Released: July 22, 2014

Featuring: Raekwon

Songwriter: Large Professor Raekwon Cormega

Producer: Large Professor

[Verse 1: Raekwon]
(Mega, Mega what up?)
Ayo, the library of slangs - dutches up in Ukraine
Political prisoner, check the chain
Out the country with my dame
Televised gangsters, see me up close, nothing's changed
Gettin' top on top, bags and duffels
I need the long Glock
You stupid? Don't play me
See 'em in drugs spots, plainclothes, all in shock
Dick out, can't even explain me
I live for the moment, give to the homeless
$20,000 TECs, cribs is a bonus
You fuckin' with them niggas who bust straight
Menace to society drinkin' juice in the hood, waitin'
Paper made me do it, your body we'll snatch
It's like a London flick against the Japs
Sittin' at the dice table, handlin', man to man
One-on-one, a hundred grand and your son

[Chorus: Cormega]
In life we're faced with obstacles
We want to achieve dreams that might seem impossible
The odds don't lie, look at mine - acknowledge truth
The streets raised me to be wise and honorable...
Wise and honorable...
The streets raise me to be wise and honorable...
Wise and honorable....
The streets raised me to be wise and honorable

[Verse 2: Cormega]
Beef and money don't mix, invest in peace
I've paid dues in the street, respect is my receipt
Truth will set you free, except with police
Be aware when you sleep or you could rest in peace
I elevate poetically, I'm incredibly deep
Never ball 'til you fall, capisce? Stay on your feet
If you were anxiously waitin' for me and Rae on the beat
Be gracious, understand patience is key
I once needed direction now I'm facin' the East
To give praise like Mohammed
Indeed Allah opened my eyes, I'm watchin' my surroundings
Sharks and piranhas survive in the warmest waters
Mama Sana won't allow me to acknowledge doubters
Couldn't conceive I was built to prosper
Since a teen wearin' diamond jewelry in the projects
If you get knocked, housing's gonna seize your apartment

[Chorus: Cormega]
In life we're faced with obstacles
 We want to achieve dreams that might seem impossible
The odds don't lie, look at mine - acknowledge truth
The streets raised me to be wise and honorable...
Wise and honorable...
The streets raise me to be wise and honorable...
Wise and honorable....
The streets raised me to be wise and honorable

Cormega

A veteran of New York hip-hop, Cory McKay (born. Dec. 3, 1970), better known as Cormega, established a reputation as one of Queensbridge’s finest rappers despite never achieving the same mainstream success as his fellow peers. Growing up in the Queensbridge Housing Projects, he made friends with Nas, Nature, AZ, Mobb Deep, and Tragedy Khadafi.

In the early 1990s, Cormega was known for being the greatest rapper in Queensbridge—in 1994, Nas shouted him out by name on “One Love” off of Illmatic, and Prodigy of Mobb Deep noted in his 2011 memoir that Cormega was considered QB’s number one. Despite his homegrown support, Cormega’s rap career was put on hold following a four-year stint in prison for a drug charge. Upon his release from jail in 1995, Cormega inked a deal with Def Jam Records and featured on Nas’ 1996 posse cut, “Affirmative Action,” with AZ and Foxy Brown—together they formed The Firm, managed by Nas. However, Cormega later left the group due to creative and financial issues, which led to a decade long feud between him and Nas. During this time, Def Jam also shelved Cormega’s debut album, The Testament, and he was forced to wait out his contract—the album was eventually released in 2005.

Cormega resumed his music operations in 2000 by establishing the independent label, Legal Hustle, through which he released his lauded albums, The Realness and The True Meaning—all in a matter of two years. In 2003, ‘Mega won a Source Award for Independent Album of The Year. Since being with Legal Hustle, Cormega has released five solo albums, two compilation albums, and one EP—2018’s Mega.