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.

The Realness
Studio album by Cormega
Released	July 24, 2001
Recorded	2000–2001
Genre	East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop
Length	49:43
Label	Legal Hustle, LandSpeed
Producer	Cormega J-Love Havoc Big Ty Jae-Supreme Spank Brother Ayatollah Sha Money XL Godfather Don Spunk Bigga The Alchemist
Cormega chronology
The Realness (2001) The True Meaning (2002)
Singles from The Realness
"You Don't Want It" Released: 2000 "Get Out My Way" Released: September 25, 2001

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

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
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[3]
HipHopDX	[4]
RapReviews	7/10[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

This section needs expansion with: songwriters. You can help by adding to it. (July 2020)

Sample credits^{[citation needed]}

• American Beauty
  • "I've Been Watching You" by Southside Movement
• R U My Nigga?
  • "Night Moves" by Frank McDonald
• Unforgiven'
  • "4th Movement: Passacaglia" by Yusef Lateef
• Rap's a Hustle
  • "I Choose You" by Willie Hutch
• Fallen Soldiers
  • "Beggar's Song" by Wet Willie
• They Forced My Hand
  • "Signal Your Intention" by Hodges, James and Smith
• Glory Days
  • "Each Day I Cry a Little" by Eddie Kendricks
• You Don't Want It
  • "Alone in the Ring" by Bill Conti
• Fallen Soldiers (Remix)
  • "Time" by Morning, Noon & Night

Charts

Release history

References