Nas– Illmatic: On April 19, 1994, Nas released his debut album. At a time where the West Coast was dominating Hip Hop, this album dropped and completely revived East Coast Hip Hop. The Queensbridge MC spit some of the realest and dopest lyrics over some hard hitting beats from producers who were in their prime. His lyrics were deep and spoke about the street images he saw, but he did not sound like the “conscious” rappers of the time. His flow was smooth yet raw, the lyrics were amazing, and the beats were hard.
This is ARGUABLY the Greatest Hip Hop album ever.
Production: DJ Premier, Large Professor, L.E.S., MC Serch, Nas, Q-Tip, and Pete Rock.
Guest Appearances: AZ, Q-Tip, Pete Rock.
This is when I usually speak on a handful of really dope tracks then choose my favorite. Well….NINE tracks: Genesis, NY State of Mind, Life’s A Bitch, World Is Yours, Halftime, Memory Lane, One Love, One Time For Your Mind, and Represent were really dope and amazing……and
Yo Mills THANK YOU for posting this!
This Album should be in every Hip Hop Fan’s books I mean this Album is timeless and you can listen to it constantly without even skipping one single joint.
The productions are dope and the lyrics are deep and on point
And the few collaborations on there do the tracks the same justice as Nas does.
I was totally surprised about AZ back then because i haven’t heard him before “Life’s A Bitch” and then he comes outta nowhere and knocks out his already legendary verse.I remember when i put the tape in my boom box and I was like “Damn this guy can spit!”
This Album is Hip Hop and always will show how great Hip Hop was and can still can be.
still can be*
Ya’ know peoples i can’t think of an LP that even comes CLOSE.The cohesision.MCSerch.PROPS.It was his baby.Same to you kool-bob-love beeforoni.Jungle (Nas blood bro,’&Braveheart i know.YouKnow.his dialogue w/bro NASTY,in 1st 20secs of record.And fact Ola Daru popa was a player took Nas’ to see WildStyle bein’ 4yrs. apart,Jungle had to stay at crib,& play with GIJOE w/Kung Fu grip.)This is ‘late ’82 Nas’ wasn’t quite 14 yet.So the absolute gospel.Truth.Real life experiences begin in first SENTENCE.I’m not gonna’ breakdown other actual facts all at once.Just point-out what you know.Maybe something intersting you did’nt realize.Such as we know how detailed & conciencious he is to vivid detailed visuals.So cognisant of every detail.I spoke briefly on 1 point from Q-Tip’s World Is Yours,rmx.On April19th,1994 tuesday in that line,my mello ChuckChillout of all people rek’d me from a show & hustled me to spot,that i almost cop’d on 18th,great feeling.Yea,on that day “Check the chipped tooth smile/plus i profile wild” became “Peep the GOLD tooth smile/plus i profile wild”…These details are only tip of iceberg of things that are quadroop meanings in cases.
Every trk. in dif mood’s a fav…But i go with underdog “One Time 4 Your Mind”…cuz he’s a shorty during time of first verse & breaks down with perfection…“Before the BDP conflict,with McShan/around the same-time of the Real Roxanne”&….all his peops on a Breaking Atoms worthy banger.Placed perfectly between two of the DOPEST hiphop?…ANY GENRE JOINTS EVER…Represent and It ain’t hard to tell”….Peep the way he even on It was Written his track placement.First single is last track.A smart move.Let people learn to love lp cuts.Thus,if in case w/ FEW LP’s.noone say if joint been out for year is trk.5 it breaks-up flow of LP.Always method to THIS BEAUTIFUL MADNESS.great post annualy.Niiiicccceeee