Cormega Talks Def Jam Days & “Illmatic” Influence
- DX: For sure. I think it’s kind of cliché to bring up Nas in a Cormega interview. And I hate watching or reading those interviews because you’re Cormega, not Nas. But since we’re talking about Queensbridge influencers, did Nas, aside from the shoutouts on “One Love” and “Represent,” impact your career heavily?
Cormega: Yes, he did. He definitely did. His influence wanted to make people sign me and associate with me. His influence was important, because once I was a part of that Firm situation, it was a big buzz, so I guess that made the stock go up. So he definitely was important. I can’t front on anybody. The It Was Written album was the biggest album I’ve ever been on. It was a multi-platinum album. I can’t front. I’m thankful for that.
DX: We spoke about Queensbridge earlier and as someone in the scene for over two decades to you, which was the biggest album in QB when it was released:
Illmatic,
The Infamous,
The War Report, or something different?
Cormega: It’s kind of difficult to compare anything to
Illmatic.
Illmatic changed Rap.
The Infamous was an incredible, glorious album too, man. I mean all three of those albums were pretty good but
Illmatic is just a whole another level.
Illmatic did for Hip Hop, what
Paid In Full did in the ‘80s with Eric B and Rakim,
Illmatic did in the ‘90s.