiar with All the other music so now I can finally hear what he’s done.
I’ll check it out, One album a time over the next few weeks .. Let’s see what sticks to my ribs !
P.S. The care package came in Hot Pink packaging. HaHa.. CoolPoints awarded for using the #ChevyEnergyColor to make me want to open it.
Stay tuned for more from the chevy-mega listening project for sure ;)
Haiti @JPHRO org thanks @realcormega for Benefit Song -via @Chevon
The housing works team accepted the check and they told me to tell you all THANK You for all the coat drive donations and for those who attended the after party.. 100 percent of the proceeds from the door were given to housing works right along with hundreds of coats!
Read below for the original event info and be sure to scroll down to the bottom to check out the Rapture video created from the life footage from the benefit concert.
An unlikely group (including a retailer/creative agency team, an adult-content website owner, an East Village event maven and a Brooklyn-born Emcee) have come together to host a coat drive and concert benefiting HousingWorks.org, a not-for-profit group dedicated to helping people affected by the linked-crises of HIV/AIDS and homelessness.
Cormega Explains More About HousingWorks
Although it formally began on February 16th, the biggest day of the coat drive will be the final day, on February 23rd. This Wednesday, February 23rd, from 7pm-10pm, the community can donate warm outerwear at Coat of Arms (43 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002), where they’ll get free tickets to the after party, as well as free CDs, event-related t-shirts and other swag (including Frank books).
The in-store event will feature an art auction of Brian Kavanagh’s urban photography, food from East Village purveyor Lil Frankie’s, as well as music by the legendary Beatminerz.
The after party (hosted by the lusciously tatted-up LES personality Alexandra Estevez) will feature a performance by Cormega, backed by his live band The Revelations. We’re looking forward to a diverse crowd from skateboarders and models, to Hip-Hoppers and downtown tastemakers. When a group as diverse as ours comes together for a greater cause, you can only expect the turnout to be just as diverse as its organizers.
![Catch Cormega and Rock of Heltah Skeltah @SouthpawBK 11/30/2011 [handles: @realcormega @_Rockness_]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lv1l502HLa1qzcq0so1_500.jpg)
![Monsta Mondays and da G Spot welcome Cormega to Beatminerz Radio to discuss his latest release, Cormega- Raw Forever a compilation of rhymes over the sounds of a live band, as well as recorded work. To watch the interview - Click here »
Or if you have flash, you can view the interview video below.
Video streaming by Ustream
You can follow @realcormega @Beatminerz @_Rockness_ @GPosGPos @PearlHarba for more fun online and on-air.
For details on Cormega’s new release, check the wrap up below.
Cormega: Raw Forever to be released September 27th. The double disc set features a collection of Cormega’s classics as selected by fans and a companion disc featuring a live band, The Revelations (of Wu-Tang’s Chamber Music and Legendary Weapons fame) whose remixes bring a new live sound and instrumentation to some of Mega’s classics.
The music on the second disc, Cormega X Revelation, is a mixture of original songs and Cormega classics remixed and reinterpreted by The Revelations Band and features Lil Fame of M.O.P. and Baby Pun (Big Pun’s son); AZ and Nature; Blaq Poet, Tragedy Khadafi and Havoc; Red Alert, Parrish Smith, Grand Puba, KRS One & Big Daddy Kane.
“The first time I worked with The Revelations was on the Wu Chamber Music project. The idea was really raw to me. I always had the curiosity of working with a live band, but what actually manifested our collaborations was seeing the audience’s response when we performed together at Santos [Party House in New York City] September 1, 2010. The response from the crowd was over-whelming!
It was incredible!” After the show, we recorded and leaked a remix of my song, ‘Journey’ and it too got a lot of love, so I decided to take the experiment even further and see how it would sound if they redid some of my other songs and that’s how this project came about.”
Youtube at: www.youtube.com/legalhustlerecords & www.legalhustle.net](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsh975XCyd1qzcq0so1_500.png)
Choke No Joke! A video director who can be seen seated to Cormega’s right at 
Biz, an artist manager and marketing manager who I met through 
