Just after I put this together I recalled I’d already done a similar post back in 2009. Regardless, here’s a new improved look back at Cormega’s early raps from 1989 to 1997.
Hot Day feat. Arkim, MC Cor and Shahid – Going Straight Up
This cut from Hot Day‘s 1989 Tuff City LP displays a rough around the edges but enthusiastic Cor, who manages to stand out from the other two MC’s thanks to his nervous energy over the “Heartbeat” break.
PHD feat. MC Cor – Set It Off
When Hot formed a new crew with Poet two years later, he didn’t forget about Mega and let him get some shine with his more confident and refined new style over some “UFO” and Phil Collins snippets. This is also the first time anyone used the term “Illmatic” on a record as far as I know.
Cormega – Sex, Drugs, Bitches & Money [Original]
This was eventually re-recorded over a different beat for a 12″ release, but the original version was over a Hot Day and Jae Supreme track for what I assume was a mixtape track or an abandoned cut from his Def Jam debut.
Cormega, Nas & Syl Drama – Good Fellas (40th Side Of Things)
This sounds like some mid 90’s action over another Hot Day beat to my ear, but I could be wrong. Still, Nas and Mega over Luther Vandross can’t go wrong. Wonder what happened to Syl Drama though?
Kamakaze feat. Nas & Cormega – On The Real
This is my original vinyl rip based on the crackles, since everyone else has the version from the radio. As we all know by now, Nas took his verse off and it wound up on the Screwball album with a new verse from Cormega and Havoc replacing Nas, until Nas decided to remake it as his own song years later and add two new verses. Go figure.
II D Extreme Feat. Cormega – You Got Me Goin
During that brief window when Mega was still in The Firm they threw him on this R&B record so that Nas could dance behind him. Guess it was the “grand opening, grand closing” for II D Extreme, huh?
Nas and Cormega – Funkmaster Flex Hot 97 Freestyle
Corey really came off on these numerous radio spots he did in this era, as this session with Nas and Funk Flex demonstrates as he celebrates signing with “Def Jams” [sic] over “Keep Risin’ To The Top,” “Stages and Lights” and “Clones.”
Funkmaster Flex feat. Cormega – 60 Minutes of Funk, Vol. II Freestyle
Cor meets the “Rainy Dayz” Diamond D remix for Flex’s second Loud Records The Mix Tape LP.
Cormega – Stretch Armstrong Show Freestyle
This 1997 session combined Mega with some dope Sean C. [Vinyl Reanimators] instrumentals
Cormega – Funkmaster Flex Freestyle ’97
Mega Montana murders beats from Raekwon, Craig Mack, Biggie and Mobb Deep.
That Funk Master Flex Freestyle was originally called Mega Funk and is the flipside to Dead Man Walking.
Which one?
“Illmatical” on tragedy’s “the rebel” from in control
Volume one. Everything qb points back to trag
@Flex: True.