Reviews (page 10 of 14)
Old school NY rap/hiphop
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Didn't love it. Didn't hate it.
Life’s a bitch and then you die… some pretty catchy beats and rap on this but I didn’t fall in love. I’d tried listening to this before and I think I fail to hear what everyone else is hearing. It’s good but I don’t know when I’d choose to listen to it over some other albums…
Hip hopin suuri klassikko, jonka biiseillä räpätään kovasta elämästä New Yorkin kaduilla. Tekstiä löytyy runsaasti ja biitit ovat jykeviä. Voin kuvitella että monien genren ystävien mielestä tämä on mestariteos. Kyllä tämä minunkin korvaani kuulosti aika hyvältä, muttei hip hop kuitenkaan ole ihan se lempparigenre itselleni.
Enjoyed it from start to finish. Simple production, but tight. Not a lot of waste on this record. I get that this is in the pantheon of hip hop record.
jeg forstår den kulturelle indflydelse den har haft og synes det er sejt, men ville nok ikke komme tilbage
Messa like.
its cool. its old school rap. its a vibe for sure. couple i recognize, gonna go with the world is yours. 3/5
3.5 but rounding down. I had a few songs saved already and I saved a couple more (so clearly I enjoy it) but it’s been less that 24 hours and I don’t remember what anything from this album sounds like
Got better as it went along. First track (proper track not track 1) didn’t click with me but gradually started to enjoy it. Good beats throughout.
7/10 - the lyrics and rap are strong but the beat can become samey; but a classic album of the times
bit repetitive
Not my usual music cup of tea but appreciate the artistic talent. I like that I get to listen to music I normally don’t while doing this project.
Just don't quite get it yet after 2 listens, but glad I've heard it if that makes sense
Not my type, but it was good.
Classic. Great lyricism. Personally It is not form me, but I can appreciate this work.
Not bad
A couple of songs really hit with me.
Occasionally found it repetitive, but on the whole I enjoyed it. Not necessarily something I would listen to again, but nice to have listened to. Fav song: N.Y. State of Mind Least fav: One Love
Some of it got a bit too repetitive but mostly I really enjoyed it- also very cute that his dad is playing the trumpet on Life's a Bitch. Favourite song: Memory Lane Least: One Love
Es un clásico aunque no es mí estilo favorito
I'm sure this is good but it just wasn't for me. Nothing caught my attention
Trop de nword pas fan
I enjoyed this and it was great to hear after public enemy to hear the progression in the genre. It definitely sounded moodier but more of an individual take on the hardships of the time unlike public enemy that was more of a collective fight the power. I have listened to this before and would listen again. Would give a 3.5 if I could.
I'm aware this record is a rap classic, but it didn't grab me particularly. I found it enjoyable but nothing stronger than that. I wonder if it's a case of being unable to appreciate how impactful this album is. The lyrics I do remember are good, so maybe I just didn't pay enough attention.
That was solid, there were some good songs, but I wouldn't be interested in listening to this again any time soon.
3.5 stars It’s really good but repetitive. It both deserves the hype and is overrated.
Знову реп, але на цей раз було навіть не так погано. Я не можу виділити композицію, яка б сподобалася чи не сподобалась, все відчувалося максимально рівно
I know that this is hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time. I can’t really tell. I guess it’s fine.
When I worked in a record store that primarily sold hip hop in 99-00 this was considered the s-h-i-t. Never heard til now. I get it. But not really.
dovrei riascoltarlo meglio
Nothing that really wowed me, but still a very listenable rap album that carries itself well. 2.5 stars.
Didn't know this is where Life's a Bitch and then you die comes from
Quite nice
3 stars, good for what it is. Not as much my vibe as some of the other rap albums
Ni
I get why this was universally loved and looked up to but I really don’t think it’s aged as well as a lot of people claim it has. Sort of boring, sort of the same boom bap beats and flow throughout this whole thing. Life’s a bitch is a bad song. I’m maybe being too harsh but I’m not really feeling it. Lyrically phenomenal of course, and that’s the big stand out here overall. I really feel like I’m going to get flamed for this one.
Given that I don't like the violence and misogyny associated with gangsta hip-hop, by two minutes into the opening track I thought that I was going to dislike the entire album. Also, way to much first person singular in that opening track. But the rest was OK. Not my bag but OK. Pretty slick rhymes and such, although I must admit that I didn't listen too closely to them (I was cooking dinner at the time). Tho I have mad respect for Nas for appearing in the 2020 remix of Fight the Power, which is all-the-more pertinent these days. Unfortunately.
A little monotonous for me. Cool album but not really my style
This album is of its time in both a good way and a bad way. Yes there is a lot of misogyny, homophobia and talk about gang violence. But in 1994, I imagine that is culture and Nas is living in. Does it make it ok? No. But is Nas talented and is this album smooth and fun to listen to? Yes. It has a very chilled feel, even though the subject of most of the songs is some variety of violence, threatening or intimidation. The overall feel is an album that you could put on as you just relax on an idle Saturday. As long as you dont listen too hard to the expletives. (2.850)
3.5
Obviously a very high quality album but just felt samey to me, couldn't get into
niet helemaal mijn stijl maar wel goed
This is a little too low-key to keep my attention, but I'm sure if I focused on the rhymes I'd be impressed. I guess I'll try again. I recently read Mark Ronson's memoir about DJing in NY in the 90s, which comes with a 19-hour playlist if you want to follow along. The World Is Yours is on it and I agree that that's a great track but I can't picture it on a dance floor. 3.5
Okay but not my vibe
Hip hop really isn’t my thing. That being said, I did like the rap on this album and I could see the talent. It’s better than I expected, so I guess I’ll give it a 3.
strong 3
There's some bops, but just an okay album
Life's a bitch and then you die. Yup. But. This album wasn't that bad.
Instrumentals on life’s a bitch are dreamy and I like. I like the Micheal Jackson sample
Yep, c’est du rap, et c’est un wrap pour moi
I watched Belly a couple weeks ago. Nas is a terrible actor. The album is ok
I liked the jazziness but the lyrics left me cold.
"i never sleep cause sleep is the cousin of death" - OKAYYYYYYYY "I can't call it, the beats make me fallin' asleep I keep fallin', but never fallin' six feet deep" - bars "Versatile, my style switches like a faggot But not bisexual, I'm an intellectual of rap" - AHAHAHHAHAHA "When I dress, it's never nothing less than Guess" - koja diva poslednja pesma sempluje human nature sa thriller koji sam juce slusala, coincidence? i think NOT! "givin' mics men-e-strual cycles" BRUHH HAHAHA ma super je ovaj album, moj prvi hip hop/rep album u ovom projektu. mozda i prvi rep album ikada, ne znam, ali ne slusam rep to je cinjenica. svakako, ovo je bilo toliko zabavno brate, a plus produkcija je super, the beats and the bars are fireeeeeeee!!! zanimljivo je malo promeniti zanr koji slusam jer onda i moram drugacije da pristupim slusanju, odnosno moram da pratim tekst pesama na ekranu ako zelim ista da razumem jer ne cujem ja to nista, pogotovo kad prvi put slusam pesmu. ima dosta semplovanja ali dobro to je taj hip hop nacin i guess, svakako je to dobro uradjeno, ima puno dzez pesama koje su semplovali, odatle uglavnom dolazi klavir u miks i to mi je super!
Pretty good, but not my preferred genre.
It has a nice vibe definitely more summer like but not my style and I found it pretty boring
Correct pour du RAP... Sans plus !
Fairly average lyrical content and flow, but good tunes behind it. But should Nas get the credit for this, or just his producers?
it’s okay. i had higher expectations
The Genesis - 4/10 Sets the tone of the album. N.Y. State of Mind - 7/10 Life's a Bitch (feat. AZ & Olu Dara) - 6/10 The World Is Yours - 6/10 Didn't like the chorus but the rest of the song is good. Halftime - 6/10 Memory Lane (Sittin ' in da Park) - 6/10 One Love ( feat. Q-Tip) - 7/10 One Time 4 Your Mind - 6/10 Represent - 7/10 It Ain't Hard to Tell -6/10 Crazy rhymes and rhythm
An alright album. Wouldn’t choose to listen to any of the songs but wouldn’t mind listening to them if they were playing.
This isn't really 'my genre' which makes it slightly more difficult to rate, I have the typical problem that, not being so well versed in this type of music, a lot of it sounds similar to me, and as such this album did come across slightly 'samey' and I had difficulty differentiating between songs. That being said there were some that I found marginally better or worse, the better ones being "N.Y. State of Mind" (which I have only just realised in writing down that it may be a pun on 'New York State') and "It Ain't hard to tell" which unsurprisingly do seem to be the more popular ones on the album, and the slightly worse one being "One Love" which I didn't vibe with as much. I think that hip hop and rap are genres where lyricism is really allowed to thrive and this album did have its fair share of well written songs, at least the parts I had focused on, which is made all the more impressive knowing that Nas was just 19 or 20 when creating this album. I could definitely see people rating this more highly and I can recognise a well crafted album, even with minor 'flaws' but this is held back for me by my own preferences and as such I can only rate it based on my own enjoyment which was more than middling, but nothing incredible. Side note: the more I rate things the less confident I am with my rating system. 69/100 Score edited 28/01/26
Hip-Hop isn't my kind of thing. I was pretty set on a 2 but as I worked my way through this I was quite impressed with just how tolerable it was. Don't think I'd consider putting it on again but it really is an incredible debut. I know I'd consider this a masterpiece if I was into the genre.
Very very powerful album. They make it clear about the message they send. Beats are great, don't listen to this genre but this is a great introduction.
This album was an excellent showcase of rap and hip hop with elements of jazz. I can hear how Nas has influenced many artists.
fine stuff
Haven’t listened to this before, I started this project to widen my taste in music and this is what I was looking for, because I wouldn’t have stumbled upon it otherwise.
hadn't listened to before, enjoyed! rap isn't really my thing but i did fuck with this. a good time
Pretty good considering I don’t like rap, felt chill and helped me focus doing work
Eh, it was fine. It was mostly background music that I didn't particularly notice or listen to, TBH. But I think I might like it more if I actually paid attention to it, so it's getting three instead of two.
The emergence of this genre is undoubtedly as significant as punk. Have not been familiar with NAS. Seems good of its type and I would defer to music historians and lovers of this album and the work of other artists inspired by it to rate it. Seems quite melodic and nuanced with some good production sounds but the whole rap thing does nothing for me unfortunately.
Flow is great, just didn't fully catch me
Ok
I liked it a bit. It wasn’t really my cup of tea, but that’s why I’m here.
i like his beats choices but i think the rap isn't for me
Intretsing listenign, to see what has to music be in those times, hearing an album that I have never heard before, with new set of ears, I want to listen to it again so I can pay attention to the lyrics more.
Not too shabby.
uh it's really vibey and it's good for listening in the background while doing sum else. the first half is way better than the second
Rap ain't really my thing, but I gotta respect this one. Found myself grooving along to the boom bap beats far more than I expected.
3.5/5
Seemed fine, but nothing stood out for me.
Highly influential east coast rap album. Full of interesting jazz and funk samples. Not my area of comfort but it has clearly aged well.
Never got around to listening to this before now, this is a great album
This album has enjoyable grooves & beats throughout, with top notch production that really elevates the tracks and allows Nas’ rapping and storytelling to leave an impression. Whilst there are a lot of positives here, I still left it feeling like I was wanting one or two more standout moments from the album. I find rap albums sometimes quite repetitive by the latter half, and this one was no different despite it’s many qualities.
6/10 songs added. Nothing mindblowing to me, just quality beats lyrics and flow. 6/10 feels apt.
unfortunately i am not a big fan of hip hop ✊😔
3,0 - Kraftvolle Texte, tolle Beats. In dem Genre mit das Beste, was ich gehört habe, mir fehlt nur leider der Zugang zum Genre an sich. Highlights: The World is Yours, Halftime
Pretty solid
I really liked reading along with this one. I’d definitely come back to this
I thought I would hate this, but I can understand the appeal.
Please stop. I'll give this a 3 because it's unfair to hold the genre against the artist. I will say it's more listenable than a lot because of the quality of the backup music. But, rap it us.
I’m really bloody bored of rap and hip-hop now. It’s definitely not my thing and this is just dull. A very few of the beats are interesting, but I everything else is just boring. I can’t give it 2 because it isn’t bad, but I didn’t enjoy it either.
good , 3.5
Gangsta. I liked it
Not my thing, but I like what's going on here musically and the rhymes are amazing.
I liked this a little more than expected.
Pretty good. Not my usual vibe but I liked it
Old school 90s hip hop. Not my cup of tea, but I have maximum respect. Good album, great rapping!
Håller med om allt cirkelus-musikus säger, med tillägget att det är en stark trea!
life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high (och lyssnar på nas ibland). klassisk musik från en klassisk musikepok, några höga toppar men som helhet finns det många bättre i sin tid och genre.
I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of DEATH! Ett fett album som nog alltid kommer hålla, minus homofobin menmen
Hip hop är inte min grej, men jag kan ändå digga lite
jag gillar det. äntligen någon som tar Texten på allvar mycket stark trea!
Det här kan man gött sitta och röka cali och digga till länge, länge. Enformigt så man inte märker hur bäng man är och hur länge man diggat
Ca s'écoute, pas de dinguerie
Je connaissais, j’ai l’album « it was written » qui est meilleur à mon sens, avec plein de bangers ! Cela dit il est bien et c’est un rappeur us emblématique
Enjoyed the jazzier parts of the album. N.Y. State of Mind goes hard.
Quite good album. I liked the beats, the flow and the production. It got a little too samey for me after a while, and no tracks really stood out. Could change my mind after a few more listens, but right now it’s a 6/10
I dont like rap, however lyrically (slurs aside) and rhythmically its good
Chill old school hiphop. Great beats. I can see how it's very influential, but it's not that much my thing. Faves: N.Y. State of Mind, One Love, Represent
Beats and samples are sick. Full on NYC attitude and some catchy chorus hooks but ultimately let down by Nas the man
Enjoyed the flow of this
Some real solid shit, but aside from the big songs, it didn't hit me as hard as I'd hoped it would.
Quite good
i don't tend to pay much attention to lyrics but i bet if i did this would be great
В одно ухо влетело, в другое вылетело.
I don’t listen to hip hop generally and know very little about the 90s era. I enjoyed the production and feel on the mixes, and Memory Lane was one of my favorite tracks. I can see how in 1994 this album got a lot of praise for the writing and production at the time.
I didn't listen to rap before, some songs were actually nice.
вайбово, претензий нет.
Cool. Rough 90s NYC. A lot to vibe with here and a lot that I don't as well.
Not enough variation to get higher, and it just sort of... ended. Solid vibes.
Bem diferente do que estou acostumada. Gostei muito, foi melhorando ao longo das faixas.
Good actually.
Good beats
Why is this crap on the list?
I know Nas is one of the greats but it didn’t completely click with me. Not bad though. Maybe didn’t age super well. Shoutout to The World Is Yours being on the NBA 2K13 soundtrack tho
3.5
Nas came, said what he needed to say, and split with little fuss. No joke songs, skits, or filler tracks, just 9 songs of straight-up spittin’ from the young, hungry Queens MC. I can’t say that I love it since I’m just not into this genre, but I certainly respect its hustle and flow.
A famous album but doesn’t do it for me - lost a little bit to the sands of time.
This is obviously a famous album that I have never listened to, and would never have thought to try if it weren't for this project. This is definitely a highly influential album. You can hear how the bones of songs like "the world is yours" have been taken by more modern musicians and improved on. Overall pretty good album.
Good example but Rap isn't my thing
It was a decently produced album for Nas' debut. This style of hip-hop isn't my vibe but I can appreciate that it is one of the better ones in the genre. With Prefix Mag's Matthew Gasteier stating in 2002 that "...you find the meaning not just of hip-hop, but of music itself: the struggle of youth to retain its freedom, which is ultimately the struggle of man to retain his own essence." Best: NY State of Mind Worst: Halftime
Ganz okay für 90s HipHop, der ja eher nicht so meins ist.
I like it for other people =)
I liked the beats
I loved the beats and Nas aggressive style. The story he tells and his observations of the world hit hard.
Seemed decent. I have listened to this album once before (30 year anniversary in 2024). Would listen to again.
Nice
good hip hop album, feels very 90s
3/5 i respect it, had good groove but not really my thing
Dude’s got beats and rhymes for days. He’s one of the best for what this genre is.
Thanks to this project for finally forcing me to listen to this album. It's great!
Nas' 1994 debut still lands like a snapshot of New York hip-hop in amber: gritty, jazzy, boom bap perfection wrapped in a young MC’s sharp perspective. The first three full tracks set a bar almost too high to sustain—“N.Y. State of Mind” is a stone-cold classic, all minimalist menace and effortless flow; “Life’s a Bitch” drifts on mellow horns as Nas and AZ trade weary wisdom beyond their years; “The World Is Yours” is slick, confident, and smooth as a subway ride at golden hour. From there, Illmatic gets a little patchier. “Halftime” shows its age with some dated bravado, while “One Love” is a clever concept piece that’s more notable for its xylophone loop than Q-Tip’s hook. Later tracks like “One Time 4 Your Mind” and “Represent” lean into gangsta posturing Nas doesn’t really need—he’s sharper when painting street-level detail than flexing clichés. But even with its uneven stretches, Illmatic remains a defining artifact of mid-’90s rap: brief, blunt, and brilliant in flashes.
Not my favorite genre, not a bad listen, I'm aware of it's importance, just didn't overly grab me.
Some great lyrics here. Stand out songs were Life's a bitch, The world is yours, and It Ain't Hard to Tell.
I respect Illmatic, but I don't love Illmatic. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, well produced, good lyrics. But it seems too effortless. No jagged edges to cling onto, it just doesn't spark something in me.
Smooth and lyrical, I enjoyed the flow
For the most part it kind of passed me by, however there were a few cool moments that I recognised. Not a bad listen overall.
Seems like a solid example of gangsta rap, solid beats and bass lines. Nas seems to be greatly underrated in terms of his lyricism and ability to rap, very impressive considering I don’t typically think of his name in the canon of great rappers. It’s a solid album.
Cool beats, good tracks. Probably matters more than I’m aware of.
Nice beats, smooth raps, good instruments. Embodies the identity of 90s rap music. Easy to bop with. A few of the songs were a little repetitive with both the lyrics and beat with no variation. 6/10
I've encountered some great hip-hop albums so far on this list - Illmatic is highly-regarded and up there on a lot of best-of lists. For my personal tastes, however, it is very dense, very wordy, and a lot to take in in one sitting. This is not my first time listening, of course, but it's an album which has never quite clicked with me so far. If anything, I like my hip-hop a little more "musical" than this. I like it, but it's just a solid hip-hop album with the emphasis on the lyrics and social commentary rather than exploring the possibilties of sound and music production.
Great album, pulls me into NYC in the 90's which is some outstanding writing (lyrics) but it's not a place I want to be pulled into. I don't want to live Nas' experience too often but definitely rates a spot on this list. "Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft", Mary Schmich.
“I switched my motto Instead of sayin’ ‘Fuck tomorrow’ That buck that bought a bottle Could have struck the lotto” – Nas: Life’s a Bitch The genesis - its okay, rythm like wasnt my fav (2,5/5) (least fav) N.Y. State of mind - like the beat, piano is nice (4/5) (fav) Life's a bitch - really like the vibe (3,5/5) The world is yours - like the lyrics and the vibe (4/5) (3rd fav) Halftime - good flow (4/5) Memory Lane (Sittin in da Park) - (3/5) One Love - (3/5) One time 4 your mind - chill (3/5) Represent - i likeee (4/5) (2nd fav) It ain't hard to tell - (3/5) ---> overall a good vibe with a nice rythm (3,5/4)
Totally 90s hip hop. I see why it made the list. Good samples. Typical lyric content of the time.
While the lyrics were delivered with undeniable talent, i found the sound to be a bit repetitive. Which is a bit of a shame. Still good, but I struggle to point to a standout moment.
the debut of the hardcore hiphop „king of queens“ has aged better than many other works of this era
I feel bad for giving it only three stars right now, but it didn’t catch me as much as contemporaries like 2001. On the other hand I really appreciated the lack of skits and relative shortness.
Not my thing
Bra flow på Nas, ikke helt min stil på rap, men helt ok. Det kan hende at dette er en plate som trenger flere gjennomlytt, men det gidder jeg ikke nå.
3.5
3.5
I'm not the biggest fan of hiphop, but found this album particularly enjoyable. 3/5
Listened to this on Friday and didn't write down my thoughts. Had other albums to listen to ya know. Anyways you were right Steve I gave it a 3.
Good rap. Poetic and musical. But as with most rap, harsh lyrics.
I can't judge rap, sorry... I guess it's great for the fans
Vorher schon mal gehört gehabt. Und echt gut. Halt trotzdem nicht meine Musik, aber hat was und ist auch wirklich tiefgängig. Mal die Lyrics lesen wäre angebracht.
I felt the song were too repetitive.
listened to individual songs here and there but i’m sure 31 years ago Nas rapping was as impressive as it was influential but in the year 2025 I’ve heard more impactful bars. Still super iconic but not for me.
Good rhymes and beats but I've gotten a lot of mid 90s rap lately and it shows how there was almost a rap parallel to how every alternative band had to sound like Pearl Jam to succeed
5/10…hip hop / east coast
Ok if you like rap
Decent record. Doesn’t stand out for me though. Just Ok.
This is not the kind of hip hop i'm normally into, but i still really enjoyed this record. The beats are great. The lines are often really witty and memorable. There are great, memorable hooks on some tracks. It feels like one big cohesive piece of music (in a good way). I don't know if it's a concept album, but there's a lot of thematic consistency across the whole thing. Nas is narrating his experiences of crime and poverty and inner-city life in New York City on every bar of this record. In a way it feels like you're consuming an episode of the wire, which is really cool. I will say though that i prefer how this subject matter is tackled in tv, film and books over music. I've never been super into rap that focuses purely on these subjects. And i realize that's a lot of rap music, especially stuff from the 80s, 90s and 00s. To be clear, i have no judgement towards music tackling these subjects, i think it's a very worthy subject matter and has done a lot of good for the world exposing these themes to a wider audience. I just don't find i connect with it through music. I typically prefer newer rap from the 2010s and beyond where artists are willing/able to tackle any subject they want. Right now it feels like there's no limits in rap and you can do or say anything, which is awesome. I feel like this is true for the origin of most genres, that it starts as a small collection of sounds and themes etc and slowly expands overtime as it gets pushed in all directions by more and more artists. As far as rap albums from this time, this is by far one of the best ones i've heard. I get why it's a classic. I looked up best rap albums of the 90s and it was #1 on several lists. And i totally get that... it's just not for me? Or maybe through more listens I'll connect with it more? I dunno. As far as rap from this time, i prefer Outkast. They also talk about some of the same things, but there's just more fun/chaos/pop appeal/experimentation... which i'm into. Anyways, some of my favourite tracks are N.Y. State of Mind (that piano in the beat is sinister, it is a cold blooded track, very good), The World is Yours (great hook, great beat, great lines/message) and It Ain't Hard to Tell (this might be my favourite, i love the instrumental and the vocal sample, it feels way ahead of it's time). Anyways... I'd say it's a 3 (maybe 3.5). But i'll give it a 3 for now. Great album.
Un classique, mais il y a du meilleur stock aujourd'hui imo
Du bon rap avec de la bonne prod. Les beats loopés deviennent rapidement répétitifs par contre.
I just don't know. I didn't particularly like or hate this. I can appreciate it's probably good, and I know it was influential. It's just not my genre and I feel underequipped to assess it.
It’s okay, better than a two but not as good as a three but since you can’t have 2,5 I’ll give it a 3. It works as background music while working.
Enjoy the beats, some very creative. Very hard for me to get past the misogyny and the guns and the drugs. I understand the social origins of the content, but decry the sensationalism/wallowing.
Vibe jak Brooklyn z Disney+. Trochę za powtarzalny i w piosenkach i w pomyśle. Muzyka do sklejania blantów XD
Interesting album to rate. Is Nas a good rapper? Absolutely. Does he create catchy songs that I enjoy and draw the ear in? Not for me. He's a brilliant wordsmith but I don't find his voice interesting at all. Think of all the greatest rappers, they have such unique, recognizable voices. His sounds like a very generic voice to me. There's also no comedic aspect that you often find in many rap albums. I need to re-listen cause this could be a grower. It Ain't Hard To Tell is an incredible song though
Rap/hip hop with jazz backing. Similar to A Tribe Called Quest but more explicit. NY State of Mind has nice chill backing with good rhymes - quite a few tracks like this Michael Jackson samples in It Aint Hard to Tell Best track - NY State of Mind, One Time for Your Mind Quite good in places, but overall 3 stars
Anyone can recognise immaculate flow and beat. There are some lyrics that anyone would be able to understand. Still I most definitively am not the target audience.
Groovy
ראפ ממש טוב. הביטים לא הכי מעניינים בעולם אבל סהכ נהניתי שיר מועדף - N.Y. state of mind
Deeply meaningful hip hop in a generation that was defining a new sound. Deserves it's spot on the list, but not exactly to my tastes.
☆3.5 ギャングスタラップ。Nasはアメリカ東海岸のラップスター。 サンプリングした楽曲のメロディを繰り返す楽曲が多い印象。 エミネムみたいにメロディアスだとは思わなかった。 歌詞がいいらしい。英語がわからないので刺さらなかった。
I liked it.
Rap clearly peaked in the 90’s.
Awesome beast, rhymes and lyrics
It pains me to put this, but this is an album that’s never fully clicked for me. It’s great, but I don’t worship at the alter that others seem to. I hope one day I will.
Not Deb's thing... Sian will check out more
Was a pleasant enough listen, for someone who had never connected deeply with the genre. Sound excellent beats and flow here and there.
It is interesting and not a bad listen but it just feels a more middling album compared to other albums in the list around the time.
1994 A very decent Hip-Hop album. I've heard of the Nas, but this is a first exposure for me. I like it. It feels ahead of its time for 1994 - 31 years old!! Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ Solid ★★★☆☆
First time with this. Not bad, good beats.
Interesting
Another that I enjoyed much more than I thought I would. But that bar was admittedly pretty low.
Beats are too repetitive and the flow is too monophonic for my liking, but the fact that Nas is one of the greatest of all time remains
Never really vibed with Nas for some reason. This was pretty enjoyable, but didn’t sway that feeling or anything. Some of the lyrics really did not age well.
Nas has never been one of my favourite rappers. It's ok but to me it doesn't really click.
Well-produced but the loops, while good, are repetitive. 3.25
good album, i may come back to this
damn fine
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