The Realness

Not to be confused with Realness (RuPaul album).

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. 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
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

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Dramatic Entrance"	J-Love	2:18
2.	"American Beauty"	Cormega	2:03
3.	"Thun & Kicko" (featuring Prodigy)	Havoc	3:56
4.	"The Saga"	Big Ty	4:00
5.	"R U My Nigga?"	Jae Supreme	3:18
6.	"Unforgiven"	Spank Brother	2:06
7.	"Fallen Soldiers"	J-love	3:39
8.	"Glory Days"	Jae Supreme	3:22
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 Bigga	4:01
14.	"Fallen Soldiers (Remix)"	The Alchemist	4:27
15.	"Killaz Theme II (Hidden Track)" (featuring Mobb Deep)	Havoc	4:07
Total length:			49:43

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

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

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label
Various	2001	Cassette	LandSpeed
		Vinyl
		CD
	2014	Digital download	Slimstyle
		Streaming

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. Conaway, Matt. "Cormega - The Realness Review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
4. J-23 (September 2, 2001). "Cormega - The Realness". HipHopDX. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
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.