The Realness [Explicit Lyrics]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
If rap's a hustle and only the strong survive, then Cormega must be an ironman. Better known for what he hasn't appeared on, 'Mega's name first came to light when Nasty Nas mentioned during "One Love" that he'd been incarcerated. Then came his much-publicized non-tenure with Nas's supergroup, The Firm. After years of dealing with street-music biz madness, Cormega has taken his time to craft The Realness. Similar in theme to his friend Prodigy's H.N.I.C., The Realness mainly deals with day-to-day life in the ghetto, while throwing a sideways nod to industry drama and the art of rhyming. On first listen, this might seem to be little more than that ol' bittersweet thug reflection people love to indulge in, but the quiet beats and somber lyrics will grow on you. The real gem here is "American Beauty," a succinct, multidimensional breakdown of the development of hip-hop at the hand of her creators. Are you listening, Nas? --Rebecca Levine

The Realness,Cormega,Landspeed,East Coast Rap,Gangsta Rap,Hardcore Rap,Hip-Hop,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop

The Realness [Explicit Lyrics]

The Realness [Explicit Lyrics]

The Dusty Foot Philosopher
Average customer rating:

Addictive and thought-provoking

Phenominal

Refreshing, innovative, dynamic

Masterfull

Overwhelmingly Beautiful and Poetic!

The Dusty Foot Philosopher
K'naan
Manufacturer: Bmg
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Experimental Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mind Control

Gold and Wax

Joyful

Atlantis: Hymns for Disco

Right About Now

ASIN: B000A1IKCO
Release Date: 2005-06-23

Tracks:

Wash It Down
Soobax
What's Hardcore?
My Old Home
Moment
I Was Stabbed by Satan
My God
Smile
If Rap Gets Jealous
Dusty Foot Philosopher
Strugglin'
In the Beginning
Hoobaale
African Way
Voices in My Head
Boxing My Shadow
For Mohamoud (Soviet)
Until the Lion Learns to Speak

Album Description

K'naan, former refugee, now based in Toronto makes music that is a mixture of hip hop, African beats and world music intertwined - combining African drums, chants, handclaps, guitars and organic instrumentation sets this album outside the hip hop herd. K'naan creates music with a message. Leaving Somalia at the age of thirteen on what turned out to be the last commercial flight ever to do so, amidst a crumbling society and the end to this day of any form of central government K'naan carried with him a very strong sense of purpose as well as his amazing lyrical gift, which has made him a beacon for other artists a well as those dedicated to global change. Canada only release! With his unique voice and truly authentic style, K'naan brings an enormous dose of realness and urgency to the hip-hop world in a time when people are desperate for it. From a personal and cultural history rooted in poetry (being the grandson of one of Somalia's most famous poets), K'naan widens the traditional hip-hop perspective. Discovered and produced by Track & Field, same producers that discovered and produced Nelly Furtado, Dusty Foot Philosopher is comprised of 18 total tracks including 'Smile', 'My Old Home', 'In The Beginning', 'Voices In My Head', 'Wash It Down', 'Hoobaale', 'Rap Gets Jealous' and more. BMG. 2005.

Album Details

Negotiating his Way Forcefully Through a Gritty Sandstorm of Spoken-word and African Instrumental Interludes, K'naan Brings Us a Collection of Funky, Original Backgrounds Nearly as Weighty as the Cautionary Words that Float above Them. In his Liner Notes, K'naan Recounts a Nearly Fatal Incident Involving a Live Grenade which He and a Couple of his School Friends Discovered in their Classroom in Mogadishu, Somalia. While Playing with the Mysterious Object, which Initially Looked Like a Potato, the Grenade's Pin Slipped. Throwing it as Fast and as Far as He Could, the Destructive Object Lay to Ruin Much of the Empty Building. Thankfully, No One was Hurt. Then Only Ten Years Old, K'naan (Whose Name Means "The Traveller" in Somalian) Credits that Event as the Watershed Moment which Led Him to Become a Writer.

Customer Reviews:

Addictive and thought-provoking.......2007-07-07

Everyone will have their own opinion, but in my opinion (which is the best! : * ) this is the best CD I've purchased in a long time. If you like Arrested Development, Donnie, Stevie Wonder, India Arie or anybody who's not just singing or rapping for the sake of filling airtime, you'll love it. In The Beginning makes me dance, Hoobaale makes my think and sing at the same time, and What's Hardcore makes me laugh at the stupidity of mainstream hip-hop "gangstas". I love it.

Phenominal.......2006-12-16

I generally listen to reggae and have recently gotten into more Hip-hop and Rap. So, while I may not have the best perspective on this type of music, I will put it simply: this album blew me away. I really can't put my finger on it, but K'naan is fantastic. He is clever, angry, poetic, lyrical, and contemplative all at the same time. Besides the rythims, beats, etc., which are great, K'naan is able to give the listener a picture of whatever he's rhyming about, literally a picture in your mind. And, this is fundementally positive rap, hard to find no doubt, and it also makes you want to stand up a move around. I recommend this album to any fan of music, and I anxiously await K'naan's sophmore attempt.

Refreshing, innovative, dynamic.......2006-11-27

I normally don't go for hip hop and I hardly ever give 5 stars, but quality trumps genre any day, and this is some great stuff. Musically influenced by hip hop beats and his native Somalia, he manages to keep them successfully distinct. When he does merge them, it is with skill and style and wit. Too often merged styles end up sounding muddy, but not here.

The lyrics are poetic. He deals with some very serious subjects, but manages to inject humour and pragmatism without cheapening the message.

Finally, the album works well as a whole, not just a collection of songs, though you'll probably want to add some singles to your playlists.

Enjoy!

Masterfull.......2006-10-19

I had a chance to see K'naan at the Breedlove Tour with Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Pharaoh Monche and Jean Grey and let me tell you he rocked the show. I had the chance to meet him after the show as he was selling his beautiful album at the back of the Fillmore in Denver and what a guy. Humble, kind, very down to earth. His music expresses the hardships of leaving his homeland and the unimaginable pain of living in modern day Somalia. His music expresses the frustration and anger about his homeland but also brings hope about the future, as well as awareness as most people especially in the U.S. have no idea what is going on over there because CNN and other corporate media just cover it as a rogue state. K'naan puts the human element in his music and expresses it beautifully. Great all around CD, original beats, lyrics, and well put together. Keep on fighting K'naan wherever you are.

Overwhelmingly Beautiful and Poetic!.......2006-10-04

I'm an East African who grew up right over the border from Somalia and even then, I've never heard anyone say anything about Somalia other than rehashing CNN's point of view. It was always just a "messed up" place and nothing else. Finally this young brother speaks with such passion about the life and people that LIVE there...despite the turmoil and everything else there is LIFE and LOVE and K'Naan does such a phenomenal job getting that across. Listening to his tracks you can feel the pain, the frusteration, the hope...everything. He also acknowledges that just because he's no longer in a war-torn country doesn't automatically mean that life is great, a thought rarely discussed when it comes to refugees. It's often assumed and believed that we've done them all a great huge favor by removing them from their country...and while it's obviously better not to live under the fear of death, there's also the fact that generally people prefer to live in their home surroundings with the people they love and are familiar with. Migration, even to the lands of milk and honey in the west, is a HUGE sacrifice. Bravo K'Naan! This CD is a major contribution to Africa's history and to the masses whose thoughts and feelings are rarely acknowledged in an affirming an unbiased manner. An ESSENTIAL piece to anyone's library!

Average customer rating:

The Realness is the realness
Cormega is for real
The Realness...
Cormega - The Realness
The Real Album!

The Realness
Cormega
Manufacturer: Landscape Germany
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Rap & Hip-Hop | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The True Meaning
Legal Hustle
The Testament
Lifestylez Ov Da Poor and Dangerous
My Brother's Keeper

ASIN: B00005LN49
Release Date: 2001-07-24

Tracks:

Dramatic Entrance
American Beauty
Thun & Kicko (featuring Prodigy of Mobb Deep)
The Saga
R U My Ni**a?
Unforgiven
Fallen Soldiers
Glory Days
Rap's A Hustle
Get Out My Way
You Don't Want It
5 For 40
They Forced My Hand (featuring Tragedy Khadafi)
Fallen Soldiers (remix)

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

If rap's a hustle and only the strong survive, then Cormega must be an ironman. Better known for what he hasn't appeared on, 'Mega's name first came to light when Nasty Nas mentioned during "One Love" that he'd been incarcerated. Then came his much-publicized non-tenure with Nas's supergroup, The Firm. After years of dealing with street-music biz madness, Cormega has taken his time to craft The Realness. Similar in theme to his friend Prodigy's H.N.I.C., The Realness mainly deals with day-to-day life in the ghetto, while throwing a sideways nod to industry drama and the art of rhyming. On first listen, this might seem to be little more than that ol' bittersweet thug reflection people love to indulge in, but the quiet beats and somber lyrics will grow on you. The real gem here is "American Beauty," a succinct, multidimensional breakdown of the development of hip-hop at the hand of her creators. Are you listening, Nas? --Rebecca Levine

Customer Reviews:

The Realness is the realness.......2006-11-09

The title "The Realness" explains it all. A lot of rappers talk about what they did and do when they don't. Cormega actually did and does it. Dramatic entrance was one of my favorite songs since 2000, which hasn't yeilded many good albums or artists besides Cormega and Little Brother. The last 8 years or so has been a terrible period for hip hop/rap. Cormega has been around for ever, and was supposed to blow up like Raekwon and Nas. It's probably better he didn't blow up like them because he has kept all his real fans, without losing the real street flows. Cop this. Peace.

Cormega is for real.......2006-07-15

The Realness was easily the best album of 2001. The production is flawless for an independent release and the lyrics are perfect. Cormega tells a story better than anyone. With the clowns people consider rappers these days, Cormega is for real. Tracks that stand out are Thun & Kicko feat. Prodigy and Rap's a Hustle.

The Realness..........2006-05-12

If you've never heard of Cormega, he is the second most poetic, respected & creative Mc's ever to come out of Queens, behind Nas. Similarly he is undoubteduly in the top 10 NY artists of all time. Yes, I know that is a bold statement but for me & alot of other true fans, its the truth. Cormega is very down to earth, and his style is one of the most distinctive in hiphop. The Realness is the best example of how Great of an MC cormega is, for all those who don't know, and it needs to be checked out if you consider yourself to be an NY hiphop fan. Even though its 2001, the realness is reminiscent of the sound that was so prominent in the best time for hiphop (The Early - Mid 90's). Most of the production on the realness is handled by Queen's legend;Havoc,J-Love,Ayatollah,Alchemist & others who all bring nothing less than impeccable for Cormega to lay down his inspiring material. The highlights of the album are definitely the tracks "American Beauty", were Cormega makes subtle comparisons of hiphop with a human being, talking about its journey throughout the years and how its progressed. Likewise "They Forced My hand" featurng tragedy khadafi is nothing short off a QB classic, with a beat that should send shivers down your spine. Cormega even performs his brief trademark poems, with no beat, on the track "5 for 40" showing passion & creativity that only an understanding hiphop fan can appreciate. By all means necessary get this album if you claim to be a fan of that "real" hiphop, as Cormega is the epitome of "real". CLASSIC. Peace!

Lyrics - 10/10
Beats - 10/10
Originality - 9/10
Replay Value - 10/10

Also check out: "True meaning" & "the testament" by corey, because they also need to be heard.

If you found this helpful, check my other reviews

Cormega - The Realness.......2006-03-16

Another good Cormega album. Just for my style, some of the beats on here I wasnt feeling MUCH but a little bit. Some of the beats I liked alot. But I gave this album 5 stars just for the fact that Cormega doesnt spit about stupid sh**. He spits about real stuff that happens, life. Thats why this album deserves that rating. You know you could wack beats, but if your lyrics are THAT good, it makes up most of the time. And Cormega does it on here. Check this album out for sure, youll like it. Real hiphop in the hands of this album. Some DEEP songs on here, slow paced, and some uptempo tracks. Check this!!!

My Top 5 Songs
1.Dramatic Entrance
2.The Saga
3.Fallen Soldiers
4.Glory Days
5.Get Out Of My Way

The Real Album!.......2006-01-09

Personally,I respect this dude and his lyrics for not being fake.He definity out shined everyone in Queens that year with this album.He shown heart and keept it real!A true underground Classic.One Love,Mega

Average customer rating:

Realness
Art Recycling Factory
Manufacturer: Extraplatte
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000050SEM
Release Date: 1996-01-01

Tracks:

Welcome
Fullhouse
Maiwipferln
Minutes
TV Cannot Worry Me
Blue Noon
Prelude in G
News Flash
Nicht Von Nirgendwo
Pissing Mink
A(nother) Child Is Born
San Pedro
P. M. Slight Return

Average customer rating:

I 8 the Sandbox
Mary Mulliken
Manufacturer: Fredandbetty Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00080QRK4
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

You Ain't Worth A Dime
Don't Be A Stranger
Good To Be Home
Marina From The Marina
My Only Friend
La Vida Brillante
My Way Back Home
I'm A Man
'Til I Saw You Next To Me
Purple Stream

Product Description

Singer-Songwriter

Average customer rating:

Keep It Country

Manufacturer: Country Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA4D0Q
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Average customer rating:

Strong Emotion

Manufacturer: Kara Inc.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAH5Q0
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Average customer rating:

Thru My Eyez
C-Ride
Manufacturer: KingCity Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAKVR0
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

Intro
Dawning
No Stoppin' Us (Interlude)
Rock the Spot
In the Air Tonight
Please Come Home
Tiglath Pileser
Keep It Hot
Unconscious Environment
Thru My Eyez
Heaven
Oh No
Freak Mix
Record Release Party
Cali'z Finest
When Souljahz Collide
Wat U Know Bout' Dis

Average customer rating:

La Vie En Rose Presents... Volume 1
Music Factory , Darren Ash , Martin Smith , Miguel Brown , Evelyn Thomas , Barbara Pennington , Hot Gossip , Earlene Bentley , Seventh Avenue , and The Communards
Manufacturer: Music Factory Records Ltd. France
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000SO4M9S

Product Description

LA VIE EN ROSE' PRESENTS Volume One - Two Mixes Of Hi NRG Realness ------------------------------------------- TRACKS: A - An oral extravaganza 1. MIQUEL BROWN - So Many Men, So Little Time (Saint & Sinner Tranny Mix) 2. THE FLIRTATIONS - Earthquake 3. KOFI & THE LOVENOTONES - Countdown 4. EVELYN THOMAS - Reflections 5. BARBARA PENNINGTON - All American Boy 6. HOT GOSSIP - Break Me Into Little Pieces 7. JAMES And SUSAN WELLS - R.S.V.P. 8. SARIENE BENTLEY - Caught In The Act 9. KELLY MARIE - I'm Om Fire 10. SAMANTA GILLES - Let Me Feel It 11. SEVENTH AVENUE - Ending Up On A High 12. THE COMMUNARDS - Never Can Say Goodbye ------------------------------------------------------ B - The Second Coming... 1. EVERLYN THOMAS - High Energy 2. SYLVESTER / PATRICK COWLEY - Menergy 3. PHYLIS NELSON - I Like You 4. DIVINE - Native Love (Step By Step) 5. BOBBY 'O' - I'm So Hot For You 6. DIVINE - Love Reaction 7. RONI GRIFFITH - The Best Part Of Breaking Up 8. SINITTA - So Macho 9. MAN 2 MAN MEET MAN PARRISH - Male Stripper 10. SYLVESTER / PATRICK COWLEY - Do Ya Wanna Funk 11. JEANIE TRACY - Time Bomb 12. MODERN ROCKETRY feat. JO-LO - Cuba Libre 13. JO-LO - Soul

Average customer rating:

Deserves 10 Stars ! !
Just Listen
The Ultimate Artist

Nobody Nowhere

Manufacturer: Donna Williams
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA3TZ6
Release Date: 2003-02-18

Customer Reviews:

Deserves 10 Stars ! ! .......2007-03-04

This collection of music by Donna Williams is sensational! She has a gorgeous voice! The words are meaningful & insightful. The melodies are absolutely exquisite & unique. The production quality is awesome. Someone recommended this CD to me, saying, "All the songs are really good." However, I found that to be an understatement. The songs exceeded my expectations, and I was not prepared for how struck I was by the CD from the very first time I heard it. Typically on music collections that I like, there are from one to three songs that stand out. However, on this CD, most of the songs not only stand out, but rank as some of the best music I've EVER heard. Once I put it into the CD player of my car, it didn't come out for the better part of a year. The first time I moved on to other music, I went right back to this CD. I am so glad that Donna Williams overcame the obstacles that might have prevented production of these songs -- which have truly enriched the realm of music!

Just Listen.......2006-07-25

My wife has been playing this for days, and I have to say, it's GREAT. Just check it out, it's good for everybody.

The Ultimate Artist.......2006-07-25

Donna Williams' music WILL touch you. She is an artist in ways that are incomprehensible to most. I urge you to listen, read, and check out her paintings and sculptures, for she epitomizes the word ART, as she is a master work in and of herself.

Average customer rating:

Instant classic: the new way of modern hip hop

The Realness
Cormega
Manufacturer: Landscape Germany
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Rap & Hip-Hop | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005NNGE
Release Date: 2001-08-14

Tracks:

Dramatic Entrance
American Beauty
Thun and Kicko - Cormega,
Saga
R U My N***a?
Unforgiven
Fallen Soldiers
Glory Days
Rap's a Hustle
Get Out My Way
You Don't Want It
5 for 40
They Forced My Hand
Fallen Soldiers

Customer Reviews:

Instant classic: the new way of modern hip hop.......2001-09-23

Cormega is one of the most talented hip hop artists of our times. He truly has poetic skills to show us real hip hop ingredients. He's street not just a fake thug who act up.
Now, let's analyze the CD one by one:
1., "Dramatic entrance" - this song is a good pick to start a CD with. The production is tight, the beat is tight, the lyrics is tight. Everything works on this track.
2., "American beauty" - my favorite one. In this song he talks about the process and progress of hip hop from day one to now. Cormega shows us his poetic skills impersonalizing hip hop as a woman who was married by Slick Rick, stranded by Suge Knight, sad after Pac and BIG death and treated right by DJ Premier. This is a real gem.
3., "Thun and Kicko" - this songs features one of the realest emcees ever: Prodigy of Mobb Deep. The song is tight with a good production, a good music and two tight emcees trading verses.
4., "The saga" - this one features 'Spank'. In this song Cormega goes street showing his inner inside.
5., "R u my nigga" - this song is really a catchy one. I felt Cormega's lyrics.
6., "Unforgiven" - I like this one very much. Cormega spits fire in this short song which has tight production, beat and lyrics.
7., "Fallen soldiers" - a tribute to dead brothers like Pac, Biggie and Killa Black. The lyrics caught me. Really.
8., "Glory days" - it's about the gloriest days of hip hop, Cormega's enviroment. Cormega throws rhymes from the heart. Tight track.
9., "Rap's a hustle" - good song with good lyrics.
10., "Get out of my way" - this is the only song I don't really like. The music sound strange to me but the lyrics is alright. I think, Nas was vexed about this song calling Cormega corny in his "Stillmatic" freestyle. In this track Cormega says "That Nas and Jay-Z beef didn't involve me". This must be the reason why Nas is mad at Cormega.
11., "You don't want it" - one of Cormega's best songs in this album. Perfect.
12., "5 for 40" - just a freestyle.
13., "They forced my hand" - features Tragedy Khadafi. I love this song. This song is just perfect. Two great emcees trade verses. Just listen to it and y'all will know what I'm talking about. (This song is also on Tragedy Khadafi's album "Against all odds")
14., "Fallen soldiers /remix/" - as good as the original (ever better).
bonus track., "Killaz theme II." - with Mobb Deep. Really a tight song.
So, in addition Cormega's "The realness" is perfect beats, rhymes and productions.
5 stars! Truly!

Soul Music:

Soul Music

soul music

Recommended Music:

Smoke

Anthems of Charles Wood 1

Before Today [CD-single]

Les Stances a Sophie

Dominion Day [EP]

Alessandro Safina

Accentuate the Positive

Bach: Cantata No. 82/Cantata No. 202

Anonymity

Andrea Rost - Le delizie dell'amor (Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti Arias) / Mackerras

Almost Blue

Aqui Llegamos [Import]

30 Corridos Mas Prohibidos [Clean]

Bach: St. John Passion; Mass in B Minor; Easter Oratorio; Ascension Oratorio

More Jack Than God