Reviews (page 11 of 14)
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 Very outdated sounding.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.
I am aware that this held up as one of the most perfect hip hop albums of all time; five microphone rating in the Source, etc. I can appreciate it; his flow is exceptional, and is the link between Rakim and the big names of the 90s (Biggie and Jay-Z in particular). The production is schmick, although, in an article titled, "How Nas' "Illmatic" Ruined Hip-Hop," Insanul Ahmed of Complex argues that one "unintended consequence" of Illmatic was the overall decline in the cohesion and quality of rap albums: "Next thing you knew, rap albums started having a different producer for every song. And like a film that has a different director for every scene, albums became unfocused affairs. This also meant that producers weren't tied to artists anymore." I don't blame De La Soul for introducing the blight of skits into hip hop, and similarly, can't really blame Nas for the trend of multi-producer albums that followed Illmatic. I also really appreciate that it is a reasonable length for an album. I wish people would have learnt that lesson. The 70-80 minute album that became standard int he 90s just turned into bloated, over-long mess, and I appreciate that this is a tight 40, with not much fat on it. Nas also manages to produce a hardcore hip hop album that reflects the vérité of his childhood in the Queensbridge projects without devolving into the scourge of violence and misogyny that gangsta rap seems to revel in. There is a greater poetry and emotional truth, dare I even say vulnerability, to his lyrics, which sets him miles apart from his gangsta contemporaries. That is sweet blessed relief. I can appreciate and admire this record, but it doesn't speak to me, so it hard for me to love. I am, admittedly, not really the intended audience for this. But I would listen to this any day in preference to an album by NWA, Ice Cube, et al.
NY State of Mind is my favorite NY song
Nice old school rap
This isn't my first rodeo with Illmatic, I did a tier list of albums earlier this year and this was an album my cousin suggested I listen to, I didn't like it too much and I put it in the C tier (average). But how does it hold up now? Honestly, Its a little bit better than when I first listened to it. The front half was pretty good but it mostly fell off with the back half (aside from represent, that song was pretty good). I think this album is better than when i first listened to it but not by all that much. I would have initially given this a 2 star rating, but now i will bump it up to a 2.5 star rating (obviously adjusted to 3) Best Song: N.Y. State of Mind Worst Song: Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)
ознакомился я значится с базой репа. этот альбом действительно не напрасно называют Библей хип-хопа - по мимо просто фундаментальной роли в жанре, это еще и своего рода энциклопедия по хипхопу восточного побережья. но так уж вышло что я такой тру гэнгста реп не сильно люблю. вот в гта по городу кататься или в перестрелках банд участвовать самое то. но просто так не особо могу такое слушать, ну не выкупаю, не нраица. я бы сказал так - это звучит пиздец стильно, но стиль явно не мой. короче уважаемо оценка - 6,5/10
3++
I would never be able to listen to this out loud in public.
3 1/2
Seems pretty good as far as rap albums go. But I don't need to listen to it again.
classic I don’t like 😩
Pleasantly surprised
3.3 - Struggled to start with, but some great tracks later. If I get into the genre it could easily be higher for me
Don’t listen to hip hop but this is pretty good actually. most: the world is yours least: one time 4 your mind 3.5/5
Very unoriginal at times.... you know wh-i'm sayin? Full of unnecessary language...too many 'niggas' in the lyrics for my taste. Luckily the music carries this album.... Standouts: One Love, The World is Yours, Life's a Bitch, Others: N.Y. State of Mind, Halftime, Represent, It Ain't Hard to Tell 3/5
The jazz is nice
À écouter dans le bus c'est cool Du bon rap us à l'ancienne Un défaut par contre l'instru se répète énormément
I'm not a big hip hop fan but I appreciated Illmatic more than I thought I would. I definitely prefer old-school 90's rap compared to what comes out today, the bars of yesteryear seem a lot more genuine. No particular standout track to me, it was quality and consistent the whole way through. I give it 3 stars but more because it's not really my jam; I can imagine a lover of the genre would award it 5 for its mastery. I would listen to Nas again.
It’s ok
I liked most of the songs. The “multi-syllabic internal rhymes” really brought some songs to the next level. There is a lot of talent in this album.
Very pleasant to have on in the background but I can't say I'd seek Nas out.
This is a very good hip-hop album, no stupid skits just the rap doing all the talking. It's aged better than some of his contemporaries and overall I enjoyed it. Nas has a great flow and there are some interesting beats but I don't think I'd revist it. Highlights: N.Y. State of Mind The World Is Yours It Ain't Hard to Tell
So low down to the streets I could almost taste the pavement.
Good album. Rap is not really my genre. Overall I enjoyed it but probably won't listen again.
Good
Somehow I kind of liked this. I am shocked
\"Memory Lane\", \"The World is Yours\", and \"N.Y. State of Mind\" are all very good. Rest of the album is alright. Instrumentals/beats are on point.
Verrassend prima voor rap, want normaal vind ik t niks
It was alright. I liked the style of rapping, I found some of the beats a bit repetitive
Solid
Not really a fan of hip hop, but I found this album pretty interesting. I liked the kalimba in the song One Love, because that's not something you hear often. I think I enjoyed the second half a bit more than the first half.
ganz gut, old school rap, würde nicht öfter hören
Good
Half/Half
Good
The whole album flows really well together, in large part because it maintains the same vibe throughout: a very chill, hazy, hangout album. This does make a lot of the songs blend together for me on a first listen though, and not always in a positive way. Found my mind wandering about 3/4ths of the way through the album, though when I checked back in I liked what I was hearing. Not enough 90s hip-hop knowledge to know how it stacks up against it's peers, but thought it was pretty great. Great use of samples throughout, though there were some prolonged periods were nothing musically was changing behind the vocals for what felt like a minute at a time. Would have preferred some more stuff going on in those instances, even if it was just subtle layers being added. Starts incredibly strong, but I feel like the ending is also a bit anti-climactic. I have difficulty focusing on the content of the lyrics on first lessons of hip hop albums so it may grow on me on repeated listens. Fav Songs: N.Y. State of Mind Halftime Represent
Pretty good, good flow, not very complicated. I liked it enough.
Album 185 of 1001 Nas - illmatic Rating : 3 / 5 Admittedly, I'm a novice when it comes to rap and/or hip-hop. I've heard what I've heard and that's about all I know. I've never searched for it or waiting for a new release to drop. I'm a sodium overdose when it comes to salty language, but some of the things covered in some of the releases just aren't for me. I pretty much listen to music for enjoyment and relaxation and find that some of the lyricism is a bit too aggressive for that. I have found that I'm partial to east coast and this falls into that category. It certainly has its moments. It is praised by some as the greatest hip hop release ever. I can't vouch for that. Out of all I've listened to so far, this is one that I can recommend. There is something behind it.
Overrated in my opinion
Бля пацаны это величайший хип-хоп альбом. Продакшн, флоу, а главное - лирика, все на высоте. Конечно же я говорю о God's Father, а Illmatic хорош 7/10
Got me grooving.
Representative of it's time.
If someone were to tell me that Nas is the greatest of all time I'd have a hard time proving otherwise. He's able to do it all and then some. I think I appreciate this album more knowing that it set the stage for the later albums that teenage me liked much more. All that being said I think Illmatic, despite being a classic in the world of hip hop really shows its age and doesn't really hold up for adult me. While being technically great with wordplay I feel like it has the issue all gangsta rap runs into and it's just lyrical content that I can't really listen to anymore. I get Nas grew up in a rough invironment and that kind of life influenced his writing but it still has the glorification of violence and bragging about how gangsta he is. Also it was made in a time when these guys were pretty limited on a production level and it shows. He's still got some songs that I can't help but love to this very day but none of them are on here.
Lyrically impressive and surprisingly real, I connected with this more than expected. However, my expectations were on the floor, so it wasn't hard to do. The beats were disappointingly repetitive and therefore made the album feel so much longer than 40 minutes. Overall, I'm glad I got the chance to experience this, even though rap is not my genre.
B- The Genesis 2 N.Y. State of Mind 3 Life's a Bitch 2 The World is Yours 4 Halftime 3 Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park) 3 One Love 3 One Time 4 Your Mind 3 Represent 4 It Ain't Hard to Tell 3 Good job Nas, you got a 3. Happy now, tough guy? Huh? HUH?! Yaaaaaa, that's what I thought. Put a sock in it, jerk!
I never really paid much attention to Nas when he came out, but this is a solid rap album. I like that the beats were relatively simple. His style is much more hip-hop than "gangsta" rap, but he blends the two nicely.
I liked this more than I expected. There were some nice beats. Still not really into hip hop, so it's only a three, but it was still good. My favourite song was Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park).
Whose world is this? Decent album, though I wouldn’t listen to it on daily basis
The lyrics are impeccable… Everything else falls flat. Fav tracks: NY State of Mind, It Ain’t Hard to Tell Least fav: Life’s a bitch 3/5
Didn’t listen all the way through but some really great songs and a great sound throughout
Hard for me to rate a rap album. I thought it was pretty cool, but my ears are just not attuned to the subtleties of this genre.
Favorite track: N.Y. State of Mind
From Wikipedia: Chris Ryan, writing in The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), called Illmatic "a portrait of an artist as a hood, loner, tortured soul, juvenile delinquent, and fledgling social critic," and wrote that it "still stands as one of rap's crowning achievements". Works for me
I liked it more than I thought I would!
Nothing particularly stood out as really good or really bad.
Si bien no soy de escuchar rap, me parece una expresión interesante de puntos de vista de la sociedad que generalmente son reprimidos, además la variedad de sonidos lo hizo entretenido
Not my cup of tea
Ok for a genre I’m not really into. Will give 3/5 right now as it’s first album I’ve listened to. Got to end of album, enjoyed it could be 4/5
Heard it before?: Yes Enjoy it?: Yeah it’s timeless and full of amazing tracks, it would be hard to find someone into hip-hop that would disagree Favourite song: Track 4 - The World Is Yours
Not my genre, but was still a nice listen. Very classy if that can be said about gangsta rap lol. There were many familiar phrases and made me wonder whether they were Nas originals that others have quoted since. Definitely above average rap music.
Decent flow, raw production sound and lyrics. No particular highlight, genre isn't my thing.
A solid hip hop record with zero filler, thank goodness. It has a steady sound that maybe could all sound the same, but to me it creates a signature style - and a really good one, at that. It's just pure 90s hip hop, no frills and no fuss. Standout tracks are N.Y. State of Mind and One Love.
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
A gritty look into the NYC of the nineties. It’s a consistently good album, the samples that adorn the songs are clever and compliment the smooth style of Nas’s rapping. The whole album flows and there aren’t any moments where you hear the ideas of run dry.
Decent 90's era hip hop. Nothing stuck out much in my mind, other than I could imagine most of these tracks playing in a 411 skate video.
I quote enjoy hip-hop but if I'm honest I don't really get it. I was hoping for something that would blow me away here, and maybe if I'd been listening to this when it first came out that would have happened. But it was all just a bit too repetitive to do that. Then right at the end Represent and, maybe, It ain't hard to tell got close. More of this and this would be a 4, but as it is - for me - it's a 3 - I'm not going to choose to listen to this again. Which is a shame, as it's obviously a classic and everything. But I just don't quite get it enough. Sorry.
I heard it before. I didn't remember a single track. Most of the beats are not very interesting to me. I wouldn't rate this as the top hip hop album of all time, as many reviewers say. But I don't hate it. Favorite song: the world is yours.
I enjoyed listening to this more than I thought I would. The instrumentals especially were pretty catchy. However some of the content very much fell short of what is acceptable, even in rap music today!
Great flow throughout, can tell it was influential for its time. Song structure though gets very repetitive.
Good though seems a bit overhyped. Gets a bit repetitive by the end.
Not going to always be my thing but I'm glad I got to listen to it. A bit repetitive but not that long so it keeps moving well. I should probably listen to more Nas.
I got into a couple of these tracks. Still not my thing but I could feel it bobbing my head sometimes.
heh, it's ok.
Prima album, maar niet geweldig.
Nas is obviously a great rapper and lyricist but the beats are boring and every song sounds the same.
Échantillons minimalistes, qui laissent place à la voix, mais quand même accrocheur. J’aime la groove, les textes sont bien travaillés
This is definitely not my cup of tea, but among all the hip hop albums I've heard this wasn't half as bad. I couldn't focus on the lyrics but I enjoyed the rhythms and the flow.
Great debut. NY State of Mind is the top track. Great bass and plinky piano/keyboard.
First Nas music I've listened to (to my knowledge). Quality music I thought! Not hitting the precise themes I like most, so it wasn't a standout album for me or anything.
I used to love rap, but really old school. Grandmaster Flash, Run DMC, LL Cool J. This rap is more mellow and more sing-song. Of course, a lot of rap is like that nowadays. It's not really my thing. (Maybe I should smoke more weed and mellow out?? :) Just because it doesn't click with me doesn't mean it's not good. Like red wine. I don't care for it. But it's subjective. (Yes, to some degree, all music is, but it's not 100% subjective.) I don't feel capable of really rating this since it's not my style. I also can't rate red wine. Since I have to give it some rating, I'll just give it a 3, middle of the road. I understand that it was influential, but that doesn't necessarily make it good or bad musically. To me, it's kind of boring. Like, the riff on "NY State of Mind": boring.
Doesn't outstay its welcome.
Between 3 and 4 I think. Just nice and chill beats. Wish I was smoking weed lol
Expected to like it more, but it didn't grab me as much as I wanted lyrically. Instrumentation and beats were dope though. Sorry Nas fans.
I understand why this album is so beloved, but none of the songs clicked with me. It was really strange to listen to for that reason. I don’t have much else to say about it.
Old rap is too rough on the edge
Took a few listens to really get into it. While I understand the importance and the culture impact it had, it might just not be for me. Still good tho
definitely very old school rap. did not looove it
Was actually OK, some good rap.
I did not have the impact on me that I’m sure it would have had on other people. Can appreciate the talent and the production. Can also hear the influence it may have had on Lin Manuel Miranda for Hamilton.
fine. nothing really clicked but nothing terrible. 3? But I'm sure it was a 5 in its day.
I felt myself vibing along to the songs of this album more than i thought i would. It wasn’t bad at all. It’s never really been my type of music but it was good.
Most of all, I really like the music. There's not a lot of hardcore rap I like and my instinct is always to feel distant from this record but... it's different. The album sounds great, it's not overly aggressive, has fantastic production and a clean mix, and Nas' rapping has a rhythm to it that even if I can't personally connect with a lot of the themes I tend to not really even hear it as I end up grooving with virtually every cut. Not always my favourite genre but this is a good one - jazzy chill sounding cuts countered with the edgy topics ends up working here. (plus it comes in at a smart length at just under 40 minutes.) 7/10 3 stars
It was okay. I don't really understand why it's considered such a masterpiece. Maybe time and place make a difference. Thinking back to that time, I can see how it was somewhat unique.
Kyllähän tämä pelittää
Biisit erottuvat toisistaan jo yhdellä kuuntelulla. Moni saa myös kuulijan osallistumaan, vaikka kävelee kadulla kuulokkeet päässä.
decent but not spectacular.
Sort of thing Scott wets his pants about
While this doesn't scream 'best rap album ever' to me, I think I'm starting to understand the hype. It all just seems very accomplished; the production is catchy and the rhyming is impressively assured for someone who was so young. To real key to greatness is probably in the lyrics, and people who know better than me say the storytelling/social reporting is top notch. I'm not really hearing it yet, but to properly immerse myself in the words is gonna take a few more listens. Still, with its strong production (plus a relatively short running time), Illmatic has given itself a decent chance of getting those additional listens from me, at some point. 3.5
East Coast rap meets West Coast rap and ends up in field in Kansas.
not my state of mind
Not too big a fan of rap music so there's not much to say. I enjoyed the simplicity of the beats however they sounded rather muddy compared to the vocals. 3/5. Favorite Track: Represent
Not too big a fan of rap music so there's not much to say. I enjoyed the simplicity of the beats however they sounded rather muddy compared to the vocals. 3/5. Favorite Track: Represent
Good Hip Hop album
Pretty nice old school hiphop album but after a while felt like it's a tad bit too long
Good old school vibe. Nice flow and quite relaxing
First song samples Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five! +1 right there. Not a big rap fan, but I found myself grooving right along with many of the tracks. Lyrics were ok, but his voice and the beats were solid. Can't see myself downloading any specific song, but generally enjoyed overall. I'll give 2.5 but score a 3 due the Grand Master Flash sample
feliz año nuevo
Not my cup of tea. However I can appreciate they lyrical mastery here.
1st album I hadn't heard of before except the track Life's a Bitch "Life's a Bitch and then you die, that's why we get high, 'cause you never know when you're gonna go" – apparently landmark album in East Coast hip hop, nicely produced, eingängige getaktete flows. Fave: the world is yours (lowkey self-esteem anthem). the rest: a blur tbh.
This was the first time I'd ever sat down and listened to Nas. I'd heard of him before, or seen him featured on other artist's songs, but never checked out his stuff. I had no idea how important his music was to the development of the East Coast rap scene. This record showcased his smooth flow, and tight beats, which seem to be bass heavy, which is nice. His lyrics are less in your face than other rap/hip hop acts that I've reviewed such as N.W.A. What I noticed is a more developed, thought out method. One other thing I appreciated is the fact that the record isn't super long like many of the other similar records I've reviewed have been. This one comes in at just shy of 40 minutes, so it keeps the music fresh, and you don't get sick of it. Although I did enjoy this record (I listened to it twice), it didn't captivate me like other rap/hip hop artists I've reviewed. I can't figure out why either... Maybe today I'm just not feeling a rap album? I don't know. Since rap isn't my normal listening genre, I probably won't listen again, but wouldn't object to hearing it again. Favourite songs: N.Y. State of Mind, Life's a Bitch (feat. AZ & Olu Dara), The World is Yours, Represent Least favourite song: The Genesis (I hate skits on rap albums) 3/5
Very solid rap performance.
Really good, as far as hip hop goes, which isn't say much I suppose It got better towards the end
it is a fine album. i get why it gets all the accolades. bot my favorite style, not my favorite production, the sparseness of the sampling and backing music only works sometimes. you’ll probably like it, shill.
More enjoyable than I thought it'd be.
Not really my jam but it’s great. Life’s a bitch and then you die.
второй раз за год слушаю альбом, всё ещё не прониклась
It does not annoy me, which is a lot to say about an hiphop album. Not my cup of tea but I can understand it's an important piece in the history of hip-hop.
I like his rapping. The music left a lot to be desired. I didn't hate it so I guess that says something?
I'm not well versed with hip hop but I enjoyed this album. Great vocals and great beats. I would give it a go even if you don't listen to hip hop. FAVORITE SONGS: - Life's a Bitch - The World is Yours - It Ain't Hard to Tell 3/5
Apparently this is rated by many as the greatest hip hop album of all time. I've not listened to them all, but from what I know, this does seem to be a good one. Quite listenable. Rating: 2.5/5 Playlist track: N.Y. State of Mind Date listened: 06/11/22
Not bad
Good
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
Strong start but quite underwhelming in my opinion constant repetition of sneakers and chains thought it was over used the beats are okay nothing special the flow is always good though Favourite song might be life's a bitxh
90s Rap
Nice old school rap. I am happy that I listened to it, but I will probably not actively listen to it again.
Interesting. For the most part I appreciated it. I'm by no means a fan of rap. Most of it I find pedantic, repetitive and unimaginative. I can't usually relate to the lyrics having spent my life in rural PNW.
Touted as one of the greatest rap albums of all time. I can see why it's so popular, but not my style.
This is my favorite era of rap, I think. Nothing about this album, however, really stood out to me. It's just solid as hell.
Niet mijn soort muziek, maar wel helemaal geluisterd….
Pretty good Once again rap
Nice beats, heavy lyrics he wa huge at the time was OK.
Mnee, not a fan of hip hop
Decent hip-hop can actually understand the lyrics.
Not really my type of music I did save a few songs I will try to listen to this again
I’m not a rap guy
Only did a light listen to this due to distractions. Picked up great rhyming ability and some unusually interesting backing tracks along with the usual mix of problematic language. This is prob better than I realise.
Solid tracks individually, wish there was more of an ebb and flow throughout the album
Jú, rennur vel, næs groove undir og svona. Gæti alveg hlustað aftur.
Pretty solid hip hop album, decent lyrics and cool beats
This was just post my hip hop phase. I've never really liked the Nas era releases.
As with most of these 1990s hip-hop albums - I love the beats, the samples, the lyricism - not so hot on the subject matter or music overall. Still it was nice to hear this as I'd never heard of Nas - another of my musical blindspots.
It’s good. Cool to hear some of the origin material that inspired later stuff. (E.g. Watsky) Didn’t listen all the way through
Pretty good. Was a nice listen but no songs really stood out
Some of it is pretty catchy, but I can’t tell if he's glorifying or criticizing the gangster lifestyle and honestly I don't care enough to find out.
Nas is a great rapper but this is dated and boring.
Good album, probably needs more listens for me to fully appreciate
New one for me. Best of hip hop that I’ve heard.
pretty chill
I can see why this was important, and the lyrics are inventive. But it wasn't my thing.
Best of the 90s rap so far
Not bad
Lots of cool smooth grooves - generally one smooth groove per song repeated without much change - with Nas saying a LOT. His words are interesting but overwhelming. I know "historically" this is a key rap album, but it didn't click for me like a lot of the other seminal rap albums on the list. Not bad, but just didn't pull me in. Maybe I need more of an appreciation for how it changed rap or just need to listen more, but I'm moving on.
Nas’ general talents with the spoken word are definitely illmatic, featuring a solid and extensive command of vocabulary, layered rhythms and multisyllabic rhymes, illustrative scene setting, etc. The actual life those words are witnessing, though, is an illness. No fewer than half the songs celebrate the acquisition of money as a necessary component to happiness. More than half speak to a daily practice of self-medication. And practically all the songs feature some kind of gun violence, or the threat of, including murder. The ‘N.Y. State of Mind,’ for example, involves a watching of one’s ass at all times. ‘Life’s a Bitch,’ Nas claims, ‘and then you die, that’s why we get high. ‘Cause you never know when you’re gonna go.’ Nas’ letter to a prisoner on ‘One Love’? It sucks out here on the outside, too. 'Illmatic' is all about extoling the art of the street hustle, and there is a real possibility that had I grown up as a black kid in the late 20th century in the Queensbridge projects I’d be rapping these songs too. That is, if I weren’t incarcerated or shot dead in a drug deal. But my life has been significantly different from Nas’, with privileges and opportunities he could scarcely dream of. So, how do I review 'Illmatic'? I might as well be a vegan reviewing a steakhouse, or a blind person reviewing a movie. I understand and appreciate Nas’ talent as a rapper. But I do not understand (nor can I appreciate) the existence he raps about. Doesn’t mean that I’m not listening, though, and trying to learn.
I went into this having heard how amazing Nas is from people that listen to a lot of hip hop, and then seeing the reviews in here describing this as the absolute best rap album of all time. That was a mistake. If I went into this without all of the hype I might have enjoyed it more, instead I heard what sounded like so many other rap albums. The beats, the flow, and the content of the lyrics all just sounded the same as what I've heard elsewhere. I expected something incredible and I got normal. It was good, I liked it, but I don't see why this was mind-blowing for so many.
Not a big listener of Rap and I hated Yeezus which was an offering a week ago.. this however is better. Good grooves. The lyrics portray an experience of growing up in the 'hood and are not a procession of ego posturings. No skits too. Solid 3. (It would prob be a 4 if I liked the genre)
Not bad.
Pretty solid rap album but I just won’t go out of my way to listen to most of this
Beste wel prima hip hop album, maar niet zo lekker als die van Biggy
Slick rapping, smooth beats. Great BGM for me but nothing more.