Illmatic

An absolute classic If hip-hop is supposed to be a window into the streets, ILLMATIC sounds, feels, and even fucking SMELLS like NYC in the '90s. When the war against the Disney-fication of NY was still being waged. By 1994 hip-hop was nationwide but Nas grabbed the mantle and brought it back home.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion about music, and this includes Illmatic. But I hold strongly that Nas's debut album, Illmatic, is the greatest and most important hip-hop album of all time. I cannot and will not dispute this. It goes hard. The sampling and the beats, Nas's flow on each song, the lyrics, the whole product. It's the combination of Boom Bap production with hardcore lyrics and flow. But the lyrics aren't just braggadocious or tough, they're a reflection of reality. Nas was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Queens, later dropping out of school and fully immersing himself in music. Nas, of course, is a natural wordsmith and lyricist. His cadence along with the depth of the bars elevates the art of rap to a multi-dimensional instrument. Each song stands on their own, you can tell that love and care went into the album as a whole. It is not a product of commerce, but of passion. Incredibly impactful and insanely catchy, Illmatic is an all-timer.

So, I never really listened to Nas much before today. And I'm decently versed with most hiphop. Nas just never really appealed to me, though. Luckily for me, this project is forcing me to listen to things that don't appeal to me because Nas really IS an extremely talented rapper. His rhyme game is on point. The constantly interweaving internal rhyme schemes are out of control and really unexpected for an east-coast act in '94. According to the wiki article, it kinda started with him. Well, thanks Nas. Docked a star because, while the lyricism is off the chain, the content is ... repetitive and shallow (though still better than 99% of the east-coast rap of the time).

I ain't got time for this, know what I'm sayin'?

A stark and brutal portrait of Queensbridge in the early 1990s. Nas absolutely raps his ass off like he knows this could be his ticket out. He tells stories at such a rapid clip that it was hard for me to keep up at times and that he wrote this at 20 years old is simply astounding. The eerie beats enhance the mood of this album and parallel the lyrics well (the sample of "human nature" at the end of this album was fun to hear so close to Thriller though the context was completely different). I'm fairly confident there is no Kendrick Lamar without this album, as I lots that likely influenced Kendrick here.

It's Illmatic by Nas. The best rap album of all time. Nas's lyrics are so slick that they slide off his tongue and spread like an oil spill in your brain, and the beats from the best craftsmen in the game (QTip, Large Professor, Premier, Pete Rock, L.E.S.) back him up so perfectly that they feel like a part of him, a natural extension of his craft. The album might honestly have the best three song run in hip-hop history. It should be illegal to follow New York State of Mind with Life's a Bitch and The World Is Yours, and the album never stops from there. Poignant slice of life tales on Memory Lane and One Love give the album an emotional through line and enhance the heady blend of ambition and apathy, power and weakness, joy and tragedy that defines the life of Nasty Nas. Represent is similarly incredible, with a hungry and passionate Nas giving it his all. It Ain't Hard to Tell, One Time 4 Your Mind, and Halftime are the only "subpar" tracks, meaning that they're 8/10 instead of perfect 10s and above like the rest of the record, but they all deliver standout moments and are probably the favorites of many listeners. This album is a touchstone of hip-hop, as Nas's measured, neverending flow and poignant, deadly lyrical skills either directly or indirectly inspired B.I.G., a future rival in Jay-Z, and countless other rappers. His lines have been reused countless times, and every contemporary hoping to make his or her bones in the game pays homage at some point to the album. It isn't rap's most important album, but it's the best there ever was.

I was really unaware of this album, or the history of it or Nas. Maybe he is too cerebral for mass consumption or radio play? His lyrics and rap rhythm are masterclass. But I found the album boring; it all ran together. No doubt he has different beats and samples but moving from song to song there wasn't one thing I could really point to in one that made it stand out from another one. The album works but once I walk away from it, there's nothing particularly memorable to bring me back.

Nah...

I was only marginally familiar with Nas and never had taken the time to listen to a full album before this was suggested. Really well done all around. Half way through, it hit me how much of A Tribe Called Quest vibe I was feeling, so I was not shocked but deeply satisfied to see Q-tip had a big hand with the album. This will definitely be on regular rotation for me. “Midnight Maurauders” by A Tribe Called Quest kept the groove flowing after listening to Nas.

Album #1 Although I've rinsed this album from start to finish many times when it came up as the first one to listen to I was more than happy to dive in again. There is nothing I can say about how great this album is that hasn't already been said by droves of people far more qualified than me. If anyone who doesn't listen to much hip-hop asks me where they should start, this is the first album I point them to. Few albums receive the privilege of acting as a benchmark for their genre, and that is exactly what Illmatic does for hip-hop. This benchmark applied even more so in '94 when the genre was still young and proving itself. On Illmatic, everything comes together perfectly. From the soulful yet raw beats to the poignant yet infectiously addictive flows. They work in tandem to weave a story of a city frozen at a point in time and one young man's place within it. Favourite Track: Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park) Least Favourite Track: N/A

Absolutely fantastic and an obvious classic. This album paints such vivid pictures of New York that it feels like a movie. Beats, rapping, flows, storytelling, everything is about as good as it can be. Insane record.

One of the best hip hop albums I've ever listened to, the beats are real crisp, the samples and scratches are mega cool, and the vocals are just amazing, this is a must for every hip hop fan out there

4 out of 5. While not being a genre I have an interest in this was a pretty good album and lyrically it has a good flow. I can see why people find this album influential. Favorite song: Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)

Illmatic One of my favourite hip hop albums and one of my favourite albums in general. I only really ‘discovered’ it about 2 or 3 years ago but I absolutely love it. There’s a minimalism to the beats and use of samples that matches the desolation and despair of the lyrics. The hooks are insistent, they nag and punctuate like a drone particularly on the excellent NY State of Mind - the bass, the piano and the And I really just love the production and sound overall and the snare sound in particular. He is obviously a brilliant rapper too, there’s a real density to it all in the internal rhymes, the cadence as well as the overall story telling. The verses on the World is Yours are pretty incredible, for example. He’s definitely in the same mould as Biggie and Tupac etc, but I find his lyrics less brash and self-aggrandizing and much more like reportage. While there is some triumphalism, overall it feels much more introspective with an undertow of bleakness and futility, and a feeling of being trapped by your circumstances. The whole first half up to Halftime is superb, it might dip slightly with Memory Lane but One Love with Q tip with it’s jazzy bass and xylophone is excellent, I love how his voice works with the bass sample One Time 4 Your Mind, Represent is a banger, that piano/bell sample is great, and It Aint Hard to Tell is superb, the Human Nature sample knocked back in the mix is lovely Overall great album, easy 5. 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢 Playlist submission: NY State of Mind

Nas started writing on this album when he was only 16 years old but once it actually released he was 20. 4 years of writing, rapping and co-producing and one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time was finished which still to this day is regarded as one of the best written Hip Hop albums of all time. Even at his young age, Nas was able to right self conscious and introspective texts that he could perform like no one else. This album is a masterpiece and without a doubt one of the best Hip Hop albums ever made as well as one of the best of all genres. The album starts with the intro track 'The Genesis' which isn't really a finished Rap track. It's more a Spoken Word sound collage that sets a sonic tone for the album that Nas will extend on. There is still a beat and it's pretty great but it's the sounds around that that make this an incredible intro track even with how short and substence lacking it actually is. The first actual track is the legendary 'N.Y. State of Mind' which is just one of the craziest songs ever made. Nas starts off but stops his delivery to say "I don't know how to start this shit" before giving us 4 minutes of one of the greatest flows that I have ever heard. He did this track in only one take and this is what came out! That alone should tell you how crazy this guy and the album itself is but there's more. Because not only is the beat incredible, the chorus catchy and his flow impeccable but the lyrics itself are some of the best written Hip Hop lyrics ever. They do "only" tell about Brooklyn and New York and his state of mind but he does it with so much lyricism and attention to detail that even Leonard Cohen might be jealous of some aspects of his writing. He also drops one of the most legendary bars in the form "I don't sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death" which was used by so many other rappers as well. The song is simply perfect. The chorus of 'Life's a Bitch' might be one of the albums best but don't be fooled because the Jazz Rap verses on their own are again lyrical perfection. They are both philosophical but also extremely real while being performed with incredible flow. The production is also absolutely incredible. Pretty much everything from 'N.Y. State of Mind' that can be applied to this track, can be applied to this track. It's groovy and jazzy East Coast Hip Hop perfection. From one incredible chorus to the next. 'The World Is Yours' keeps the Jazz Rap production as well as (of course) absolutely amazing verses that don't really stop with the introspective and philosphical depth performed like he's been rapping for 30 years already. I don't even know what else I can say except that this is another perfect track. The track 'Halftime' already shows us that the first half of the album is nearly over. It turns the Jazz Rap a little bit down and lets more Boom Bap shine through together with the Conscious Hardcore Hip Hop we're already familiar with. His flow and his verses are stunning but I am not going to suprise anyone with these infos now. Yeah, perfect track again. (It's really difficult writing a review when every song is incredible in the same exact things and there isn't really a change of quality. It's all the same perfect...) On the second Side of the album, 'Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)' reintroduces a the Jazzy production with some nice Soul Jazz sample flips. No one will be surprised but he delivers perfectly some perfectly written bars. I think this might be one of the best songs on the album although they are all so incredibly close to another that that doesn't really mean much here because even the worst moments are some of the best in music history. 'One Love' not only adds some Political aspects into the rhymes but also Q-Tip who is one of my personal favourite rappers in terms of voice and overall ability. He performs the chorus perfectly and Nas verses are just majestic on this track. The production is simple but unbelievably effective. I think this might be my favourite song on the entire album just because of the lucky addition of Q-Tip. The "worst" actual song on the album is probably 'One Time 4 Your Mind' which in consideration what this album offers still means that it's incredible but just less perfect, if that makes sense. Even with most people agreeing on this take, I still love the track but I get where they come from. His flow at points feels much weaker and at parts actually off. But I think the problem is the beat which I feel like doesn't serve him too well but he did the best thing possible with it and still delivered some killer verses. The pure perfection picks right up again on 'Represent' which not only has some killer verses but also a lovely Boom Bap production that serves Nas much better. He's absolutely killing it on this track and delivers some of his most energetic and thought through bars of the entirety of the album. One of the best on the album. The album ends earlier than I want with 'It Ain't Hard to Tell' which is just a perfect finale to this perfect album. The beat and the production is Jazz Rap finesse, the verses and the delivery is absolutely amazing and Nas nails the albums ideas and concepts for a final time and closes the album in a way that the listener only wants one thing: another listen of the album! favourites: One Love, N.Y. State of Mind, It Ain't Hard to Tell, Represent, Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park), The World Is Yours, Life's a Bitch, Halftime least favourites: none Rating: decent 10 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

Illmatic is a contender for the greatest rap album of all time, the greatest debut album of all time, and overall, just one of the greatest albums of all time. Nas has one of the greatest flows in the game and his complex structure featuring internal rhymes make this album a rhythmic treat for the ears. His lyrics are thoughtful and he is an absolute wordsmith, playing with language in a way that only the very best writers can. His beats are lush jazz based east coast beats that represent the very best of New York hip hop. I find myself favoring east coast rap from the '90s and this is certainly amongst the cream of that crop.

Best Song: N.Y. State of Mind. That low, droning melody that repeats throughout the song is so iconic, and Nas is on another level through the whole track. Worst Song: Life's a Bitch. It's not a terrible song, but maybe a bit overplayed in movies, and it has this spirit of nihilism that I feel very much is not fitting with the rest of the album. Overall: I mean, this is maybe as good as it gets in this genre of rap. Great flow, great features. There's a reason it's considered such a classic. Sure, there are a few slurs that haven't aged well, but I don't think that's enough to sink what is otherwise such a thoughtful and iconic album.

Straight out of the dungeons of rap. An exploration of rap poetry that defines a decade. Superb sampling. Lyrical mastery. Raw realism. One of the greatest albums ever made.

One of the best albums ever made and the album that got me into hip-hop. even the opener skit is one of the best skits ever made. razer sharp flows, inventive rhyme schemes, dusty beats and some of the best storytelling in music history. Nas basically became a GOAT contender right out of the gate. Of course the all star cast of boom bap producers played a huge part in the seamless, timeless quality of this record too

Greatest Hip/Hop album of all time, not much else to say about it.

1994. Key Songs: Life's a Bitch, N.Y State of Mind, Halftime, One Love

A 90s hip-hop classic, the benchmark of every album from the genre since its release. Timeless production throughout and electric delivery from Nas. This album transports you to 90s brooklyn, but in no way feels dated listening today. No song is unnecessary and the album does not outstay its welcome. Fave tracks: - NY State of Mind - Life's a Bitch - The World is Yours Worst tracks: N/A Rating: 9/10

Knowing it's high regard, I have listened to this album various times even prior to this 1001 albums prompting, trying to "get it". I read the entire Wikipedia article. I re-listened multiple times and even had the Genius lyrics up to explain. While I appreciate his lyricism, articulate delivery, "90s NY Hip Hop" vibes of the production, it would be disingenuous to act like I relate to any of his topics. If not for the accolades, feels indistinguishable from plenty of other stories in rap. The obvious one that comes to mind is Kendrick's Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. However, I find the latter to be easier to bop along to, wheras Illmatic feels more like cerebral slam poetry to me. I enjoyed it enough, but there isn't anything memorable to bring me back for the fun of it. As a fan of hip hop, I'm disappointed that I can't bring myself to love the album, even though I can respect it and understand why it is so highly regarded. But what it probably just means is that I prefer rap that is more catchy to rap that is more poetic.

Listened to on 5/2/22 2.5/5 Favorite song: halftime, it ain’t too hard to tell Things I like about this album: the naming of songs (genesis, halftime) but it’s truly just not my vibe although I liked it better than most hip hop/rap albums

If I never hear this again I will die happy.

Too aggressive. I’m not a fan personally

The world is yours !

my first that I've listened to before! an absolute, absolute classic rap album with absolutely incredible flow, lyrics, and production, definitely one of the best rap albums oat.

One of the best rap albums of all time. The storytelling is on another level, and the flows and beats are all amazing. I own this and have listened to it countless times. 100/10.

Another album I can safely claim as one of the best hip hop albums of all time. I had the pleasure of watching him perform this front to back at Coachella forever ago. He’s one of the best story tellers, so many iconic lyrics on this record. “I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death.”

Easily the greatest hip hop record of all time. Nasty Nas forever.

Illmatic has its reputation for a reason. Honestly, the reason this is so good boils down pretty simply, this is 40 minutes of engaging, detailed storytelling over unbelievably consistent beats. I'd even say Illmatic as a whole is about as consistent an experience as they get, there's really no space for me to complain. There aren't any lazy verses, or so-so interludes, or annoying features, or throwaway cuts. Illmatic is lean, and it reflects the care and attention to detail put into it. If Illmatic sounds like it took 4 years to write, that's because it did. Nas would make other good albums, but never again anything like this. This is a one of a kind piece of perfect rap music, from front to back.

So I knew this would be good. I just hadn't listened to it all the way through until today and honestly, its greatness is something that I've had to sit with and examine. I've had to think about how significant this record is and what it's done not just for me but for hip hop. And what I've discovered is that it deserves all the praise it gets. It is without a doubt a masterpiece of its time and I have no other choice but to accept it. 9/10 (5 on this scale)

Woah, another treasure that I missed. The rap is crisp and clever, the beats and music are inventive and interesting, a real masterpiece that I never heard until now.

the first album we've gotten that i am super familiar with beforehand. my first interaction with illmatic was hearing ny state of mind on the radio in saints row 2 lol. my brain was not even activated in any regard at that point in my life but something deep in my soul gravitated toward the song. i remember seeking it out when i would get in a car and driving further than i needed to just to keep listening. as a lil suburban whitey i had a very superficial understanding of anything related to hip hop. i liked popular songs i came across and edgy odd future type stuff, but no real knowledge of anything beyond that. i disturbingly have to give thanks to whoever on the volition dev team got ny state of mind on the soundtrack because i actually think it sparked my interest in rap. at some point i sought out illmatic and other classic hip hop records and came to really love the genre and all that it could be. this is just such an important album and really represents what i love about hip hop in general. it embodies 90s ny. there's definitely some stuff that hasn't aged well but it's also just so real and representative of the time. plus all the songs are good! don't feel like i can really get at the point in this mid work distracted ramble but i will always have a place in my heart for this album and how it lead me to expanding my interests in all different types of art.

It lives up to the hype. The lyrics are powerful and Nas is on his flow the whole time. Dude can spit. I didn’t realize this was from 94. I thought maybe 98 at the earliest. Wild he was rapping like this while other people were still on that “I hip, I hop, when I have a dollar I go to the shop” type shit. I have always seen this touted as one of the best/most influential albums and I mean yeah. His flow and style was years ahead of the game. Years ahead of Jay-Z (I still have to listen to the Blueprint, likely will tomorrow now). Biggie and Pac were contemporary and are their own animals, and OutKast started cooking around this time too but you can really see a shift in the game I think after this album. It almost feels like the standard flow that even if you had nothing interesting to say you could still spit and make it sound appealing. Nas had the flow and something worth saying. Idk if you guys have ever read Dune but when I did it felt derivative as fuck. Turns out it’s just so influential that decades of media owe a tribute to it. It feels suspiciously familiar but that should be seen as a compliment and not an accusation.

First time I'd ever listened to this and really liked it.

Not my favorite genre but this is definitely a masterpiece

Album goes hard. Great rap album I was thinking about listening to NAS this week anyway

Classic. Why do debut rap albums hit so hard?

No. 294/1001 The Genesis N.Y. State of Mind 4/5 Life's a Bitch 4/5 The World is Yours 4/5 Halftime 4/5 Memory Lane 5/5 One Love 4/5 One Time 4 Your Mind 4/5 Represent 4/5 It Ain't Hard To Tell 5/5 Average: 4,22 Just awesome from beginning to end. Great lyrics & great flow.

I’ve never been much of a rap fan and I am using this project as a way to expand my horizons. I remember this album coming out and not thinking much of it. I was in the military and the album was everywhere but I was on a college radio kick at the time. Listening to it now…omg. This album is incredible. To think I could have been listening for 30 years but I’m only understanding its genius in 2024. That’s on me, shame on me.

"I don't know how to start this shit" 💀

Nas' Illmatic caught me by surprise! It was full of very catchy hip hop music, and before I knew it, the album repeated and I didn't stop it. The lyrics were purposeful and smartly crafted--and I'm always a sucker for songs covering meaningful topics. The samples chosen and used were different. There's even a Kool & the Gang sample bookending the album!

Not entirely stimulating, but commendable nonetheless.

Why was this not considered gangster rap? I read it supposedly show the NYC rap scene as still relevant compared to the West Coast scene of "gangsta rap". But the lyrical content seems basically the same.

I don't like exactly this rap

Not my cup of tea

Meh, more rap

Rap... not my style.

tria una

Only thirty seconds. I don't like this style

Yo… yo… yo… yo… motherfunsters! Nah. Not for me.

Didn’t like it - too hardcore for me.

2

They don't make them like this anymore

Already a top album of mine. 5/5 no notes. Just a great listen from top to bottom and so much music history that comes with it. It’s got lyrical depth but also such an easy listen.

Masterpiece! Favourite track is NY Stare of Mind 5/5

Really good holy moly

Perfect length for an album. No notes.

“I sip the dom P watching Gandhi till I’m charged, writin in my book of rhymes all the words past the margin” 88/100 Favorite: It Ain’t Hard to Tell

the world is yours is such a banger good album all around

One of the best albums ever, all classics

It's been a while since I last listened to this album. Nas's flow and storytelling is basically unmatched and the feel of album really captures his feelings and where he grew up in NYC. This has to be one of the best hip hop albums of all time.

one of the BEST BOOM-BAP ALBUMS, soooo good

A spectacular collage

Illmatic is a undeniable classic with records like "The World Is Yours" or "NY State Of Mind" this project shaped the trajectory hip-hop was headed and is and will forever be one of the most influencal hip-hop albums of all time. The lyricsm is outstanding, one of the best out of 80's gangsta rap absolutely unbelivable Nas wrote it when he was just 19.

I finally saw the light🙏🏿

When I was getting into music, the popular wisdom was that this was *the* all-time best hip hop album. It's really hard to argue with that! Most of the time hip hop hooks don't really work for me, which leaves me thinking "these beats are kinda fun" and then having nothing else to do on, which means I tend to respect the genre more than I enjoy it. But this whole album works for me! Like yeah, maybe it is the greatest album of all time? I'm not quite there yet, but it's certainly up there.

Sick album. What can I say.

One of the defining albums of 90s rap, as someone who really likes rap, this is a must-hear for sure, it's full of emblematic songs and it has that jazzy feeling to it too that I personally love. Goddamn I didn't remember represent being this good

What can be said about this album that hasn’t already been said? The production is fantastic, the content is amazing, and the fact that he was only like 20 when this dropped is a testament to Nas being the GOAT. Man, that first beat on New York State of Mind is just chef’s kiss

Another 5 from me. Gamechanger of an album

Yaaass, an immediate 5 for me. A nice contrast to what we’ve been listening to (much of which has been less my vibe). Good nostalgia and just a great album, a real masterclass

Incredible album, not a single skit.

If sleep is the cousin of death this album is a boxing match. Bobbing and weaving. Hits land and truths be told. Words come in a barrage and leave a bewildering mark. You never know when you gonna go so why not just sit back and get lost in the flow.

It probably took me a dozen listens to “get” this when I bought it in college, and then it became an obsession. Now it’s probably a top 10 album for me, and in my (hardly unique) opinion the greatest rap album of all time.

Déjà écouté cette année mais dcp je sais a quel banger m'attendre

Greatness. A window into nyc in the 90s. Even more special if you keep in mind that he was 19 when he started working on this album.

Illmatic is the quintessential East Coast rap. It really takes you to the streets of New York, and shows you through lyrical, eloquent, and intelligent rhymes and story telling. ECR is my weak spot when it comes to rap, it was what convinced me that rap and hip hop are actually very talentfilled genres. Nas is legit one of the best rappers of all time, and he shows that rap doesn't always have to be fast, aggressive, and vulgar to be raw, powerful, and impactful. You can have fun, be a badass, AND show up people who doubt you based on where you're from and who you are. His passion for his craft and his music is palpable in Illmatic, and for that it will always be one of my favourite hip hop albums.

I loved this. N.Y. State Of Mind is on my running playlist so I was already familiar with it. At some point a few years ago I started seeing rap and hip hop as spoken word poetry, and ECR seems to have a lot of people pouring their souls out on the page, describing their lives and the hardships of people around them. "Life's A Bitch" is full of this. "I woke up early on my born day, I'm 20, it's a blessin'" is quite literally "you're lucky if you live this long as a black man in New York". The style and the genre of the music may not be for everyone, but the messages in the lyrics are really moving.

I'm a huge fan of rap but I somehow have never gotten around to giving this album a go for whatever reason, which is a shame because I can totally see why it's such a beloved and influental album, it's just nothing but bangers front to back. I swear this is gonna be my listening obsession for the next week.

Top 3 all time

Let’s go

Top 5 Rap album. Fantastic.

1001 albums really suggests a lot of rap for me to listen to, but I don't think anything I have ranked so far in the genre even comes close to what Nas Achieved with Illmatic. I am absolutely awful at rating rap/hip-hop albums just because it is a genre that I have never really been too interested in (so this review is likely to be completely dogshit) but when it is done well I absolutely love it. I've always been aware who Nas was but I can say with 100% confidence that I have never heard one of his songs before but Nas' songwriting is completely unforgettable and is so revolutionary in the scene. The album openly explores Nas' own personal experience growing up in Queensbridge and aims to provide a raw and authentic portrayal of life there with a specific focus on the challenges that younger people faced while growing up in a harsh environment. It is a highly personal album to Nas, but we have seen so many other rappers explore similar themes, so what exactly does make him different? Well, that's exactly what makes him so revolutionary within the scene. It is easy to forget how old this album is just because it is so timeless, and so many of the themes that he explores throughout the album are relevant today. Even the style and the flow of his storytelling is so catchy and memorable, it is clear to see why so many other artists took inspiration from this. For me personally, I can see the clear links between Nas and artists such as Eminem (literally the only rapper I listened to growing up) in terms of the vulnerability that is presented in the music. So sure, there are so many other artists who accomplish a similar tone in their music, but who was the first to do it in 1994? There is no denying how impactful this album has been on shaping the genre that it is today, and we can only contribute that to rappers such as Nas, who were willing to lead that development.

10/10 Rap perfection. Remarkably, Nas was able to create this at the tender age of 16. Internal and external rhymes are everywhere, making this so impressive, while also telling some of the most engaging stories of Nas's life in New York in the 90s. Favorite Tracks: *Life's A Bitch*, *The World Is Yours*, *N.Y. State of Mind*

Not only one of the best hip hop albums of all time, one of the best albums ever made. 10 tracks, zero filler needed. Fully formed. Incredible. If Nas never made another album again after this he’d still be top 3 GOATs. He was 20 years old when this album released.

.....::::.....::::.....-:::.....-::::....-:::-....::-:-....::::-.....::::.....::::.....-:::.....-::: .....:-:-.....-:::.....-:-::....-:-::....-:-:-....::-:-....::-:-.....:-:-.....-:::.....-:-::....--:: ----: .-----. .:----. :----. .----.....-=+***+-.-:--:....----: .-----. .:----. :----. :::::....-:::-....::::-....::::-.....-::-++******#%@#*#--::.... -::::....-:::-....::::-....::::-.... ----:....-----....-----....:----.....::-=+***+******#%#-:::.....----:....-----....-----....:----.... .:::- .::::. -:::.....----:.--++*+**+++=+++**%+.:::-::. .:::-.....::::. -:::. -::: .....:-:-.....----.....-:-::....-::::-=-+=*#%*++==++***#@-:::--:.....:-:-.....----.....-:-::....--:- ----: .-----. .:----. :----...:-:==+*==*#++==+++*#@*:.::::.----: .-----....:----. :----. :::::....-:::-....::::-....::::-...:=%***+==%%#**=--==+##::.:::.-::::....-:::-....::::-....::::-.... ----:....-----....:----....:----...*%**#*+==++++=-:-===+#=:.:::.----:....-----....:----....:----.... .:::- .::::.....-::::....-:-**#%++:-*==*##=--=====#--.:::. .:::-.....=:-:.....-:::. -::: .....----.....----.....-:--:....-:**@#=*@#@%##**#==++===-*%*=-::.....----..-::-=+-.....-:--:....--:- ----: .-----. .:----....:-:--::#=:****##-=--=#%==+--+::=*-...----: .--:==-=-------....:----. :::::....-:::-....::::-....-+=-*+*+=***###::-===-++=----=:**....-::::....-:::-.--=---:-....::::-.... ----:....-----....:--:-..-==*#++*=%@*###%--*+-+==+=-----:-++:...-:--:....---:-::-===+--....:----.... .:::- .::::.....:::--==*##===%%#%@###*++*==+==--=+*+++::-.....:-:-....=-::+--==.-:::. -::: .....----.....----.....::::-+-=++.=-=*#*%#*#**++=+-:=:=+=+=+*:::.....-:::.=**+===-=-=-=::::.....--:- ----: .-----. .:----::::-==++=*%==+=*+*#***=--:-:-==+====+...----:.:--=-==--=+=---=--...:----. :::::....-:-:-....:::::-::::-=**+##-.==*=+++*#+=+-:-+++=+===+=..-:-::....-:::-+**====--=:..::-:-.... --:-:....-:-:-....:-:-+=::::::---=+-=**+#-=+++++==++*++=+====*-.-:-::....-----.++===--===..::-:-.... .::::.....::::.:=+=-------:---=++*#%.-:-=++#***+=+========+*+....-:::.-+*+++===-====+::. -::: .....:-:-.....:::::===-----=**++*####....-::-%@#%*++===========++*+:-:::-=+=++=========*+=:.....--:- ----: .-----..++-+----===+#+::.....----...-*%%%#*+====++=======---::::::----.:++=-:-=*++.:----. :::::....-:-:-..:%#*=---=+#-:-:-...::-=:=::+:=#%%%##*====#+-==-----:-=::--:::::::+=-:--+++-::::-.... :-:-:....-:-:-.:++=**#=++#.:-:--=:-+-:-:-=+=-:#######==-+%+----:::::-=:---::::-::-=-:--=+++--:--.... .....::::.....-+==---*#%+::::+=-::=:-++:*.*----*##*#*=++=:---:-::::--=------:::::::=--==+==-....-::: .....:-:-...:=*==-===+#+=:--==---:==+=-=+:==:---:=**=---:-:---::::---==------:::::::=-======-...--:- ----:....::=+*==-==++#-::==-==----===::----=--------:-:-=::--:::::-------------::::::#+++====-:-.... :::-:...:-+*+======*#.--=-=-==--:-==-:::=---:---------:------:::-------------:--:::::-*+===+++:-.... :::-:.:-+**+=====+*#:--===:-=---:---::::-----------------------------------=------::-:**=======-.... .....-=***+=====+**:--:-==------:--::::------------------------------------=-=---:--::**+====++--::: ...:=+#**+=====+*#-------=------:--::::-------------------------------------=-====-=::**+===++++-::: ---=*#**++====++#:-:----=+------::-:::---------=----------------------------=-====---:+*+====++++.:. :-+##**++=====+**-------=+-------:::::---------=----------------------------=====----:=#++====+=++.. -*%##**+=+=+=++*%=:-----=*--------:------------=----------------------------=+====---::#*+=====+++=. *#%#***++++==+*#+==-----*=--------------------------------------------------======----:#**+=====+++= %%#****+++++++#*====+--=++-=------------------------------------------------======----:***++====++++ %%#*****++++***+++++*#=++===-------------------------------------:----------+=====-----+#*+++===+=++ %#*+********#*++***##%%+#+==----------------------=-------------------------+======-=-=##**++====+++ *++*******##***#####%%%*.-==--=====---------------=------------------------=++=======%%##*++++===+++ %#**#####*####+-::.....-:====--====--------------------------------------=-=*+==+==*##%##**+++++++++ .=*#%%##*=:...-:::.....::===+---===--------------=-----------------------=-=*+=+++-%##%##***+++++++* :::::....:::::....:::::..-==+=---====----------------===------------------==*+==++:=%#%###***+++++** :-:-:....-:-:-....::-:-..-==+=----===------------------------------------===*+==+.:-:*#%###**++++*** :::::....-::::....::::-..-==++=----==-------------------------------------==++=+:.::-::#%###******** .. .::::.....::::.....-:=+==++=-----------------------------------------===++=-::.....:#####******* .....::::.....::::.....::=+==++==-----------------------------------------==+==-::.....-:+%###*#*### :::::....:::::....:::::..=++=++==-----------------------------------------==+=:...:::::...:+%####### :-:::....-:-:-....::-:-..+++==++==---=-----------------------------------===+=....::-:-....:--*%%##% :::::....-::::....:::::..+++==++=======---------------------------------==-==:....::::-....:::--.... .:::: .::::.....-:+++====+=====----------------------------------====..::::. -:::.....-::: .....::::.....::::.....-:+++===========---------------------------------==-=..::::.....::::.....-::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::+++============--------------------------------==-=:::::::::::::::::::::::: ::::: -:::- .::::-..++++===========------------------------------=-==-=--....::::- ::::- ::::: -:::- .::::-..++++===========-----------------------------==-=-==--....::::- ::::-

Classic. So so good.

Dont play with me

i already listened to it before

It ain’t hard to tell that this is a contender for the best rap LP of all time, maybe Wu-tang pip it to the post An excellent debut that really does represent a NY State of mind Representin’ y’all it’s illmatic 1 rapper, 1 guest spo (the criminally underrated AZ), 5 dope producers (Large Professor, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Q-tip and L.E.S.) 9 incredible songs and an intro. An album I’ve owned on CD, cassette, LP, MP3 and I even have the documentary DVD. Nice to take a trip down memory lane. One love

This album sounds hyperfocused. Love his flow and jazz piano loops. It creates a perfect “Those who crouch the lowest, jump the highest.” vibe. Love the quiet ambition. Definitely a five.

This album rocks, through and through. It’s silky smooth, the rhymes are incredible, and each track seems to build on each other Easy 5

My lack of knowledge of 90s rap has been well documented so I’ve really never sat down and listened to Nas before. Huge mistake. I absolutely love his flow. He’s got a great sound. There’s not a lot of extra fluff or frills here which I love and a perfect length of only 39 minutes. Definitely going to give this a listen again.

An absolute masterpiece. When J. Cole said that “Nas wrote the [rap] bible,” he wasn’t joking. Definitely won’t be the last time I listen to it, and will probably hear samples from this album for the foreseeable future.

This is an album I've seen all over the place but have never listened to you. I always wondered why and now I realize it's because this album needs to be listed as a whole. There aren't really any big poppy songs to make it onto the radio, but the album works so well together. Nas has great story telling, and everything is crisp and clear enough to understand on a first listen. I definitely want to listen to this again.

Perfect. The finest hip hop album ever?

Jazzy samples and DJ scratching with boom bap drums make for classic 90s beats - a driving propulsive rhythm paired with relaxed warm sounds. Nas's verses are relentless: non stop rhymes within and between lines, story telling, image conjuring, world building. With an even cadence at just above conversational speed, he barely leaves any space to think and absorb what he's said before he's into the next thing.