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ThaFormula.com - Your involvement in this Roc and Nas beef is none right?

Cormega - Hell no! I can't fuck with that shit cause I was born in Brooklyn and it's like this, I'm a universal person. I don't base my shit on geography cause I get love all over the country.

ThaFormula.com - With The Firm, What exactly went down?

Cormega - That was all politics man. See one of the biggest misconceptions is that I wasn't in the Firm cause Nature replaced me, like that's one of the biggest misconceptions I ever heard of.  So if you say Nature took his spot then you gotta ask WHY! did Nature take his spot. Was Nature way better then Cormega and that's why he took his spot. Cause everybody already knows the answer to that one. The Firm wasn't built on Love. The Firm was built on money. Like think about it. Nas at the time, who was his manager?

ThaFormula.com - Steve Stout.

Cormega - And who does Steve Stout own?

ThaFormula.com - Trackmasters.

Cormega - Trackmasters. And Trackmasters is the label the firm came out on.  Nas is signed to Steve Stout and Trackmasters does most of Nas production.  Foxy Brown. She had a production deal with the Trackmasters.  Cormega was supposed to sign with Trackmasters, but I didn't.

ThaFormula.com - So why didn't you sign with Trackmasters.

Cormega - I was gonna sign a production deal, but it was to much shady shit goin on for me too do that. Cause I felt like, it's like once I would have paid, then they would have shown me love, but that's not right cause yall should have shown me love from the gate.  When I first came home from jail we started the Firm, niggaz in the Firm said this is it. Ain't gonna be no more other members,  ain't gonna be no more other shit! But for alot of people the Firm was based on money.  Steve Stout told me to sign a production deal and I was thinkin about it, but you have to understand people from different environments, uh, we perceive things differently. Like I'll give you a perfect example.  If your on the streets with your friends, you all can be bullshitin around and you all can be mad and one of you might say kiss my ass or suck my dick. But if your in jail and you tell somebody to suck yo dick, you might get killed. I'm talkin about literally killed. He's from a different world then me, see I had just came home from jail. So you cannot tell a dude that's unknowin to the ways of the industry to give me 50,000 dollars and 3 points to be executive producer of your album.  But say Steve Stout would tell me that right now in 2001, I might do it cause I know Steve Stout is a powerful man and he got Juice. But you can't tell a street dude who just came from jail and seen people get extorted, "Yo give 50, 000 and 3 points or we ain't fuckin with you". Cause I'm lookin at it like Yo, these niggaz is tryin to play me. That's what that was. So, if I'da signed and you can quote me on this. "If I would a paid that money, I would have definitely been a part of The Firm". "And I put my hand on the Bible". This is why I didn't do it. I was gonna do it cause at the time I was signed to Def Jam/ Violator and Cohen was willing to pay the money out of his pocket, know what im sayin.  So, their was a magazine called YSB and the last issue that they ever made had The Firm on the cover. What's up with that. Do your research on that. Why Cormega wasn't on the cover, and this is when we was cool. You know why Cormega wasn't on the cover? Cause Cormega was told that the photo shoot was canceled. So while Cormega was told that the photo shoot was canceled, the photo shoot was goin on.  So would you give somebody 50,000 dollars after your so called crew did some shit like that.

ThaFormula.com - And you and Nas were supposed to be really tight right?

Cormega - Yeah, but Nas has like a inner, like a inner, like Nas, Nas would a, if I would a, Nas is just I don't know man! Nas just didn't wanna see me shine I don't think man.  Because Nas was so used to being the nigga, but if you ever interviewed any artist from Queensbridge, you can ask any nigga, before I went to jail, I was the best rapper, undisputed, hands down, no argument, no debate about it in Queensbridge. Let me tell you something about myself. I'm one of the most finicky artists you will ever meet. Yo, my new album I just finished recording "The Realness" that comes out July 24th. I don't even listen to that shit no more.  It's like old to me.  I'm about to start on the new shit, but this album I swear to you, contact me after you hear my album. I swear to you this might be the realest album you ever heard.  I'm not sayin it's the best, but this might be the realest album you ever heard. I make my rhymes verbally cinematic. Their's a song on this album called "R you my nigga".  Every street muthafucka in the world is gonna live that record that's on my new album. Their's certain shit that go so deep into it, like im goin places like, I'm goin so deep into it, man I can't wait till you get the album and then you call me again.  XXL, after hearin my album, the music Editor called and said "It's the best album this year" and that's a quote and I didn't even expect that from him. This album will remind you of 1988, when albums was albums.

ThaFormula.com - Alot of people think that you are gonna be talkin alot of shit on this new album?

Cormega - Nah, whoever buy my album thinkin Imma talk alot of shit, they picked the wrong guy, cause I'm doin the total opposite of that. Because, uh, I don't wanna come out like I'm that Mad Rapper dude. Like I'm that dude that needs the controversy to sell records. Like, I'm not talkin shit at all. Their might be two songs where I'm addressing issues, but I'm just rhymin. If you one of those fake rappaz you'll feel alienated by one or two songs. But basically the songs is about my love for hip hop, my personal experiences, my life and shit like that. People expect me to attack NAS.

ThaFormula.com - Actually some people think your gonna get involved or defend Queens with that Roc A - Fella, Nas, and Mobb Deep beef?

Cormega - Oh, they think Imma hold Queens down goin against Roc - A - Fella (laughs).  See, this is my thang.  With that shit, me and Jay - Z spoke on that and uh, Jay - Z said some real shit to me.  He said "Yo, they started with me" meaning Nas had said somethin about him.  Cause I asked him what was up, know what I'm sayin. Like they not dissin Queens, they dissin the people that dissed them.  And Nas, history will  show you, if you look at history. On the "Affirmative Action" remix this is Nas verse, and I quote. "I take the crown off the so called king of the town and lock it down",  and that's when Biggie was alive. And why would you do that like you and Biggie was cool! And their 's songs where he's talkin about Jay - Z and everybody knows this and their's songs where he's talkin about me on the low, and I just come back.  So it's like, I'm not helpin NAS!! I don't have nothing to do with that. On my new song I address that. I said uh, "That Jay - Z, Nas beef doesn't involve me". That's one of my lines.  You know why? Cause Jay - Z ain't dissed Cormega, he dissed Nas.  And he dissed Nas cause Nas dissed him.  So who am I to tell Jay - Z, "Yo, you can't diss Nas. Nah B! I'm not gonna stand up for Nas, cause next month I might got beef with Nas!! You feel what I'm sayin.

ThaFormula.com - Yeah, I feel you on that one?

Cormega -That's like, why would I be an down with a nigga that doesn't like me.  A nigga who tried to destroy my career. C'mon man!

ThaFormula.com - So you and Jay talked and he pretty much told you it had nothing to do with Brooklyn or Queens type of beef?

Cormega - Exactly. And then I told him, I said "Yo, you a superstar and Nas is a superstar B, Yall words influence people, and I said not only that. Being that Yall superstars, don't make it into a Queens vs. Brooklyn shit cause the kids on the streets take this shit serious.  And their's kids that are willing to rep for the ghetto glorifications. Yall muthafuckas don't even be in the hood like that cause Yall rich, you out of the projects. So come on B, don't turn it into something like that. I mean at least I can say Jay - Z got niggaz from his projects eatin.  Nas don't show nobody no love in Queensbridge! Not one person down with Nas is getting a check on a monthly basis. C'mon B, so it's like why do it!

ThaFormula.com - How long did it take you to record The Realness LP ?

Cormega - Yo! vocally probably about a week, Yo! Check these lyrics, I feel this is one of my most brilliant rhymes ever.  Click here to here Cormega bustin an Acapella of "American Beauty".

ThaFormula.com - What's the view on the streets with what is going down with Prodigy of Mobb Deep and Jay - Z. Is this serious beef or is it just talk?

Cormega - I mean Prodigy is the type of person, like you don't put his back up against the wall cause P will buck somebody, you know what I'm sayin. Like P will buck somebody if his back is put up against the wall.  It's like he don't give a fuck cause he don't got nothin to lose. He got Sickle Cell. So its like that shit has a tendency to get ugly.

ThaFormula.com - Do you see this endin up like Tupac and Biggie?

Cormega - I mean I hope not because like what is it worth. See people fail to realize Pac had reason to be bitter on his side cause he got shot the fuck up and like this shit is over nothin you know this shit with this Rock A Fella shit.  What is it over, Pride.  Yo it comes a time when you gotta face the facts. Yo! niggaz is mad cause Jay - Z is shinin Yo! Jay - Z is shinin and whether you like it or not he's shinin. You just got to do you and be the best artist you can be.  Don't be jealous of the next nigga and that's what it's about.  Like Nas don't like competition man. He don't like Jay - Z and he never liked Biggie. And that's why I know he don't like me cause I'm competition to him. I'm not tryin to be competition, he just looks as me as competition. If Jay - Z makes a record tomorrow sayin fuck Nas, I will just laugh man! I wouldn't be sittin their with Nas helpin him, I'll be laughing.  

ThaFormula.com - So how is Nas reputation on the street now compared to how it was back in the day?

Cormega - He has no reputation on the streets. Nas had admiration. I told Nas to his face one time, the difference between Cormega and Nas is that Nas has admiration.  Cormega has admiration slash respect.

ThaFormula.com - So what percent of artists in the industry that talk all this thug shit actually live it?

Cormega - I don't even know the number man. I mean my DJ Uneek has more heart than 90 percent of the rap niggaz talkin that thug shit. Like your not a thug if you got police Rollin in your entourage. You know what I'm sayin like that's gay. I don't got no bodyguard! I ain't never had a bodyguard in my life. What I'm a do with a bodyguard. We coverin ourselves, i'm from the streets.  First of all if you have police in your entourage your a bitch cause you know if somebody buck him, you know the police is gonna shoot at them and he's gonna file a report. So its just like snitchin!

ThaFormula.com - But do you think if you blew up to the status of a Nas or a Jay - Z you would still be able to walk around wherever you walk around now! Do you think you wolud need ever need a bodyguard?

Cormega - I think i'd still be able to walk around. I don't need bodyguards because of the niggaz I fuck around with in the streets. I mean did Suge Knight have body guards? No! he had his street niggaz with him that was official. Like I got niggaz with me that will like sacrifice for me. Like I would do vice versa. I'm pretty sure if somethin go down with me theirs gonna be a problem and I ain't got no bodyguard. I can make it hard for a nigga to come to Queensbridge, put it like that.

ThaFormula.com - So you know what happened at Hot 97 thing right?

Cormega - You mean Summer Jam, where Jay - Z showed a picture of Prodigy.

ThaFormula.com - Yeah?

Cormega - I heard about that, but you know what. That's not even fadin Prodigy. You know why. Because Prodigy's grandmutha owns a dance studio and Prodigy made it known when he was younger that he used to be a dancer, like his grandmother used to have him in plays and stuff like that. Now if that was me I would have been ashamed. I wouldn't even be able to go to the projects. But he can cause it's not fadin him.

ThaFormula.com -(Laughs) I'm sorry man I don't mean to laugh, but that was funny?

Cormega - Yeah it's funny, but when I first heard it I was like "Oh Shit". Like wow that's some shit!

ThaFormula.com - Do you think it will fuck him up in any way?

Cormega -That's gonna hurt his credibility cause how many gangsters you know who was dancers or whatever.

ThaFormula.com - So what was the feeling out their in Queens when that shit happened?

Cormega - When that happened I was in Boston and I heard about it in Boston. And I was like damn! I thought it was a rumor but my two way kept goin off and when I got out their every radio station was talkin about it. And I was like Wow! I mean what could you do after somethin like that. 

ThaFormula.com - And Prodigy is on your album right ?

Cormega - See that's the good thing about my album is that that song is so powerful that people will forget about all that when listening to that song cause that song is so dope

ThaFormula.com -But this incident has made alot of people say that that just proves that Prodigy ain't no thug. I mean on the internet I've read people callin him Ballerina P.

Cormega - You know what's really fucked up is that P talks alot of shit in his rhymes. like he has a cocky style. I mean I think he's one of the dopest rappaz in the game. I mean as a lyricist I think he's in the top 3 or at least in the top five.  I think he's crazy crazy dope, but people in the streets, they are not gonna know how to digest that shit. So I don't know how he's gonna come out of that, but you know the way he is it's like he don't give a fuck cause everybody knows his grandma owns a dance studio.

ThaFormula.com - Have you talked to him since that happened?

Cormega -Nah, I ain't talk to him cause I didn't even wanna, you know man I should have, I mean I was gonna call him one day but it was like what could I really say cause I didn't know how he was takin it. Cause I wouldn't wanna talk to nobody if somebody had showed a picture know what I'm sayin. I mean it's like what could you say " A Yo Mega how you doin" or "I heard about that shit" know what I'm sayin, so it's like I ain't even gonna call him. I'm gonna wait till he get his shit together and then you know.

ThaFormula.com - What would you do in that situation, I mean if it really happened to you?

Cormega - I'm not really worrying about it cause that shit can't happen to me! But if I was in that situation and I had a good excuse like P, I guess I would handle it like him. But if I didn't have no excuse like shit like that can cause big problems cause their's nothin else that you can do to fix your face but to do somethin crazy.

ThaFormula.com - And that's what I'm sayin. Do you see this gettin really crazy ?

Cormega - I mean it's been to that point. See people push P to the wall, like P's back is pushed up against the wall now anyway, because their was a rumor that he got robbed. So seeing that theirs rumors and P takes such pride in himself, I think Prodigy is a dude that you don't wanna fuck with right now. And this is me sayin this because I know him. You know what I'm sayin, I mean Prodigy will hurt somebody at this moment. I don't think he's the dude you wanna fuck with right now.

ThaFormula.com -Does Mobb Deep really get respect in the streets, I mean are they what they say they are?

Cormega - Mobb Deep ain't no suckaz!! I mean niggaz love them in the hood cause they show love know what I'm sayin. They cool niggaz man and they roll deep. Like the niggaz they be havin with them, I mean they be havin some niggaz with them that get busy. That's another thing I was tellin Jay - Z. Imean we don't need this bullshit right now in rap. If the whole street niggaz get together and I'm not talkin about the rap niggaz cause alot of them are livin a lie. If the street niggaz that come with the rappaz show up, it's gonna be ugly. It will be very very, Yo! I got respect on the streets like a muthafucka and I wouldn't even wanna be there. If all the real niggaz is there I wouldn't wanna be there, cause I don't want my name in that shit cause niggaz is goin to jail. Cause there's goin to be some dead people. That's why I say I wouldn't even wanna be there. That's real!!

ThaFormula.com - Do you see anything happening at the Source awards?

Cormega -Nah, I was just with David Mays when I was in Boston. I did the Source radio show and their gonna have security so tight! First of all your not even gettin in the Source awards. It's invite only and it's in Miami this year. And um it's gonna be tight, tight security. But if niggaz bump into each other on the streets or somewhere, I don't know! Only time can tell. But I know right now. Prodigy ain't no nigga to be fuckin with right now cause he takes pride in his image.

ThaFormula.com - Do you think Jay - Z and Roc are takin it to far?

Cormega - I don't think Jay - Z is takin it too far cause how far is their to go in war. You know what I'm sayin. I mean was America takin it to far when they dropped the Atom Bomb.

ThaFormula.com - Did what went down with The Firm just fuck up the whole relationship with all you guys?

Cormega - Nah, Nah me and Foxy is very tight I mean to the end. I mean after the Firm album was old and rusty and she was on her second album we still tight. We even had a Firm sit down in like 99 and they was trying to rekindle it, but I don't think, uh we don't even speak like that, I mean everybody is doin their own thing. I mean me and Foxy used to speak on the regular cause she had my phone number but I don't live where I used to live so I haven't spoken to her in a while but she's still my dog and AZ he's still cool know what I'm sayin. Nas he's even cool, I just know I can't fuck with him.  like it better when we rivals cause I know that's real. Like the Knicks and the Miami Heat, like you know that's a sincere dislike and that's how I would rather be with Nas then me give him fake hand shakes and him givin me fake handshakes.

ThaFormula.com - So is it every artist for himself when it really comes down to it ?

Cormega - It depends on what crew it is. I mean like Mobb Deep they tight with their family. Roc - A - Fella they tight with their family. Nas ain't tight with niggaz he fuck with know what I'm sayin. It's like I'm tight with Mobb Deep cause they my niggaz and I'll say that all day. I'm tight with other artist but certain artist I just don't fuck with like that. And another thing, Nas told me that he thinks about what I'm doin everyday. When he said that to me I looked at him like he was retarded! I mean I don't even think about you any day, I mean it's like your scared of me. Quite honestly I don't even listen to mix tapes cause rap sucks to me right now. I mean honestly rappaz suck right now. I feel their not on my level right now. 

ThaFormula.com -So who get's the blame for what's happening?

Cormega - One, the industry is what it is. It's a music business. They don't care about how nice you are or how dope you are. They care about how many records you could sell. Like the underground guys that could really spit, they make the wackest albums or they don't have no deal cause the industry is scared to promote these guys. But what's hurting the most is when you get a dope rappa and then he sees "Ah man this guy over here just sold ten million records, fuck that I'm about to make a record with Britney Spears" an-d then that's killin the art because when you are a rappa that people respect and your doin stuff like that, then it becomes acceptable and other people start doin it and now your waterin down the art. Like M.O.P. just did a song with some boy group I heard. People are really infuriated with them, cause people look at them like underground champions.

ThaFormula.com - As a fan don't you say damn what you doin?

Cormega -Well you don't have to worry about that with me. I mean some people I guess they do it for the money. Cause you can't sit here and tell me that your doin that for the love. Because love is when you say " Goddamn that shit is so dope, I gotta be on it fuck it. I don't care if yall niggaz ain't got enough money in your budget, I'll do it on the strength". That's love!

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