The Realness

Last updated
The Realness
Therealness.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 24, 2001
Recorded2000–2001
Genre East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop
Length49:43
Label Legal Hustle, LandSpeed
Producer
Cormega chronology
The Realness
(2001)
The True Meaning
(2002)
Singles from The Realness
  1. "You Don't Want It"
    Released: 2000
  2. "Get Out My Way"
    Released: September 25, 2001

The Realness is the debut studio album by American rapper Cormega. It features guest appearances from Mobb Deep and Tragedy Khadafi, as well as production from Havoc of Mobb Deep, J-Love, and The Alchemist, among others. [1] It was released via Legal Hustle Records and LandSpeed Records.

Contents

The Realness was re-released in 2007 with The True Meaning , Cormega's second album from 2002, in a double special-edition package. The album's sequel, The Realness II , was released on October 7, 2022.

Background

Cormega rose to fame in the mid-90s as an original member of The Firm hip hop group, along with Nas, AZ and Foxy Brown, appearing on the song "Affirmative Action" from the Nas album It Was Written . [2] After being booted from the group, Cormega signed a record deal with Def Jam Recordings, and recorded his first album The Testament . The album was eventually shelved, and Cormega was dropped from label, joining LandSpeed Records for his first official release.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
HipHopDX Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
RapReviews7/10 [5]

The Realness received mostly positive reviews. J-23 of HipHopDX praised the album's production, calling it a "pleasant surprise". [4] Matt Conaway of AllMusic stated that the album paints Cormega as "one of the most promising thug poets to emerge in quite sometime". [3]

Track listing

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Dramatic Entrance"J-Love2:18
2."American Beauty"Cormega2:03
3."Thun & Kicko" (featuring Prodigy) Havoc 3:56
4."The Saga"Big Ty4:00
5."R U My Nigga?"Jae Supreme3:18
6."Unforgiven"Spank Brother2:06
7."Fallen Soldiers"J-love3:39
8."Glory Days"Jae Supreme3:22
9."Rap's a Hustle" Ayatollah 3:38
10."Get Out My Way" Sha Money XL 4:29
11."You Don't Want It" Godfather Don 2:56
12."5 for 40" 0:47
13."They Forced My Hand" (featuring Tragedy Khadafi)Spunk Bigga4:01
14."Fallen Soldiers (Remix)" The Alchemist 4:27
15."Killaz Theme II (Hidden Track)" (featuring Mobb Deep)Havoc4:07
Total length:49:43

Sample credits[ citation needed ]

Charts

Chart (2001)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [6] 111
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [7] 24
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [8] 4

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label
Various2001 Cassette LandSpeed
Vinyl
CD
2014 Digital download Slimstyle
Streaming

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References

  1. Weinstein, Max (July 24, 2016). "THE MAKING OF CORMEGA'S 'THE REALNESS'". XXL . Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  2. "The Making of Nas' "It Was Written"". Complex . May 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Conaway, Matt. "Cormega - The Realness Review". AllMusic . Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  4. 1 2 J-23 (September 2, 2001). "Cormega - The Realness". HipHopDX . Retrieved November 13, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. Mr. S (October 20, 2001). "Cormega :: The Realness :: Landspeed Records". RapReviews. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
  6. "Cormega Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  7. "Cormega Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  8. "Cormega Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.