Reviews (page 11 of 13)
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.
I was only vaguely familiar with Nas before listening to this album. I enjoyed the stripped down sound and texture. I'd listen again
“life’s a bitch and then you die” very wise words from Nas
Wasn’t too bad actually, pleasantly surprised
great flow, content is immature at times
The genre isn't one of my favorites, but this one - I do like. I can do without some of the language, but compared to other similar music, this one is pretty tame... I do like the song "Life's a Bitch" and then you die - that's why we get high... I think it might just be my new anthem. :) 3/5
The last hip-hop album I drew on the list was Kendrick Lamar's "good kid, m.A.A.d city", lauded as the "Illmatic" of its generation. It's been interesting comparing the two as coming-of-age records, two individuals dealing with the gangster lifestyle and their surroundings. Nas doesn't quite show the same nuance as Lamar did twenty years later, and the music isn't as ambitious in scope, but it wouldn't be fair to spend the whole review comparing "Illmatic" to another album. By all accounts it's still a landmark in hip-hop, a game-changing record rich and vivid in its autobiographical detail. Like a lot of the hip-hop I've encountered on the list, I'm going to need to put some more hours in listening before "Illmatic" reveals its treasures to me. On first listen, some of the music seemed a little thin on the ground ("N.Y State of Mind"'s stark bass-piano figure and drum beat, the mellow and downbeat "The World Is Yours", the repetitive "One Love"). That said, there are some notable features from artists I admire (Q-Tip, DJ Premier, and a particularly scene-stealing turn from AZ in my personal highlight "Life's a Bitch"). There's no denying that Nas's verses are very well written and performed, with lyrics just as suited to poring over on genius.com as they are marvelling at in real time as Nas effortlessly rolls them off the tongue. His lyrics revel in gritty detail, self-evaluation and a queasy mixture of pride and abandonment ("Represent" is a killer example, with its musical arrangement providing the urgency it deserves). It may not have held my attention throughout (by not conforming to my rockist, melody-over-lyrics sensibilities), but "Illmatic" is clearly an accomplished album and one I'm going to have to come back to in time to appreciate its full magnitude.
Just ok to me. Admittedly not the best judge on hip hop.
Toques de hip-hop y rap. Sin más. Ningún título destacable. Nada que le haga especial, aunque se deja escuchar, al no ser muy intenso
Great example of good beats and sampling mixed with solid vocals. Would revisit this one for some relaxing hip hop vibes.
Intriguing.
My roommate played this (and the Siamese Dream-LOL) nonstop for a year straight. Lotta nostalgia tied up in this... that was a trying year.
I was surprised by a more alternative hip hop sound (though with a harder edge to the lyrics). In 1991 Nas really sounded like a bridge between 80s hip hop and 90s gangsta rap. You can hear a shift in his style by 1996's "It Was Written." I've always liked Nas, and this added exposure doesn't change that. However, nothing really stands out on "Illmatic" as a can't miss track. It's very even, without extreme highs or lows.
And a half. This was good
90s hip hop/ rap. I didn’t know this guy. Enjoyed listening to it on a long drive. There is lots of music like this and I’m not clear what puts this album into the 1001. It was descent but …
Not a rap aficionado, but I recognise the excellence of the lyrical content.
Surprisingly I somewhat enjoyed this, but still the majority of rap/hip-hop is not for me. "The World is Yours" and " Halftime" were my favourite tracks.
3/5 Beats were really cool, and quite liked the rapping in places. But overall it just didn’t do it for me.
Rap. Got to admit that I was falling asleep while listening, and my semi-hazy recollection of the first few tracks was that the beats were pretty repetitive, but the rap flowed really well. I'll have to listen again, but I'm gonna go 3 on the basis of those repetitive beats.
Not bad; it surprised me because I thought hip-hop was always about getting girls and money. I think I'd have to listen again to focus more on the lyrics, though.
Eu me surpreendi com o álbum, gostei mais do que imaginei, achei que era mais do mesmo da old school, mesmo sabendo que é um clássico, mas gostei muito, a vibe é bem gostosa. Músicas favoritas: N.Y. State of Mind; The World is Yours; Memory Lane; One Love
Buen hip hop, buenas mezclas. Un par de canciones pegajosas. 2.5 que debería quedarse ahí, pero subirá a 3 porque no se me hace un disco de 2. Songs: Life's a Bitch, NY State of Mind
Otro disco de Rap que se me pasa sin pena ni gloria. No me pareció odioso como el Hip Hop actual en el que cantan con voz de idiota, pero eso tampoco basta para ganarse más estrellas.
I was surprised how much I liked this, as I don't usually gravitate to this sort of music other than the well known bangers. I paid no attention to the lyrics but I'd defo listen to it again as a boppy backdrop for work.
Very, very talented. Simple, thoughtful music without being pretentious. His ego doesn't get in the way, here.
I don't listen to as much hip hop as I used to, but this is pretty good.
Never listened to before. Certainly more enjoyable (to me) than much of the what makes up the rap genre today.
Liked this considerably less than the one 2 days ago
I can appreciate it, understand it, tip my hat to it, maybe even masterbate to it, but that doesn't necessarily mean I love it. Bumping it up a point for staying within a nice, tight run time.
This was fine
6/10. Alright
Not to my taste but appreciate the variety and style.
Never listened to Nas before, +1 from me. Probably wouldn't have put this on but glad I did.
A genre outside of my usual comfort zone, I was definitely not feeling okay about the world through "N.Y. State of Mind" and wasn't sure I could do this. "Life's a Bitch" was also rough, but I appreciated the sound of it more. And then I found myself quite liking "The World is Yours" and "Halftime" with its jingle bells. Heck, I liked the rest of it. Many of the repeated themes in these songs felt cliché, but I reminded myself that this was 1994 and these were compositions that inspired the clichés. It was a voice that ended up drawing me into its world for a little while.
Nothing stood out - all seemed fine but that's it
Been waiting a long time to listen to this legendary album. Beats are good. Taps "flow". It's kind of old school. I like. High 3.
Really good raps. that are engaging and well writen. I wish the music was more interesting , more nuanced. Most songs are just drum beats an a single synth figure that often sounds like a vibraphone. Some more varied instrumentation would help in my engaging in this otherwise excellent album Having said that it deserves further exploration. 3.5 stars
best of the rap so far
average rap album to me...a bit crass for my tastes.
Not that fan of the genre hip-hop, but really liked elements of music from jazz and blues. Difficult to hear the text, but the flow and rhythms was good
3 stars. There were a few bangers in the beginning, but second half definitely not as memorable
The beats are simple and lacking a bit, rapping flow is nice. Overall a decent album that isn't too long
I don't listen to much of the genre, but enjoyed it. Will listen to that again.
not for me but iaf
Fun music, boring lyrics, even if the rhyme schemes are complex.
One of these songs was in Tony Hawk's Underground.
GOOD ALBUM 3.7/5
It just wasn't as good as I expected. It should be something I like, rap with multisyllabic internal rhyming, but I just didn't find the flow exciting.
Good, but wasn't my favorite. Ok music with clever lyrics, but somewhat repetitive.
Rap clasico. La próxima predyar más atención a las letras.
I like this old school hip hop vibe. And q tip is a great feature artist. It's good lyrics and great flow. I like the tone of his voice too.
I liked it
Not a Hip Hop/Rap guy. The beats were great. I could listen to this again, that's a rave review for me for not liking the genre.
Bra gung :D
This album had such a variety of feeling which is great. 'lifes a bitch' reminded me of the film 'fish tank' because there's this really amazing scene where she's dancing to it with her mum
I liked it, nothing profoundly touching my heart but still cool.
The world is yours NY State of mind Represent Stylé!
Normaal niet mijn genre, maar dit vond ik aanvaardbaar
mmm ok i guess
nice album and a lot better than other music ive heard of the same genre from the same period but overall a good album
Fuckin' sweet. Boy raps from the streets. Hard but not as hard as Mos Def
Nice vibe, good production and samples. Played it back to back with my favourite Public Enemy album and it was more listenable. Lauded for it's lyricism but I couldn't tell.
Cool 90s East coast hip hop. Not my thing, but you can feel the musicality and quality in every of the songs of the record
According to Wiki Nas is a brilliant poet lyricist and this is one of the greatest and most influential hip hop albums of all time. I think I would have appreciated more if I had listened more carefully and not just had it playing in the background while I worked. The lyrics may have been great but the beats were just ok.
Le basi sono molto interessanti e da profano del genere posso dire di aver adorato i testi e al contempo di non averli capiti appieno. Si tratta di una cultura troppo lontana dalla mia e senza approfondimento sono convinto si perda molto.
Another one of those classic 90's hip-hop albums that I didn't care about back in the day, but that prove to be really good works of art.
I appreciate it for what it is, but not my style. David really liked it. Life's a bitch then you die
Nonostante non ascolti solitamente il genere ho veramente apprezzato l'album, basi solide ed interessanti su cui la voce interagisce bene. Per aprezzarlo meglio sarebbe probabilmente bene ascoltarlo con il testo così da capire tutte le rime
Love 90s rap way more than modern rap. Did enjoy this, but not something I'd listen to on the regs
Strong. Great attitude and energy. Strong lyrical content and i'm into Nas' rapping style.
flames
L'album contiene diversi pezzi che sono rimasti dei classici del genere, i testi sono interessanti descrivono una realtà tanto cruda quanto desensazionalizzata. Le basi sono molto orecchiabili
Fav: Life's a Bitch
Not really my cup of tea.
Is this really THAT good like.
I know this is a very good album but I just didn't enjoy listening to it
Classic album but I'm not super into it
Nas oli teininä yksi parhaista! Edelleen lepposaa räbää ja muutaman kerran pyöri ympäri.
im 100% sure one of my friends remixed the vocal stems from this but im p sure they removed the remix
Hip hop
Needs more listens, not as good as I thought it would be.
Favorite songs: The world is yours Halftime Represent
Nah, not really my thing
ugh... muy para su people...
Didn’t relisten but it’s Illmatic
i enjoyed the first songs, but each track quickly melted into one given their similar base and beat leading me tired and unimpressed.would probably not listen again besides the two songs i saved.
I'm not a hip hop fan but I didn't mind listening to this. It feels very emblematic of the time, I just don't have any desire to revisit it again later and some of the songs just droned on for way too long
Number: 149 Date: 06/01/2026 Artist: Nas Album: Illmatic Year: 1994 Style: Conscious Boom Bap Familiarity: None (1) Rating: 2 Before: ======= Never heard of this album or artist but the album cover looks familiar. I think I've seen it posted in many top album charts in various places on reddit. Anyways, this makes 5 in a row for me that I am completely unfamiliar with. If I had to guess, Gangsta rap? During: ======= Well, it's definately rap. Doesn't sound like anything special. Looks like N.Y. State Of Mind is the most popular with nearly 4 million streams on Spotify. I give it a 2 and that's being generous. After : ======= So, my personal rating is 2. I don't care for this brand of rap/hiphop at all. However, I can see that it's considered a great and important album by many people. 2 my personal rating 5 suitability for this list 5 impact ----------------------------------------------- 4 composite rating
4/10
It was rap....not a fan. At least most of the songs were fairly short.
2/5 its not that bad but I just didn't have the motivation to listen to this album fully
Another hip-hop. This is low tempo with super repetitive jazz samples in each song. Good rapper but I really don't like this genre.
Sadly this felt pretty stale. Thought I would love it.
I think I've heard the name Nas but am not familiar with his music - at all. Wasn't there someone called "Lil Nas"? Is that the same person? I looked it up - its 2 different people and the other guy is "Lil Nas X". And Nas is 26 years older than Lil Nas X. Now I know. Some things I learned about Nas - he likes smoking weed, he likes mentioning consumer products and movies by name, he pronounces "heroin" as "heron", he likes to brag about his rapping abilities. He's good at getting a lot of words out quickly. I ended up liking 4 songs on this one - which is pretty good for a rap album for me - since I'm not very well versed in this genre. Liked songs are "Life's a Bitch", "The World Is Ours", "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)", and "It Ain't Hard to Tell" Liked songs on Spotify: 4/10 Rating: 2/5
sure fine I guess, 2 stars
A fuerza de que esta app me haga escuchar tantos discos de rap y hip hop de a poco los estoy empezando a disfrutar. Sigue sin ser un género que escucharía en la diaria, pero por lo menos no la paso mal cuando toca uno.
An undeniably good album but not music I'd listen much to personally
It’s hip hop, it’s ok not really game changing for me but then I don’t know enough about the genre to be honest.
I know what linguistic reappropriation is, but I can't get past my revulsion at the language in this and very many other hip-hop records. (And the misogynistic and homophobic stuff, also not great, isn't reappropriation.) Sets my ceiling low. And since I didn't like it musically either, the rating doesn't make it to the ceiling.
It was ok, I just don’t like it, I understand how other people love it thou.
Old school rap not my music though
I give it a 3/10. I dont really like rap.
Just a genre that doesn't gel with me. Their music doesn't grab me - could be something in the background at the office and unless you are ready to diligently listen to the lyrics, they just get lost in the background.
Congrats on being the best hip hop album ever. Reinforces I don't like hip hop. I liked reading some of the stories in the lyrics, but can do that on mute. Better than the gangsta rap bravado at least. To be fair, a couple of the jazzy backing tracks are interesting, and the boy can rap, but gets a bit much after a while.
Didn't do a lot for me obviously. I read some of the reviews on here and they're all like "This really captures the spirit of 90s New York", which is also what people said about the film Caught Stealing. I've come to the conclusion that I don't want to be anywhere near 90s New York, it seems a terrible place! I would rather spend my time in nicer surrounds.
I'm sure this is a great rap album but I don't like rap at all. I also can't listen to that many slurs (or any at all tbf)
No es lo mio, no lo pude ni terminar.
Not the worst rap I heard. I didn't even have to skip through any songs!
Top much rap
Decent overproduced crap. Enjoyed it once. Won’t return
Same problem as every other hiphop album. Every song sounds the same and it gets very repetitive. However, I can't really say it sounded bad, but I still didn't enjoy it.
I know this is one of those albums people treat like sacred text, but honestly, it just didn’t land for me. I get that the production is supposed to be classic, and sure, there’s some solid beat work going on here, but it all started to blur together for me pretty fast. It’s very of its time, and maybe if I’d heard it back in the 90s I’d feel differently, but as a first-time listener now, it just felt more like a historical document than something that actually moved me. I think the main thing is that I came into this expecting something mindblowing and instead found something that felt like background music with an occasional moment of brilliance. I can respect its place in music history, but for me, Illmatic is more admired than enjoyed. It’s not bad, it’s just not one I’m ever going to reach for again.
mid
I don't know man, a lot of rap is lost on my pale ass.
26 - Nas - Illmatic - Rating = 2 Opens with the NY subway and a movie quote… beat rolling in… (I’ll state off the bat that I am not a hip-hop/rap guy… but Nas is a cornerstone and the beats on this are rich) Good warm-up groove with the proper name-checking and initial hype building… Into one of the biggest songs, NY State of Mind, which is a heavy rap over simple piano beats… just not what I like. Collab next..meh. The World is Yours is sorta nice… simple but nice groove. Memory Lane… nice, like it, simple but groovy rap… One Love with Q-Tip… this is where the drone-y similar sound rapping just grates on me… same with the next song… Represent is more fun… This is not an album for me, but I get it and it’s not offensive.
Hip-hop/rap isn’t my favorite genre, so I’m a bit picky with the songs I like and dislike. This was okay, but I didn’t love anything about it
I like life’s a bitch so far, because it is a bitch and the saxophone at the end is sexy. “Explore rap and tell me, “Nas ain’t all that” Yeah I admit I dont know hip hop that well. Perhaps someone who’s into hip hop would wax poems for Nas and this album; I’m trying to stay open minded, and despite the fact that I’m not a big fan of the genre this album’s not bad. It’s a debut album and I’d say Nas came into the 90s NY hip hop scene with a swing and I respect that.
I don't like this gender
Maybe five years ago I may not have admitted this, but hip hop just isn’t my genre. I like music more than I do lyrics, and this music is so dependent on lyrics. I know this is the one people like but I’m the philistine who can’t tell the difference between good and medium quality. My review therefore isn’t about the album per se, but my experience. Bonus point because I’m probably wrong.
Halftime is the epitamy of 90s hip hop rap. It is hard to believe how young he was when he wrote this. One Love is something I have heard many felons say- I had no idea it originated with Nas. Not really my style of music, but I can see how influential it was.
I'm never gonna get into hip hop as much as I try. No matter how good the message is, I just can't do it. I honestly can't give a reasoning for my rating. It's the same for every hip hop album I get.
Inte riktigt min musik. För att vara rap så tyckte jag den var ok
Rap isn't my thing. Gave it a listen and it's ok, not sure if it's just my general dislike for rap but this didn't do anything for me.
It wasn't a bad listen even though I'm not that much into hiphop. I liked 'it ain't hard to tell'. It was nice listening something outside my comfort zone for a change.
I am obviously not the target market for gangsta rap and I find it tiresome. However I will give this more than my usual 1 star for the innovative use of marimba on that one track.
Honestly don’t know how to appreciate rap music. It lacks melody and I rarely relate to the lyrics
Did not make it to the end of this one.
no es mi tipo
Decent but nothing stood out to me.
I know people love this one, and it's okay for gangsta rap. But not my particular cup of tea when it comes to hip-hop.
meh
Just not an enjoyable one for me 2
i get why people like it but it’s not for me
Meh
So I see that this is a very acclaimed album, but I don't see the vision for now. I did like the production, the sampling, the loops... This must be one of those that's probably a really good album, and I just don't understand it. Maybe I just need to get more into Hip Hop and I might end up really liking it in the future.
It was okay? I still feel a bit unsure about rap. I did like the jazz/chill vibes
Not my thing.
Life is a bitch having to listen to this.
New rapper same story
Meh. Not for me.
yep, not for me.
Not a RAP fan. But I imagine that this alblum would be considered a good one. It seems to have all the ingredients that I think of when I think of RAP.