Customer Reviews

Testament

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before "The Realness", Mega gave us the "Testmament", which never saw the light of day (thanx to DEF Jam). As a MC Mega showcases intelligence, gutterness, and inspiration. This album showcases Mega's more agressiveness as he recorded after he got out of jail. All tracks on the album are non-skippable. My all time favorites on this joint are "Every Hood", "Love Is Love", both versions of "Dead Man Walking" and "Testament". Mega is one of the realest cats in the game and he deserves to be supported. Support the real hip-hop. Peace.

This is the fourth full release from Cormega but it contains some of his earliest work, including the controversial Dead Man Walking which was I believe the first rap song to be banned by a record label. He released a lot of this stuff before he was well-known. He polished up those tracks to put this album together. It is an instant classic. Tracks that go above and beyond the call of real hip-hop duty: One Love, Dead Man Walking, Testament (Original), Coco Butter.

When this was originally supposed to drop, 9/1/98, I was waiting for it and now after 6 and a half years I finally have it, with a few extra songs {I hope Def Jam is happy for fu*kin* themselves and a true great on the mic over). This is a classic and maybe his best album (close toss up with " The True Meaning"). It has 1 classic, and the other 12 songs are good or Great themselves. Like all his albums, it is short (13 songs and 45 minutes) and has few guests (on 3 songs) but like all his albums, ITS GREAT!!!. Production is good and is handled by a lot of people, Nysheim Myrick (3 songs), Cormega, RNS, Sha Money XL, Hot Day & Jae Supreme, Suga Bear, Prestige, and Havoc all do 1 song, and Dave Atkinson does 2 (basically the same song however). As one of the top rappers in QB (close with Mobb Deep & Tragedy Khadafi if you ask me) his lyrical skill shines and you will not be disappointed, a must have rap CD for everyone to own.

#1 - (short slower 8 bar intro, nothing special)
#2 - 9 (good story)
#3 - 10 (CLASSIC -- response to Nas' from Nas' "One Love" -- when they were still cool)
#5 - 9.5 (f/ havoc on the hook)
#6 - 9.5 (another good story -- about revenge)
#7 - 9.5
#8 - 9 (remix of original version)
#9 - 9 (original version -- slightly different beat and different lyrics)
#10 - 8.5 (F/ Hussein Fatal of the Outlawz & Niko)
#11 - 8
#12 - 8 (f/ Mobb Deep {Prodigy & Havoc})
#13 - 8.5 (f/ tiffany & AZ talks in the background)

Corey McKay -- Queensbridge, NY
QBC!!!!!!

check all my reviews

this is the album everyones been waiting.def jam held it from mega since like 97 or 98.finally its here in 05 and its still a masterpeice.this album is a lot more street than the true meaning and the realness.u can hear it in his content and lyrics.most real mega fans have heard half this album in the past over the years like myself, but the other half of the joints that are "new" are some of the best on the album.

this album satisfied me very well.cormega always puts out quality hip hop and i was certain he would do it again, and he did with the testament.

very ill hip hop-5 stars

peace

this was shelved by the black balling off def jam records back in 97-98.....this is a must have classic from start to finish....this album was supposed to be his debut....def jam wanted to charge him 250,000 dollars for the masters of this album, then raised the price to 350,000 i believe, mega did his thing and now he brings u the testament with a few bonuses....get this cd!!!...classic thank you mega!!

Ill be honest I have never listened to Cormega before and Iam sorry I didnt I have been missing out I got this album about a week ago and I love it I would say my favorite tracks are One Love writting a letter back to Nas who mentioned Cormega in his One Love track on Illmatic Angel Dust has a great instrumental 62 Pick up hes in court and before he is sentenced do you have anything to say Montana Diary is also one of my favorites overall the instrumentals are great the lyrics are great and if there is anyone out there that was like me and has never listend or given a shot to Cormega give him one this album caught me by suprise and I have been listing to it for a week now

This album is straight ill. Cormega rips the lyrics. The beats are good! And this time he spits really good to all of them. I was feelin about every single track on here. Hes always spittin real lyrics that make some sense and matter. So if you like real rap and sh** then check Cormega out. You wont be dissapointed at his flows. All his album are at least decent. All I gotta say, check it.

My Top 5 Songs
1.62 Pick Up
2.One Love
3.Angel Dust
4.Dead Man Walking
5.Montana Diary

After years of the masters being owned by Def Jam, Cormega finally bought the rights to release his REAL debut album, "The Testament."

1. Intro

2. 62 Pick Up - Good beat, Mega tears it up telling a tradgic story, no hook - 4.5/5

3. One Love - Good beat, Mega comes great responding to Nas's "One Love" track off his "Illmatic" LP, hook is great - 5/5

4. Interlude

5. Angel Dust (Featuring Havoc) - Good beat, Mega rips it, Havoc comes good on the hook - 4.5/5

6. Dead Man Walking - Good beat, Mega comes good telling a story about how someone tried to kill him but he survived and got revenge, no hook - 4/5

7. Montana Diary - Great beat, Mega comes real nice, hook is good - 4.5/5

8. Testament - Good beat, Mega drops two great verses goin at Nas, there is no hook - 4.5/5

9. Testament (Original Version) - Decent beat, Mega's lyrics are different but are still good, no hook - 4/5

10. Every Hood (Featuring Hussein Fatal) - Great beat, Fatal and Mega both come great, hook is good - 4.5/5

11. Coco Butter - Great beat, Mega comes great talking about women, hook is alright - 4/5

12. Killaz Theme (Featuring Mobb Deep) - Alright beat, Havoc, Prodigy, and Mega all come nice, no hook - 3.5/5

13. Love is Love - Good beat, Mega comes nice over this slow paced track, hook is alright - 4.5/5

14. Dead Man Walking [Remix] [Hidden Track] - Different intro than the original, good beat, Mega rips it, no hook - 4.5/5

Overall: 55/60

5 Stars

Cormega really has true talent unlike some other rappers. He is one of the only rappers I know that has the best ears for beats. Even after 7 years of being shelved, this album still has an impact today. Pick this up and support the true essence of hip hop at its finest!

Already a veteran of Queensbridge's underground rap scene, Cormega was signed to Def Jam to record an album in 1996 on the heels of his impressive performance on buddy Nas' "Affirmative Action." Although "The Testament" was soon completed and slated for release, the record was inexplicably shelved and Mega was dropped from the label, forever derailing a career. After becoming an underground sensation with his powerful independent efforts The Realness and The True Meaning, Mega bought back the rights to "The Testament" and released it himself in 2005. One listen is all it takes to discover that "The Testament" is among his finest records. By 2005, Cormega had already proven himself a lyrical force, a street poet in the vein of neighbors Nas, Tragedy Khadafi, Mobb Deep, and Capone-N-Noreaga. With his deep tales of urban street life, he reported without necessarily commentating, yet still delivered his own effective philosophy, which made his approach so effective and stunning. What set him apart in my view was that despite his high level of artistry and poetry, his verses remain straightforward and poignant enough to inspire further thought.

"The Testament" is a lean, concise listen clocking in at 45 minutes over 14 tracks. It is not entirely unsimilar to concurrent albums by his East Coast peers, including his Queensbridge brethren and heavyweights such as Notorious B.I.G. and AZ. While not as musically grimy as his indie LPs, "The Testament" maintains an epic, dramatic quality enhanced by the excellent production. With beats contributed by Havoc, Sha Money XL, Hot Day & Jae Supreme, and Cormega himself, the frequent use of strings and piano creates a heavy backdrop fitting of a mob movie. Decidedly hard for an MC in the '96 scene, Mega's narratives and introspections reflect not only his growing up in Queens and past as a hustler and drug dealer, but the contributions of his rapping contemporaries.

The great intro and wonderful lyrical depictions of the Queens streets on the clever "62 Pick Up" open the disc with two brief yet striking tracks that set the scene suitably. "One Love" is the response to Nas' letter from his identically titled track on Illmatic, speaking from jail and reporting on what occurs behind bars rather than outside them. The frenetic Havoc collaboration "Angel Dust" gives way to "Dead Man Walking," a violent tale of betrayal and revenge ("Part 2" is included as a hidden bonus track) with the quintissential Queens sounds of piano, raw percussion, and gunshots. The mafioso depictions of "Montana Diary" precede both versions of the title track, noteworthy although barely differentiable. Fatal Hussein of Outlawz lends a valuable guest to the highlight "Every Hood," followed by the likable rap ballad "Coco Butter" and memorable "Killaz Theme" with Havoc. My favorite track, however, is the gorgeous "Love Is Love," which cleverly flips an infamous sample to ingenious effect. All three of Mega's verses contemplating hood politics and respect really hit home, fitting seamlessly between the well-executed hook.

"The Testament" does not sound dated, and it sustains an exceptional level of musical and lyrical potency. I find Cormega to be one of hip hop's most powerful artists, and this is a remarkable piece that reflects not only his own talent but the strength of the East Coast landscape in the mid-90s. It's a true shame that this album was shelved for so long. Although it may down the road appear a mere blip on Cormega's career timeline, "The Testament" is one of his finest works to date that I highly recommend.

A relatively short LP, Cormega brings heat on his "debut."

1. Intro 5/5...It is good as far as album intro's go.

2. 62 Pickup 5/5...This paints a vivid picture of a "stickup."

3. One Love 5/5...Starting the track with a Nas sample it follows through with solid lyrics and a decent beat.

4. Interlude 2/5... Unnecissary and annoying

5. Angel Dust 3/5...A repetative sipmle beat, and mediocre lyrics from 'Mega and Havoc.

6. Dead Man Walking 3/5...Decent track with a weak chorus but a nice some nice Al Pachino samples.

7. Montana Diary 5/5...A good song with one of the best beats on the album.

8/9. Testament/Original 5/5...The original and new versions are almost indistinguishable but have a good beat including a voice saying "the rest of my life."

10. Every Hood 3/5...A decent attempt at making a "sad hood song" with bland R&B vocals in the chorus and the ever inevitable Pac and Biggie shoutouts(what would an album be without them?).

11. Coco Butter 4/5...A decent love song with a catchy chorus.

12. Killaz Theme 5/5... Solid lyrics brought on this track by Mobb Deep.

13. Love is Love 4/5...Solid song that sounds like the intro but extended.

14. Dead Man Walking (Remix) 3/5...Alright but still is missing something in the flow department.