Often cited as one of the best hip-hop albums of the '90s, Illmatic is the undisputed classic upon which Nas' reputation rests. It helped spearhead the artistic renaissance of New York hip-hop in the post-Chronic era, leading a return to street aesthetics. Yet even if Illmatic marks the beginning of a shift away from Native Tongues-inspired alternative rap, it's strongly rooted in that sensibility. For one, Nas employs some of the most sophisticated jazz-rap producers around: Q-Tip, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, and Large Professor, who underpin their intricate loops with appropriately tough beats. But more importantly, Nas takes his place as one of hip-hop's greatest street poets -- his rhymes are highly literate, his raps superbly fluid regardless of the size of his vocabulary. He's able to evoke the bleak reality of ghetto life without losing hope or forgetting the good times, which become all the more precious when any day could be your last. As a narrator, he doesn't get too caught up in the darker side of life -- he's simply describing what he sees in the world around him, and trying to live it up while he can. He's thoughtful but ambitious, announcing on "N.Y. State of Mind" that "I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death," and that he's "out for dead presidents to represent me" on "The World Is Yours." Elsewhere, he flexes his storytelling muscles on the classic cuts "Life's a Bitch" and "One Love," the latter a detailed report to a close friend in prison about how allegiances within their group have shifted. Hip-hop fans accustomed to 73-minute opuses sometimes complain about Illmatic's brevity, but even if it leaves you wanting more, it's also one of the few '90s ap albums with absolutely no wasted space. Illmatic is a great lyricist, in top form, meeting great production, and it remains a perennial favorite among serious hip-hop fans.
The homegirl that we all know and love, Miss Info, speaks about her 5 Mic rating she gave Nas' Illmatic (full review after the jump) when she used to write for The Source under the alias of Shortie. Classic.[click to enlarge]
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Nas’ “Illmatic” remains the best debut album by a rapper in hip-hop history (yeah, I said it) and his opening verse on “New York State of Mind” was the verse that defined that album. A wide ranging verse that that helped redefine New York lyricism, every aspiring rapper needs to memorize “New York State of Mind”. Just do it. See more…
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I thought it was Berkeley but apparently it's not.Where ever Mog Mean Time is located it's 6 hours ahead of me.Posted a comment a few minutes ago, about 9:17am, Mog thinks it's 3:17.
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I'm doing this post only a few minutes before I have to leave for work, so enjoy some classic Nas.
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[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MEp-VaI1-k 425x355] Illmatic has definitely withstood the test of time for me, it's been in rotation for 14 years and counting in my headphones. Spotted over at Illroots, here's an EPK for the album from right before it dropped. Featuring a 20 year old Nas and cameos from Q-Tip , Dj Premier , Large Professor , Pete Rock and more.~~
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Rap star Nas announced today that he is set to hit the road on a new tour in Australia.
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I still put this album in the top five all time. It's a very select crowd that this rolls with. Full of children probly, couldn't tell as high as I be
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The homegirl that we all know and love, Miss Info, speaks about her 5 Mic rating she gave Nas' Illmatic (full review after the jump) when she used to write for The Source under the alias of Shortie. Classic.[click to enlarge]
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Due to the overwhelming response to last week’s article Ranking the Tracks: Illmatic by the homie Sean Deez … I said “hmmmmmmmm” why not rock with the Illmatic Instrumentals...* Summary only. Visit the site for full article!
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 "Illmatic")
