cormega - Ambrosia For Heads

The 15 Best Rap Albums Of 2022

As 2022 winds down, it comes time to celebrate the best in Hip-Hop music. As is tradition, the Ambrosia For Heads team weighs in on our opinion of the year's best albums. This list of 15 includes some comeback performances, significant sequel efforts, and collaborative tandems. The collection of LPs also shows... Read more

December 20, 2022 Best Rap Albums Of 2022

Cormega & Nas Have Reunited On A Song & It’s Glorious

Today (October 7), Cormega has delivered The Realness II. As Cormega recently detailed to Ambrosia For Heads' What's The Headline podcast, the album was carefully made to be a true sequel to the original—which arrived just over 21 years ago. Beloved song “American Beauty" gets a stylish update on "Her... Read more

October 7, 2022 Audio, Interview, Video

Cormega Explains Why The Realness 2 Is A True Sequel To The Original

Upon its mid-2001 arrival, Cormega's The Realness lived up to its title. After years of waiting his turn, the MC asserted himself to step forth with a body of work that combined a passion for wisdom-drenched lyricism with a survivor's tale of life in New York City streets and the Rap industry. The independently... Read more

September 20, 2022 Exclusive, Interview, Video

Many Of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Rappers Name Their Top 5 MCs

Note: Jadakiss recently appeared on ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby podcast and was asked who his top 5 Hip-Hop groups of all-time were. This article has been updated below with his response, as well as The Game’s top 5 LA Rap albums. A few days ago, during a podcast appearance, Ice... Read more

July 12, 2022 Video

AZ Says He’s Down To Make Music For The Firm’s 25th Anniversary

Last month, AZ released one of the most anticipated albums of 2021. The East New York, Brooklyn veteran delivered Doe Or Die 2, a sequel to his lauded 1995 debut–and an album that AZ had been hyping since the early 2010s. Proudly independent, AZ self-released the LP on his Quiet... Read more

October 26, 2021 Exclusive, Video

Nas Releases His King’s Disease Album. Where Does It Rank In His Catalog?

Last Friday (August 21), Nas released his 13th solo album, King’s Disease. Produced entirely by the Inland Empire native Hit-Boy, the project features appearances by Anderson .Paak, Charlie Wilson, Big Sean, and Dr. Dre, among others. The Mass Appeal Records release also marks a surprise reunion of The Firm. The... Read more

August 24, 2020 Fresh

Screwball Member Hostyle Has Passed Away At The Age Of 47

Hostyle, a founding member of Queens, New York Hip-Hop group Screwball, has died. R.A. The Rugged Man, Cormega, and other collaborators of the man born Frederick Ivey have acknowledged his passing. He was reportedly 47 years old. His cause of death has not been made public at this time. With... Read more

January 20, 2020 News

Nas Celebrates Prodigy & Queens On A Stellar Pete Rock Track (Audio)

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads fight through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it’s ever been. Not only are we able to... Read more

July 19, 2019 Audio

Cormega Breaks Down His Evocative New EP & Why The Fans Matter The Most

In the closing week of 2018, Cormega self-released Mega. The five-song project (that also includes the instrumentals) marked the MC's first in more than four years. The New Yorker partnered with Streetrunner, the veteran Grammy Award-winning producer co-credited for Meek Mill, JAY-Z, and Rick Ross' "What's Free?" in addition to... Read more

March 10, 2019 Exclusive, Interview

Cormega Releases His 1st Project In 4 Years & It’s Full Of Realness

Early in this decade, Cormega proved that one could still make major noise through the independent channel. The Queensbridge veteran accomplished more on his own than any famed label could seemingly do for the unique spitter. Throughout the last 20 years, Mega has fed his faithful fan-base with award-winning gems... Read more

December 27, 2018 Audio

A Video Shows Mobb Deep’s Lethal Sampling For “Murda Muzik,” On Its 19th Birthday

Mobb Deep's fourth album, Murda Muzik, remains their best-selling album to date. It began the duo's transition from New York street poets into a pair capable of making records that played on the radio, video shows, and the clubs at once. Havoc didn't forfeit his gift for sampling in the... Read more

August 17, 2018 Throwback, Video

Freeway Explains How One Cypher Changed His Career With Roc-A-Fella

On a scorching summer afternoon, Freeway is lounging in a cool recording studio in the Northern Liberties section in the City of Brotherly Love. The smoky lab is in the same high-rise building as accounting firms, law offices, and working folks pausing for a late afternoon snack in the ground... Read more

July 11, 2018 Food for Thought, Interview

Listen To A Hard-Hitting New Album Featuring Prodigy, Ghostface & Freddie Gibbs (Audio)

For those that may not be familiar, Vanderslice is a sample-savvy Hip-Hop producer with the respect of Heads (especially crate-diggers) across the map. He has rocked tracks with celebrated MCs like Vinnie Paz, Evidence, Planet Asia, Roc Marciano, Apathy, and the various members of Infamous Mobb. This Phoenixville, Pennsylvania native... Read more

July 10, 2018 Audio

AZ Gets Down To Firm Biz As He Rates The Rhymes Of Nas, Future & More (Video)

AZ is the latest guest on the "Rate The Bars" program. Many Hip-Hop Heads revere the Brooklyn, New Yorker for his lyricism, wordplay, and imagery. The MC said to be at work on his long-anticipated Doe Or Die 2 is a fitting and qualified judge for others' rhymes. As a... Read more

July 9, 2018 Video

Kool G Rap’s New LP Has Production From DJ Premier, Pete Rock & Alchemist. Listen Here (Audio)

Kool G Rap doesn't let his legend status stop him from continuing to do what he loves. Last year, the Corona, Queens veteran dropped his Return Of The Don album, and in 2018, he's following up the solid effort with a collaborative album full of heavy hitters behind the boards... Read more

July 6, 2018 Audio

Capone-N-Noreaga Join Forces With Cormega To Rule A Track Like Queens Kings (Audio)

It's been four years since Cormega released an album. Still, the Queens, New York representative has stayed busy releasing books, a la carte singles, and maintaining his ironclad reputation for feature work. 2014's Large Professor-produced Mega Philosophy is an album that offered plenty to sustain fans of introspection and cultural... Read more

April 23, 2018 Audio

Prodigy Mural In Queens Is Vandalized Just Hours After Completion

On Thursday (July 6), a mural dedicated to Mobb Deep MC Prodigy was completed in Queens, New York. The aerosol wall painting paid respects to the hometown artist (born Albert Johnson) who died on June 20. Created by Jeff Henriquez and Eli "Eos" Lazare "out of love and respect" for... Read more

July 8, 2017 Fresh, News

Havoc Reminds He’s 1 Of Hip-Hop’s Best Double Threats With A Tough Beat & Verse For Cormega (Audio)

Queens, New York meets the Queen’s country on this collaboration between Queensbridge veterans Cormega and Havoc and British MC Giggs. “Ironic” is the latest reminder that while Havoc is beloved for his Mobb Deep beats, dating back to Juvenile Hell, he was first introduced as a rapper—and a really good... Read more

December 1, 2016 Audio

Cormega Enrolls Sizzla For a Dose of Street Knowledge (Audio)

Queensbridge icon Cormega is celebrating the 15th anniversary of his debut solo album, The Realness this year, giving his fans an opportunity to reflect on its importance in the cultivation of his prowess as an MC. 2014's Mega Philosophy, a collaborative LP with fellow QB representative Large Professor, was touted... Read more

September 2, 2016 Audio

Prodigy Gives Away An Album Bundle Featuring Ghostface, Slick Rick, KRS-One & DJ Premier

Two weeks after Prodigy released the first R.I.P. album bundle, he completes the trilogy with his third and final installment. R.I.P. 3 features major Hip-Hop influences upon Mobb Deep such as KRS-One and Slick Rick, as well as peers ranging from Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon and Ghostface Killah, to Alchemist, Cormega,... Read more

March 25, 2016 Fresh

Cormega & Gunplay Flow Together Like Guns & Butter (Audio)

Cormega is known for his laid back delivery. While he can spit his words quickly, the Queensbridge veteran never needs to raise his voice to drive a point home. Maybach Music Group's Gunplay is a bit different. The Miami, Florida MC is one who amplifies tracks with his raw emotion,... Read more

February 29, 2016 Audio

Ever Hear This 1996 Nas & Cormega Cypher? (Audio)

Nas and Cormega have been linked for more than 20 years, ever since Nasir shouted out Mega on Illmatic's "One Love" in 1994. Although the two would go on to have a rift that was eventually resolved, their microphone alchemy was always undeniable. This was, perhaps, never more apparent than... Read more

October 24, 2015 Throwback

Cormega & Roc Marciano Flex Rugged Flows With No Filter (Audio)

From Queensbridge to Hempstead, Cormega and Roc Marciano represent that old New York City. Both MCs have been able to stay fresh and innovative, while always tapping into the sounds and the maneuvers of the 1980s and 1990s. Their music has bravado, street-wise sensibility, and a slickness that's hard to... Read more

June 12, 2015 Audio

Cormega Confirms 2015 EP, Produced Entirely By Mobb Deep’s Havoc

Following 2014's critically-acclaimed Mega Philosophy album by Cormega (now available on colored 2LP vinyl), it appears as though the Queens, New York veteran MC is well underway into a follow-up. Yesterday (January 14), 'Mega announced, via Twitter, that he is currently planning his first EP, produced entirely by Havoc, of... Read more

January 15, 2015 Fresh

AFH:14 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2014 (Food For Thought)

2014 was a special year in Hip-Hop music. Rather than a usual suspect front-running in spotlight, this was a democratic crop of albums—where new artists made cohesive introductory works, veterans advanced their skillsets and redefined their reputations, and underground MCs challenged the mainstream. There were artists who released multiple works,... Read more

December 31, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought

Cormega Releases a Dream Team Remix with AZ, Redman & Styles P (Audio)

This past Summer, Cormega released "MARS (Dream Team)" featuring AZ, Redman and Styles P. Just the lineup was enough to make Heads explode, but it actually lived up to its billing. Each MC flexed on the Large Professor beat which was one of the crown jewels on Cormega's stellar Mega... Read more

December 9, 2014 Audio

Finding The GOAT: GZA vs. Cormega…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

November 25, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Sadat X & Cormega Can Put Their Feet Up After All They’ve Achieved (Video)

After six months in audio, Sadat X & Cormega's "On Fire" video comes to life. Finding the pair of great MCs in luxurious New York City elements, the song celebrates the consistency, pedigree, and popularity of the two artists with history going back to the late '80s. This comes from... Read more

November 18, 2014 Fresh, Video

Cormega Has Spit Some Of His Finest Verses Acapella. How’s Reflection Stack Up? (Video)

Cormega's Mega Philosophy is still making its rounds months later, revered by many Heads as one of the best Hip-Hop albums of the year. The Queensbridge veteran frequently spits to silence to drive his words home, especially when it's something the original Firm member feels you should hear. This is... Read more

November 17, 2014 Fresh, Video

Cormega Makes Yet Another Industry Remix, With Inspectah Deck, Roc Marciano & Brand Nubian (Audio)

After a show-stopping original version, Cormega remixed his Mega Philosophy single "Industry" with Juice Crew alumni Kool G Rap, Craig G, and Masta Ace in late July. For early October, Cory does it again. The third mix of "Industry" includes two-thirds of Brand Nubian in Sadat X and Lord Jamar,... Read more

October 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Week in Hip-Hop Video: Royce Da 5’9″ & DJ Premier, Common, Styles P, Cormega, Joey Bada$$, Jeezy, Big KRIT & More (Video Playlist)

The week in video brought an incredible teaser from Royce Da 5'9", DJ Premier & Adrian Younge, dope freestyles from Joey Bada$$ and Murda Mook, videos from Styles P & Chris Rivers, Cormega, Mursday, Jeezy and Apollo Brown & Ras Kass, conversations with Big K.R.I.T. and Ab-Soul, and an amazing... Read more

September 21, 2014 Playlists, Video

One Of Cormega’s Philosophies Comes To Life With Large Professor & Maya Azucena (Video)

On this year's critically-acclaimed Mega Philosophy album by Cormega, one of the highlights is "Rise." With a chorus by songstress Maya Azucena, the Large Professor-produced (with additional input by Cormega) track has a Worldly feel to it. It should, as the record sprinkles universal hope on the people across the... Read more

September 16, 2014 Fresh, Video

Capone, Noreaga, Cormega & Nature Form Rap’s Mount Rushmore (Audio)

Capone, Noreaga, Cormega and Nature link on a Hazardis Soundz track to form Rap's Mount Rushmore. What's your ideal 4-person super group? Check out "Rap Rushmore." Related: Capone-N-Noreaga Talk Chasing Fame With Big L, Say AZ Stole Sugar Hill (Video)... Read more

September 10, 2014 Audio

DJ Doo Wop Releases Mixtapes Not Dead Pt. 2: This is Anarchy (Mixtape)

DJ Doo Wop has released part 2 of his Mixtapes Not Dead series. Like the first installment, this is primarily a compilation of recent releases from the likes of Rah Digga, M.O.P., Scarface, Cormega, Redman, Action Bronson, Cam'ron, Raekwon, Lil Kim and more. There are also choice exclusives like AZ's... Read more

August 8, 2014 Mixes

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop of July 2014 (Audio)

July brought the heat in Hip-Hop, including new music from Jeezy & Jay Z, Black Thought, Raekwon, G-Unit, Rah Digga, Q-Tip, Cormega, Wale, "Your Old Droog," Elzhi, Chubb Rock, KRS-One, Big K.R.I.T., Wiz Khalifa, Common, Dilated Peoples, Souls of Mischief, Scarface and more. Check out a playlist of the Best... Read more

August 2, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

Cormega Juices Up Industry, With A Kool G Rap, Masta Ace & Craig G Remix (Audio)

After the tremendous acclaim of Mega Philosophy single, "Industry," Cormega (as promised) is hard at work on some jaw-dropping remixes. Cory starts off looking at his own native borough of Queens, New York. There, 'Mega links with Craig G (who he worked with on QB's Finest's single, "Da Bridge 2001"),... Read more

July 29, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

This Week in Hip-Hop Brought a Righteous Verse from Lecrae, Videos from Common, Cormega, ONYX, YG & More (Video Playlist)

This week in Hip-Hop video brought some heavy hitters, including Lecrae conquering Sway's 5 Swingers of Death MC challenge with a righteous verse, 19-year old Kanye freestyling, new music videos from Cormega, Common, ONYX, YG, 2 Chainz, Chance the Rapper and more, Snoop interviewing Jimmy Kimmel, short clips on Apollo... Read more

July 26, 2014 Playlists, Video

Cormega Knows If It’s Not Bringing In Dollars, It’s Not Making Sense In The Industry (Video)

What makes dollars doesn't always make sense. Cormega, who was introduced to the culture as a part of the Nas constructed super group The Firm, takes his time to eloquently explain his beliefs about the money grubbing customs of the "Industry" that take away from the art and instead focus... Read more

July 24, 2014 Fresh, Video

Freeway & The Jacka Bake Some Cherry Pie With Freddie Gibbs & Jynx (Video)

Last April, Freeway finished his Broken Ankles project with Girl Talk and The Jacka recently wrapped up work on One Hunnid with Messy Marv and Blanco. Needless to say, the two have been quite busy this year. After last year's release of their previous collaborative mixtape, Write My Wrongs, the... Read more

July 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

View The Evolution Of Cormega In Mega Philosophy (Album Stream)

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... Read more

July 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop to Drop in June 2014 (Audio Playlist)

June brought some of the best Hip-Hop of the year, so far. We got new music from G-Unit, Common, Marsha Ambrosius & Dr. Dre, Ab-Soul & Kendrick Lamar, Souls of Mischief, Cormega, Mac Miller & Pete Rock, Black Thought, The Lox, Buckshot, Yasiin Bey & Mannie Fresh, Black Milk, Ice... Read more

July 3, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh, Playlists

Cormega Is The Self-Proclaimed Rap Basquiat, On A Large Professor Groove (Audio)

From the recluse to the disenchantment with fame, to the exceptional, enduring body of work, Cormega and Jean-Michel Basquiat aren't all that different. After all, they are two New Yorkers from a special era in time that took their city's image and represented it with style and grace. From justifying... Read more

June 18, 2014 Audio, Fresh

The Best Hip-Hop in May Included Slaughterhouse, KRS-One, Ghostface, Ab-Soul, Common, Cormega, The Roots & Much More (Audio Playlist)

Before we get too deep into June, here's a look back at some of the best Hip-Hop to drop in May and there was an abundance...You'll hear new music from Slaughterhouse, Cormega, KRS-One, Ab-Soul, Rapsody, Ghostface, Common, Mac Miller, De La Soul, Nitty Scott, MC, The Roots, Blu, Freddie Gibbs,... Read more

June 5, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

Cormega Calls Out The Industry Over A Smooth Large Professor Beat (Audio)

If anybody can be skeptical of record industry tactics, it's Queens veteran Cormega. "'Mega Montana" famously turned down a management offer from Steve Stoute, costing him a founder's spot in The Firm. When Nas, AZ, and Foxy Brown inked a mid-90s deal with Interscope/Aftermath, Cormega was abruptly replaced by The... Read more

May 19, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Cormega’s Releases Raekwon-Assisted Honorable, Mega Philosophy Album To Be Produced Entirely By Large Professor (Audio)

With the release of "Honorable" (embedded below), it's been confirmed that Cormega's upcoming album, Mega Philosophy, will release on July 22. The Queens MC, and former late '90s Def Jam Records hopeful confirmed the news this week, with sites including Ambrosia For Heads. Black Rob, Nature, AZ, Redman, Styles P, Raekwon,... Read more

May 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Ghostface Killah & Cormega Hit Mics Like Ted Koppel, With Glorified Excellence (Audio)

Queens, New York's DJ J-Love is a rhyming mixmaster who goes way, way back in the tape game. When he wasn't A&R'ing, rapping, and making popular mixtape series, J-Love was behind the decks for Ghostface Killah and Cormega on the road in the 2000s, and still. Who better then, to... Read more

May 5, 2014 Audio, Fresh

NBA Bans L.A. Clippers Owner Donald Sterling For Life, Hip-Hop Artists React

Earlier today, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced a lifetime ban sanctioned against 30-plus-year owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling. The streamed and televised press conference took place following a week where racist remarks from Sterling during a phone-called were leaked to website TMZ.com. Additionally, Sterling will be forced... Read more

April 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Cormega & Sadat X Come Together Nicely With That Everlasting Fire (Audio)

Two giants in the mental: Sadat X and Cormega link up for "Fire." The jazzier track, led by Lanelle Tyler has a cooled-out '70s feel that was re-popularized in the mid-'90s, around the time 'Mega was making a name, and Datty X was trying his hand at solo LPs. The... Read more

April 29, 2014 Audio, Fresh

ONYX Take it Back to the Tunnel with Cormega & Papoose (Audio)

In the '90, NYC's club The Tunnel was a premier destination for listening to Hip-Hop, particularly when you wanted to get raucous. ONYX pay homage to the venerable venue, on their single The Tunnel, and they bring Cormega and Papoose along for the celebration. Check out the video. Related: ONYX... Read more

March 7, 2014 Video

With Temperatures Dropping, Kool G Rap, Cormega, Roc Marciano & J-Love Want You To Look Outside (Audio)

Roc Marciano and Cormega have a great working relationship. Although Queensbridge's 'Mega has about a 10-year jump in the game from Hempstead's Marci, the two are very much about the intricacies of street life. Both of these qualities hail from the Kool G Rap archetype, dating back to the '80s.... Read more

January 28, 2014 Audio, Fresh