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The True Meaning

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The True Meaning
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 25, 2002
Recorded2001
StudioC Mo' Greens Studio (New York, NY)
GenreEast Coast hip hop
Length39:42
Label
  • Legal Hustle
  • Landspeed Records
Producer
Cormega chronology
The Realness
(2001)
The True Meaning
(2002)
Legal Hustle
(2004)
Singles from The True Meaning
  1. "Built For This"
    Released: 2002
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
RapReviews8.5/10[2]
Vibe[3]

The True Meaning is the second solo studio album by American rapper Cormega. It was released on June 25, 2002 via Legal Hustle/Landspeed Records. Production was handled by J "Waxx" Garfield, J-Love, Alchemist, Buckwild, DR Period, Emile, Hangmen 3, Hi-Tek, Hot Day, and Large Professor, who also provided the lone guest appearance on the album.

The album peaked at number 95 on the Billboard 200, number 25 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number five on the Independent Albums in the United States. Its lead single, "Built For This", reached number 58 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales.

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 feud with fellow Queensbridge rapper Nas, and "Verbal Graffiti".

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Introspective"Emile2:00
2."Verbal Graffiti"
Hangmen 32:46
3."Live Ya Life"
  • McKay
  • Jay Garfield
J "Waxx" Garfield3:43
4."Ain't Gone Change"McKay 0:48
5."The True Meaning"
  • McKay
  • Darryl Pittman
DR Period3:52
6."A Thin Line"Buckwild3:59
7."The Legacy"Alchemist2:47
8."Love in Love Out"
  • McKay
  • Jason Elias
J-Love3:11
9."The Come Up" (featuring Large Professor)Large Professor2:48
10."Built for This"
  • McKay
  • Garfield
J "Waxx" Garfield2:49
11."Soul Food"
  • McKay
  • Garfield
J "Waxx" Garfield2:37
12."Take These Jewels"Hi-Tek2:15
13."Endangered Species"
  • McKay
  • Elias
J-Love2:56
14."Therapy"
  • McKay
  • Dante Franklin
Hot Day3:11
Total length:39:42

Personnel

[edit]
  • Cory "Cormega" McKay – vocals, art direction, sleeve notes
  • Nicky Guiland – vocals (track 3)
  • Paul "Large Professor" Mitchell – vocals & producer (track 9)
  • Emile Haynie – producer (track 1)
  • Jeffrey Backues Neal – producer (track 2)
  • John Bynoe – producer (track 2)
  • Raymond "Benzino" Scott – producer (track 2)
  • Jay "Waxx" Garfield – producer (tracks: 3, 10, 11)
  • Darryl "DR Period" Pittman – producer (track 4)
  • Anthony "Buckwild" Best – producer (track 5)
  • Alan "The Alchemist" Maman – producer (track 6)
  • Jason "J-Love" Elias – producer (tracks: 8, 13)
  • Tony "Hi-Tek" Cottrell – producer (track 12)
  • "Hot Day" Dante Franklin – producer (track 14)
  • Max Vargas – recording, mixing
  • Trevor "Karma" Gendron – design, layout
  • Jonathan Mannion – photography
  • Matthew Doszkocs – photography
  • Theo Sedlmayr – legal

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2002) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[4] 95
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5] 25
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[6] 5

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "Cormega - The True Meaning Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  2. ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (July 16, 2002). "Cormega :: The True Meaning :: Legal Hustle Records/LandSpeed". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  3. ^ Levine, Rebecca (July 2002). "Revolutions: Cormega – The True Meaning". Vibe. p. 135.
  4. ^ "Cormega Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  5. ^ "Cormega Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  6. ^ "Cormega Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
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