Illmatic

will need to sit with this one 🌥🏗🚆🍎 highlights: the world is yours; halftime. see also: sunbaked pavement; rapping over jingle bells; the blissful lethargy of daydrinking in summer; the numerous less talented musicians who lifted directly from this.

Fantastic beats! Certainly foundational to East Coast hip-hop.

I've listened to this album many times before and have always loved, nothing new here

1994: A vintage year for Hip Hop, and this is arguably the best Hip Hop record of that (or any) year. Also one of the greatest NYC records, from the opening sample of the subway, you’re transported to Queensbridge. Masterpiece.

No, nope.... might be a classic, but nope

Never listened to this until today. Couple songs I recognize. I prefer west coast hip hop.

One of the greatest rap albums of all time

i feel like I’m not knowledgeable about the genre enough to really review this but I enjoyed it for not knowing much about Nas (aside from a general awareness of him)

I enjoyed this album

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.

goated

Pretty good.

The moment that you hear Subway Theme from Wild Style, you know that you have to listen to the album from start to end. A classic.

Just an all around cohesive album. A great weekend listen.

I've said this in other hip-hop reviews, but it's generally a genre that I didn't dive into in the 90's. Was much more of an alternative / rock fan than a hip-hop fan. It's been fun to go back and listen and realize how much I missed. I expected this one to be a 5 based on what I've heard about it. But for some reason, it didn't quite resonate with me as much as others. Still excellent, but didn't quite hit a 5 for me. Unfortunately, I don't have enough context for where it fits in the timeline, and maybe that's the difference between my opinion and others. Still, will definitely listen again and put it on my list of great hip hop albums.

Yup, it's rap from the 90's.

An impressive album, beginning to end. Spellbinding flow and a vivid lyricism that evokes a space in time in a way few albums do. Fave Songs: Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park), N.Y. State of Mind, It Ain't Hard to Tell, The World Is Yours, The Genesis, Halftime

One of the all time greats. Listening to this on the subway was a perfect way to start the day. 5/5

Possibly the greatest Hip Hop album ever, and one of the best overall of the 90's

first listen fire production

More listenable than some of the other classic rap albums but still difficult for it to come across to me.

One of the best.

Dope!!

Such a solid album. Beats are melodic and raps are tight. I can’t say this is something I would revisit often but I can recognize great music like this

Not a bad album, again, I mostly associate rap with going to the gym because I can listen without paying attention

Terrible

Classic rap is always good i wish I enjoyed it more but tis not my cup of tea - i did quite enjoy NY state of mind tho. Can appreciate the art but alas not for me def an iconic album tho

Wow that was very lyric heavy as per the wiki description. also love how hardcore weed is referred to as "the herb" in this era. Quite fantastic stuff but I will likely not be revisiting it. Favourite track: halftime

I knew very little about this album, even though "Nas" is a name I've heard a fair amount in the past. Interesting that he and Jay-Z were battling for position as King of NY. Seems like Jay-Z went way further. I'm not especially drawn to the topics, but the grooves are solid.

Listening to this reminded me of an article I read years ago talking about the roles of both technical skill and charisma in rap music. The writer of the article used Nas as an example of a rapper who was technically great, but struggled with charima. I think that's a fair assessment. There's a lot to like about this album, but it's missing that final, unquantifiable something that would push it to 5 stars.

Really solid album with excellent beats and flow, but lost a good amount of my love when I heard the F slur.

It's Illmatic, nothing to say about it that hasn't been said a thousand times. Together with Gang Starr this was my introduction to hip hop. The beat producers & Nas did a fantastic job playing to their strengths, basically every song has some little hell yeah that's cool rhythmic moment. Lyrically it doesn't need you to think any particular way except that human experiences have value. Life's richer for it. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

Just recently I was talking to a friend about how I struggle to connect with a lot of the kind of autobiographical hip hop that was big in the 90s. It’s so alien to my own life and the life of anyone I know that it’s hard not to feel like an interloper when I listen to it. This one made me eat my words a little bit. Of course it’s still completely alien to me, but this is a really beautiful work, sonically and lyrically. Somehow Nas bridges the gap here.

Meh

I'm not a hip-hop guy, but this was okay. The beats were strong, the samples not overly annoying, and the "flow" was good, even if I don't care what he's saying. I'll be surprised if I give any hip-hop album higher than a three, so top marks here.

Fantastic beats. 'N.Y. State of Mind' is an amazing track. Completely random, but whenever anyone says something is 'ill' my first thoughts are always with the Beastie Boys.

I wasn't feeling this today but the flow on Halftime did grab my attention. The skill is undeniable. Wish i was in a different mood when this one came up, think I would've got more out of it. If everyone told me this was a 5 and was world changing I wouldn't be surprised, but I didn't hear it.

I was looking forward to digging into this. In the past I've found the feeling of a disconnect between his voice and the track. The beats are great. I'm not sure if it's the copy I'm listening to but the vocals seem flat and quiet in the mix. Really feels like the raps were recorded without a song in mind. The World is Yours stands out, well produced. His flow causes me anxiety, like he's running out of breath. Halftime, sonically was breaking through with me. The lyrical content doesn't hold up. Memory Lane, another one where I struggle to focus or hear the lyrics. One Love is in my wheel house, sounds closer to a Wu-Tang track. The vocals have some bounce to them. I'm not a huge fan of Q-Tip but used well on this track. Represent and Ain't Hard to Tell were fine. I know people love this album and hold it in high regard. It just doesn't pop for me.

Day153 - i’m ashamed i never took time to listen to this before now it might be the best 30 year old album i never heard

9/10. New York State of Mind played and I thought that was going to be the tip of the hype but the album only got better from there for me. Rapping was consistent throughout but slight uniqueness in the beats helped solidify the score for me.

Very lyric/bar-forward. The flows speak for themselves, the musicality that is sprinkled in is beautiful in its simplicity and really underscores that the verse is what’s doing the work.

Shit rap

N.Y. State of Mind Life's a Bitch The World Is Yours Halftime One Love It Ain't Hard to Tell

El mejor disco de hiphop de todos los tiempos, dicen. One Time 4 Your Mind.

Not my thing but some good lyrics in there

Aw man I already listened to this lol. But it is good, so I shall revisit!

For Rap music, it could be good, but I just can't listen to it.

I like it well enough, but there's nothing here that stands out to me.

Really, really great! I can hear things that other hip-hop/rap does now, it sounds really unique, even now.

Only good 90s rap

I don’t know how to start this shit Nas made the mistake of releasing Illmatic too early in his career. In fact, this being your debut album at 20 is insane. Sometimes artists just catch lightning in a bottle. Absolutely 5/5

3.5 stars. It's a rather dense album. A passive listen is still enjoyable, but without depth. "One Love" has a great beat. I like the "Human Nature" sample in "It Ain't Hard to Tell," which is also a nice closer to the album. I know it's a really famous album, but I feel like I have to really focus on each line to fully experience what makes it good, which makes it difficult to appreciate on the 1st or even 2nd listen.

big winning

Always liked Nas but have never listed to the full album, loved it He’s funny

Sure

Debut album but undeniably experienced artist. I need to listen to this again and again to fully comprehend the lyrical levels

Normally I tense up seeing I’ve got a rap album to get through but as albums go, this is probably the most enjoyable one I’ve had so far on this list. The actual music and beat behind the tracks was decent and I was even quite happy listening along to the lyrics. Still not a complete convert, but one step closer than I was!

Nice, chill, not completely my vibe but liked it

I loved Nas when I was younger and haven’t really listened to him much in the past few years. This album is great overall, and Represent is a standout for me. I think this is his best album and one of the best rap albums.

En 1992 publicó Dr.Dre su enorme debut. Podria ser el mejor disco de rap de la historia a no ser por el debut apenas dos años después de un casi-adolescente que se hacía llamar Nas y que describe la vida en un barrio neoyorquino plagado de crack , problemas y sueños de redención. Los Angeles vs Nueva York, Rap Costa Oeste vs Rap Costa Este , Dr. Dre vs Nas. Para mi no hay debate. Por letras, producción con DJ Premier y QTip nada menos, influencia y calidad este Illmatic ha sido algo inigualable. 10 temas en 40 minutos y sin canciones prescindibles. Illmatic’ ha hecho tanto por Nueva York como Woody Allen o Scorsese. Las legendarias NY State of Mind, Life’s a Bitch y The World Is Yours, las callejeras ‘Halftime’ y ‘Memory lane’ a esa obra maestra que es ‘One love’. Pero sin olvidar «It ain’t hard to tell», con un sample de ‘Human nature’ del Thriller de Michael Jackson. Y sobre todo If I ruled the world con la reina Laurynn Hill. A pesar de no tener gran éxito en su día, se ha convertido en un clásico de escucha obligatoria. Otros discos de una de las mejores cosechas que ha dado la música, 1994: BLUR: Parklife, PORTISHEAD: Dummy, MANO NEGRA: Casa Babylon, SUEDE: Dog Man Star, PAVEMENT: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, OASIS: Definitely Maybe, NEIL YOUNG: Sleeps With Angels, AMERICAN MUSIC CLUB: San Francisco, R.E.M.: Monster, HOLE: Live Through This, JEFF BUCKLEY: Grace, MASSIVE ATTACK: Protection, THE AUTERS: Now I’m A Cowboy, NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS: Let Love In, 16. JOHNNY CASH: American Recordings, SEBADOH: Bakesale, UNDERWORLD: Dubnobasswithmyheadman, STONE ROSES: Second Coming, BECK: Mellow Gold, MARK LANEGAN: Whiskey For The Holy Ghost, TOM PETTY: Wildflowers, THE BEASTIE BOYS: Ill Comunication, KRISTIN HERSH: Hips And Makers, SABRES OF PARADISE: Haunted Dancehall, JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION: Orange, NIRVANA: Unplugged In New York, ALI FARKA TOURE & RY COODER: Talking Timbuktu, PULP: His’n’Hers , THE PRODIGY: Music For The Gilted Generation, VERUCA SALT: American Thighs, THE WALKABOUTS: Satisfied Ma, MANIC STREET PREACHERS: The Holy bible

GOATed best rap album ever

10/10

Always a great album to listen to. Crazy that he wrote most of these when he was 17. Im no rapper but this is still very impressive.

appreciate but not my thing. explicit

East Coast 90s at its finest

loved it

Not really my thing but I can appreciate its importance. 3/5

Luv Nas me 4.5 Every song SLAPS!

I enjoyed it, always have loved Nas' rapping and this didn't disappoint

Of any relation to Lil Nas X?

If you told me this guy invented being cool, I would believe you

One of the most classic hip-hop records of all time, and while it may be a tad overrated, it’s undeniable this thing is a beast

Seminal rap album

4.0 Im not the biggest Hip Hop head so I wont be the best one to judge this album. I know that it belongs in many a top 5 lists, and I could see that.

At first I was like, this is good, going 4. But as it goes and I look more into it, this is really one of the peak albums in one of my favorite genres. I gotta round it up here. Gonna spend more time with it.

a classic....listened many times growing up

No klasyka hiphopa, ale nic w moim stylu

Clásica estética y sonido callejero neoyorquino con el jazz-rap en la base de todo. Letras literarias y rapeo fluido capaz de evocar la dura realidad del gueto pero, al mismo tiempo, lanzar señales de esperanza. Así en "N.Y. State of Mind" rima: "nunca duermo, porque el sueño es primo de la muerte". Sin ser muy aficionado al rap, destacaría "Life's a Bitch", en colaboración con AZ y Olu Dara.

Maybe one of the best albums to introduce someone to hip hop. Some of coolest production in terms of smooth bass lines. trippy and jazzy samples of pianos, horns, strings etc and just good beats. You can tell Qtip from tribe had his hand in the production. This will make you want to walk around in NYC. I weirdly went to the building where he lived when he recorded this with my taxi driver and we ate dinner and watched two ladies fight in the street. It is forever cemented in my mind with that experience as maybe the most quintessential hip hop and new york album. The lyrics are equal parts braggadocious and introspective. Clever rapping. Just listen to it.

In my book, this is about as good as rap has ever got. Even I can hear his influence down the line! One that I always enjoy returning to. Top stuff!

Here’s another one from my deep-ish dive into hip hop from like, almost 20 years ago now. I hadn’t thought of this one since then but I remember really liking it. It definitely holds up! Weirdly I think what made an impact on me was more the sampling than the content of the rapping, and I’m glad to say this holds up on both counts.

This was great, except for the typical 90s rap problematic lyrics.

no me gusta

Didn’t have to play a note of Nasty Nas to know this album was getting five stars. One of the absolute best.

Classic

GOAT

RAP 2/5

This sounds really dated. The beats are original at times but the lyrics are the exact same shit as every other rap song from this time period. How do you have an entire of genre of music that just says the exact same thing over and over again? “I deal drugs and have lots of sex and am rich and commit frequent acts of violence” said in slightly different ways over ten million different albums. Pass.

It's fine.

25 years after it stopped being relevant, I can say with some degree of confidence that I'm on team East Coast. Please don't play this for children.

A staple of the genre

4.5 Boom Bap, NY Gritty

Automatic five star even though i have listned to it way too much. Now i prefer it was written... But this is one of the most standard setting albums in music history

STANDOUTS: N.Y. State of Mind Life's a Bitch The World is Yours Halftime (kinda homophobic but I was into it) One Time 4 Your Mind OVERALL: 3.5/5; for a genre I don't enjoy and with themes i do NOT relate with, the lyrics were great!

Turns out hip hop isn’t for me. I even had this album back in the day but truthfully it mostly all blends in to one

Until further notice, this is unequivocally the best hip-hop album of all time. The length plays a major factor in this: 9 great songs without unnecessary fat or unfunny skits. 40 minutes of gold. Many other hip-hop acts could take a cue from this. Then there's the beats & rhymes. The dark energy coming from the creative beats and samples create a coherent, lively soundscape on this album that would appeal to the imagination even without lyrics, while all influenced by gritty jazz sounds of years gone by. And of course also the content of the lyrics, which guide you through the rough streets of New York and his personal psyche, which is based on the cover are symbolically inseparably intertwined. In short: This is the closest I've ever heard hip-hop come to perfection.

Like any lyrically dense album, this warrants multiple listens. The flow and delivery is second to none. Reading the meaning behind the lyrics on Genius was pretty interesting, given the double entendres and storytelling. The production compliments vocals nicely, but wasn't the main attraction. Obviously a very influential album that has been referenced countless times, some lines just stand out by themselves (dome-piece, magmatize me, dead presidents, sleep is the cousin of death, etc). Overall its one of the best for a reason, not my favorite type of hip hop but still great, need to listen to this more to appreciate it. Low 5.

Was very good! Just not the type of music I usually listen to 8/10

He’s the goat, or at least, one of them. Don’t listen on the regular but I always enjoy when we get an album like this. 8.5/10

3.5/10 - Better than most of the rap albums we have gotten so far in my opinion. But I feel like there is a good chance that the people actually in the rap community will have an opposing opinion. Life's a B kind of sounds like a Beastie Boys song if the voice was different. Also I see Lupe Fiasco took a hint from Nas and brought it to a whole new level. Instead of half a song being names of his boys Lupe made an entire 10 minute song about it.

Really good, a few got a little repetitive though

This is probably the greatest rap album ever made, and one of my personal favorites. Deserves all the praise it gets 10/10

Classic hip-hop album by Nas

already listened to it, very good

Didn't hate it, just not into rap.

Okay.

Probably one of the best hip hop albums of all time. Represent represent!

El mejor disco de hiphop de todos los tiempos, dicen. One Time 4 Your Mind.

If there’s one thing I got wrong about what I thought I knew about music before this list is the relative strength of Hiphop versus Grunge. With each passing album Grunge gets lower and lower and Hiphop never fails to make you feel. Being from New York myself, although certainly not Nas’s world, I can nonetheless feel it and hear it in his words. Powerful stuff.

Awesome friday vibes.

Some classic hip-hop track son here from the mid-90s.

Great

Good shit! Life is a bitch and then you die 😲

The style and rhythm each song has is amazing, NY my fav.

All time top 5 rap album. Unequivocally a classic.

Iconic album. It's amazing to see how influential it was on so many musicians in the past 30 years

Really like the vibe of the album as a whole, it draws you in to a particular mood. The rhymes are impressively dense in the lyrics too. Not enough bangers to reach 5 stars, but quite an enjoyable listen

New York hip hop has a very distinct sound, compared to the stuff being created on the West Coast at this time. This has a languid feel, almost jazz like in places, but we are definitely in the heart of New York for this. The lyrics hit hard, obviously from growing up in some very tough projects, but there are lighter tracks too with songs about chilling out with friends. Influential but probably not one I would listen to regularly.

This hits hard. The flow is insane, even as a non-native speaker I can hear how well the lyrics are crafted, the background music is really good, with jazzy bits and is less annoying that the "blips" and "wheeez" of his older brothers from NYC.

This not my cup of tea. Well, the sound is good, but the music is too repetitive. After a couple of songs, it simply annoyed me.

Damn near close to perfection, maybe the most replayable rap record due to its concise length. The ledger is full when it comes to writing about this one, but it's pretty damn outstanding. Having a hard time believing this one is 30 years old already as it feels like yesterday I was at Coachella watching Nas perform this album in full for the 20 year anniversary, but time truly does fly. My favorite fun fact about this album is part of the hook sample for "Memory Lane" "Now let me take a trip down memory lane..." comes from a Biz Markie (R.I.P.) song about picking his nose and having a particularly memorable booger.

Just rap noise.

Apparently this album didn't leave an especially strong impression on me, as I gave it a 3.25 out of 5. Don't really remember anything from it, to be honest.

It´s just rap - but it´s ok.

One of the greatest rap albums of all time. Ageless

I went in not expecting much but god damn this is a good album. Literally all bangers.

4 yas

One of the albums of all time

Surprised by how much I liked it.

40 minutes of probably some of the best rhyming you will ever hear. The fact has wrote this all before he was even 21 is extraordinary. It breathes, sounds and smells like New York. And paints pictures with clever lyrics and gives you an intense one on one guide through his life at the time. My only criticism is sometimes there’s so much going on in each verse it can all feel rushed and as a result looses some of its impact, also makes the songs feel somewhat blended into one. Still it’s an all time rap classic, arguably the best rap album ever made (or at least that I’ve listened too). Had there been any change of pacing it gets a straight 5 star.

Extremely violent and outdated. This is from the time when saying lyrics about killing people and gangster shit was cool. I don’t think it’s cool. Also, this was lame in comparison to albums like Snoop Dogg or Dr. Dre because the rhymes were basic and it didn’t have any humor or playfulness to it. Like I said just negative and violent. Some of the beats were OK. 2/5.

Oh I've listened to this before, many times, I mean this is an undisputed classic. I won't be saying anything crazy if I say this is THE classic hiphop album, the album cover is also instantly recognisable. All of that said, this isn't my favourite album of all time, ha this isn't even my favourite hiphop album of all time, despite that I can certainly give it the praise it deserves. I don't think there's one bad song on here, Nas recorded one hell of an album. There's not much to say about this if im honest, the beats are ICONIC, the melody from "NY State Of Mind" plays very vibrantly in my head, it's very memorable, nas's delivery is gritty and pungent and his flow is just muah, Chef's kiss. Solid 9+/10, a solid position to come back to for a taste of hiphop.

Life’s a bitch and then you die. Now I know where that line came from.

I want to like this album more.

The best

This was better than I was expecting, or rather, I enjoyed this more than I was expecting. However, I doubt I'll ever revisit this album.

Nas is suppoedly a great lyricist and rapper, but I pay little attention to lyrics and more to the music underneath. Pretty good rap album. I enjoyed it more musically than I anticipated.

Classic, ahead of its time, exceptional beats, great lyricism... The flow and context is a bit dated but of course it is. Within its own right it's a benchmark

Funky tunes

So good

Undeniably a classic hip hop album, although it came out just as was losing interest in hip hop so I only got into it years later . Production and samples are excellent, the vocals really iconic. Wouldn't choose to listen to often these days, but wouldn't complain if it came up on random !

This is what hip hop should sound like. Hard beat, hard rhymes, stories of life on the Streets of New York. Killer.

Not entirely stimulating, but commendable nonetheless.

Back in the day I thought Nas was fire. But I think I might have outgrown rap. 5/10

Solid album from front to back. Wasn’t the greatest but was not bad at all. 7/10

I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Super talented artist: I liked the way he says a lot in a creative way and the songs are catchy.

perfect flows, rhyme schemes, lyrics, beats, features.

Giving me major 90's nostalgia, reminds me of teenage days working at an indoor skatepark.

I am not a huge hip hop fan but this is a brilliant example of the times when hiphop really resonates with me: Politically charged and interesting lyrics, as well as intricate beats with creative use of samples. This is brilliant!

(Incredibly biased opinion) There's often a question posed in regards to music, across all genres, that is "If you got rid of the entire genre, but had one album, what could rebuild it?" Just like in the wikipedia, I firmly believe this is one of, if not THE album that could do it. Truly one of the greatest rap albums of all time, and my personal all time favorite hip-hop album, and sometimes outright favorite. Nas managed to put out his magnum opus on his debut at a young age, and although he's never really quite hit that high again, he's still putting out albums well into his 50's. This would be one of the first albums I'd recommend anyone wanting to survey into the hip-hop genre. NY State of Mind is also IMO the best hip-hop song ever made.

World is Yours, Represent, NY state of mind are my favorites but this a masterpiece. Need more stars

Yeah it's good, not my regular genre but I like it

Decent. 3.8

Illmatic is an absolute classic. I was able to give this a really good listen while mowing the lawn today. I am very familiar with this album, but it's one that never really gets old.

2024-04-13...

ok i screwed up on the profiles but also if i give this a 4 here it perfectly translates into a 7 sooooo

Super fucking chill. Very nearly a 5 for me

its a 7 its good and i like it but this website doesnt allow for half stars sooooo

Writing a review for an album like this is hard for someone like me. Because, sure, I enjoyed the beats and the samples that made them up, and I really dug the flows. Me tending so naturally towards melody, of course I do. But ILLMATIC is an album that's all about its lyrics; complexly-formed street poetry about inner-city life in Queens, New York. And it's just, unless I force myself to spend a whole day listening to nothing but this album and focusing on the lyrics, I can't grasp them. Sure, I can appreciate how the lines their constructed and all their internal rhymes, but I don't think I've absorbed enough of the actual meanings to really be able to comment on them. And with albums like this, I feel like if I'm not able to comment on the meanings, then why bother? Not that they'd mean much to me personally—me, a Canadian living in 2024. At the very least, do I think the lyrics expressed his stories well? With how well each line is made, it's hard to say they don't. I mean, I'unno. If I can appreciate MF DOOM's technicality without really understanding a lot of what he means, I can like this album, too. Besides, my favorite Nas song is "Hip Hop Is Dead", so how much is my opinion worth, really?

One of the best damn debuts you'll ever hear.

I mean, it’s obviously a 5. I have some level of bias since I heard this in August 2022 for the first time and basically fell in love with the album there, but I’ve heard songs from it pretty sparsely, so to come back to it about a year and a half later with a more critical ear just tells me I was justified in liking the album the first time. A masterclass in lyricism and in flow with some genuine all-time beats here; I do think the latter half of the album relies a bit more on basslines to carry the beats than any substantial sampling, but Nas overshadows that incredibly well with his honesty and his enigmatic lyrics, even when he makes up shit like “magmatize”. It really is just a fantastic debut album, and I still feel like I need to listen to more Nas. Super easy 5.

This was pretty good. I don't think I've ever listened to Nas before. Sadly my background in rap is pretty limited so I'm glad to be broadening this aspect with this listening project. I really liked the energy of the album.

Rap, nie mój gatunek

Illmatic is the debut album by American rapper Nas. This landmark album in East Coast hip hop is credited with reviving the New York rap scene and is regarded as one of the best hip hop albums ever. It has themes from Nas' own life experiences in the inner city, such as gangs, poverty, and drugs. Nas and the cinematic album do a wonderful job of describing his experiences by weaving real places, people, stories, and emotions into his raps. Nas' complex, poetic lyrics and fine delivery were unprecedented for a hip hop album and critics & fans could not downplay their love of it. This is a classic masterpiece in the hip hop genre, that basically changed the game. It has been certified gold in Canada & the UK, and double platinum in the US. What an album! Everything about Illmatic was great, and Nas was one of the hottest artists at the time. You can sift the album's contents down to each syllable of his lyrics and still find gold. The rapping, production, storytelling, etc. everything was top notch. Illmatic may have been ahead of its time, but it's a classic and inspired so many hip hop acts to follow, so it was released at the right time. Give this historic album a listen!

It was ar'ite.

I didn't dislike this, but ultimately it didn't do much for me. I'm guessing this is at least partially due to the fact that the lyrics largely don't enter my consciousness while I'm listening to these, so if the rhymes are the selling point of this album they were mostly lost on me.

Masterpiece from start to finish.

ntroduction: Illmatic, released in 1994, is the debut studio album by American rapper Nas. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time and a landmark in the genre. Produced during the golden age of hip-hop, Illmatic embodies the essence of East Coast rap while showcasing Nas' lyrical prowess, storytelling ability, and social commentary. In this review, we will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. Lyrics: Nas' lyricism on Illmatic is nothing short of extraordinary. His vivid storytelling and intricate wordplay paint a detailed portrait of life in the Queensbridge housing projects, where he grew up. Nas' introspective verses offer a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the struggles of urban life, addressing themes such as poverty, crime, racial inequality, and self-discovery. Tracks like "N.Y. State of Mind" and "Life's a Bitch" showcase Nas' lyrical dexterity and ability to craft vivid imagery, while songs like "One Love" and "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)" demonstrate his storytelling prowess and ability to evoke emotions through his rhymes. Overall, Nas' lyricism on Illmatic is masterful, setting a high standard for storytelling in hip-hop. Music: The music on Illmatic is characterized by its gritty, sample-heavy production, which perfectly complements Nas' lyrical content. Produced primarily by legends such as DJ Premier, Large Professor, and Pete Rock, the beats on Illmatic feature soulful jazz and funk samples layered over hard-hitting drum breaks, creating a quintessential East Coast sound. Tracks like "Halftime" and "Represent" boast infectious basslines and hypnotic loops, while songs like "The World Is Yours" and "It Ain't Hard to Tell" feature lush arrangements and melodic hooks. The music on Illmatic not only serves as a backdrop for Nas' lyrics but also stands on its own as a testament to the creativity and innovation of hip-hop production in the 1990s. Production: The production on Illmatic is top-notch, thanks to the talented roster of producers involved in the album's creation. DJ Premier's signature scratch techniques and hard-hitting drums shine on tracks like "N.Y. State of Mind" and "Represent," while Large Professor's soulful samples and smooth transitions add depth to songs like "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)" and "One Time 4 Your Mind." Additionally, Pete Rock's innovative use of sampling on "The World Is Yours" and "It Ain't Hard to Tell" demonstrates his mastery of the craft. The cohesive production throughout Illmatic creates a seamless listening experience, with each track flowing effortlessly into the next. Themes: Thematically, Illmatic explores the harsh realities of inner-city life and the struggle for survival in the face of adversity. Nas' lyrics delve into topics such as poverty, crime, drug addiction, and institutionalized racism, offering a poignant commentary on the social and economic conditions of urban America. However, amidst the darkness, there are moments of hope and resilience, as Nas reflects on his own personal journey and the pursuit of success against all odds. Illmatic is a reflection of the streets, capturing the essence of life in the projects with brutal honesty and authenticity. Influence: The influence of Illmatic on the hip-hop genre cannot be overstated. Not only did it establish Nas as one of the greatest MCs of all time, but it also set a new standard for lyrical excellence and artistic integrity in hip-hop. Illmatic's impact extends beyond its critical acclaim and commercial success; it has inspired generations of rappers and producers to push the boundaries of the genre and strive for greatness in their own work. From its innovative production techniques to its socially conscious lyrics, Illmatic continues to shape the landscape of hip-hop and influence artists around the world. Pros: Masterful lyricism: Nas' intricate wordplay and storytelling set a new standard for lyrical excellence in hip-hop. Stellar production: The sample-heavy beats and innovative production techniques showcase the creativity and talent of the producers involved. Authenticity: Illmatic offers a raw and unfiltered portrayal of life in the projects, capturing the essence of urban America with honesty and integrity. Cultural impact: The album's influence on the hip-hop genre is undeniable, inspiring artists and shaping the evolution of rap music for decades to come. Cons: Short length: With only nine tracks, Illmatic leaves listeners craving more, although its brevity also contributes to its impact and cohesiveness. Limited thematic scope: While Illmatic delves deep into the struggles of inner-city life, some listeners may find its focus on poverty and crime repetitive or overly bleak. In conclusion, Illmatic is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with audiences nearly three decades after its release. From Nas' unparalleled lyricism to the album's innovative production, Illmatic stands as a testament to the power of hip-hop as a form of artistic expression and social commentary. With its raw honesty, poignant storytelling, and enduring influence, Illmatic remains a cornerstone of the genre and a defining moment in the history of rap music.

An all time greatest hip hop album. One of the classics from my high school days. Bumps from beginning to end.

4,2

Alright

I forgot that I ended up with a copy of this at work back in about '95 and would play it a decent amount. I in turn passed it onto a workmate when I left that job to go travelling. Such a solid album. Under the surface it is so angry with as much rage as any Public Enemy album but it gets delivered with a groove akin to a Tribe Called Quest. The best thing about hearing it after so long is that it has dated. The sounds are still sharp and the lyrics powerful with little cringe worthy bragging and rampant sexism other albums of that era a tied down by - not a prude just hearing that stuff ad nauseum is tired. Anyway glad to have this record back in my life

such a good album - didn't relisten

It’s good. Proper, classic hip hop vibes. I’m still don’t love the violent lyrics and grim themes … but it feels more authentic delivered like this.

Not really my thing, but contentedly had it on in the background while I did other stuff.

Only listened a bit. Not my thing. Pass.

Thoughts before listening: One of the most highly regarded hip hop albums of all time, but I don't believe I have heard it before. Review: Yeah I've never heard this before, and you know what...it's great! I get where the praise comes from. This is closer to something like A Tribe Called Quest than the gangsta rap coming out at the same time. I'm really enjoying Nas' laid back rap style over jazzy beats with some interesting lyrics that aren't all violence and sex. 5-stars.

Rap. 1/10

Rap done well

Lord No.

Some good samples, though sometimes it doesn't really go anywhere. The rapping ranges from terrible to above average. Not enough on the higher end.

What can i say. Classic

Finally something different!!! Some of this is really inspirational. Classic. last track was my fave

I can’t relate to the guns-n-drugs era of hip hop music. Subject matter aside, the words go by so fast, granny can’t keep up. The backing musical tracks often aren’t really doing much either, so I just start to zone out. Some songs like “The World is Yours” and “One Time 4 Your Mind” have a bit more groove and a hook. I know this album was critically acclaimed and influential, and I can’t dispute the brilliance of the rhymes, but I can’t get super into it. 3.2

Love this album

Holy shit. One of top 5 hip hop albums of all time. Easily. Not since “The Message” had such a real and honest portrayal of inner city life been recorded. Nas isnt trying to preen or battle anyone. He’s documenting his life. He shows us the kids selling crack on the corner, people free-basing in the stairwell of his project, and the sense of hopeless hedonism that permeates everything. Lyrically, this was a massive jump from what came before. Multiple rhyme schemes at a time, poly-syllabic rhyming. At times it’s even hard to keep track. A classic.

Classic

Where to start! This is one of the best albums across genres of all time. The lyrics and rhythm of his poetry is above anything that was going on at that time. This is an album that everyone should listen to. It is a watershed moment in the way syllables and lyrics can drive a song.

repetitive

pretty much perfect hip-hop classic

- With regard to lyricism, a solid 5/5. - Unfortunately I just find Nas's rap style to be...fine? A true lack of variety on that front, given that his diction, rhytms, tempo, and cadence are all fairly monotonous. I found myself more engaged during AZ's verse and choruses of "Life's a Bitch" than anything Nas was directly producing.

I have a really hard time catching the lyrics, which is what (apparently) makes this album great. Without that it all just kind of falls flat. There's some good production work, but otherwise I'm not into it. Good enough that it's not bad, though.

it was very much fine but idk the vocals lacked punch and the instrumentals lacked lushness. i think i’ve heard it in so many tv shows/films that i’ve mentally relegated it to background noise as opposed to something major like biggie’s music

good

Boring, monotonous, sometimes annoying, yo man hip-hop music.

The greatest nineties solo rap album. The beats, hooks, bars. The best!

The instrumentation and flow was quite enjoyable, but as with all of the gangster rap albums I really don't connect to it in any way because it's not my lived experience

Pretty good yeah

One of the all time greats. 2nd favorite rap album of the 90s, behind only Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).

Enjoyed this album tremendously. I recognized some tracks from hearing them in the aether over the years. Superb lyricism (one homophobic line that Nas has since recanted notwithstanding) highly compelling beats, pretty much everything one could ask for in 90s rap. I fully understand the hype now.

Let me start by saying that I don't think this is the greatest hip hop album of all time. It's good, but there's half a dozen or so other albums that are just as good, if not better. It's still one of the easiest five stars I've awarded so far on this journey.

So I was surprised how groovy this album is because I have not listened to more than part of a song every now and then. It is still out for me but I can appreciate it.

Grandioser Rap.

Some lyrics didn't age well, but this really got me nostalgic for New York.

One of my favourite albums of all time. Great use of sampling and lyrically for a 19 year olds first release incredibly introspective.

Actually quite enjoyed this, more than I expected to anyway

First time listener to Naz I think, aware of him largely through his ‘feud’ with Jay Z. Good stuff, will listen to more. Simpsons: No

Good vibes.

This album was definitely not for me

I feel like I’m missing something here but this album didn’t do much for me. Liked the song with Q Tip and the songs following it were alright but the album was mostly forgettable for me. Probably would benefit from a few more listens which may happen tbf

Lyrica are not for me in every sense of the phrase. No denying the significance of the album but not one I will listen to again

I had never heard of this album or this artist (my bad?). I loved this album and listened to it over most of the weekend. It's great to listen to it in detail with interesting lyrics about social poverty and gang life. The album also works well as a passive listen while doing other things. Pretty cool to have debuted with such an incredible album at such a young age!

It was ok, didn't love it, didn't hate it - it didn't really capture me so probably not one I'll listen to again

Damn just saw Nas in concert not long ago. He monkey flipped me with the rhythm

This was an album I had wanted to listen to for some time. Easy to see why this is one of the most influential and beloved rap albums of all time. Nas has some of the best word play and lyricism of any rapper I’ve heard. The instrumentals in the background range from pleasant to emphatic. The album does a great job at putting you in its stories. Only song I thought was okay was Life’s a Bitch, granted I’ve heard it many times sampled elsewhere. The only issues I have with the album are that I can’t relate to it, but man does it put on a groove. What an amazing few closing tracks. Standouts: N.Y. State of Mind, Halftime, One Time 4 Your Mind, Represent, It Ain’t Hard to Tell.

Very middle of the road rap album for me. Didn’t hate it didn’t love it.

Thought I'd already reviewed this. Regardless, I think I remember it was pretty decent. Unknown to me before now.

This was great

eh, maybe im just not in the mood but it felt too aggressive. lyrics and sampling are pretty good tho!

Rap goes too fast for me most of the time, the only word I understood reliably while listening was cocaine

👍🏻

Okay, not a mood I often find myself in

As I’ve said about hip-hop and rap, I don’t yet know what makes a good album in either genre, but I know art when I see it and I know what I like when I hear it. This just felt…ok??? I mean it was a rap album and that’s about all I can tell you. I liked the Q-Tip feature on “One Love,” even if the song itself was kinda boring. I think a lot of the time the hook in these songs is repeated a lot when the hooks themselves weren’t even that good. This was fine but I won’t be relistening. Giving the benefit of the doubt here at 3 stars but I think, really, it’s 2. Standout tracks: N.Y. State of Mind, Memory Lane

Hard lyrics over chill beats. 4 stars

Listened twice, appreciated the rhymes, but didn’t find something special

Short listen only...not the best of the genre it seemed

Ну я поймал вайбика, но в целом монотонненько так. Хотя исторический прикол понятен. 94 год, что тут сказать.

Ну Рэп. А дальше что? Я почитал википедию, что он молодец, повернул ист-коуст куда надо. В списке - видимо потому что батя. Но батина музыка - немного зашквар, по определению? Короче это неплохо, это неотвратительно, но мне не особо кайф. Пара треков норм. Хочется отметить, что он очень компактный: без скитов, филлеров, длинных ненужных битовых проигрышей.

чел ровный походу

Not my thing, though I like the beats and I get that it was revolutionary.

Definitely the style I grew up around. Great flow.

More Rap?

Стандартная негритянская репчина.

It probably is the greatest Rap album of all time, with immaculate rhymes, flow, storytelling, and beat work, but I’ve always been kinda fascinated by this album for another reason, which is that it is singularly responsible for most of Nas’ reputation nowadays. I don’t know any of his other albums, I’ve never felt the need to check them out, because this one is just so good

Very good album. Pay attention Kanye. This blows your doors off

Cruising santa Monica...Sun in the sky. Life's a bitch but don't sweat...you're gonna die. Not bad. Didn't want to turn it off anyway. Nor my usual thing but a welcome start to the playlist. Works well as background hip hop. Stream. Won't buy

Classic

It's an East Coast thing. Total classic.

It was just ok.

I see Nas all the time on Rate Your Music. I'm genuinely not big on hip hop, but 1001 Albums has spoken :] ── ࣪˖ ࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ── Gah. "Illmatic" was an overall super obnoxious album. The production was repetitive, there was a use of slurs Nas can't claim, and the album was lacking dynamically and musically. Compared to something like Kanye’s "MBDTF" or Tyler’s "IGOR," which balance strong beats emotional texture, Illmatic felt extremely one-note. I think Nas was trying too hard to appear "gangsta."

Just not my jam.

Classic east coast style. Reminded me heavily of WUTANG and Tribe. Great lyrical content for the times too.

HipHop - Rap - nothing for me

fantastic album. Great beats, great bars, smooth, raw, honest. Nothing here contrived.

I love this album.

Cooles Album, weil ich HipHop mag. Richtig umgehauen hat es mich aber nicht. 3 von 5 finde ich fair.

- Echt cooles Album - NAS und sein Debütalbum Illmatic werden im Hip-Hop immer sehr hochgehalten - ich denke ich verstehe warum und auch inwiefern das Album sicherlich viel verändert hat: Der Flow, die komplizierten Reimschemata, eine stimmliche Variabilität, die sich sehr vom Oldschool und dem immer selben Duktus unterscheidet. - Dazu ehrliche Texte aus seinem Leben - Die Beats sind nicht vollkommen neu, aber super chillig und definitv auch abwechslungsreich. - War doch erstaunt wie viel ich doch von dem Album schonmal gehört hatte, und seien es auch nur kurze Versatzstücke, Hooks oder Samples Rating: 3,75/5

- Ich war sofort in New York beim Hören dieses Albums - Illmatic hab ich auch schon auf einigen Hip Hop Bestenlisten aller Zeiten gesehen. Aber es ist leider wieder das gleiche phänomen, wie bei den bisherigen "Klassiker"-HipHop-Alben: Es hat sich technisch, dramaturgisch und stilistisch einfach sehr viel getan und meiner Meinung nach auch in eine bessere Richtung, sodass ich den alten Platten nie wirklich viel abgewinnen kann. - Dennoch ein solides Werk, was mich nicht gelangweilt aber auch nicht begeistert hat. 2,75/5

Konnte man ganz gut nebenbei hören. So Beats bringen einen einfach oft in einen guten Flow. Ansonsten wars für mich jetzt aber nicht allzu atemberaubend, wenn eben auch nicht schlecht.

rap - hip hop

Really like the song: - The World Is Yours - Halftime - Represent

Absolutely fantastic lyricism and the beats were really well put together. This certainly feels like a debut album at it's finest. We see Nas putting the pieces together for a good career and from the moment the album starts we know NYC is as much a character as Nas himself is. I am not a huge listener of rap but out of the small amount I do know this is one of the best.

Sorry Joe.... Will this hit my 42-year old ears the same way it once did? The answer is - absolutely. Back in the day, I was dumbfounded as to why this album was loved by so many people. In my dipshit option, there were so many better records released around this time. Biggie, Tupac, Beastie Boys, Snoop, Dre, Warren G - were all releasing far more interesting Hip Hop. Hell, even Naughty By Nature's "19 Naughty 3" had more life. Plus, I can't forget my personal favourite from this time - Ice Cube's "The Predator". I still love that record. I owned albums from all these guys and couldn't understand why Nas was getting the same love. For me, it's Nas' delivery that lets this album down. The beats are great, but there’s almost no variety in his rap; his rhythm and flow sounds exactly the same from song to song. If you were to take Nas' vocals from any of these tracks and play them over any other beat on this record, I bet you wouldn't notice a difference. You could mix & match Nas' vocals throughout this album and achieve the same results (pretty much). I was hoping I'd have a new appreciation for Illmatic 30 years later. I'd hear the genius that alluded my teenage brain. I'd have an awakening that led to a rejuvenated love of Hip Hop. That didn't happen. Don't get me wrong - it's certainly not bad by any means, but I still don't get the "Illmatic" hype.

Nas - Illmatic - lo considero el mejor album de rap de todos los tiempo. El flow, la letra, la produccion, el sonido, simplemente es un album perfecto. Lo escucho con frecuencia mientras cocino. Detras de el public enemy fear of a black planet #2

I get the importance of Illmatic on NY rap in the 90s. It's not my genre, and the references to violence were a bit overwhelming. But it's better than most rap from that era.

Nas easily is one of the best lyrically and flo. His beats reflect a lot of what he is rapping about so you won’t really find the club bangers like you would from other artists. This album still slams though.

Even without historical context this album is incredible. Add in the context and Nas completely changed the game with his debut. Still one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.

Once gain what can I say about this album that hasnt been said before. It is fucking amazing.

Good hip hop classic

Really great rap.

It was OK

Good album

Not heard it before. Very good. I need to listen to more.

They talk about this being one of the best rap albums of all time. And I can see it. This was an album that I knew about, but never got into. I was very late to the old school rap game. Thankfully, my brother was and he introduced me to this one. I remember thinking, this album is great from start to finish. It has that old school feel, which I'm sure back then was very powerful. I still always associate Nas with "kill kill kill, murder murder murder" from the news anchors, but this put him into a new territory for me. Again, I wasn't as familiar with him, but now I realize he is an OG. And more so, he has released so much since, I've really enjoyed his recent King's Disease album series. On here my tops are Life's a Bitch, The World is Yours, One Love, One Time 4 Your Mind.

Oh man, the big one. One of the most acclaimed hip hop albums ever, and it's really easy to see why. Some kid from New York debuts with something this colossal, produced by legends like DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip. It's just scary, Nas was a teenager recording this, and it was like a tentpole for the underground NY hip hop sound that, 40 years later, is still regarded as one of the best, if not the best. The intro beat is awesome, and the first proper track is "NY State of Mind" which has to be one of the greatest hip hop beats and tracks ever recorded. And we've still got other classics like "The World Is Yours" and "Life's a Bitch"I'm really struggling to find words to describe this album, it's just a perfect encapsulation and representation of the feeling that street hip hop should give. This and Wu-Tang's Enter the 36 Chambers are just biblical. It's not my personal favorite hip hop album, but it's absolutely up there, probably in my top 10 or so, and easily top 2-3 of the '90s. Impressive too to see the late-career surge that Nas has had with his King's Disease series, the guy is still killing it. Favorite tracks: Everything but Memory Lane hits hard for me, absolute favorites are NY State of Mind and The World is Yours. Album art: Absolutely iconic. It's Nas as a baby, superimposed over the streets and rough neighborhoods that birthed him. The font is perfect too. No notes. 5/5

I feel really bad for this, but it's just boring.

Og

One of the BEST hip hop album EVER!

Glatt.

While not really my type of music, I can see the talent. I could listen to 90's hip-hop and rap over today's auto-tuned garbage any day!

I’ve heard this is one of the best hip hop albums ever. I liked it, but no track really stood out. I would have loved this 30 years ago. Now. Not so much.

Not my favorite.

This album is sick. I can't believe this was his debut. I love the samples, I love how hard the songs go, and I love how much flow Nas has with his lyrics and the way he presents them. While I listened, I looked at pictures of the Queensbridge houses and the surrounding area in the 90s. I feel like this album can transport you there. The production on this record is sick as well. It feels super cohesive yet varied. Not a single skip on this album. There is definitely some Public Enemy inspiration in this album too which is cool.

Love this record. The lyrics, the beats, the rhymes. Its so good. This is a true pivot record in the evolution of hip hop. It doesn't feel like an "old school" hip hop album, but at any moment in the last 30 years its felt relevant. It's pretty impressive to make such a timeless record. That ages so well. The beats are simple, but engaging. They're easy to roll with, especially with the way that Nas tells stories. Which I think is his strongest point. He's a master storyteller and a master poet, as soon as this record starts, you're in it with him. Favorite songs are: - NY State of Mind - The World is Yours - Memory - One Love

This is what East Coast hip-hop is all about. It has been 30 years since it's release and boy does this one stand up to the best of the best. Amazing that this was his debut. He has had excellent albums after, but this one is near the top. 9.7/10

Another rap album. It’s not as bad as some of the others.

I enjoyed this. Very 90s era rap. I missed this when it came out since I was busy listening to grunge. Overall, this was a really good album. Great sound!

First thoughts! This is great! Sounds fresh new, energy New York State of mind is a stand out but 1st track Genesis, amaze sets the scene mood so well Love Memory Lane , backing vocals coming in woohoo

Liked the beat, not big on the lyrics

90’s east coast hip-hop

Story telling

It’s a great album. The blueprint to so much of what came after too. Love the beats, the lyrics, Nas’s voice. Brilliant.

Nas has bars and rhymes for days, and there's some good beats on here, but there's absolutely nothing on "Illmatic" that speaks to me; I was bored throughout this album. Maybe in missing a deeper meaning or message here, but the repeated bragging about money, drugs, street cred, and guns are really off-putting. I respect the skill, but I wouldn't listen to this again.

The greatest hip hop album of all time. If you disagree, then take all the time you need to come to terms with being wrong.

This absolutely slaps. Every song is fire, and Nas' lyricism really comes out throughout. The beats, the rhymes, the melodies, it's all there. This is the kind of album I wish I'd known about sooner because this just bleeds cool.

What more can be said about Illmatic that hasn't been said before? Hip-hop had already ingrained itself as a juggernaut of the kind of musical proportions that the industry wasn't prepared for. With its litany of sub-genres within (boom bap, g-funk, the nascent rap-rock, gangsta), Illmatic stood alone in its poetic/literate stance and wove together a world that, for forty minutes, sounds both innocent and foreboding, tragic yet nostalgic; a document that didn't look down and demean but looked up and provided a path forward, if one took it. Illmatic should rightfully be considered not just one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, or one of the greatest debut albums but one of the greatest albums of all time, period. Thirty years on, its impact on our view of its creator and the genre he inhabits not only hasn't changed but has been magnified. This is the kind of album that jump-starts, solidifies and intensifies ones love for hip-hop. I know it did mine.

I like learning the nuances of Hip Hop and I can certainly appreciate this album. Fave: The World Is Yours

Impressive as hell for 1994 - the birth of modern hip-hop, I guess! For its place in music history it's probably worth a 5, but as I'm scoring these albums on pure subjective enjoyment I'm afraid it's only a 4. Fave tracks - "N.Y. State of Mind" and "It Ain't Hard To Tell" are both baller. "I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death" is an absolutely cherry lyric! 😘

I liked it. You can hear the start of a lot today’s rap music here. Exciting for me because although Nas was a little before my time, a lot of the rap I grew up on he was either featured on, referred to, or a part of in some form or fashion. Good album too.

Not my style. Could maybe listen to it in the background while getting stuff done but not an album I would solely sit an listen to.

I see now what all the fuss was about

Brilliant from start to finish, love how it's economical. A couple more tracks and it would probably get repetitive. The bass hit me right up front and the lyricism is straight from Del and some 80s old schoolers--and a lot of the way these beats are set up are subsequently copied on Deltron 3030 (my #1 hip hop album). Also love the subtle 'Human Nature' (Michael Jackson) sample in the last track.

While this album didn't make me a rap/hip hop lover, I can certainly see why this is a classic of the genre. Lyricism is very very good and there's some great beats in here. It's a 3.5 for me but I've gotta round it down for a couple Songs towards the end that didn't grab me. Fav songs: - NY State of Mind - Life's a bitch - The world is yours

I'm not familiar with this album, but it was solid and middle-of-the-road. 3.

This might be one of the best rap albums I've ever heard.

I liked this, the overall vibe is really good, but I felt it started to get repetitive and the songs blurred together after a while.

Good Beata and rhymes

Pas en lien direct mais je déteste l'expression "âge d'or du rap", arrêtez de l'utiliser s'il vous plaît.

J'aime bien Nas, mais ça c'était avant que Robert m'ouvre les yeux: merci Robert, cet album soit disant classique c'est de la merde.