Reviews (page 10 of 13)
Well I'll be damned.
Okayish
nice chill hip hop 3.5/5
good, liked it but nothing really stood out to much to me
i appreciate that this list switches genres between albums. i liked this one but idk if ill relisten idk
Really good. Not my usual thing at all. Great beats and musically very different to what I think of as rap. Bit repetitive maybe which is why I didnt give it 4 stars.
I really tried. Really. But I think i'm just not a fan of Nas' flow. I recognize the talent. And the production is super clean. That's why it's a classic. But not for me. 6,5/10 fav songs : NY State of Mind & The World is Yours
It was a strange experience listening to this while I picked blueberries, fertilized tomatoes and gardened over the beautiful weekend. The songs about urban ills, violence, and social capital aren't exactly the right soundtrack for that activity. As rap it was fine, but I did like the artists the came on the autoplay afterwards more.
This didn't do much for me. It wasn't bad, just not inspiring or even terribly interesting, I suppose.
Not bad production, but the lyrical content becomes tiresome
Enjoyed this! Nice break from the usual 70s/80s rock. Nas is really talented and one of the greats. I’m sure I would have loved if I discovered at a younger age, feels hard to get into now though.
Authentic East Coast rap...I can get behind this album. It's not flashy or overly polished. Real lyrics. Life experience.
Liked this better than I thought I would and more than most rap albums. The music was generally decent, although there was some repetitiveness across some of the songs. Generally intriguing lyrics.
I didn't mind this at all. Though pretty much all the lyrics went over my head...
I know it's an absolute classic, I'm just not a fan of the beat Mas uses on most songs. I know it's by design. It makes for a retro fun experience once in a while, do I like it? No.
I can see why it was so influential and good, and I liked it, but it's not my jam. Like, it's good, but I wouldn't re-listen, necessarily.
Another "good music for someone other than me" three-star review.
Whoo-boy. Seeing yet another 90s hip-hop entry on this list doesn't inspire much hope. But honestly, after a front-to-back listen, it's pretty good. At least, musically. Nas's vocal is solid for rapping, and his rhythm is pretty dang immaculate. But the highlights have to go to the backing instrumentals. They're mixed quite far down on most tracks, but they really enhance an otherwise boring hip-hop record. The sampled synths in It Ain't Hard to Tell, the jazzy piano chords in The World Is Yours, the muted trumpet in Life's a Bitch... Some of them are so great that I found myself deliberately tuning out Nas's rapping to make room for the good stuff. (This is a common theme in the genre. Seriously – singing instead of rapping would easily push this album to 4 stars or higher. That's how much of a quality difference there is between vocal and backing.) But Illmatic isn't without its blemishes. Listening to Halftime, I was on the fence as to whether I enjoyed it. Then it dropped the R-slur and I decided that, not only did I not enjoy it, but it's a near objectively bad track. Avoiding use of an offensive slur isn't that difficult – just don't use it. Nas didn't get the memo. Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park) has a similar issue: I found myself vaguely grooving, until Nas pulled an F-slur out of his crack. I'm all for reclaiming offensive words, but Nas isn't gay (I checked) so that argument doesn't apply. Nope – he's being deliberately crude and offensive, for the sake of... getting a reaction, I guess? Regardless, we shouldn't reward Nas by pretending to enjoy nonsense like this. Then there's The Genesis, which acts as an "interlude" to start the album. I'm grateful for Nas generally avoiding the use of interludes here, but then he drops this number on us. It's musically barren. A group of guys shouting empty lyrics over a beat. Considering it's unlikely he plays this track live regularly, what's the point of slapping it at the start of an album as if it accomplishes something? Thankfully, the album gets a little better from there. 3/5 Key tracks: Life's a Bitch, The World Is Yours
I understand the importance but it just isn't an album I'll revisit very often.
Look, 𝘐𝘭𝘭𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 is a landmark. Everyone from music nerds to college professors seems to agree it’s the gold standard of ’90s hip-hop. And sure enough, the beats are crisp, the rhymes are tight, and Nas delivers vivid street poetry like a 20-year-old with an old soul and a very sharp pen. Still, for someone who’s not deep into rap, it sometimes feels like reading a brilliant novel in a language you only half speak. I admire the craft, I get the cultural weight, but I’m not quite emotionally pulled in. Important? Absolutely. Essential? For hip-hop, yes. For me? Let’s say I’m glad I heard it — but I won’t be quoting it at dinner parties.
It was alright not the best
As someone not really into hiphop/rap, and without a lot of experience with 90s rap specifically, I liked this album a lot more than I expected. It had very relaxing vibes, like it would fit lounging in the sun in the summer quite well. Some of the beats were a bit annoying to me, but the production was interesting and dynamic. I even walked away with two songs I genuinely like and will re-listen to!
Not as stunning as people say, good old school rap
I haven’t been a fan of east coast hip hop so far but this was a much better album than other east coast I’ve heard. Added quite a few of these tracks to my lists.
This wasn’t bad… more old school than I remember.
3/5
Not usually what I listen to but the rhythm and wordplay were really cool, I particularly loved N.Y. State of Mind.
I guess it sounds quite modern for its time, with slick rapping. But i found the beats monotonous so musically it could not inspire me. 3 stars
Rap is not my style
I am going middle of the road here. For this genre I found it better than most.
Another hip hop album that I absolutely do not get the hype about. Sure he’s really good at rapping but the lyrics are realistic and have nice flow at best. But that’s it. He doesn’t seem to want to rise above the streets that he’s talking about. He’s merely content to chronicle them.
Kilka dobrych kawałków ale jak to tylko 3/10 dla najlepszego albumu rapowego to wychodzi na to że nie lubie słuchać rapu.
Solid enough rap, would stick on again, not bad for running
Sounds like most other good Hip Hop albums.
Often considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Tight, focused, no filler. Just good rhymes and beats. An icon of East Coast rap.
Rap truly isn’t for me but I can appreciate the genre and why it exists.
3.0 in RYM.
Didn’t really listen to a while bunch of Nas back in the day. This was a relatively good album. I understand that it really influenced a lot of East Coast rappers and still does.
Disco casi redondo, cortito y con mucho estilo. Los temas que mas me gustaron fueron: it aint hard to tell (sample de michael GOD), the world is yours, life’s a bitch
cool
I like this style of hip hop.
Nas work
No soy anglosajón. Sin letras tiene relativo interés.
Siento que es una gran leyenda pero todavía no le pude encontrar la perla. Quizá otro disco? Me gustó Lifes a Bitch Nota: 2.9
Not a rap fan but there was a lot to like about this album.
This is so outside my usual genre that I can't review it. The lyrics seem densely complicated
I thought I would like this album more than I did. You can tell it’s Nas’ first album. Classic NY rapper
Solid 90's rap vibe, don't like it that much myself but loved represent. Might grow on me later.
1. Hate skits in albums. Even at the beginning. 2. Really repetitive and boring choruses - one sentence repeated a few times before the verse starts again. 3.
Love the samples and organization of the songs. Very musical. Can’t relate much but well done album
Great rapper, but not really my cup of tea
Pretty good
I might not have been in the correct mood for this one. Definitely not a bad album, it's a classic. Great rhyming, but slightly too same-y.
Not my thing but I like the beats. 02/04/25
Dig the jazz tones. I'm waffling between 3 and 4... First album by a young rapper, impressive.
I'm No Rap/Hip-Hop expert, but it was quite good. Probably won't listen to it again
Pretty solid
Good stuff, would relisten
With a few exceptions, rap records pretty much sound the same to me, which would also include this one. I can't deny the high ratings, so there must be something about it, but I just don't get it. Some of the samples were good in terms of interesting or original.
Classic rap, nothing special but the lyrics.
This kept growing on me as it played. I guess it took me a few tracks to acclimate to the production aesthetics of its time. So, I liked it, Nas is impressive, but I never quite climbed into 4-star territory on this listen.
One thing I like about this project is that it's really informed me on rap. I dare say I'm starting to get a deeper understanding of some constructs and can discern standard from exceptional (aka Kendrik). Maybe this was groundbreaking in 1994? Maybe Lil Nas X was inspired by Nas. But I found this pretty formulaic and kinda boring. But I didn't immediately discount it and that demonstrates I've come a long way in my rap education. So middle-of-the-road rap means I'll go straight down the middle of the stars.
pretty good, love the sound
This is what I call book smarts rap/hip hop. It strays from my tastes of bitches, killing, drug references and living the life of a G. It has a direction and a message. The beats are strong and hard hitting. There’s no bubblegum, intentional radio friendly track on this album. I’m not sure what makes Nas a hip hop icon but that’s ok. I didn’t hate this. Now I’m going back to the Jackass Soundtrack Choice cut: Memory Lane
Not my cup of tea, but still decent for the genre.
Smoother and poetic, thhis has aged well
Good beats, good flow, kind of grim and self-important. This did not cut through the haze of my depression.
Never listened to Nas and didn’t expect much. The first track reinforced the feeling. By song three I was vibing with it. Very pleasantly surprised.
⭐⭐⭐ Some decent tracks. Would probably be better listening to while high, which I am currently not.
I see why people love it. Not my cup of tea though.
Bit mid All sounded the same Interesting lyrics
I remember Nas being the hot name in hip-hop around this time and I was aware of a few songs. This is on my buddy's Top 10 List so it has some cred in my eyes. I always thought his rhymes were good but that he sounded a bit angry on every song. The music lacks depth, compared to other artists at the time, it's simplistic so's not to take away from his lyrics. I get that his message is designed to open eyes but I can't quite connect. I enjoyed "Memory Lane" and "Halftime" more than the two biggest hits, "NY State Of Mind" and "The World Is Yours". Just average for me, not a T1001 lister in my opinion. 3 stars since none of it was bad.
90s rap. Decent.
East Coast hip hop is hit or miss for me, and I tend to prefer late 90s/early 00s Nas. That being said, Nas is incredibly influential and a great rapper, so I understand why this particular album made the list. “Life’s A Bitch” is the best track. The others are fine, but nothing to really write home about. I think Nas has better albums, but this one’s okay. I will say, the length of this album is one of its strengths. Many 90s hip hop albums are overly long, but this one is concise, which benefits the flow and really shows the importance of the tracks that were included. I’d give this a 3.5 if I could. This album really changed the game. I wish I liked it more.
Didn’t do much for me.
Ok listen. Not really my thing.
It's just a good rap album with good backbeats and solid vocals to match.
Production felt a bit dated but overall it was alright. I prefer other nas albums. 3 stars
Obviously considered one of, if not the greatest hip hop album ever recorded. Which makes me realise it’s just not really for me as a genre, which is ok. World is Yours and It ain’t hard to tell are very good, and there’s no missteps on here, just not my bag 3/5
It was ok
Probably quite good, just not my thing
It was ok-it just didn't stand out to me.
Another classic old school hip a Hop album. Worth a relisten
When I first started listening to hip hop, this was one of the first I’d not the first album I listened to. I think the first was actually Wu-Tang’s 36 Chambers. For some reason, Nas had never been one of my favorites, when it comes to elite/classic hip hop.
Good lyrics, cool beats. Not one of my favorites but I like it.
I need to find a course called "How to Appreciate Gangsta Rap" because YIKES there's a lot of it on this list (and in our culture, I guess). I'm glad for him that Nas got out of the crack game and into the rap game. The grooves and vocals were better than the usual, but this is still; all tropes top to bottom, nothing new. It was not a bad listen though. Less violent and gross than a some, like Notorious B.I.G. or Tupac.
I don’t listen to a lot of rap, but this is a good album.
It was good but not one I will go back to I think
Skaplig 90-talsrap, sparade några låtar, men hela albumet är helt ok med några låtar som sticker ut
A good album that doesn't hit in a big way for me. I can see what it's doing but I don't feel it
Should relisten. Good, but nothing caught my attention
Enjoyed it even if it’s a little one note. Not a ton of track variety. 3 1/2 star feel for me. First hip hop album that’s come up here which was nice for variety
Obviously an influential record, but one I find relatively boring. Pretty dynamic beats but pretty standard flows (to modern ears uneducated in hip hop at least).
I was not expecting to like this at all but I still don't think it's fantastic but I ended up liking it. I think the standout's for me is N.Y. State of Mind and Halftime.
The other day I drove past a cigar bar on a country road that had a sign in the Godfather font.
It’s hard to believe that Illmatic is over 30 years old. The production still feels fresh. It’s hard to put it into words, but there’s something different about this record that sets it apart from any other hip-hop records of its time. While it is undoubtedly East Coast, Nas’ rhyming patterns and lyricism definitely rise above most of what came then and immediately after and should still be viewed as a benchmark. Favorite tracks: The World is Yours, Halftime, It Ain’t Hard to Tell This would probably get 3.5 stars if I could
I pushed through this one quick and didn’t have a lot to say. Nas is…fine. He’s an incredible technical rapper and his beats are metronome precise but there’s always just a little missing oomph and this listen didn’t catch me. 3/5 on this one.
plays its hand a bit early doesn’t it? excellent verses for most of the runtime but the repetitive instrumentals can become a little grating after a while. one of those albums that i can appreciate for its impact while not being fully in love with it & that’s ok!
Не впевнений що можу оцінити реп не розуміючи мови. Хоча, може краще і не знати що він там співає
Old school 90s rap done right ✅
Another example of I can understand the importance of this album Music-history wise, but it’s just not my jam
The beats were cool and he’s a good rap artist but just not my thing
Hip hopiksi ihan ok
Not my style of rap. I only really liked the one track with Q-tip
It was nice and I actually danced to some tracks but that's it
#452. All these songs are basically the same. This album just kinda fades into the background for me. 3/5: meh
A good groove, pretty non-abrasive and on occasion downright good.
This is better than most hip hop and rap albums imo. Still not what I’d listen to regularly but glad to be exposed to it.
6.5/10- Not a huge 90s rap guy. But this is changing my mind. Listened on a run and great vibezz.
It’s ok, and I like his flow, a bit masculine for me though
Nas ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This album was sort of new to me. 1994 was not a hip hop year in my life. My flatmate used to play this album and I used to turn it off and put on whatever crappy cheesy house collection I was listening to at the time. Some amazing highlights. - Nas is clearly a great rapper - his flow and wordplay is excellent - The collaboration with Q-Tip - The world 🌍 is yours 💥 - NY State of mind 🇺🇸 Lowlights - it’s just too much Nas. - The album just get’s too samey - Needs more guests!
Started out great, but felt like it fell off towards the end. 3.5/5
Great lyrics, if still not my genre of choice.
Had a good flow and rhythm, not spectacular enough though to warrant more than 3-stars.
Maar 40 minuten. Zal elk luistermaatje dit rap-plaatje dan wel uitluisteren? Het is aan de andere kant wat eentonig. Dus wellicht wordt er weer doorgezapt. Er is vooral weinig mis met dit plaatje. Echt boven het jaren-90-rap-maaiveld komt dit niet. En dan hebben we weer een vergeetbare 3.
Ik heb mijn laatste hiphopalbums, van 2pac, ice t en dr octagon respectievelijk, met 2 maal een 4 en 1 maal een 3 beoordeeld. En ik heb deze week uit eigen vrije wil het album Mindstate van Pete Philly opgezet. Dan kun je niet zeggen dat ik een hekel heb aan hiphop. Dit album vind ik best prima te pruimen. De track NY State of mind gaat me nog wel iets teveel over coke, n**z en pistolen, maar de flow op de (doorgaans eentonige) (break)beat is lekker early 90s. Het geheel wordt opgesierd door af en toe een pianosample of een scratch. Maar ik vind de sound en de rap nergens uitspringen, ik zou Nas niet herkennen in een playlist. En dat heb ik met sommige andere rappers wel, ofwel door de stijl van de muziek of de rap ofwel door de stem. Wat misschien wel het meest bijzondere aan dit album is, is dat het nog geen 40 minuten in beslag neemt. Normaal gesproken krijgen we meer dan een uur voor onze kiezen, maar ome Nasir weet zijn ongenoegen een stuk sneller te uiten. En dat is toch prettig. Scoor je bijna een bonuspuntje mee. Bijna. Meer dan een 3 kan ik hiervoor niet geven.
pa ja, ok
Fun
Urban
Highlights: This World Is Yours, Halftime. In a nutshell: the shape of hip-hop to come. There's something unique about Nas' delivery that sets him apart from his peers on both coasts. It sounds softer but still packs the punch (I don't know how else to describe it). As said previously, hip hop isn't my thing. But I can tell that Nas has influenced dozens of hip hop artists. Some of them I've encountered in this project: Kendrick Lamar, Lupe Fiasco and (possibly) Tupac. Overall: 5/10
# Album Name: Illmatic # Artist: Nas # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Meh. It was nothing more than a passing by for me. Ive said it before and ill say it again, the earlier hip hop stuff is still more palatable than the newer stuff. # Top Tunes: None. # Would I listen to it again? Probably not.
Well, here we are. So, full disclosure, rap and hip-hop are not my go-to genres. Being more of a rock guy, I don’t tend to do really any rap. That means that I have yet to listen to any of the most beloved rap albums. This project, however, is a good entry point to some of those albums to see how I would react to them. This is one of them. I heard many great things about Nas, but never listened to his music before. All signs pointed to this being one of the most important hip-hop albums in existence, so the expectations were high. I will say that Nas is very talented. The flow within the songs is amazing.(god I hope I’m using that term right) Everything just goes smooth and the samples are on point. I can see why many consider him to be one of the greatest rappers. I also enjoy the focus on growing up in Queens and the various factors that affected Ana’s, especially the focus on the lives of those come to Nas and how growing up surrounded by gangs and drugs had a big impact. It gives a nice personal edge to the album. It’s a nice touch for a rap album to see about things other than fame, money, and sex, in that order. However, my biggest issue with this album is that not many of the songs had an impact on me. I kind of felt that most of the album sounded similar for most of its runtime. As someone who isn’t that big into hip-hop or rap, this didn’t particularly sway me. I can see what many like about it, but for me it didn’t really do much. Favorite track: It Ain’t Hard to Tell Other hits: Life’s A Bitch, N.Y. State of Mind, The World is Yours
Quintessential rap. Nothing about it really sticks out.
Sehr gut produziert und arrangiert. Hier wurden die Schwächen in der Melodie und im Rhythmus, da fast immer gleich, hervorragend kompensiert. Hier ist mehr Schein als Sein.
Not my genre of choice but had groovy rhythms and rhymes.
Better than expected. Highlights: - The World is Yours - Half Time - It Ain't Hard to Tell
3.5
A pleasant surprise, I've never heard a complete Nas album, this one left me shaking my shoulders at the rhythm of the songs, hmm, hmmm :-D
Good background listening. Good beats. Mostly the same
Was alright, not super engaging - sounded like it was probably very influential and important but I didn't enjoy it much
Yeah, yeah, say what, zukka, zukka. Got it all in here! Felt there was a heavy m’n’m influence and a solid base line on each track. The World Is Yours and Halftime top the album. The rest seemed like typical thug rap to me. Sounds like nasty Nas is a clever intellectual bisexual. Know what I’m sayin’. (2.8*s)
Nas can't be matched lyrically, his flow and rhyme scheme become the standard for all East Coast hip hop post-1994. I'm familiar with most of the tracks on here but didn't realize this was his debut, really solid. Also didn't know Q-Tip had his hand in there but really no surprise, masters of their craft and a great combo. A crisp classic 3.35.
Nas and his featured artists consistently have good flow with some decent lyrics accompanied by relatively simple production. The songs are pretty straightforward and consumable. The one knock I have is that everything started to sound the same by the end of it. The songs all have similar structure with basic beats and little variance to the hook so they start to run into each other. Illmatic is a pretty good album but I'm wondering why this is held in such high regard instead of just another run of the mill debut album from a NY rapper. Maybe it hit at the right time or represented NYC in a way that I'm not aware of. Either way, decent album just didn't stand out as a landmark album to me in any way. 2.85 stars
It’s good but rap just gives me no goosebumps
Some of this is catchy, a lot of it sounds like it was done to the same click track. Just not a huge fan but I recognize its impact.
A solid debut from a young artist at the time. I can appreciate the album more based on brevity. Many artists in this genre think more is better. This album disproves that. I also liked the choice of of sampling which is subtle, yet helps tie together old world influences with the new. My only real complaint is the overall feel of each song, with every one feeling like it was written at the same tempo.
Makes me feel cooler than I am. Nice rhymes.
Not bad but Stillmatic is the better album
классический реп 4/10
it seems better than a lot of post-80s hip-hop because it’s not so obviously psychopathic but there’s still so much fucking swearing
Prima te beluisteren, maar verder ook niet heel bijzonder als je het mij vraagt. 3 sterren is zat.
Decent album, not the biggest rap fan but i think this type of rap is more palatable for me than some of the stuff I hear nowadays
Rap. Ok rap but not great rap.
Not a style I normally listen to but not as bad as others I couldn't get through.
It's a bit outside my sphere honestly. It's chill to listen to. Some funky beats. I'm sure it's a classic rap album by all accounts. Doesn't do much for me.
Great flow. I think his rapping is better than the actual beats they are on. I find most of the music itself pretty generic, but definitely makes up by Nas's rapping and great lyricism.
Enjoyable hip hop album, cool instrumentals and sampling. I just can’t get into the genre enough.
Great-sounding album. The only thing that this middle-aged white English woman didn't like was the bad language. I've said it before, I'm a prude! But the samples were cool, funky and stitched together perfectly; I was inspired to check out 'NT' by Kool & the Gang, which is sooo funky and chill and helped me understand more about what inspired hip hop in the first place. The live trumpet (his Dad!) was great when it came in. And yes - he's a great rapper. I don't mind rap when the voice is easy to listen to; it reminded me a bit of Melle Mel, so for me it had an 80s feel as well as harking back to 70s funk. Vocally, some really clever rhythms and cross-rhythms, delivered with laid-back ease. I just would prefer not having to hear the N word, the F word and the MF word Quite A Lot. I know I'm old, and he's no doubt talking in his authentic voice, but truthfully those words add nothing for me, and push me away a little bit. I'm sure he wouldn't be too fussed about that...
6/10. Quality is objective. Taste is subjectively. Objectively, this is one of the greatest and most innovative rap albums of all time. However, subjectively, it just doesn't do much for me. Sorry. :)
Most Overated Hip-Hop Album Ever.
Good record. Not one of the best rap album for me, but, the beats and rapping is good.
Está bien. Pero no llamó particularmente mi atención. Que se yo, normal
Yeah! Listened to this at work so didn't really listen properly, but what I did listen to I enjoyed
Language was pretty extreme.
I was excited for this one, but I was disappointed. He’s definitely one the best rappers, but I felt the beats were bad.
The samples and lyricism are outstanding. It's got a nice flow to it, too. But to me, not a seasoned hip-hop listener at all, the lyrical content tends to be very repetitive, variations of the same two themes. Still, if there's a hip-hop/rap album that gets 3 stars from me, this is probably it.
Notable tracks: NY State of Mind, The World is Yours, It Ain’t Hard to Tell
Enjoyed this. Was smooth rather than feeling like I was about to be violent to women whilst brandishing a "piece".
It kind of blended together after a while
I really want to love this album. Listened to it a couple times over the years, but it's never resonated. Such a landmark, important album for the future of rap & hip-hop, but maybe difficult to enjoy because of all the progress made by the music is has influenced. The LoTR and Oklahoma problem. Foundational for the genre, but not very deep as an individual work. But maybe I just don't like it. Favorite Tracks: Memory Lane (Sittin' in da park), Represent
I went into this album with way too much hope. While it's a revolutionary album, and had some sick lyrics, I was a bit disappointed. I expected souch better from what is considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time.
Нас класний репер, але не люблю цю платівку
It was okay. Very outdated sounding. Lyrics were good. Overall it was right down the middle.
Never listened to this album and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Will totally listen to it again
Not my sort of thing but appreciate it
I don't know if I really like it, like I liked three songs, my fav is “One Time 4 Your Mind”
The song about getting high cuz we can die any day was good
I am not a rap fan, but I respect.
Klassischer Hiphop. OK.
I like hip hop. It is halfway techno, trip hop, electronic... and in this case surprisingly fun lyrically. At first I was way into it. At first. Now, maybe I am going through a tough personal phase, or am generally impatient lately or or or... OR, maybe it is the case that once again, listening to one or two songs is super refreshing but a whole album gets kind of redundant. In this case it is NOT the lyrics or the subject matter or anything that way, it is the same voice, same groove, same vibe sort of thing that eventually made me look at how much longer it was going to "take" to finish up. With all that said, this is astonishingly good for a 19 year old!! Wow!
Generally an enjoyable listen, hip-hop isn't something I listen to a lot, and not something I know a ton about. The lyrics seem interesting and the production good and I can see how this would have inspired a lot of people in the community. I think I've heard a few of the tracks before but I'm not entirely sure Standouts Halftime Life's a Bitch 3/5
Not my genre but I can here some value here.
Enjoyed a few songs, but also didnt like a few. An alright album 3 ⭐️
I don't dislike it, and I can see why it's liked, so this is a solid 3. I'm neutral on it.
Album #1 I am not a regular to hiphop and rap. Still enjoy this album. Reminds me of my childhood watching my older brother playing GTA. While I enjoyed listening it, I am not going to save it at Spotify.
No, I don't know what you're saying, but go on, it's nice enough The album ended before I noticed it. The vibe was good
Not something I would listen to normally. Listened to it and it seems okay, but I most likely would listen again. So although it may be considered an all time great, I'd give it a personal 3.
I had never listened to Nas that I am consciously aware of. I like the jazzy hip hop the album incorporates. A few of the tracks I really enjoyed much more than I expected especially on the second half. I think it’s an album that could grow on me in the right mood but for this listen I think it’s good and I can see how influential it is. 3.5
Ill
This was actually the 11th album I received and I didn’t listen to it and now that I am on album 350 I thought I’d better catch up. I have not hidden the fact that I am not really into Hip Hop/ Rap and that’s probably why I delayed listening to it and it surprised me I actually quite enjoyed it and found my self tapping along with the beats.
I'm not the biggest hip-hop fan anyway, so I just thought that I was missing key information around knowing who this artist was and what this album was. But turns out, Nas' Illmatic never really got a lot of radio play, and therefore was not as big of a mainstream hit. I can see where this album was likely incredibly influential to the hip-hop scene moving forward; it seems to be a blueprint for hip hop artists as to what constitutes the perfect hip hop album. The lyrics are also sharp witted. But as someone who already has a weak relationship with this type of music, I found the album to be pretty standard 90s hip hop.
It grew on me on the second listen. It'll grow on my as I listen to the lyrics. Bangers: Life's a Bitch
The first three or so songs were the best--especially the trumpet solo on Life's a Bitch. Lyrics throughout are really strong complicated raps with the usual explicit language--crazy rhyme schemes! I don't think the music stands up to the raps though and there isn't too much here that sticks with me after it's over. I looked Nas up after it was over and read that he was only 20 when it came out--impressive debut.
Great debut album. Liked his later efforts much more. This felt produced like WuTang with the dirtier East coast sound. Perfect length. Feels a 3.
Listened to first few songs - not bad
Good.
While I may not be the target audience for Nas's "Illmatic," its artistic merit is undeniable -- every aspect of its production shines and there were lots of nice surprises along the way. Though I can't really relate to the content, I can fully appreciate this album is a significant work of art. The best hip-hop album the generator has given me so far.
01) The Genesis - 5,0 02) N.Y. State of Mind - 7,0 03) Life's a Bitch - 7,0 04) The World Is Yours - 7,5 05) Halftime - 7,0 06) Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park) - 7,5 07) One Love - 7,0 08) One Time 4 Your Mind - 7,0 09) Represent - 7,0 10) It Ain't Hard to Tell - 7,5 TOTAL: 6,95 (70/100) Current ranking: 157/221 I'm not an expert on rap music, but as far as I'm concerned this is totally ok. Listenable, understandable, good samples, not boring. A good rap album.
Obviously a hugely influential album, but my weakness is that I don't have an appreciation of some older hip-hop records. This will be one I have return to once I'd be able to understand it more.
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.
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)
More listenable than some of the other classic rap albums but still difficult for it to come across to me.
Not a bad album, again, I mostly associate rap with going to the gym because I can listen without paying attention
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.
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.
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.
Not my thing but some good lyrics in there
I like it well enough, but there's nothing here that stands out to me.
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.
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
Not really my thing but I can appreciate its importance. 3/5
No klasyka hiphopa, ale nic w moim stylu
It's fine.
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
Classic hip-hop album by Nas
Okay.
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.
Good shit! Life is a bitch and then you die 😲
The style and rhythm each song has is amazing, NY my fav.
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.
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.
One of the albums of all time
Surprised by how much I liked it.
I want to like this album more.
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.
So good
Back in the day I thought Nas was fire. But I think I might have outgrown rap. 5/10
Yeah it's good, not my regular genre but I like it
Decent. 3.8
its a 7 its good and i like it but this website doesnt allow for half stars sooooo
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.
Alright
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.
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
- 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.
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
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
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.
Actually quite enjoyed this, more than I expected to anyway
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!
Very middle of the road rap album for me. Didn’t hate it didn’t love it.
eh, maybe im just not in the mood but it felt too aggressive. lyrics and sampling are pretty good tho!
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
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
Definitely the style I grew up around. Great flow.
Стандартная негритянская репчина.
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
It was just ok.
Cooles Album, weil ich HipHop mag. Richtig umgehauen hat es mich aber nicht. 3 von 5 finde ich fair.
- 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.
Really like the song: - The World Is Yours - Halftime - Represent
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.
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.
It was OK
Og
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.
Liked the beat, not big on the lyrics
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.
I like learning the nuances of Hip Hop and I can certainly appreciate this album. Fave: The World Is Yours
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.
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.
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.
Each song transitions well into the next. The album tells a well defined story of a kid clawing his way to the top. Though it’s possible I’m desensitized by today’s brutalist rap culture, but the bars seemed very cute. Though he doesn’t carve out a new lane, Nas does well in everybody else’s, and I enjoyed it all the same
Pretty good album but no one song stuck with me.
Good but not my favorite
Love the rap stories...don't care for explicit element of the lyrics.
The Genesis - 7.5/10 N.Y State of Mind - 10/10 Life’s a Bitch - 7.5/10 The World Is Yours - 8/10 Halftime - 7.5/10 Memory Lane - 7.5/10 One Love - 7.5/10 One Time 4 Your Mind - 7.5/10 Represent - 7.5/10 It Ain’t Hard to Tell - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 78/100
Okay for a 90s classic hip hop album, maybe even more entertaining and easier to listen to for an outsider. The lyrics re also more listener friendly, so maybe it's actually better than average? I will give it a 3, but for hip hop albums in here it's like 7/10.
I find very little enjoyable about rap in general. So it comes down to if it has a nice groove to it or if is just children banging on instruments. This one didn't sound half bad. I'm giving it a 3 which, for rap, is like a 6 for normal music. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - It was ok to listen to but I wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.
To triangulate this in the broader rap ecosystem, I like Nas more than Wu-Tang stuff, but I'm still not all the way crazy about him. His songs have good musicality, but I would like catchier hooks (as a rube / lame person). I enjoyed this, but I can't say I'm big into it.
The beats were fine, but nothing particularly new or different. I have a feeling the lyrics and the meaning behind them is where Nas shines and I didn’t really follow everything well.
I have this record. While I've always appreciated NY State of Mind and a few other tracks, it never made its way into heavy rotation for me. Likely because I picked it up 15 years after the moment and never quite connected with this facet of hip-hop to begin with. What does this boil down to in listening? Respect to Nas as I enjoy a couple of tracks today but come tomorrow I won't be reaching to replay the whole record.
This screams 90s rap. I am not a fan of the genre, it's all much same-y, the repetitive beats get irritating pretty fast, and lyrics tend to make me cringe and/or roll my eyes. I've read about the impact of this album and I understand, but it's not for me.
Good rap/hip hop! Some really solid beats and catchy rap melodies
Not a fan personally but the beats were sick and there are some bars that really worth the listening.
Not really something I would usually listen to, but that is part of the point of this exercise, for me anyway. I did find some if the cuts interesting but surprisingly I found it all ran together for me. 3/5
Summary: While I didn't love the whole album straight through, there were some tracks that were just duds for me but there were others that I definitely enjoyed and will return to. If I had a 1/2 of a star this would definitely be a 3.5 but it doesn't quite make it to the 4. Track by track: 1 - I don't really like intro tracks unless they are really funny or necessary to set up the album. Just something I have to skip in every subsequent listen. 2 - Like it a lot. Definitely hear some Wu-Tang similarities. 3 - Don't like it. Just doesn't appeal. This would be a skip in the future. 4 - This one is fine. Isn't blowing me away but also is very listenable. 5 - Love this track. Might be my favorite so far. 6 - Difficult to follow track 5. This one is ok. 7 - Decent track. I don't like the chorus much. 8 - I like the flow. It is almost acapella at times it has so little accompaniment. I'll never seek it out though. 9 - Very Wu-Tang. The flow is great, the beat is great. The chorus isn't impressive. 10 - I like this one a lot. The beat is nice, the groove works.
Good album. I don't really have the critical ear to know if this is a classic hip hop album, but I did enjoy it.
Decent. Beats too boring
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, but didn’t love it. It was an interesting experience.
"Illmatic" was great. Nas's flow was nice, the beats were great and it was not oversaturated with distracting foul language like a lot of hip-hop albums seem to be. Open to listening again to take in more of Nas' lyrics.
y en 2021, fue seleccionado por la Biblioteca del Congreso para su conservación en el Registro Nacional de Grabaciones por ser "cultural, históricamente , o estéticamente significativo".
Was ok for the time period, just not my cup of tea
расслабляет, но очень уж однообразно и конечно... я не люблю рэп
Some good songs in this but in between them not as interesting to me.
Fav: The world is yours y Represent
It's not bad- I expected to hate this but it's from the 1st half of the 90s so is still edgy. I like it- very good rapper (not that i'm an expert).
Classic in the pocket rap
I think the lyricism is the standout material of this album, which is great since that’s such a pillar of hip hop/rap. That being said, there wasn’t a ton that stuck with me after a day. So I’d say it’s good, but not great.
Nothing to say here.
Decent listening, I wasn't a huge fan. There were some moments where I was bobbing my head.
Not something I normally listen to, but I liked this. Good beat and flow, very smooth
As a gen xer I’m supposed to love 90s rap. I don’t hate it. It’s not really my musical dna. It was only when I was lecturing in contemporary music that I started to understand hip hop. It’s folk music. ‘Goddamn it’ as Roy Acuff said about the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, when the long haired scruffs started playing. ‘This is country.’ . NAS isn’t quite folk music in the way a lot of people would define it. Or even country. Except … When you look it at, the themes of country and hip hop aren’t that far apart… Good ol boys running moonshine, versus gangstas selling crack? What’s the difference? Not much, once you take race and class and 'respectability' out of it. Alcohol is acceptable. Crack isn’t. But don’t they fulfill the same basic human needs? Johnny Cash shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die. Merle Haggard turned 21 in prison doing life without parole. His mamma tried. These are hip hop songs, just sung differently. NAS could sing them. Merle could do a nas song. It was surprising that old town road took so long to exist. But here we are. So this leads us to illmatic. I didn’t hate it. But I prefer jay-z. Or Erik b and rakim. Or, gulp, early Kanye. Or the beastie boys. Or lil Kim. But this is good. And an important album. (I know. Most of these aren’t 90s. I know). Just not as good as others I like. But better than others.