Cory McKay, better known as Cormega, is an American emcee noted for his vivid and poignant narratives about inner-city life. Despite never garnering the mainstream appeal of contemporaries such as Nas and Mobb Deep, he remains critically acclaimed and respected as an emcee's emcee. He is also famous for his hip-hop feud with childhood friend and fellow emcee Nas, with whom he had settled his differences.
Born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Cormega grew up in the Queensbridge Housing Projects in Long Island City, Queens, forming childhood friendships with future rappers such as Nas, Mobb Deep, Nature and Capone-N-Noreaga. When he was 4, he witnessed his mother's murder. After that, he moved in with his father and stepmother. Cory's stepmother insisted that he read one book a week, which he credited with getting him interested in writing. He has since denied it was "a book a week", saying "that’s probably some Wikipedia bullshit. Everything they ever say is wrong."
