The True Meaning
| The True Meaning | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 25, 2002 | |||
| Recorded | 2001 | |||
| Genre | East Coast hip hop | |||
| Label | Legal Hustle | |||
| Producer | Emile Hangmen 3 J. Waxx Garfiled D/R Period Buckwild The Alchemist J.Love Large Professor Hi-Tek Hot Day Dante | |||
| Cormega chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| NME | 7/10[2] |
| RapReviews.com | 8.5/10[3] |
| The Source |  |
| Stylus Magazine | A[4] |
| Vibe | [5] |
The True Meaning is the second studio album by Queensbridge rapper Cormega. It was critically acclaimed and won the prestigious "Independent Album of the Year" at the Source Awards 2003. He also received "Impact Artist of the Year" honors at the Underground Music Awards. It was praised for its "back to basics" formula, tight beats and fierce rhymes. Standout tracks include "Live Ya Life", "Love In Love Out" which documents Cormega's beef with fellow Queensbridge rapper Nas, and "Verbal Graffiti".
Track listing
| # | Title | Featured guest(s) | Producer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Introspective" | Emile | 2:00 | |
| 2 | "Verbal Graffiti" | Hangmen 3 | 2:46 | |
| 3 | "Live Ya Life" | J. Waxx Garfield | 3:43 | |
| 4 | "Ain't Gone Change" | 0:48 | ||
| 5 | "The True Meaning" | D/R Period | 3:52 | |
| 6 | "A Thin Line" | Buckwild | 3:59 | |
| 7 | "The Legacy" | The Alchemist | 2:47 | |
| 8 | "Love in Love Out" | J-Love | 3:11 | |
| 9 | "The Come Up" | Large Professor | Large Professor | 2:48 |
| 10 | "Built for This" | J. Waxx Garfield | 2:49 | |
| 11 | "Soul Food" | J. Waxx Garfield | 2:37 | |
| 12 | "Take These Jewels" | Hi-Tek | 2:15 | |
| 13 | "Endangered Species" | J-Love | 2:56 | |
| 14 | "Therapy" | Hot Day Dante | 3:11 |
Samples
- "Live Ya Life"
- "Thank You (For This Blessing)" by Billy Paul
- "The True Meaning"
- "Sleepin'" by Diana Ross
- "A Thin Line"
- "Excursion with Complications" by Bo Hansson
- "Endangered Species"
- "Ain't No Sunshine" by Tom Jones
- "Built for This"
- "All in Love Is Fair" by Nancy Wilson
- "Soul Food"
- "The Windmills of Your Mind" by Petula Clark
- "Verbal Graffiti"
- "Hitsuku" by Osamu Kitajima
- "Introspective"
- "Put Out My Fire" by Lamont Dozier
- "Therapy"
- "Stronger Than Before" Chaka Khan
- "As the Rhyme Goes On" Eric B. & Rakim
- "Love in Love Out"
- "Ike's Rap III/Your Love Is So Doggone Good" Isaac Hayes
- "The Legacy"
- "I Fell in Love" Damon Harris
- "The Come Up"
- "You Can't Do That to Me" by Walter Murphy
- "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" by Esther Phillips
- "Take These Jewels"
- "Just an Illusion" by Imagination
Charts
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[6] | 95 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] | 25 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8] | 5 |