Reviews (page 4 of 13)
so good
Simply one of the all time greats... The flows and vibes of this album are something else!
relisten. love love love this album. One of my faves when it comes to hip-hop and the 90s.
One of the best rap albums
El mejor disco de hiphop de todos los tiempos, dicen. One Time 4 Your Mind.
This album is musical dope. Every track. This is what I envision all of the best albums to be--end-to-end art.
I've listened to this album many times before and have always loved, nothing new here
1994: A vintage year for Hip Hop, and this is arguably the best Hip Hop record of that (or any) year. Also one of the greatest NYC records, from the opening sample of the subway, you’re transported to Queensbridge. Masterpiece.
One of the greatest rap albums of all time
goated
The moment that you hear Subway Theme from Wild Style, you know that you have to listen to the album from start to end. A classic.
Just an all around cohesive album. A great weekend listen.
One of the all time greats. Listening to this on the subway was a perfect way to start the day. 5/5
Possibly the greatest Hip Hop album ever, and one of the best overall of the 90's
Dope!!
Such a solid album. Beats are melodic and raps are tight. I can’t say this is something I would revisit often but I can recognize great music like this
It's Illmatic, nothing to say about it that hasn't been said a thousand times. Together with Gang Starr this was my introduction to hip hop. The beat producers & Nas did a fantastic job playing to their strengths, basically every song has some little hell yeah that's cool rhythmic moment. Lyrically it doesn't need you to think any particular way except that human experiences have value. Life's richer for it. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
Just recently I was talking to a friend about how I struggle to connect with a lot of the kind of autobiographical hip hop that was big in the 90s. It’s so alien to my own life and the life of anyone I know that it’s hard not to feel like an interloper when I listen to it. This one made me eat my words a little bit. Of course it’s still completely alien to me, but this is a really beautiful work, sonically and lyrically. Somehow Nas bridges the gap here.
Day153 - i’m ashamed i never took time to listen to this before now it might be the best 30 year old album i never heard
9/10. New York State of Mind played and I thought that was going to be the tip of the hype but the album only got better from there for me. Rapping was consistent throughout but slight uniqueness in the beats helped solidify the score for me.
El mejor disco de hiphop de todos los tiempos, dicen. One Time 4 Your Mind.
Really, really great! I can hear things that other hip-hop/rap does now, it sounds really unique, even now.
I don’t know how to start this shit Nas made the mistake of releasing Illmatic too early in his career. In fact, this being your debut album at 20 is insane. Sometimes artists just catch lightning in a bottle. Absolutely 5/5
big winning
Debut album but undeniably experienced artist. I need to listen to this again and again to fully comprehend the lyrical levels
En 1992 publicó Dr.Dre su enorme debut. Podria ser el mejor disco de rap de la historia a no ser por el debut apenas dos años después de un casi-adolescente que se hacía llamar Nas y que describe la vida en un barrio neoyorquino plagado de crack , problemas y sueños de redención. Los Angeles vs Nueva York, Rap Costa Oeste vs Rap Costa Este , Dr. Dre vs Nas. Para mi no hay debate. Por letras, producción con DJ Premier y QTip nada menos, influencia y calidad este Illmatic ha sido algo inigualable. 10 temas en 40 minutos y sin canciones prescindibles. Illmatic’ ha hecho tanto por Nueva York como Woody Allen o Scorsese. Las legendarias NY State of Mind, Life’s a Bitch y The World Is Yours, las callejeras ‘Halftime’ y ‘Memory lane’ a esa obra maestra que es ‘One love’. Pero sin olvidar «It ain’t hard to tell», con un sample de ‘Human nature’ del Thriller de Michael Jackson. Y sobre todo If I ruled the world con la reina Laurynn Hill. A pesar de no tener gran éxito en su día, se ha convertido en un clásico de escucha obligatoria. Otros discos de una de las mejores cosechas que ha dado la música, 1994: BLUR: Parklife, PORTISHEAD: Dummy, MANO NEGRA: Casa Babylon, SUEDE: Dog Man Star, PAVEMENT: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, OASIS: Definitely Maybe, NEIL YOUNG: Sleeps With Angels, AMERICAN MUSIC CLUB: San Francisco, R.E.M.: Monster, HOLE: Live Through This, JEFF BUCKLEY: Grace, MASSIVE ATTACK: Protection, THE AUTERS: Now I’m A Cowboy, NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS: Let Love In, 16. JOHNNY CASH: American Recordings, SEBADOH: Bakesale, UNDERWORLD: Dubnobasswithmyheadman, STONE ROSES: Second Coming, BECK: Mellow Gold, MARK LANEGAN: Whiskey For The Holy Ghost, TOM PETTY: Wildflowers, THE BEASTIE BOYS: Ill Comunication, KRISTIN HERSH: Hips And Makers, SABRES OF PARADISE: Haunted Dancehall, JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION: Orange, NIRVANA: Unplugged In New York, ALI FARKA TOURE & RY COODER: Talking Timbuktu, PULP: His’n’Hers , THE PRODIGY: Music For The Gilted Generation, VERUCA SALT: American Thighs, THE WALKABOUTS: Satisfied Ma, MANIC STREET PREACHERS: The Holy bible
GOATed best rap album ever
10/10
Always a great album to listen to. Crazy that he wrote most of these when he was 17. Im no rapper but this is still very impressive.
loved it
Luv Nas me 4.5 Every song SLAPS!
Seminal rap album
At first I was like, this is good, going 4. But as it goes and I look more into it, this is really one of the peak albums in one of my favorite genres. I gotta round it up here. Gonna spend more time with it.
a classic....listened many times growing up
Maybe one of the best albums to introduce someone to hip hop. Some of coolest production in terms of smooth bass lines. trippy and jazzy samples of pianos, horns, strings etc and just good beats. You can tell Qtip from tribe had his hand in the production. This will make you want to walk around in NYC. I weirdly went to the building where he lived when he recorded this with my taxi driver and we ate dinner and watched two ladies fight in the street. It is forever cemented in my mind with that experience as maybe the most quintessential hip hop and new york album. The lyrics are equal parts braggadocious and introspective. Clever rapping. Just listen to it.
In my book, this is about as good as rap has ever got. Even I can hear his influence down the line! One that I always enjoy returning to. Top stuff!
Didn’t have to play a note of Nasty Nas to know this album was getting five stars. One of the absolute best.
GOAT
25 years after it stopped being relevant, I can say with some degree of confidence that I'm on team East Coast. Please don't play this for children.
A staple of the genre
Automatic five star even though i have listned to it way too much. Now i prefer it was written... But this is one of the most standard setting albums in music history
Until further notice, this is unequivocally the best hip-hop album of all time. The length plays a major factor in this: 9 great songs without unnecessary fat or unfunny skits. 40 minutes of gold. Many other hip-hop acts could take a cue from this. Then there's the beats & rhymes. The dark energy coming from the creative beats and samples create a coherent, lively soundscape on this album that would appeal to the imagination even without lyrics, while all influenced by gritty jazz sounds of years gone by. And of course also the content of the lyrics, which guide you through the rough streets of New York and his personal psyche, which is based on the cover are symbolically inseparably intertwined. In short: This is the closest I've ever heard hip-hop come to perfection.
Like any lyrically dense album, this warrants multiple listens. The flow and delivery is second to none. Reading the meaning behind the lyrics on Genius was pretty interesting, given the double entendres and storytelling. The production compliments vocals nicely, but wasn't the main attraction. Obviously a very influential album that has been referenced countless times, some lines just stand out by themselves (dome-piece, magmatize me, dead presidents, sleep is the cousin of death, etc). Overall its one of the best for a reason, not my favorite type of hip hop but still great, need to listen to this more to appreciate it. Low 5.
This is probably the greatest rap album ever made, and one of my personal favorites. Deserves all the praise it gets 10/10
Probably one of the best hip hop albums of all time. Represent represent!
El mejor disco de hiphop de todos los tiempos, dicen. One Time 4 Your Mind.
Great
All time top 5 rap album. Unequivocally a classic.
Iconic album. It's amazing to see how influential it was on so many musicians in the past 30 years
Damn near close to perfection, maybe the most replayable rap record due to its concise length. The ledger is full when it comes to writing about this one, but it's pretty damn outstanding. Having a hard time believing this one is 30 years old already as it feels like yesterday I was at Coachella watching Nas perform this album in full for the 20 year anniversary, but time truly does fly. My favorite fun fact about this album is part of the hook sample for "Memory Lane" "Now let me take a trip down memory lane..." comes from a Biz Markie (R.I.P.) song about picking his nose and having a particularly memorable booger.
One of the greatest rap albums of all time. Ageless
I went in not expecting much but god damn this is a good album. Literally all bangers.
Oh I've listened to this before, many times, I mean this is an undisputed classic. I won't be saying anything crazy if I say this is THE classic hiphop album, the album cover is also instantly recognisable. All of that said, this isn't my favourite album of all time, ha this isn't even my favourite hiphop album of all time, despite that I can certainly give it the praise it deserves. I don't think there's one bad song on here, Nas recorded one hell of an album. There's not much to say about this if im honest, the beats are ICONIC, the melody from "NY State Of Mind" plays very vibrantly in my head, it's very memorable, nas's delivery is gritty and pungent and his flow is just muah, Chef's kiss. Solid 9+/10, a solid position to come back to for a taste of hiphop.
The best
Classic, ahead of its time, exceptional beats, great lyricism... The flow and context is a bit dated but of course it is. Within its own right it's a benchmark
I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
perfect flows, rhyme schemes, lyrics, beats, features.
(Incredibly biased opinion) There's often a question posed in regards to music, across all genres, that is "If you got rid of the entire genre, but had one album, what could rebuild it?" Just like in the wikipedia, I firmly believe this is one of, if not THE album that could do it. Truly one of the greatest rap albums of all time, and my personal all time favorite hip-hop album, and sometimes outright favorite. Nas managed to put out his magnum opus on his debut at a young age, and although he's never really quite hit that high again, he's still putting out albums well into his 50's. This would be one of the first albums I'd recommend anyone wanting to survey into the hip-hop genre. NY State of Mind is also IMO the best hip-hop song ever made.
World is Yours, Represent, NY state of mind are my favorites but this a masterpiece. Need more stars
One of the best damn debuts you'll ever hear.
I mean, it’s obviously a 5. I have some level of bias since I heard this in August 2022 for the first time and basically fell in love with the album there, but I’ve heard songs from it pretty sparsely, so to come back to it about a year and a half later with a more critical ear just tells me I was justified in liking the album the first time. A masterclass in lyricism and in flow with some genuine all-time beats here; I do think the latter half of the album relies a bit more on basslines to carry the beats than any substantial sampling, but Nas overshadows that incredibly well with his honesty and his enigmatic lyrics, even when he makes up shit like “magmatize”. It really is just a fantastic debut album, and I still feel like I need to listen to more Nas. Super easy 5.
Masterpiece from start to finish.
ntroduction: Illmatic, released in 1994, is the debut studio album by American rapper Nas. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time and a landmark in the genre. Produced during the golden age of hip-hop, Illmatic embodies the essence of East Coast rap while showcasing Nas' lyrical prowess, storytelling ability, and social commentary. In this review, we will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. Lyrics: Nas' lyricism on Illmatic is nothing short of extraordinary. His vivid storytelling and intricate wordplay paint a detailed portrait of life in the Queensbridge housing projects, where he grew up. Nas' introspective verses offer a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the struggles of urban life, addressing themes such as poverty, crime, racial inequality, and self-discovery. Tracks like "N.Y. State of Mind" and "Life's a Bitch" showcase Nas' lyrical dexterity and ability to craft vivid imagery, while songs like "One Love" and "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)" demonstrate his storytelling prowess and ability to evoke emotions through his rhymes. Overall, Nas' lyricism on Illmatic is masterful, setting a high standard for storytelling in hip-hop. Music: The music on Illmatic is characterized by its gritty, sample-heavy production, which perfectly complements Nas' lyrical content. Produced primarily by legends such as DJ Premier, Large Professor, and Pete Rock, the beats on Illmatic feature soulful jazz and funk samples layered over hard-hitting drum breaks, creating a quintessential East Coast sound. Tracks like "Halftime" and "Represent" boast infectious basslines and hypnotic loops, while songs like "The World Is Yours" and "It Ain't Hard to Tell" feature lush arrangements and melodic hooks. The music on Illmatic not only serves as a backdrop for Nas' lyrics but also stands on its own as a testament to the creativity and innovation of hip-hop production in the 1990s. Production: The production on Illmatic is top-notch, thanks to the talented roster of producers involved in the album's creation. DJ Premier's signature scratch techniques and hard-hitting drums shine on tracks like "N.Y. State of Mind" and "Represent," while Large Professor's soulful samples and smooth transitions add depth to songs like "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)" and "One Time 4 Your Mind." Additionally, Pete Rock's innovative use of sampling on "The World Is Yours" and "It Ain't Hard to Tell" demonstrates his mastery of the craft. The cohesive production throughout Illmatic creates a seamless listening experience, with each track flowing effortlessly into the next. Themes: Thematically, Illmatic explores the harsh realities of inner-city life and the struggle for survival in the face of adversity. Nas' lyrics delve into topics such as poverty, crime, drug addiction, and institutionalized racism, offering a poignant commentary on the social and economic conditions of urban America. However, amidst the darkness, there are moments of hope and resilience, as Nas reflects on his own personal journey and the pursuit of success against all odds. Illmatic is a reflection of the streets, capturing the essence of life in the projects with brutal honesty and authenticity. Influence: The influence of Illmatic on the hip-hop genre cannot be overstated. Not only did it establish Nas as one of the greatest MCs of all time, but it also set a new standard for lyrical excellence and artistic integrity in hip-hop. Illmatic's impact extends beyond its critical acclaim and commercial success; it has inspired generations of rappers and producers to push the boundaries of the genre and strive for greatness in their own work. From its innovative production techniques to its socially conscious lyrics, Illmatic continues to shape the landscape of hip-hop and influence artists around the world. Pros: Masterful lyricism: Nas' intricate wordplay and storytelling set a new standard for lyrical excellence in hip-hop. Stellar production: The sample-heavy beats and innovative production techniques showcase the creativity and talent of the producers involved. Authenticity: Illmatic offers a raw and unfiltered portrayal of life in the projects, capturing the essence of urban America with honesty and integrity. Cultural impact: The album's influence on the hip-hop genre is undeniable, inspiring artists and shaping the evolution of rap music for decades to come. Cons: Short length: With only nine tracks, Illmatic leaves listeners craving more, although its brevity also contributes to its impact and cohesiveness. Limited thematic scope: While Illmatic delves deep into the struggles of inner-city life, some listeners may find its focus on poverty and crime repetitive or overly bleak. In conclusion, Illmatic is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with audiences nearly three decades after its release. From Nas' unparalleled lyricism to the album's innovative production, Illmatic stands as a testament to the power of hip-hop as a form of artistic expression and social commentary. With its raw honesty, poignant storytelling, and enduring influence, Illmatic remains a cornerstone of the genre and a defining moment in the history of rap music.
An all time greatest hip hop album. One of the classics from my high school days. Bumps from beginning to end.
Thoughts before listening: One of the most highly regarded hip hop albums of all time, but I don't believe I have heard it before. Review: Yeah I've never heard this before, and you know what...it's great! I get where the praise comes from. This is closer to something like A Tribe Called Quest than the gangsta rap coming out at the same time. I'm really enjoying Nas' laid back rap style over jazzy beats with some interesting lyrics that aren't all violence and sex. 5-stars.
Rap done well
Holy shit. One of top 5 hip hop albums of all time. Easily. Not since “The Message” had such a real and honest portrayal of inner city life been recorded. Nas isnt trying to preen or battle anyone. He’s documenting his life. He shows us the kids selling crack on the corner, people free-basing in the stairwell of his project, and the sense of hopeless hedonism that permeates everything. Lyrically, this was a massive jump from what came before. Multiple rhyme schemes at a time, poly-syllabic rhyming. At times it’s even hard to keep track. A classic.
Classic
Where to start! This is one of the best albums across genres of all time. The lyrics and rhythm of his poetry is above anything that was going on at that time. This is an album that everyone should listen to. It is a watershed moment in the way syllables and lyrics can drive a song.
pretty much perfect hip-hop classic
The greatest nineties solo rap album. The beats, hooks, bars. The best!
Enjoyed this album tremendously. I recognized some tracks from hearing them in the aether over the years. Superb lyricism (one homophobic line that Nas has since recanted notwithstanding) highly compelling beats, pretty much everything one could ask for in 90s rap. I fully understand the hype now.
Let me start by saying that I don't think this is the greatest hip hop album of all time. It's good, but there's half a dozen or so other albums that are just as good, if not better. It's still one of the easiest five stars I've awarded so far on this journey.
One of my favourite albums of all time. Great use of sampling and lyrically for a 19 year olds first release incredibly introspective.
Good vibes.
It probably is the greatest Rap album of all time, with immaculate rhymes, flow, storytelling, and beat work, but I’ve always been kinda fascinated by this album for another reason, which is that it is singularly responsible for most of Nas’ reputation nowadays. I don’t know any of his other albums, I’ve never felt the need to check them out, because this one is just so good
Classic
fantastic album. Great beats, great bars, smooth, raw, honest. Nothing here contrived.
I love this album.
Nas - Illmatic - lo considero el mejor album de rap de todos los tiempo. El flow, la letra, la produccion, el sonido, simplemente es un album perfecto. Lo escucho con frecuencia mientras cocino. Detras de el public enemy fear of a black planet #2
Even without historical context this album is incredible. Add in the context and Nas completely changed the game with his debut. Still one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.
Once gain what can I say about this album that hasnt been said before. It is fucking amazing.
Really great rap.
They talk about this being one of the best rap albums of all time. And I can see it. This was an album that I knew about, but never got into. I was very late to the old school rap game. Thankfully, my brother was and he introduced me to this one. I remember thinking, this album is great from start to finish. It has that old school feel, which I'm sure back then was very powerful. I still always associate Nas with "kill kill kill, murder murder murder" from the news anchors, but this put him into a new territory for me. Again, I wasn't as familiar with him, but now I realize he is an OG. And more so, he has released so much since, I've really enjoyed his recent King's Disease album series. On here my tops are Life's a Bitch, The World is Yours, One Love, One Time 4 Your Mind.
Oh man, the big one. One of the most acclaimed hip hop albums ever, and it's really easy to see why. Some kid from New York debuts with something this colossal, produced by legends like DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip. It's just scary, Nas was a teenager recording this, and it was like a tentpole for the underground NY hip hop sound that, 40 years later, is still regarded as one of the best, if not the best. The intro beat is awesome, and the first proper track is "NY State of Mind" which has to be one of the greatest hip hop beats and tracks ever recorded. And we've still got other classics like "The World Is Yours" and "Life's a Bitch"I'm really struggling to find words to describe this album, it's just a perfect encapsulation and representation of the feeling that street hip hop should give. This and Wu-Tang's Enter the 36 Chambers are just biblical. It's not my personal favorite hip hop album, but it's absolutely up there, probably in my top 10 or so, and easily top 2-3 of the '90s. Impressive too to see the late-career surge that Nas has had with his King's Disease series, the guy is still killing it. Favorite tracks: Everything but Memory Lane hits hard for me, absolute favorites are NY State of Mind and The World is Yours. Album art: Absolutely iconic. It's Nas as a baby, superimposed over the streets and rough neighborhoods that birthed him. The font is perfect too. No notes. 5/5
One of the BEST hip hop album EVER!
Glatt.
This album is sick. I can't believe this was his debut. I love the samples, I love how hard the songs go, and I love how much flow Nas has with his lyrics and the way he presents them. While I listened, I looked at pictures of the Queensbridge houses and the surrounding area in the 90s. I feel like this album can transport you there. The production on this record is sick as well. It feels super cohesive yet varied. Not a single skip on this album. There is definitely some Public Enemy inspiration in this album too which is cool.
Love this record. The lyrics, the beats, the rhymes. Its so good. This is a true pivot record in the evolution of hip hop. It doesn't feel like an "old school" hip hop album, but at any moment in the last 30 years its felt relevant. It's pretty impressive to make such a timeless record. That ages so well. The beats are simple, but engaging. They're easy to roll with, especially with the way that Nas tells stories. Which I think is his strongest point. He's a master storyteller and a master poet, as soon as this record starts, you're in it with him. Favorite songs are: - NY State of Mind - The World is Yours - Memory - One Love
This is what East Coast hip-hop is all about. It has been 30 years since it's release and boy does this one stand up to the best of the best. Amazing that this was his debut. He has had excellent albums after, but this one is near the top. 9.7/10
First thoughts! This is great! Sounds fresh new, energy New York State of mind is a stand out but 1st track Genesis, amaze sets the scene mood so well Love Memory Lane , backing vocals coming in woohoo
The greatest hip hop album of all time. If you disagree, then take all the time you need to come to terms with being wrong.
This absolutely slaps. Every song is fire, and Nas' lyricism really comes out throughout. The beats, the rhymes, the melodies, it's all there. This is the kind of album I wish I'd known about sooner because this just bleeds cool.
What more can be said about Illmatic that hasn't been said before? Hip-hop had already ingrained itself as a juggernaut of the kind of musical proportions that the industry wasn't prepared for. With its litany of sub-genres within (boom bap, g-funk, the nascent rap-rock, gangsta), Illmatic stood alone in its poetic/literate stance and wove together a world that, for forty minutes, sounds both innocent and foreboding, tragic yet nostalgic; a document that didn't look down and demean but looked up and provided a path forward, if one took it. Illmatic should rightfully be considered not just one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, or one of the greatest debut albums but one of the greatest albums of all time, period. Thirty years on, its impact on our view of its creator and the genre he inhabits not only hasn't changed but has been magnified. This is the kind of album that jump-starts, solidifies and intensifies ones love for hip-hop. I know it did mine.
Brilliant from start to finish, love how it's economical. A couple more tracks and it would probably get repetitive. The bass hit me right up front and the lyricism is straight from Del and some 80s old schoolers--and a lot of the way these beats are set up are subsequently copied on Deltron 3030 (my #1 hip hop album). Also love the subtle 'Human Nature' (Michael Jackson) sample in the last track.
This might be one of the best rap albums I've ever heard.
Its a classic
Impossible to overstate how much this album shaped my taste in music. I must have been 14/15 when I first heard this and it completely solidified my love of rap. The lyrics, flow, production, etc. throughout this is perfect. NY State of Mind or Life's a Bitch are in my top 10 rap songs of all time. The stretch from NY State of Mind through The World is Yours is prob the best 3 track run in any rap album. Just an incredible album front to back with an iconic cover to match.
One of the best examples of a legendary rap album. Excellent lyrics, flow, etc. Everything you need is here.
The perfect rap album. Nas is a master lyricist and Illmatic is the best example of that.
A rap classic that I've listened to many times. Illmatic is so tight - not bloated with skits or pointless tracks. Even within each song it's so densely packed with great rhymes and stories that I'll never get tired of listening to this - there is simply no filler anywhere. Although it obviously has highlights, the quality is so consistent. The only element I'd say is slightly unremarkable are some of the beats, which is not to say they're bad, but more that they simply provide the canvas for Nas to paint his picture of the NYC streets. He is the star and facilitating his flow is really the backing music's job. Perfection
5+4.5+5+4.5+5+5+4.5+5+5 4.83 5/5 Pretty much flawless album. Every sample and rhythm seemed perfect, lyricism was on point track after track. Aesthetic throughout album was also great, lyrics and music.
masterpiece
one of my fave albums EVER
This is an incredible album. For some reason it never clicked for me. This time it did.
Great
2/2/24. Classic, gritty hip hop by Nas. Never gets old.
I still can’t believe this is his debut album. To me this is a perfect album, nas has one of the most distinct and timeless styles. The tracks themself are incredible, absolutely no gimmicks just careful sampling choices and beautiful breaks. This whole album made me nostalgic for a time that I wasn’t even there for. Arguably, the deciding catalyst between grandmaster flash style original hip hop and the state of hip hop/rap today.
Nas is an anomaly in hip hop. Very few artists burst onto the scene with this distinct of a style and attitude, let alone put the rap game in a chokehold with a debut album. Nas’s presence (specifically the energy captured on illmatic) is still seen today and will exist forever throughout the genre. Extremely formative personally, as well as for countless hip hop artists. 5/5
One of my fav albums
30 years later and there's still no misses. I got into this as a freshman in college, and it instantly became one of my favorite rap albums. The hype is real behind this.
I never think I'm all that much into rap (I have several friends who know every detail of every rapper's lives and who has guested on whose albums and the whole infrastructure of it all) then occasionally one like this hits and it's going on loop for the next month
This album is just great. Period. One of the best hip hop albums that will grace ears, in my opinion. The instrumentals are so great and smooth; everything just fits perfectly. I LOVE the "Human Nature" sample, one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs, in "It Ain't Hard to Tell." And meanwhile Nas' lyrics and rhythm throughout all the tracks....they just don't miss. This is a legendary hip hop album through and through.
So many classic hip hop beats came from this album. Nas is a master of creating intricate rhyme schemes that for effortlessly. The album captures that gritty ethos that can come only from a legit gangbanger, but also contains the true artistry of someone who works hard at the craft.
All time greatest.
N.Y. State of Mind Life's a Bitch The World Is Yours Halftime Represent It Ain't Hard to Tell
I like the juxtaposition between life’s a bitch and the world is yours. One is about living in the moment because you never when you’re gonna go but the next track is about making plans for the future. Also the boom bap drums and the bass lines under the piano and DJ scratching. Good stuff. Not afraid to call out pain. Struggling. Also is there an ace of bass reference?!
At age 20 Nas released a genre defining masterpiece of an album that is just as relevant now as it was when it was released cementing him as one of the GOATs of rap. At age 20 I was working at a gas station an blowing my paycheques on weed.
This was one of the reasons I started this list. I can't believe it took me 1033 days to get it. 5
Man, what an absolute treat. No skips. I’d forgotten he was still making music, so this led me down the rabbit hole of listening to his most recent release. Not the same, of course, but still amazing.
Not only one of the greatest and most important hip-hop albums of all time but also one of the best albums of all time just ever. Absolute masterclass.
Already a fan of this album before today
I don't think I've ever found a rap or hip-hop album that I've loved from first listen, but this was one. The second track opens with a sextuple internal rhyme and I was HOOKED. I didn't notice or love all the production, but I didn't also notice it standing out in a bad way. It's a huge boon for my listening that the mix is so lyric forward. I could make everything out which is good cuz the lyrics are all full meal here and you wanna hear em!
10/10
Sweet! Looking forward to listening to this album. Truly never heard this album at all. So far I really dig it. Ironic I have never listened to this album, but these first couple of opening tracks have a familiarity to them.
Classic. I’ve listened to this album a thousand times.
Masterpiece.
alo, zašto ovaj album nije u prvih 1001???
5/5
How have I never listened to this? The World is Yours is a standout on first listen. Clean, simple beats. Didn't expect it to be so jazzy. *One Love *The World is Yours *Memory Lane
N.Y. State of Mind is quite possibly one of the greatest songs ever recorded. been meaning to listen to this album in full for a while and it did not disappoint
Clearly a genius of weaving stories and history.
holy shit.i don’t think i’ve ever heard an album feel like a place quite like illmatic feels like new york.
Daniel and I have been discussing East vs West Coast style rap recently. I felt like this is a perfect mix of both styles. Even though I’m not a big fan of rap, it’s pretty impossible to not love this album.
Straight Rap. No funk. Deep personal experience. No BS
I have been waiting years for this album to click for me and it finally did. I’ll be riding this high all week
A milestone in hiphop history ! Outstanding
Well, here it is. The first album of 2024. I've only been doing this for a few months, but the beginning of a new year is still an important milestone. So, does Illmatic feel like a good album to start the year on? Absolutely. This is what a 1994 debut album that deserves to be on this list looks like. Everything about this album is just so immaculate. The beat production and sample usage creates this sound that really exudes this feeling of being in New York's inner city. I've never experienced that for myself, but through this album I can kind of see what that's like. The rapping itself is on a whole other level. Nas's internal rhyming on this thing is excellent and very impressive. The writing lends itself well to telling its story through some of the finest rapping you will ever hear. The one feature this album has, AZ's verse on "Life's a Bitch", is just as good as what Nas offers on that same song. That's not to mention how the pacing on this album is great too. My big problem with a similar East-coast 1994 debut rap album, Ready to Die by The Notorious B.I.G., was that it could've had better pacing, what with all of the skits and such. This album starts off with something like that in "The Genesis", but everything after that is just straight-up rapping. Overall, this is often considered to be one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, and while I'm not an expert on the genre, I can definitely see why people feel that way. The impact of this album is hard to understate. 5/5.
A hip hop legend. Forever a classic with production and lyrics that are timeless. Longtime favorite of this record. An icon of hip hop.
An album that without a doubt ranks 5, for me, the best of the "golden era" of gangsta rap. The piece can capture with precision the sound and struggle of New York, bringing with it elements of jazz, R&B, soul and gospel; one of the most interesting and rich lyrics I ever seem.
You ever heard an album that transports you to a time and place? If someone were to ask me this question, my first answer will always be Illmatic. Because it isn’t even really close. No artist has ever made a record that brings you closer to the culture, the lifestyle, and the energy of 90’s New York than Nas did with this. The Genesis and N.Y. State of Mind being the opening pair of songs sets this record straight very quickly. The former is the only skit on the record, and the latter is a legendary song that sounds like sitting waiting for your train in the subway station. Large Professor and DJ Premier, who do most of the production, along with Pete Rock, L.E.S., and Q-Tip give some of the best beats they’ve ever made on this album. This is without a doubt THE defining rap album of the 90’s. It came out just early enough in the decade where every MC moving forward was trying to reach this level of greatness. Surprisingly, this performed pretty poorly on release, which blows me away considering the massive critical darling this is in modern times. This is one of the most essential hip-hop records ever made, and should be studied in every aspect. Because it excels at everything it does. It is excellence from start to finish. Rating: 10/10
One of the best debut album of all time. A masterpiece! 5 stars
Very simply put, Illmatic is the greatest hip hop album of all time. Few albums ever are so tied to a time and place that you truly feel like you are there. Nas is a master lyricist, killer beats on every song, iconic hooks. If you don’t like Illmatic, you don’t like hip hop 9.4/10
One of the all time classics
One of my favourite hip hop albums of all time, easy 5
A hip-hop clinic 🐐
This is a perfect album and by the time I’m done with this list this album will assuredly be in my top 30. I do a corny thing when I drive through states or cross country, I listen to certain records that I associate with that state or city. This album and Big L’s Lifestylez are my New York soundtracks.
Nas is a poet and gifted story teller. Truly a legend and forefather of modern rap. Amazing beats and lyricism on display here.
10/10
Wow, I thought this was just fantastic - can't believe I've never listened to it before. Totally see why it's so acclaimed. The complex rhymes here must have been a revelation in 1994.
This album is great. Is always hard people talk about it but never listened to it. Great music and nas has great rhymes.
So many iconic lines in almost every track!
Just as close to perfect as you can get for a Rap album. Every song has something to offer and goes UNREASONABLY hard. Listening to it really makes you feel like you're right alongside Nas gooning around and hustling in the streets of New York. Nas takes the relatively shallow subject matter of being a gangsta in the city and reflects thoroughly on it, giving the album an incredible depth where you can feel the conflicts of morality and practicality that many young people in cities across the world wrestle with every day. 10/10
It was only a matter of time until we ultimately were going to get to this one. Let me make this abundantly clear for those who may not already know: this IS one of the greatest hip hop albums AND arguably one of the greatest albums ever made. There's a reason that its frequently referenced, constantly brought up, mentioned in discussion so much that its become a parody.... Its one of the rare contributions that is much worth all the hype no matter how people feel. It one of those instances where, you put this album on and are instantly teleported into the very mind of Nasir Jones himself. He takes you on the journey of self-discovery through his eyes and every word that is said is purposeful. You can feel the emotion. You can almost see just how much the things that happen around him effect him in multiple ways. It takes a truly masterful lyricist, like him, to paint such paint such a vivid story with simply their words. It may sound hyperbolic but I believe there isn't too abundant of material in the hip hop landscape that can compete with Illmatic. It truly set such a high standard for the music out around the time and current day.
only reviewing this bc ive listened to it before. just some good hip hop. a gold standard for this exact style of hip hop eveyrthing from production, flow and lyricism. also smth nostalgic about this form of sampling idk brings me back to watching ableton/fruity loops tutorials in high school learning how to make beats for the first time. also love it when rappers just make a track where its just people yelling and talking to each other. last also sorry for making everything abt bts but every time i listen to nas i can rlly tell how much he has influenced rm. faves: ny state of mind, halftime (my style switches like a faggot but not a bisexual is crazy, this is not why i like the song), the world is yours, lifes a bitch
Very embarrassed to say this was my first time listening! I’d vaguely listened to NY State of Mind and The World Is Yours a few times but not enough to really catch the lyrics much. I’m finishing up my 4th or 5th listen and wanted to start writing out my favorites but I started writing down every track name. Man!!!! The kind of album where every song has several moments where I’m genuinely taken aback by the idea that someone could’ve come up with those lyrics (especially at 19/20???). Love the samples, love the storytelling, love the rhyming and diction, love the fact that Q Tip randomly shows up as usual, idk it’s fucking good!!!! It’s Illmatic. Five stars
Tremendo llenísimo de barras
5/5 best of boom bap (in fact all of rap)
Visualizin' the realism of life in actuality Fuck who's the baddest, a person's status depends on salary And my mentality is money-orientated I'm destined to live the dream for all my peeps who never made it 'Cause yeah, we were beginners in the hood as Five Percenters But somethin' must've got in us, 'cause all of us turned to sinners Now some restin' in peace and some are sittin' in San Quentin Others, such as myself, are tryin' to carry on tradition Life's a bitch, indeed. Outstanding album. 5/5
Another classic hip hop album that I had never listened to. And another album that is deserving of the hype it gets. Great beats and production, great flow. Truly poetry in motion. Good stuff!
The second album generated that I have listened to before, although it was years ago and played in the background. It is extremely apparent as to why it is so revered; the technical skill comes out first to me, but beat selection, hooks, and features all come together to form a larger sense of place and time. Nas places himself strongly among the New York rappers and groups I'm familiar with, although I need to listen to more early records from him to start appreciating him alongside Jay-Z. Overall accomplishes all it sets out to be and will be very listenable when looking for skillful smooth spitting. 9/10
Super big ballin
Always nice when an album I already have downloaded comes up. I'd agree with Aron that some of the beats aren't amazing but still an enjoyable album.
Was surprised by how consistently good this album was I don’t really like NY state of mind, but it definitely has the most unique beat I felt like the songs had amazing flow, and if they had better beats they might be more popular Wasn’t a song that I didn’t like on this
Production is super cool and rhythm of the lyrics I enjoyed too - quite a few songs I recognised. V fun this came up, I've been meaning to listen through for a while.
Very good!
Incredible flow and lyrics & topped up by great production, classic hip hop album
Never heard Nas before, this was brilliant. His flow was amazing and lyrics were interesting and witty from the first listen. While it was hustler/gangster themed I'm okay with that when delivered like this, it was also more angry than arrogant which I prefer. Definitely listening again.
I've heard this album a fair bit in the past. Nas has incredible flow and is more complex lyrically than a lot of the big rap names from this era. Although there is some gangsta rap elements here, it's more hip hop. There are a couple of lyrics that haven't aged too well... It feels raw, not overproduced at all. Makes it seem so authentic Highlights: NY state of mind Halftime Memory lane One time 4 your mind It ain't hard to tell Easy 5
Some have argued this is the hip hop’s greatest album, and they may be right.
STRAIGHT OUT THE FUCKIN' DUNGEONS OF RAP
Old school hip hop.
Classic NYC hip hop!
Yeah I mean... This stuff is peak old school hip hop.
Absolute classic. One of my favorite artists and albums across genres! Where traveling in a country that removes cursing from Spotify when I listened for this review, and that just sounds so fucking stupid 😂 Nevertheless, 5/5!
Classic.
beats are hard, storytelling is fantastic, great flow. what more can you ask for out of a rap album??
Legendarisk, bare bangers
So... damn... good.
Solid. Lots of piano. I hadn't expected that. I think the way we use represent! Comes from the song represent. Also catch me in queensbridge
Classic
Another timeless classic
Classic of the genre. It seamlessly mixes braggadocio with more conscious themes, doing both amazingly. Nas is such a great rapper; just listen to his flow on ‘It Ain’t Hard To Tell’. One of the best parts of this album is its brevity. Where most hip-hop albums of the 90’s overstay their welcome, this is a concise 10 tracks in 40 minutes. In conclusion, just one of the best rap albums in creation.
What stands out (to me) about this album is how minimalistic it is. Just mostly Nas rapping with few actual big hooks intended to get radio play. And yet, it's still a classic. Nas has spent most of his career trying to do this type of album again with varied success, but this is the first and the best.
Anyone who rates this below a four doesn't have actual taste. Grow up.
One of my favorite albums of the 90s
Top 3 songs The world is yours One love Represent
itärannikon musiikkia... ei idässä mitään rannikkoa ole VENÄJÄ siellä... raja jota puolustaa täytyy...vettä nähnykkään ellei laatokasta puhu... N-sana tämä ja N-sana tuo, gnomesayin, aseet, huumeet, tavallista, mutta itse räppaaminen oli pelkkää blamaa. Jälleen kerran albumi, jota ei ole tarkoitettu minulle... kuunnellun ymmärtäminen herrasmiehellä (c)rap heh- JUMALAUTA tää on hyvä albumi ny state of mind
Solid 5/5
5 eaaaasy 5 faves: ny state of mind, life's a bitch, memory lane, represent
GREAT!!!!
A undisputed classic. Phenomenal flow and lyricism. Production game changer.
Quintessential New York Hip Hop Album. Nas flows and annunciates his words with style in a clear precise way. The beats are all orchestrated to almost replicate the natural sounds of an urban environment. His words are chosen so carefully in the sense that every syllable flows in rhythm with the production. Verbiage from this album is still relevant in cultural vernacular to this day, specifically the line " life's a bitch and then you die".Nas seems hungry here. Passionate about his craft. I don't think he aspired to create an album that would be considered a timeless adding to the authenticity. He simply had an urgency to get these songs out into the world. The production is so brilliantly simple. Percussion heavy with piano or other subtle instrumentals to compliment. Hip hop has evolved so much since Illmatic and in part because of Illnatic. Makes it even more impressive how well this holds up. This album is a triumph with infinite replay-ability.
The quintessential Nas album. As far as classic hip hop albums go, I don't come back to this nearly as much as something like Ready To Die or The Blueprint. N.Y. State of Mind is an ageless jam. Such a sinister beat with Nas painting pictures of the grim backdrop to his everyday life. The World Is Yours is another hip hop staple. Halftime is one of the more "fun" tracks on here. More boom-bap, but still sinister. Makes me think of Big L's flip on this 98' Halftime. Memory Lane features a soulful beat; really don't have much ability to focus on lyrics now... Love the slippery bass line on One Time 4 Your Mind. Head nodding beat for sure. Same for Represent -- maybe my favorite song on here; flow is so clean and the beat is so pretty for how minimal its construction is. All around, classic hip-hop album. While its not my favorite of the era, it is a beautifully crusty entry into the cannon. Nas has impeccable flow and the beats are varied yet mostly dusty and sinister. 4.5 / 5 -- I'll lean 5.
Ahhh an East coast hip hop classic. Love me some Nas and this album is so smooth and poetic. The lyrics are just insane on this. "I never sleep...cuz sleep is the cousin of death" is one of my favorite lines ever. I honestly think I use it weekly. #teamnosleep "Life a Bitch and then you die...that why we get high" is another one I use on the reg. Listened to this song nonstop in high school thinking I was a baller ass bitch. Such a jazzy jam. The World is Yours is another classic and led to one of my favorite Nas tracks "Thief's Theme" based on some lyrics from this song. Love the beat on Halftime. The trumpets crush and obviously the lyrics. Another just classic bop of lyricism on Memory Lane. One Love is probably my favorite song on the album and it's probably because of Q-Tip bringing some more jazzy beats. Not sure if it's a xylophone but I love it with this song. It's very soothing. Would 1000% smoke a fat blunt to this song. Another jazzy bassline on One Time 4 Your Mind. Love the flow with his lyrics on this one. This album is weirdly dark and holds the fuck up! 5 stars for Nasty!
Perhaps the greatest hip hop album of all time.
undeniable classic, every track pretty much hits in that formative gritty east-coast way. A bunch of tracks on this are referenced all over the place throughout hip hop, and there are lines from it that have made their way into general pop culture. Very good listen, and only slightly overrated when people call it the best hip-hop record of all times. I've listened to this many times before, of course.
I mean, ive got this on vinyl. What more is there to say. top 10 hip hop albums ever. 11/10
LFGGGGGGG, took a break but when I finally have a time to listen to every album, THIS ALBUM POPS UP LFFGGGGG
Mhm: never listened to this album in its full up until this point and oh boy how I wish I had. I have to completely agree with this album being up there with some of the greatest of all time as it was packed full of solid samples better than 99% of other rap as well as being able to flow perfectly in terms of lyrics and between songs. I felt enlighten after this album, amazing.
Best classic hip-hop record of all time
Already one of my favourite rappers and albums 10/10
One of the best albums of all time
Mickey
Oh this is a debut? That’s impressive as fuck. I really enjoy the juxtaposition of a more laidback sound with very not laidback lyrics. The jazz-like instrumentals make it very timeless and historical. Like as soon as you hear the first note of the album you can tell you’re listening to something important and groundbreaking
Jumallevy. Luultavasti paras hiphoplevy jonka tiedän. Tai en ainakaan tältä istumalta saa päähäni parempaa levyä. Hieno hieno paketti jossa kaikki kunnossa. Upee debyytti. Jazzahtavat beatit erityisen lähellä sydäntäni. 5/5
10/10 no more
Totemic
A dark, swirling world of crime reflected on over jazzy bassy boom-bap beats. Lyricism is crazy with the internal rhymes. The peak of gangster rap. Best song: Life’s a Bitch
100/100 best rap album ever made
Classic -Danny
Classic throughout
Sounds even better on record and one of my favourite hip hop albums of all time. Listened to multiple times before and surely will again.
One of the all-time great hip hop albums. Pulsing with energy and swagger.
Greatest rap album of all time
Someone once said if this album was a Pokémon, it would be one of the starters. 100% agree.
mejor album de hip hop de la historia
Probably the best hip-hop debut ever, definitely one of the best hip-hop albums ever.
It's nice to get two five-star albums in a row that couldn't be more different from one another. One is a very thoughtful and well-produced album about a specific coastal area of America at a specific time that became a landmark in its genre and the other is Illmatic. Lol jk but there's a reason that this album is widely regarded as one of the best albums of the 90s and one of the best rap albums of all time. It's a definitive East Coast rap album and you can see influences from it even today (TPAB comes to mind a bit). I wish Q-tip got used a bit more in his feature and it made the song a bit lame but the rest of the tracks, especially NY state of mind and the last two tracks, have proven to be timeless. I’m now on my second listen and I just wanted to note that he uses “nine” to make like 90% of his rhymes work yet it never gets annoying.
The production. The jazzy beats. The rhyming scheme. The flow. This is perfection and the quintessential hip hop record. "I don't know how to start this shit" Nas confesses at the beginning of 'N.Y. State of Mind', and then delivers an absolute masterclass in rhythm and poetry. Ridiculous.
Nas delivers some of the illest and most contagious beats and lyrics ever put out on a hip hop record. Not a single moment could have been left out on this milestone album. Perfection from start to finish.
Loved it! Like music for The Wire.
GOAT hip hop album, everyone knows that.
Already heard this one, easily one of the most classic and transportive albums I have ever heard. There are very very very few albums I feel comfortable giving a 10/10 for (for whatever hypercritical reason), but this one is so incredibly immersive in sound, story, the ghettos in NY that Nas describes, that the experience is just unmatched in classicness.
One of the greatest rap albums of all time. The mood, the atmosphere, the storytelling, it's all top quality.
Wonderful album with excellent lyrics and awesome beats to back them up!
Alex thinks it’s good he said the f slur—so does Sam. Wow.
I heard The World Is Yours on the NBA 2K 13 soundtrack and had it stuck in my head for the next decade. Also the bars are fire Favorite Tracks: Life's A Bitch, NY State Of Mind, It Ain't Hard To Tell 5/5
"Illmatic" is the debut album by American rapper Nas (Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones). The album was recorded in multiple NYC studios with multiple producers including DJ Premier, Large Professir, Pete Rock. Q-Tip, L.E.S. and Nas himself. It is hard-core hip hop featuring multi-syllabic internal rhymes and inner-city narratives of Nas' experience growing up in the Queensbridge Houses in Queens, NYC. Yep. The album is considered a landmark album in East Coast hip hop with its production and lyricism contributing to the revival of the NYC rap scene. Initially, it had had low sales but has since sold over two million copies. The album had mostly rave reviews and in 2021 the Library of Congress added it to the National Recording Registry for its artistic significance. Subway sounds open "The Genesis." There's people talking about counting money, Hennessey and the lack of legimacy among the MC's in the projects. Samples from "Subway "Theme" which was in the first hip hop film. "Wild Style." DJ Premier produced "N.Y. State of Mind." Dark, jazzy piano samples. Just great sampling. Trap doors, rooftop snipers, drug dealers and "the dungeons of rap." The mind state from living in the ghetto. "Life's a Bitch" is lighter sounding...a more R&B beat, soul and jazzy. Guest rapper AZ. "Life's a bitch and then you die that why you get high." Pete Rock produced "The World Is Yours." More jazzy and optimistic. Scratching is added. The first single when Nas was Nasty Nas is "Halftime." Nas showcasing his rhyming skills. More great sampling with the Average White Band, Gary Byrd and a Hair musical. A fantastic sample from the Heath Brothers' "Smilin' Billy Suite Part II" highlights "One Love." A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip on production. Maybe Nas' best lyrics as he writes letters to his incarcerated friends talking about unfaithful girlfriends, tortured mothers and the underdog legacy. The album ends with "It Ain't Hard to Tell." Rap braggadocio and samples of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature." This album has just great rap rhyming, sampling and production. The music is dark, eerie and hypnotic when the tone is serious and more jazzy, souful and R&B when optimistic. Nas' rapping is authoritative and confident. He tells the story of the inner city in more of a observatory way neither glamorizing or condemning it. An album in many ways worthy of its high acclaim.
It's reputation precedes it - one of the greatest albums ever made. The impact this album had on the Hip-Hop genre is so huge, it can't possibly be overstated. Every song was produced and rapped to damn near perfection, and was so insanely ahead of it's time. To the point where the lines and production are still incredibly impressive three decades later. The fact that this album *constantly* tops "Best Albums Ever" lists and is actually able to live up to that tells you something. A masterclass in every regard.
classic 90s gangsta rap, aged very well.Still loving it. 5 stars
Fun fact, Nas' father Olu Dara plays cornet on "Life's a Bitch", they would later go on to collaborate on another hit "Bridging the Gap". 🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺
Influential hip hop album and one of the best known 90s rap albums. But the problem with 90s rap albums or later is that 80s rap is so much better (yet many of those albums are not in the list). I often like a 90s rap song only to discover that it is based around a sample of a much better Kurtis Blow or Whodini song (apart from all the usual soul / funk / synthpop samples). The same here, but it is all perfectly done so a high rating is definitely justified. 5 (9/10)
Maybe the best rap album of all time for one particular reason- no skits. Even then, Nas is at peak form here and drops incredible bar after bar, with some slick production. This is definitely an album I’d recommend for people skeptical of rap, even if it’s marred by a touch of homophobia and ableism. Still, an A
This was a nice revisit as I haven't listened to Illmatic in a long time. It really is a classic hip hop album that still doesn't disappoint.
Funky, urgent, classic. One of the first hip hop albums that got me into the genre and it’s still fresh as hell.
Sometimes I see a rap/hip hop album pop up from the 90s and it can go both ways. Some are bouncy kind of hip hop albums which aren't really for me but then there's the kind with a heavy beat with banger after banger....this was the latter. I loved this album. There was a lad in my school who was really knowledgeable in this genre and always banged on about Nas....I see why
In a world of overly long and sometimes pointless rap albums, ‘Illmatic’s brevity and razor-sharp focus stands out like a beacon. No skits, no filler, and not a single note or beat wasted. There is not an ounce of fat here, just 10 tracks, killer lyricism, and all-star production. That’s it. No more, no less. And that’s why it’s brilliant.
Ikonisk hiphop
Legitimately one of hip-hops greatest albums. Nas brings the vitriol in ways that at its time has only been done a few times. His messages are on point and clear in delivery.
Top 3 Hip Hop album OAT 10/10
10/10
This might be the perfect rap album. I am glad to see it after some of the other hip hop records as of late. This record is strong throughout and one hell of a debut album. It’s 40 minutes long so it is over before you know it. The skits are minimal. The drums and samples are very rad and pretty much archetypical to NY hiphop. Good times
Nasty Nas! One of the greats.
He’s a poet and he DOES know it. Represent. This album is great for getting a sun tan as you try and forget that Life’s A Bitch. I actually haven’t listened to this one a ton, even though it is regarded as one of the best rap albums of all time. I listened to this one three times through, so that speaks to what I thought of it. I for One, Love this album. I’m a lyrics guy. Beautifully crafted lyrics can elevate a seemingly average song, and it doesn’t go the other way for me. Great musicianship with poor lyrics is just a waste. So even though I found the beats very average, Nas’ words is what makes this an elite album. Plus with his ability to rhyme in unique and complex ways, It Ain’t Hard to Tell he is one of the greatest.
An absolute classic of an album, probably the greatest hip-hop album of all time. All Killer No Filler. 10/10
Not listened to it yet
Listened to this once on a long drive and again on a run and I definitely appreciated it more on the headphone listen. Nas is to hip hop what Rodney Mullen is to skateboarding, an innovator with buttery smooth delivery and creativity. 5 stars
BL: Nas is someone shrouded in the legends of east coast raps golden age. Despite this I’ve never actually listened to him. So I will see how I feel about it. AL: I loved this, an incredibly tight and concise listen, 10 tracks which keep their pace and never feel like they go on for too long or lose their point. The instrumentals are those classic groove cut early 90s rap instrumentals I absolutely love. “The world is yours” was a stand out for me. FT: “the world is yours”, “life’s a bitch”, Half-time” 5/5
Say what you will about Nas's career after this album, this album is an absolute landmark in hip-hop history. The samples, the lyrics, the features, everything about this album works together beautifully. The album is introspective and runs very deep 5/5
Classic hip hop album
all killer no filler
The definitive 90s hip-hop album, and one of the greatest albums of all time. Nas combines incredible poetry and storytelling with hard-hitting beats from DJ Premier, Pete Rock and Large Professor, arguably 3 of New York's greatest producers, to provide an intimate look at life in Queensbridge.
YES ILLMATIC HOLY SHIT IM LISTENING RIGHT NOW IM ACTUALLY GIVING THIS 10 STARS IF I WANTED TO SUCH AN AMAZING ALBUM HOLY HELL
4.5/5
love the samples used and the vibe is great
Classic
My Instagram handle is phillmatic19. Enough said. Standouts: N.Y. State of Mind, Life's a Bitch, The World Is Yours, Halftime, Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park), Represent
Amaze. Astounding. Legendary. Jaw dropping. Love love love!
I can't believe I haven't heard this album before, it is amazing. Some of the beats get a little repetitive but it doesn't matter because the rapping is so good, and so are the grooves.
NYC rap from the 90s is pretty much my Platonic ideal of the form. Speaking of dead presidents, the producers on this are like the Mount Rushmore of NYC beatmakers from the era. And lyrically this thing straight up changed the game.
I forgot how hard Nas went, this is good
Great sounding record, brilliant sequencing and yet it still feels like a personal tour de force. An essential record.
Had actually never listened to this before (despite knowing OF it, of course), but yeah... Fairly obvious why it gets held up as being one of the best rap albums of all time. Really slick jazzy production, and Nas's flow fits into it perfectly. Listened to it twice in a row and I might go back for more later, it's definitely damn good. Hard to rate it anything else, so 🤷
All time classic
Godfather of rap, this is incredible lyrics that have transcended time
The GOAT hip hop album, everybody knows that
I've had some great rap albums so far, but I think this one takes the cake. The lyricism, the flow, the beats. All amazing. Feels way ahead of it's time.
Such a hard-hitting, gritty, tough album. Incredible songs throughout and powerful lyrics and one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. What also makes it great is that it was the perfect length at 40 minutes. 9/10.
NAS!!!!
Easy 5/5, one of the best albums of the 90s and one of the best rap albums ever. Took the East Coast to a whole new level.
Geil alda, das ist mal New York CIty
Yup - that’s that good stuff. 40 minutes, no skips just pure butter baby.
Absolutely incredible 90s rap
Probably the most complete rap album ever made. Illmatic alone put Nas on hip hop's Mount Rushmore, there's a reason for that. The rhyme schemes are trend setting, backed up by fiersome lyrics and a production team that creates the perfect NY backdrop. It's a rich picture. Full of gritty scenes and big dreams from young men caught in a broken city. Illmatic sounds as good as it did the first time I heard it. Everytime I relisten there's plenty more to unpack. Simply put, it's compelling.
Hip hop lektira
About as good as 90s NY hip hop gets. Savage and consistent.
Five percenter, clássico
A classic and a personal favorite. The beats are fantastic -- the drumming is so tight and crisp. And the bits of piano melodies and sampling give each song a distinct emotional tone. Nas' rapping is phenomenal. He set a high-water mark with this album that only a few rappers have been able to match or top since. He sounds tough-as-nails but the lyrics are smart and uplifting (in addition to a healthy amount of tough guy braggadocio). His flow is impeccable -- not lightning fast but steady and relentless. A lot of complex rhyme schemes too. "N.Y. State of Mind" is an incredible first song (after the intro), especially considering that this is his first album. What an opening statement! The beat is just ridiculously cool. "Life's a Bitch" is a favorite and probably a top 50 song for me. Just gorgeous. AZ's opening verse is classic. The jazzy beat must have inspired him because his performance is very musical. And I just learned that that's Nas' father playing the cornet at the end. I love that. "Oo-oo-ooh!" Love that soulful vocal sample on "Memory Lane." The record scratching at the end is great too. Beautiful album cover. A lot of rappers have put their baby pictures on their album covers since but the sepia tone coloring here captures a nostalgic feeling. The blurry car in motion adds tension to the image too. Really great.
Apex of the genre
The greatest hip hop album of all time. Almost 30 years on and it still hits as hard today. A masterpiece.
deserves five stars, solid all the way through
My favourite New York hip hop album from the 90s.
So weird how polarizing this record is. I get that people may not like rap but the whole point of this is to broaden your mind to new types of albums and sounds. This is one of those. It's really, really good. Like 5 star good. I wish it we're longer. I've heard it a few times over the years and am always surprised at how good it is. The flow, the lack of skits, the consistent lyrical drive. This is great.
Tbc
Can’t be beat, NY at its finest
Incredible album, I really enjoyed the iconic hip-hop album from Nas. Might be one of my favourite HH albums of all time. Nas has a great flow, rhymes and beats are on point, and the content - while a bit repetative and I didn't really care too much about it - the music part stands so much on its own, that it does not take away from the experience at all.
All time favourite - genera defining. Nas is the goat.
Old school harde beats met een jonge nas die rappen makkelijk doet lijken. Op vele fronten een iconisch album en een gewoon 40 minuten genoten
Hip hop classic uit de jaren 90, east coast hiphop op z’n best. Album vol rauwe beats, verhalen en quotables die op elke willekeurige dag zomaar door je hoofd kunnen schieten. Heel leuk om weer eens te luisteren
It’s the greatest hip hop album of all time, probably.
Deze ken ik. Oud maar niet gedateerd, heerlijke relatief eenvoudige beats zonder dat het saai is, rijmschema's zoals je ze in die tijd nog niet heel vaak zag, goeie stem. Het draait om rap en in die tijd hoefde niet elke rapper er ook nog bij te zingen. Als jongetje van 6 opgroeiend in een dorp in Brabant is dit natuurlijk ook super herkenbaar allemaal. Topalbum.
Najjaci
6 stars. A true visionary.
When Nas dropped Illmatic Hip Hop changed. The genre evolved from a fun, braggadocious B-Boy genre to a serious, poetic, flowing piece of art. 5/5.
10/10
My favorite hip hop album from my favorite hip hop artist. auto 5
N.Y. State of Mind est tellement excellente. Le beat de DJ Premier est monstrueux. Le flow est fantastique. The World Is Yours est probablement l’autre pièce plus connue de cet album(?). J'aime comment sur Life's A Bitch la ligne "Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high 'Cause you never know when you're gonna go" est répétée pour en faire un refrain. La production est superbe et le choix des différents producteurs est bien fait et permet probablement de faire en sorte de donner un peu plus de personnalité à chacune des pièces. Un incontournable du Hip-Hop new-yorkais.
Classic
Verdensklasse rap, old-school, new york, bare legendarisk