In merely a few hours, New York’s own Cormega will officially release his LP, Mega Philosophy, to the masses July 22. Take a listen to MARS (Dream Team), featuring AZ, Redman and Styles P, below. The 11 track project itself, which is streaming for free on DJBooth, is entirely produced by Large Professor and boasts features from veterans like AZ, Black Rob, Nature, Raekwon, Redman and Styles P.

Cormega, who spoke with DJBooth about his first album release since 2011’s Raw Forever, explained, “An artist, a true artist, in one way or another evolves. Mega Philosophy is my evolution. This is the album that I really wanted to show that I’m an artist. I’m not somebody who’s trying to live off of glorifying my past street life, I’m not somebody who’s trying to sensationalize or use beef or conflict or controversy [to sell albums]. I’m trying to show that I’m a creative artist. This is the album that will tell me if I belong on the list of hip-hop’s greatest emcees. I’m a lyricist, an MC, but at the core, I’m a poet who recites over a beat.”

After you take a listen and buy the it on iTunes tomorrow, do you think this album puts Mega on the “greatest emcees” list he refers to?

Tracklist:

01 A New Day Begins
02 MARS (Dream Team) (feat. AZ, Redman & Styles P)
03 Industry
04 More
05 Reflection
06 D.U. (Divine Unity) (feat. Nature)
07 Honorable (feat. Raekwon)
08 Rap Basquiat
09 Rise (feat. Maya Azucena)
10 Home (feat. Black Rob)
11 Valuable Lessons

Related: Marsha Ambrosius’ Friends & Lovers Features Dr. Dre & Uncle Charlie Wilson (Album Stream)