Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Bars bars bars
This is my second NYC 90’s rap album, the first being Biggie’s “Ready to Die”, which I gave 1 star. I thought that many of the parts that I didn’t enjoy of NYC Rap would persist into “Illmatic”, but I felt that the tone of this album was much different, supporting better beats, features and lyricism. Not every song is a hit, but I quite enjoyed the tone and direction this album showcased.
One of the greatest rap albums of all time. Flow and lyrics are great, beats are amazing. 10/10
When I was 16 or 17 I went to a hip hop music festival in Miami. Black dude who came late and sat next to me was smoking his blunt and sorta giving me a cold shoulder. That was until we had the chance to chat in between sets and became fast friends. We were pogoing and grab each other’s backs while Nas performed.
Appalling.
A famous album but doesn’t do it for me - lost a little bit to the sands of time.
Since I am now a rap connoisseur, I judge this as far superior than some we have previously had (run dmc) but a way off the incredible flow of eg. wu tang clan and its offshoots. Certainly raised an eyebrow of the old man at the toll booth when I rolled up this morning though. Heh.
One of the most influential rap albums ever made that came out on my born year. Illmatic is a classic. It balances clean east coast boom bap beats, themes of life on the streets of Queens, and strong flow/delivery from Nas and company. This album comes from an era of hip-hop where albums were bloated with skits and misogynistic lyrics. See The Notorious B.I.G's album Ready to Die, which came out later that year for example. Illmatic largely manages to push the genre away from reliance on those things which imo drag down some of the classics from this time period. It also pushes the boundaries in terms of rhyme scheme composition where each bar has multiple internal rhymes. This was one of the first (if not the first) rap albums with a collection of high level producers who competed against each other to create the best beats and you can feel it in the quality of the beats. This is a trend that many following rappers would adopt and it's commonplace today.
Very hard listen, maybe just not the style of music I like anymore. Gave very 90s rap though
Welcome to the hype train! The number of gushing reviews of this album is phenomenal. I’ve tried to listen to this album and appreciate it a number of times, such as when it was the soundtrack to The Force by Don Winslow. Sure, it’s not as offensive as most other rap from the time and therefore that makes the lyrics more engaging, but musically it’s shocking. I can’t think of a rap album where the backing music is worse than this. It’s insipid.
ah, NY State of Mind, the crown jewel of the Saint's Row 2 soundtrack
just bangers, great lyrics and production. love it.
I liked it, listened on a long run. I have not listened to Nas before deliberately, and cannot relate to the subject matter. But the beats were good and the the the rhymes were tight 3.8
This is some 90s OG gangsta rap. While I admire rap as a skill, I hate gang culture. So, nah.
I’ve been waiting for this one. Like many others, I think it’s the best rap album of all time. Foundational and influential, but still impressive in its own right. It ages well and holds up three decades later. The trifecta of “NY State of Mind” -> “Life’s a Bitch” -> “The World is Yours” is crazy. It’s one of the best three-track runs EVER regardless of genre or era. These are the best boom-bap beats ever made! Anyway this is an easy 5 star rating and it’s putting me in a great place for the day. Must-listen #240.
very vibey, not really my usual go to genre but I will definitely go back for the songs again
This is obviously a famous album that I have never listened to, and would never have thought to try if it weren't for this project. This is definitely a highly influential album. You can hear how the bones of songs like "the world is yours" have been taken by more modern musicians and improved on. Overall pretty good album.
The genesis - intro N.Y State of Mind - 🥇 Life’s a bitch - great The world is yours - 🥈 Halftime - crazy run Memory lane - chill One love - super easy listen One time 4 your mind - chill Represent - great It ain’t hard to tell - 🥉 Overall - great back to front, only tiny moments I don’t like but great listen, nas at his peak 5/5
90s rap classic
Not a hip hop fan but even I easily give this 5*
Life’s a bitch and then you die! This one was really fun.
Ya Classic
Didn’t work for me.
Nothing to distinguish it from 90% of the other hip hop albums on this list. 2.5*
I liked all the songs other than The Genesis, which seemed a throwaway. Otherwise, a strong 4 stars, top to bottom, 5 stars for NY State of Mind.
While I've always kind of been averse to the east coast boom bap style hip hop, this is truly the gold standard in my book. I don't think I've heard this record in full since high school, so it was very nice to revisit. I don't think my opinion has changed all that much even with time and perspective. It just really is a classic, great record.
I always sleep on Nas! Tracks are great, I need to give this a few more listens to get some more of the lyrics. He's non-stop, in a good way!
The beats still have a very early hip hop feel. I prefer the beats and intricate vocal rhythms of more modern hip hop. I noticed a turn and thought the album was kicking up, but it must have been the next song after the album
Good example but Rap isn't my thing
It’s basically the same song on repeat ten times.
I think the only hip hop album I've listed to all the way through before this is De La Soul 3 Feet High and Rising. Really enjoyed this way more that I would have predicted. Loved the jazz elements. Definitely conveyed a whole world and mood. And I got the Scarface references!
meh
Life’s a bitch
Great flow over super raw, gritty boom bap beats. 3.5 outta 5
Top 10 hip hop album
It was a decently produced album for Nas' debut. This style of hip-hop isn't my vibe but I can appreciate that it is one of the better ones in the genre. With Prefix Mag's Matthew Gasteier stating in 2002 that "...you find the meaning not just of hip-hop, but of music itself: the struggle of youth to retain its freedom, which is ultimately the struggle of man to retain his own essence." Best: NY State of Mind Worst: Halftime
All rap, no skits. This is a lean and mean quintessential 90s rap album. Top tracks: "The World is Yours," "Halftime," "One Love," "Life's a Bitch"
God what a throwback classic. East coast has always sat behind west for me, but no denying how fucking HARD east coast rap goes. This was great.
Gutes Rap Album aber sticht für fünf Sterne zu wenig vor
Ganz okay für 90s HipHop, der ja eher nicht so meins ist.
Not my thing.
Classic!
Don’t get the hype, yeah production was good but not a lot changes over the course of the album, didn’t keep me interested
life is literally a bitch and then you die. this album fucked
I like it for other people =)
I liked the beats
I loved the beats and Nas aggressive style. The story he tells and his observations of the world hit hard.
This was real nice, will be listening to again
When I saw the parental advisory label on the front I somehow knew what expect and it didn't fail to deliver. Lots of swearing and use of the dreaded 'n' word which only a certain demographic can use. Sounded exactly like every album of its genre. Would have given it a zero but will have to settle for a one.
Seemed decent. I have listened to this album once before (30 year anniversary in 2024). Would listen to again.
Best hip-hop album of all-time? It just might be. It's hard to decide what's more impressive between the production or the lyricism. The production team's (Q-Tip, Pete Rock, DJ Premier...I mean c'mon?!?) immense individual talent shines through on every track but everything remains impressively cohesive throughout. The rhyme patterns are insane from beginning to end. Despite the fact that Nas' subsequent work has never reached Illmatic's height, this one, nearly perfect, album has properly cemented him as a living legend of hip hop and music at-large. I'm embarrassed to say it's probably been close to ten years since I've given this one a proper listen but it definitely won't take another decade until I throw Illmatic on again. Highlights: 0:01-39:51...okay, fine! My favorites are Life's a Bitch, The World is Yours, Memory Lane, It Ain't Hard to Tell Skip (if I had to pick one): Represent
Starts off an all-timer and has ensconced itself into the hip-hop canon. I mean, perennial top 10er stuff. I reject a fifth star here mostly because for as long as I've been listening to this, I never feel as entranced by this album track-to-track as I am by a specific smattering of tracks. The hits - NY State of Mind, Life's A Bitch, The World Is Yours - are an insane run (opener The Genesis is excellent too.) One of the best three track runs ever, no debate. And that run actually does continue down to Track 7, One Love. But the highs of the album leave me wanting something more from the final three tracks. They're class but I'm always listening to them colder, worn out by the insane sprint. Nevertheless, a grower of the album. Dense stuff, icy, subtle. Crazy to think Nas was 21 when this dropped. Just thinking about that has me leaning towards a fiver on this fella but I'm early in this project, I'll be choosy.
Nice
Always seen this album on various lists of the best album ever but I never knew anything about it. Good to finally give it a listen and I can see why it makes it onto these lists. NY state of mind jumped out an instant favourite.
The man who is 1 higher than Eminem on Eminem's best rappers list
I must be missing something… but his flow always sounds the same to me. The rhymes are good, but they follow a pattern that becomes repetitious too. This is a 2 for me — fine, but I didn’t *need* to hear it. 🤷
This is not an album I'd particularly want in my collection, but it's not crap rap either, so I'm giving it four stars.
Rap - Nope.
good hip hop album, feels very 90s
Smooth but between a 3 and 4 for me
Can’t stand rap in general
Best Track - "NY State Of Mind"
3/5 i respect it, had good groove but not really my thing
Dude’s got beats and rhymes for days. He’s one of the best for what this genre is.
Thanks to this project for finally forcing me to listen to this album. It's great!
Better than Coldplay
#144/1001. The flow is great, the beats are good, the songs are copies each ither and the lyrics tell me nothing to me about my life.
This has been a gradual grower for me over the years, bridging the old school hip-hop from my childhood 80's and more modern production values and forms. This is tight as hell and may not have the colour or variation of a Tribe Called Quest but sometimes a consistent vibe has its place. Nas has great flow and isn't revolting in his subject matter which makes everything easier to stomach.
Nas' 1994 debut still lands like a snapshot of New York hip-hop in amber: gritty, jazzy, boom bap perfection wrapped in a young MC’s sharp perspective. The first three full tracks set a bar almost too high to sustain—“N.Y. State of Mind” is a stone-cold classic, all minimalist menace and effortless flow; “Life’s a Bitch” drifts on mellow horns as Nas and AZ trade weary wisdom beyond their years; “The World Is Yours” is slick, confident, and smooth as a subway ride at golden hour. From there, Illmatic gets a little patchier. “Halftime” shows its age with some dated bravado, while “One Love” is a clever concept piece that’s more notable for its xylophone loop than Q-Tip’s hook. Later tracks like “One Time 4 Your Mind” and “Represent” lean into gangsta posturing Nas doesn’t really need—he’s sharper when painting street-level detail than flexing clichés. But even with its uneven stretches, Illmatic remains a defining artifact of mid-’90s rap: brief, blunt, and brilliant in flashes.
...
Good now and Great for its era
Not my favorite genre, not a bad listen, I'm aware of it's importance, just didn't overly grab me.
lynne it both lyrically and musically, but it’ something’s not enough for me 4.5
Nop
This is sick. Very cool. I had listened to this before but never returned to it, something I will definitely be doing now.
Good samples, great beats, excellent flow. NY energy to spare here.
Some great lyrics here. Stand out songs were Life's a bitch, The world is yours, and It Ain't Hard to Tell.
I respect Illmatic, but I don't love Illmatic. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, well produced, good lyrics. But it seems too effortless. No jagged edges to cling onto, it just doesn't spark something in me.
Just great
Good, but not as good as the Nas I've heard before.
I’d been meaning to listen to this album for a long time now, I’ve only ever heard good things about it and came in with high expectations. And those expectations were most certainly met. Great album through and through, certainly the gold standard of what hip hop debuts can be. I love its jazzy feel, I guess Nas was the son of a jazz musician, so I really enjoyed that influence.
A classic, hasn’t dated at all
It’s a classic. Boom bap rap from NY. The killer flow from Nas over real 90s street beats is a KILLER combo. A style that people try to replicate over the years. I fugging love this album. And repeated can listen to any of them. Nasty Nas you nailed it The Genesis NY state of mind Halftime Favourite on the album - Represent. The backing track makes it so much better of a tune
Smooth and lyrical, I enjoyed the flow
An absolute classic actually deserving of the praise it has received over the years and it deserves more. I wish todays hip hop had half the thoughtful lyrical content this does. Im honestly stunned this made it on this list, its not trying too hard to be cool bullshit like the majority of this catalogue. THIS is an actual album you should hear before you die be you a fan of hip hop or not.
easy listening, did not know your game Nas
I am understanding so many pop culture references now, omg. I'm very inexperienced with rap, and this is pretty good! Makes me feel tough. FAve song is "The World is Yours"
Happened to be on my morning walk when I decided to give this a listen. Had no idea from title, artist name or album cover what I was letting myself in for. Thought it might be some traditional African folk music or rather hoping it was instead of this rap crap. What a disappointment. Stayed with it as long as I could but it was spoiling my walk in the Countryside. So eventually retuned Spotify to my weekly discovery (lossless now yay!) and calmed my self down with some beautiful neo-prog. 1/5 1/10/25
Smooth flows, just perfect hip hop. 9/10
For the most part it kind of passed me by, however there were a few cool moments that I recognised. Not a bad listen overall.
no spiegazioni.
There's a reason this album is in every hip-hop head's top 20. It's not an easy feat to be able to rhyme without it feeling forced - Nas is able to do it in a way that almost feels conversational. The essence of raps storytelling trait is found here. The World is Yours was my favorite track on this album, the looping sample doesn't feel gratingly repetitive but lets the rhymes breathe, and the ad-libs feel more like another layer of instrumentation to the whole piece. These days, "lo-fi" hip-hop still feels like a sad mimicry of hip-hop as a whole - easy to consume and not saying much of anything at all. This album serves as a reminder that you can keep things simple AND say a whole lot.
Probably the best rap album
Seems like a solid example of gangsta rap, solid beats and bass lines. Nas seems to be greatly underrated in terms of his lyricism and ability to rap, very impressive considering I don’t typically think of his name in the canon of great rappers. It’s a solid album.
Another generic hiphop album that seems to repeat itself with every song. Never heard the n-word slung around so much in one album.
A storytelling hallmark of its era, but still hits like all good memories of the early 90s do. Solid gold.
I needed a little more…oomph, but otherwise it was pretty good.
This is a very solid Hip-Hop album. No frills, just awesome.
The first album I’ve gotten so far on this list that I’ve already listened to a ton of times. It’s just so classic. Had a great time revisiting it today.
life's a bitch
Generational hip hop album. Changed the game for everyone who has come since.
Not awful, but just not for me. 1/5
I liked this album more than I expected. I think for the genre (which is not usually a top one for me) I liked Liquid Swords slightly more but this one was quite good.
Cool beats, good tracks. Probably matters more than I’m aware of.
That was enjoyable considering rap isn't my favorite genre.
One of the greatest rap albums of all time
Overdose on N-Word? Besides that, it was not as bad as expected.
Great!
08/15 HipHop
Op de fiets naar de kmu, lekker agressief racen
Aha
I like Nas pretty good, and this is a solid debut. This is probably sacrilege to say, but of the Nas records I’ve heard, this isn’t my favorite. It’s good, but from what I’ve heard, he grew over the years as an artist. Still, Illmatic was a great start and showcased a lot of why people consider him one of the modern greats. 4/5
No es mi estilo, pero al vuelo escuché: "I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death" y me encantó. El resto para mi fue super genérico.
I would absolutely buy this if I saw it in the wild! I'm giving it a second listen because when it was finished, my first thought was 'that's it?' 4.5/5
Classic NYC rap. This shit holds up 30+ years later. So fucking good
One of the greatest rap albums of all time 1. World is yours 2. Halftime 3. NY state of mind
This is a legendary hip-hop album.It's an 94' East Coast Boom Bap hardcore NY hip-hop actually. Nas is a natural rhymer,and the whole album is a passionate reflection of Queens street war zone. From the beggining with the Genesis intro you can hear the quality of this album, NY state of mind is a repetitive,monotonous track flooded by Nas's lyricism and i can say he rhymes like a male Lauryn Hill, Life is A Bitch has an excellent sampling including some jazzy trumpets,great atmophere,bliss, The world is Yours has a jazzy sampling,flawess rhyming,back male vocals,i really enjoyed it, Halftime is amazing,the soul funk bass sampling,fluttering trumpets,female vocal and the lyrics,wow, Memory Lane(Sittin' in da Park) has a haunting vocal sample that gave me the goosebumps,so good,the scratching,the lyrics all works out perfectly here like a Swiss watch, One Love is again a more monotonous marimba like sampled track but Nas raps like his life is dependending on it.Least favourite but still good, One time 4 your mind again pushes the weight in Nas with his tight rhyming,the production is minimal, Represent is like a rhyming battle in the streets with his homies,raw and to the point, It ain't hard To Tell got me from the beggining with its famous samples(M.Jackson's Human Nature,Kool and the Gang's N.T hook/riff, and Stanley Clarkes's Slow Dance drums),Nas is again unmistakable here so instantly became my favourite,ON REPEAT. Excellent album,i was bopping my head in most songs,but it's a 4/5 to me for the monotonous ones.
The OG RAP
well, not my particular taste, however i can see the importance of this to the music
great album
Not always a big hip-hop fan but this is a classic.
Nah
A no doubt 5 starer. The beacon or 90s narrative hip-hop. In a brisk 39 minutes Nas takes us through every nook and cranny of his environment. Every second is maximum engagement. Potentially matched by some early Wu Tang projects, but it will never be outdone. Just more fuel for 1994’s “best music year ever” fire.
Nice beats, smooth raps, good instruments. Embodies the identity of 90s rap music. Easy to bop with. A few of the songs were a little repetitive with both the lyrics and beat with no variation. 6/10
I've encountered some great hip-hop albums so far on this list - Illmatic is highly-regarded and up there on a lot of best-of lists. For my personal tastes, however, it is very dense, very wordy, and a lot to take in in one sitting. This is not my first time listening, of course, but it's an album which has never quite clicked with me so far. If anything, I like my hip-hop a little more "musical" than this. I like it, but it's just a solid hip-hop album with the emphasis on the lyrics and social commentary rather than exploring the possibilties of sound and music production.
Perfect album.
One of the greatest hip hop debuts of all time... 'nuff said!
Much more chill than I thought going into it
Great album, pulls me into NYC in the 90's which is some outstanding writing (lyrics) but it's not a place I want to be pulled into. I don't want to live Nas' experience too often but definitely rates a spot on this list. "Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft", Mary Schmich.
Felt like it was summer time in new york city (i’ve never been). Orange haze over the skyline, people hanging out, kids playing. the instrumentation sets a gentle foundation for nas’ lyrics to flow over. I love this album
"Fuck who's the baddest, a person's status depends on salary And my mentality is money-orientated" I haven’t thought about this album in forever. The structure, lyrics, flow, samples, beats, the best of the era and probably ushered in a turning point in the genre becuase - man, no going back from this one.
Dad- 5 Mom- 8 Mike- NA Lori- 8 Michael- 8 Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 7.25
“I switched my motto Instead of sayin’ ‘Fuck tomorrow’ That buck that bought a bottle Could have struck the lotto” – Nas: Life’s a Bitch The genesis - its okay, rythm like wasnt my fav (2,5/5) (least fav) N.Y. State of mind - like the beat, piano is nice (4/5) (fav) Life's a bitch - really like the vibe (3,5/5) The world is yours - like the lyrics and the vibe (4/5) (3rd fav) Halftime - good flow (4/5) Memory Lane (Sittin in da Park) - (3/5) One Love - (3/5) One time 4 your mind - chill (3/5) Represent - i likeee (4/5) (2nd fav) It ain't hard to tell - (3/5) ---> overall a good vibe with a nice rythm (3,5/4)
Already listened tö this very recently. Very solid rap album and truly one of the best ever Decent 10
I quite liked this as a matter of fact. The rhymes!! The beats!! The flow!!!
I'm not a good judge of hip hop/rap. I know this is one of the iconic albums, but maybe I just didn't get it. 2*
Hate
Can see why it's well thought of, good flows and production. Certainly of its time. Not really my jam, though.
Totally 90s hip hop. I see why it made the list. Good samples. Typical lyric content of the time.
I think it's good, but I don't know if it's GOAT.
90's hip hop perfection. Plus, no dumb ass skits.
One of my favourite hip hop albums
Still, somehow, sounds fresh.
4.5
Damn good hard-hitting rhymes and beats. But it gets a little stale after a while.
While the lyrics were delivered with undeniable talent, i found the sound to be a bit repetitive. Which is a bit of a shame. Still good, but I struggle to point to a standout moment.
the debut of the hardcore hiphop „king of queens“ has aged better than many other works of this era
Einfache 5. Absolutes Endlevel im Hiphop-Skill. Rhymes and Flows und so..
I feel bad for giving it only three stars right now, but it didn’t catch me as much as contemporaries like 2001. On the other hand I really appreciated the lack of skits and relative shortness.
Not my thing
I knew and liked N.Y. State of Mind but I don't think I had ever listened to another Nas song, and this fucking ruled. "N.Y. State of Mind" "Life's a Bitch" and "The World is Yours" are all fantastic
Listening to today’s album reminds me that the authors of the 1001 project owe the greats of 90’s East Coast rap an apology for that Jeru the Damaja album we got a few weeks ago.
Definitely an essential album for hip-hop fans. Favourite Songs: Life's a Bitch, The World Is Yours, One Time 4 Your Mind, Represent, It Ain't Hard to Tell. Least Favourite Songs: The Genesis.
The lyrics and the flow are exceptional. Totally not my world but I recognize and respect.
Bra flow på Nas, ikke helt min stil på rap, men helt ok. Det kan hende at dette er en plate som trenger flere gjennomlytt, men det gidder jeg ikke nå.
This album is fantastic. Hip-hop is not my go to genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed this record. I can't believe I haven't heard it until now
3.5
3.5
scriptures, beats, a blueprint for what east coast would be. whats not to like?
🗯 The perfect rap record. Maybe the best rap record ever. And the wildest part? Nas was just 20 years old when this dropped. Illmatic is a time capsule of New York in the early ’90s — gritty, poetic, cinematic. Nas’s storytelling is vivid enough to put you on the park bench, the corner, the train ride, the stairwell. His flow is effortless, his pen sharp well beyond his years. The production lineup alone is legendary: DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor, Q-Tip. Each track is boom bap perfection, and together they frame Nas as the heir apparent to the East Coast throne. N.Y. State of Mind, The World Is Yours, Life’s a Bitch, One Love — all untouchable. It’s astonishing to think of an artist hitting this level on a debut. The weight of influence is immeasurable — whole generations of MCs still trace their lines back here. Verdict: Masterpiece (the gold standard of hip-hop) For fans of: Jay-Z, Biggie, Wu-Tang Clan, the sound of New York streets in rhyme
best rap debut ever, one of the best rap albums ever, needs no introduction, amazing record
Det er sånn det skal gjøres.
I never sleep cuz sleep is the cousin of death
i liked it
The best
Repeat listen
I'm not the biggest fan of hiphop, but found this album particularly enjoyable. 3/5
Bangers
Ohh gawd… this was a nice throwback for me. This was one of my first hip hop records. This to me was when hip hop was at one of its greatest eras of all time. Favourite song on this album is; “one love” feat. Q-tip. Q-tip is another great, but we are talking about Nas. Great album all around, something I can listen to front to back
Listened to this on Friday and didn't write down my thoughts. Had other albums to listen to ya know. Anyways you were right Steve I gave it a 3.
Life's a bitch and then you die. That's why we get high. Solid album! Very well written lyrics and great beats from start to finish. I personally like my rap a little more raw. But Nas is definitely a talented man.
My pick for best rap album of all time. Tough to pick but I honestly can't rank any album higher than this. You know what they say, you have your whole life to write your first album, but damn he really didn't need that much time to completely change the game. Boy oh boy this was when Nas was at his best lyrically. The production staff on this is honestly unbelievable for a rapper who had no prior studio releases. Dude managed to get every hip hop legend in the game to make his beats, and they came through clutch. Every song is memorable. No skips front to back. One of the best intros as well with the genesis. I will stop here but I can talk about this album for hours. I can't name a best song. All of them slap so damn hard.
Greatest hip hop album of all time.. what you get here is a tight 40 minutes of impeccable rhymes, classic 90’s production from DJ Premier and impactful features. Following in the footsteps of the great Rakim a young Nas put together the ultimate debut album and put east coast rap on the map for good.
"Not wrong, just... Wrong for me".
Good rap. Poetic and musical. But as with most rap, harsh lyrics.
I can't judge rap, sorry... I guess it's great for the fans
September 5, 2025 Album #734: Illmatic by Nas Genre: East Coast Hip Hop, Boom Bap, Hardcore Hip Hop, Jazz Rap Me getting this absolute classic of Hip Hop after Revolver feels a bit like a coincidence, though what surprises me more is that I haven’t heard this thing in full until now. Jesus Christ, I really should have listened to it sooner. Everything that has been said about this album has been said. It’s often called one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of all time, sometimes the greatest. That last assessment is very much in the question. Nas’ masterful lyricism and charismatic performances and flow, the immaculately produced beats and instrumentals, everything merges into a master class of the Hip Hop genre. All of these qualities, and more, are found throughout the album. Like on the absolutely iconic and gritty *N. Y. State of Mind*, the smooth *The World is Yours* and *Memory Lane*, the raw *Represent* with group vocals on its chorus, and with its features like on *Life’s a Bitch*. It really feels like and captures the essence of NYC in the 90s. And to think that Nas wrote this album when he was still a teenager. There’s nothing new to say about *Illmatic*, hence why this review is rather short, but it still goes down in music history as a monumental work of Hip Hop and Rap as a whole. It’s an essential listen and absolute classic in every sense of the word. It deserves all the praise, I highly recommend giving this a listen if you’re even remotely interested in Hip Hop or Rap in general, it’s a cornerstone of the genre. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, Strong 9 to a 10 Favorite Tracks: N. Y. State of Mind, Life’s a Bitch, The World Is Yours, Halftime, Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park), One Love, One Time 4 Your Mind, Represent
Toujours pas fan de rap…
All time great
Only listened to this one 1001 times in my life, including a couple weeks ago. My favourite hip hop album!
This is a really strong album, great flow, great beats, really catchy hooks, at 39 minutes it's nowhere near overstaying it's welcome the way so many 90's albums do. I can understand why people from New York would absolutely love this. right now I'm feeling a strong 4, but if I revisit could become a 5.
Generally speaking, I'm really not a fan of hip-hop and if I do like it, it's usually not straight up hip-hop but rather some kind of mix of styles. This one seems to be an exception. It doesn't stand out in terms of originally or innovation, but rather through superior quality. Kudos to you, Nas, good stuff.
It’s hard to go wrong with productions by Pete Rock, Premier AND Q-Tip
Pretty good. I liked it.
9.5
Posiblemente el primer disco de hip hop que haya escuchado en mi vida (este o uno de Public Enemy). Un amigo de la universidad, Fernando, escuchaba mucho hip hop y, durante nuestros interminables intercambios sobre música, siempre me decía que yo tenía que escuchar a Nas. Y yo escuchaba a Nas, sobre todo a este disco, y me parecía una reverenda porquería. Todo bien con Fernando, pero tenés que ser un poco pelotudo para tener a un yanqui joven que habla sobre la marginalidad neoyorkina como máxima evidencia, ¿no? Más allá de todo el talento que tiene Nas, es algo demasiado ajeno a nuestra realidad. Es un poco como ser Johah de Veep. Otro amigo, Rafaela, me recomendó unos años después My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy de Kanye, que definitivamente cambió mi percepción sobre el género. Y recién ahí pude empezar a apreciar a Nas, y sobre todo a Illmatic, por la grandeza que tiene. ¿Cuál es la fuerza de este disco? Tiene una gran ventaja respecto a otros discos, tanto de Nas como de otros músicos de la época: es super conciso: es un disco inmersivo que te cuenta una historia desde el principio (la intro The Genesis y NY State of Mind), donde se describe la sórdida realidad de los negros pobres de Nueva York, en el que Nas emerge hasta el final "Nas will prevail" (en It Ain't Hard to Tell) en menos de 40 minutos. No explotan la capacidad del CD para darnos 70 minutos de contenido, y no tiene skits molestos de gente garchando, gangsters pegándose tiros o interludios humorísticos que pierden su gracia para la tercera vez que los escuchás. Y cada canción tiene algo para decir. La recordamos por x o por y. Tanto las canciones que me gustan como las que no. Es el caso de Life's a Bitch. Nunca me gustó mucho el estribillo, "Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high 'Cause you never know when you're gonna go". No niego su potencia lírica, pero siempre me irritó la ejecución de AZ. Dicho eso, recuerdo Life's a Bitch, entiendo su mensaje, su importancia. ¿Con cuantas canciones de It Was Written... pasa lo mismo? Ni con la mitad. Y eso que It Was Written... es un buen álbum. No estamos hablando de Distant Relatives, for Christ sake. ¿Cuáles son las canciones que me gustan más? Creo que mi tema favorito es inusual, Halftime. Los samples de la Average White Band son perfectos, y también ese bajo con todo el groove del mundo. La melodía es buena y la letra también. El otro gran highlight del disco es el último, It ain't hard to tell, donde Nas se corona como nuevo campeón de la escena. Tanto en el disco como en la realidad. Me encanta como está usado el sample de Human Nature (Me debe gustar Large Professor). En general todas las canciones son buenas, y solo mantengo cierta distancia porque realmente son temas muy alejados de mí. Memory Lane y One time 4 the Mind deben ser las peores canciones, junto a The Genesis (que está bien pero es solo una introducción). Con Life's a Bitch no conecto nada, tampoco con Represent... aunque reconozco su importancia. The World is yours y One Love en cambio me gustan bastante más (sin llegar a la altura de Halftime). Ah, otra cosa que tengo para destacar de este disco es que salió en 1994, pleno auge del gangsta rap, y Nas consigue hacer un álbum que atraviesa problemáticas similares a las del género sin caer nunca en él, mostrando así la flexibilidad tanto del hip hop como una forma de arte, así como de Nas como artista. Cuatro estrellas.
Fav songs: life's a bitch, the world is yours, Memory Lane, Represent
Classic album for a reason. The production on this album is so amazing, Nas has top tier lyrical ability, and this album is just so consistently good
Good samples and Nas writes poetry.
I enjoyed this a lot more than nwa
Good
I'm still trying to "get" rap and hip hop. Getting better, but obviously not good enough to understand why this is considered on of the best of all time, which also makes me wonder if I'm fighting an uphill battle. The rapping here is crisp, but I'm learning that I also need to have underlying music that has some interest other that great beats. There was some sampling and production in the earlier tracks that go close, the piano and bass sampling in N.Y. State of Mind, for instance. The later tracks though just didn't do it for me. I fully acknowledge that I may be missing the point and Illmatic intends for the focus to be on the rhymes, I'm just not convinced yet that this makes for interesting music. Maybe someday.
Heard a lot about this one! It's very well put together, immaculately produced but I just don't really vibe with this style of hip-hop. Fav tracks - Memory Lane
Life's a Bitch - album highlight, not representative of personal views
There’s no way this wouldn’t be a 10, one of the most iconic and amazing hip hop albums of all time. Perfect sampling (with some of the greatest minds of hip hop production, especially Q-tip), perfect flows from Nas complimented by his choice of lyrics highlighting the theme of his childhood in NY. Honestly everything just compliments each other so well and culminates in a perfect album with every song fulfilling this level. Personally this isn’t my favourite of all time but it’s up there. Also, if anything, 39 minutes is too short. Favourites: all. Overall, 10/10.
Man, it's been a few years since I heard this one. Smooth, soothing story rap is just such a vibe especially listening to while at work. So many lyrics just pop out and stick and twist in your brain: I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death, in particular leaps out in NY state of mind.
I'm not a huge hip hop fan but this album is great start to finish.
Vorher schon mal gehört gehabt. Und echt gut. Halt trotzdem nicht meine Musik, aber hat was und ist auch wirklich tiefgängig. Mal die Lyrics lesen wäre angebracht.
Topp
I felt the song were too repetitive.
Best album of the selections so far. Had always heard this album was huge when it came out. I'm glad I finally gave it a listen and I see why it was so we'll likedm
Absolute classic and one I should revisit more often.
If you were seeing Oasis live at this time, you were seeing the best band in the world - for the simple reason that they believed it. Fuck the snobs, this is still a bangin album. Its not big or clever but it doesnt have to be. Every song is an anthem and I still know all the words.
I'm not a big rap fan but Nas is a legend for a reason and this is his biggest album.
HipHop:) yo homies! DJ Premier -> Gang Starr -> classic scratching und samples. Muffathalle HipHop-Jam, Main Concept, David P ist jetzt Arzt. Ansonsten triggert nicht ganz so wie die anderen Klassiker, Eminem&Dr.Dre GOAT? c
listened to individual songs here and there but i’m sure 31 years ago Nas rapping was as impressive as it was influential but in the year 2025 I’ve heard more impactful bars. Still super iconic but not for me.
Eh not my style
Impeccable.
Classic. One of the best rap albums ever.
Great DJ, so-so lyrics
Good rhymes and beats but I've gotten a lot of mid 90s rap lately and it shows how there was almost a rap parallel to how every alternative band had to sound like Pearl Jam to succeed
One of, if not THE, best rap albums of all time. Aside from the minute and a half long intro, not a skippable song on the album. No interludes, no skits, just track after track of awesome lyricism and rhymes combine with early 90s New York beats.
5/10…hip hop / east coast
Ідеальний реп-альбом. Золотий продакшн від дрімтім східного узбережжя, Насір в топовій формі, жодного зайвого чи посереднього трека. Можливо кращий реп-альбом в принципі, точно в топ-5 має бути в будь-якому списку
Мабуть це кращий реп-альбом в історії
Чув наживо навіть у 2013му році. Один з улюблених хіп-хоп альбомів евер, знаю його від початку до кінця. It ain’t hard to tell.
Ok if you like rap
Decent record. Doesn’t stand out for me though. Just Ok.
Life’s a bitch and then you die!
3.5 stars rounded up It’s a pretty tall task to evaluate one of the “best rap albums of all time” in one day with little context. Because at my core I’m a simple nerd, I hate feeling like I haven’t done my homework. I sometime hear Nas’ songs on my favourite radio program that I listen to near-daily, Lauren Laverne’s show on BBC 6Music. I’ve always liked The World Is Yours and I’m glad this challenge reminded me to listen to the whole album. I like the beats over the jazzy sampling (because I’m a noob, I’ve only recently learned this sound is called boom bap… I tend to like this style of hip hop though I’m too much of a dummy to recognize it when I hear it) and the New York storytelling. “I never sleep cuz sleep is the cousin of death” from N.Y. State of Mind, what a line. Wish I had more time to spend diving in with the lyrics and learning more about the production etc. I’m sure I’ll be back.
This is not the kind of hip hop i'm normally into, but i still really enjoyed this record. The beats are great. The lines are often really witty and memorable. There are great, memorable hooks on some tracks. It feels like one big cohesive piece of music (in a good way). I don't know if it's a concept album, but there's a lot of thematic consistency across the whole thing. Nas is narrating his experiences of crime and poverty and inner-city life in New York City on every bar of this record. In a way it feels like you're consuming an episode of the wire, which is really cool. I will say though that i prefer how this subject matter is tackled in tv, film and books over music. I've never been super into rap that focuses purely on these subjects. And i realize that's a lot of rap music, especially stuff from the 80s, 90s and 00s. To be clear, i have no judgement towards music tackling these subjects, i think it's a very worthy subject matter and has done a lot of good for the world exposing these themes to a wider audience. I just don't find i connect with it through music. I typically prefer newer rap from the 2010s and beyond where artists are willing/able to tackle any subject they want. Right now it feels like there's no limits in rap and you can do or say anything, which is awesome. I feel like this is true for the origin of most genres, that it starts as a small collection of sounds and themes etc and slowly expands overtime as it gets pushed in all directions by more and more artists. As far as rap albums from this time, this is by far one of the best ones i've heard. I get why it's a classic. I looked up best rap albums of the 90s and it was #1 on several lists. And i totally get that... it's just not for me? Or maybe through more listens I'll connect with it more? I dunno. As far as rap from this time, i prefer Outkast. They also talk about some of the same things, but there's just more fun/chaos/pop appeal/experimentation... which i'm into. Anyways, some of my favourite tracks are N.Y. State of Mind (that piano in the beat is sinister, it is a cold blooded track, very good), The World is Yours (great hook, great beat, great lines/message) and It Ain't Hard to Tell (this might be my favourite, i love the instrumental and the vocal sample, it feels way ahead of it's time). Anyways... I'd say it's a 3 (maybe 3.5). But i'll give it a 3 for now. Great album.
Un classique, mais il y a du meilleur stock aujourd'hui imo
Ouais
Du bon rap avec de la bonne prod. Les beats loopés deviennent rapidement répétitifs par contre.
Отличный альбом, который по своему звучанию является проотцом Лоу-фай.
I just don't know. I didn't particularly like or hate this. I can appreciate it's probably good, and I know it was influential. It's just not my genre and I feel underequipped to assess it.
yes
I wasn't feeling this album. I'm not really into this form of hip hop.
It’s okay, better than a two but not as good as a three but since you can’t have 2,5 I’ll give it a 3. It works as background music while working.
Not for me
Great
New York state of mind...!
Si parteeee
I always knew I liked Nas. Seriously, just based on flow, production, samples, and length, Illmatic is easily one of the best, if not the best, Rap/Hip-hop albums I've heard so far.
The prototype that all other East Coast rap is measured against
Enjoy the beats, some very creative. Very hard for me to get past the misogyny and the guns and the drugs. I understand the social origins of the content, but decry the sensationalism/wallowing.
HELL YESSS.... re-listening: Its so so good. favorites: NY state of mind, Life's a bitch, World is yours, Memory lane, One time 4 your mind, It ain't hard to tell
I'm generally not really into rap, but this is some great stuff.
Vibe jak Brooklyn z Disney+. Trochę za powtarzalny i w piosenkach i w pomyśle. Muzyka do sklejania blantów XD
Perfectly fine hip-hop and seems like a milestone in the long-term maturation of the genre. One likes the intensity and directness.
One of the best rap albums ever, crazy that he was only 20 when he dropped this.
dobry klasyczny rap
Interesting album to rate. Is Nas a good rapper? Absolutely. Does he create catchy songs that I enjoy and draw the ear in? Not for me. He's a brilliant wordsmith but I don't find his voice interesting at all. Think of all the greatest rappers, they have such unique, recognizable voices. His sounds like a very generic voice to me. There's also no comedic aspect that you often find in many rap albums. I need to re-listen cause this could be a grower. It Ain't Hard To Tell is an incredible song though
CLASSIC
Of the hip-hop/rap I do enjoy, this era is definitely my favorite. That said, this particular album didn’t grab me. I just couldn’t get into it. For me, it ends up being just okay.
Maybe this is good? I feel like I’m missing something because I just don’t connect with a lot of rap. Including this record.
Not my thing. None of the tracks really stood out for me.
This isn't the worst hip-hop I've had to listen to, but I don't see ever putting it on again.
Fantastic, loved it. Hadn't listened to it before but absolutely loved it.
One of my favorite albums of all time.
Has a very neat flow going on, although i typically don't listen to rap that often I find it very interesting musically. Very neat. Getting flashbacks to playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 and Sonic Adventure 2, specifically the knuckles stages. Always kind've enjoyed the vibes of both games. It's a pleasant nostalgic feeling here, really nice. The above statement coming as I listen to Life's A Bitch is kinda hilarious, to be honest. The World Is Yours & It Ain't Hard To Tell are my favorites from this.
Bueno
Absolute rap classic. Great ear for production and incredibly lyrical ability for his age and the time. There are not many better rap albums out there. Saw some reviews mention how the album is too violent for them, which is bizarre to me as there's relatively little violence in here. The lyrics portray an image of a gritty and dark New York, and doesn't glorify it in any way. It feels closer to either a description of the world around him, as a cautionary tale, or as a political album, inspired by Malcolm x and MLK. This album is not more violent than any political punk or metal album. (Which the same reviewers often rate highly)
Nl
Well that's funny...I listened to this album in full yesterday. I should mention, I own multiple copies of this album on CD and on vinyl, and even have a very rare box set. This is one of the best hip-hop albums of all time by one of the best lyricists. It's absolutely incredible to think this work of art came from the mind of a 19 year old. Every line paints a vivid picture which a tv/movie medium would need to take 20 seconds to paint. You listen to this album and you get a complete sense of where Nas grew up, the people he was around daily, and his ambitions in life. It definitely deserves to be on this list of albums you have to listen to.
Pas désagréable pour un style de musique que je n'aime pas
Rap/hip hop with jazz backing. Similar to A Tribe Called Quest but more explicit. NY State of Mind has nice chill backing with good rhymes - quite a few tracks like this Michael Jackson samples in It Aint Hard to Tell Best track - NY State of Mind, One Time for Your Mind Quite good in places, but overall 3 stars
Genius
9/10 Favorites: NY State of Mind, and Represent
Nope
Anyone can recognise immaculate flow and beat. There are some lyrics that anyone would be able to understand. Still I most definitively am not the target audience.
One of the best Hip Hop albums of all time, period. I won’t deny that I’m biased since I’ve always been a massive East Coast rap fan. However, this album has truly been pivotal in the history of hip hop, and ushered New York rap music into its golden age. Distancing himself from West Coast gangsta rap and from the very political (but often musically simplistic) conscious hip hop of the 80s, he proves that one can indeed talk about thug life while still being a gentleman about it. Nas displays a smooth, impeccable flow from start to finish. It may sometimes seem lackluster (it doesn’t have the raw insanity of an ODB or the heavy hammering of a Biggie), but it’s just technically perfect, never missing a beat. But as good as he is, Nas is not the main reason this album is so great. Most of all, the production is absolutely stellar, with so many big names of the NY hip hop scene involved that it feels like a best-of album : DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor... As usual in rap music, the rapper gets all the credit - and it’s a shame, because Illmatic is a perfect example of why production makes at the very least half the quality. Soul and jazz samples blend perfectly, and helped shape the thoughtful, melancholic vibe that defines a big part of NY hip hop. The beats and samples from « NY State of Mind » haven’t aged a day. « Memory Lane » has always been a personnal favorite of mine, and « Represent » could be the official anthem of NY rap in the 90s. A true classic !
Groovy
2 1/2 I wasn’t paying enough attention when I listened to this so it deserves another try. I’ve heard it’s a great album so I want to give it a chance.
Damned fine album of raps and beats.
It’s rap, but it’s not catch for me to sing.
A classic of the genre, the influence is undeniable 4.5*
Classic
This album goes unnecessarily hard - I saved N.Y. state of mind to my saved. Not usually my jam but it had me grooving - I felt a Jazz influence coming from here - after doing research turns out his dad was a jazz musician. Very good album.
ראפ ממש טוב. הביטים לא הכי מעניינים בעולם אבל סהכ נהניתי שיר מועדף - N.Y. state of mind
Jazzy rap
Greatness
I’ve listened to this album before and it’s a banger.
Wow what a banner week!
Shit is mad real right now. These is some tasty beats. Sometimes life's a bitch and then you keep living. Very chill album smooth jazzy samples.
I have never really liked this style of rap. I don't follow the message well and I can only hear the n-word so many times. Definitely nothing bad about this album, but it just didn't hit.
Nas delivers fluid, complex lyrics with an incredible rhyming style in "Illmatic". Understandably one of the best rap albums of the decade.
Deeply meaningful hip hop in a generation that was defining a new sound. Deserves it's spot on the list, but not exactly to my tastes.
I'd never listened to this album before, even though I always felt I should. It's good and it's clear to see why it's considered such a classic (and why Jay-Z was shook). Nas is a smart lyricist and the samples and beats serve his flows.
☆3.5 ギャングスタラップ。Nasはアメリカ東海岸のラップスター。 サンプリングした楽曲のメロディを繰り返す楽曲が多い印象。 エミネムみたいにメロディアスだとは思わなかった。 歌詞がいいらしい。英語がわからないので刺さらなかった。
I liked it.
le rap n'est évidemment pas mon genre préféré, mais il est quand même malgré tout très bien pour ce qu'il est. instru très sympa
Rap clearly peaked in the 90’s.
Good beat throughout. Quite cool . Stand out song: Life is a bitch
Great album structure
An absolute banger from front to back. Life's a Bitch is one of the most quotable songs of all time. 5/5
Awesome beast, rhymes and lyrics
It pains me to put this, but this is an album that’s never fully clicked for me. It’s great, but I don’t worship at the alter that others seem to. I hope one day I will.
Not my genre.
My favorite of all time. The word play, the beats, the flow. Gold standard.
No.
All timer. Incisive writing, impeccable flow. The production is a bit murky, but it also just feels one with the time and place. The atmosphere and vibe of this record are second to none. It's one of those classic debuts that the artist spends their entire career chasing, and never quite catch. Which, considering the success and accolades Nas has achieved over the years is saying something. Even with my distinct West Coast bias, this is still a great album.
Did not listen to all of this but what I did was great 4/5 stars. Hadn't listened to this before
Not Deb's thing... Sian will check out more
It's Illmatic, my friend. Some of the finest producers of the day. Nas. Saw the 30th anniversary tour in Paris and although the DJ was not great, Nas' performance only reaffirmed my love for the album. Memory Lane and Life's a Bitch as my absolute favourites, but the whole thing is just brilliant. NEW YORK!!!
Strong contender for the best hip hop album of all time. Compared to other hip hop artists at that time, this album doesn’t rely on any thrills or backing samples just dark, gritty lyrics that you stop and listen to.
This is #day351 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… wow, turns out hip-hop records can be of bearable length. This one's just 10 tracks, clocking in at under 40 minutes, which, knowing how sprawling albums in this genre can get, took me by surprise. Anyway, this is the kind of hip-hop I relate to musically for the most part. But then there's a vibe. It just feels real, you know what I'm saying? I remembered that for a brief time in my childhood, around the release of 8 Mile, must've been 2002 or 2003, I had a short-lived nickname: "Nas." Hilarious to think about now. Now, this record? A gold-standard canon of '90s hip-hop. "N.Y. State of Mind" and "Life's a Bitch" are my favorites. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day352.
Pues me gusta bastante. En general siempre me ha agradado bastante el hiohop así clasicote de la época. Me parece muy buena música para llevar de fondo y tener buenas vibes. Se que este disco es mítico en el estilo y está muy bien valorado por los chavales que se creen mega críticos mega guays rate your music ahí. Pero admito que me gustó. Las bases son inmaculate todas. La producción es la ostia, todo equilibrado en su lugar con un sonido muy analógico a pesar de ser todo samples. Destaca lógicamente "N.Y. State of mind" porque si porque es mítica. 7.5/10->4/5 raspadito
Cuando tuve mi época de obsesión con el graffiti (hace aprox 2 años) escuché un montón de hip hop y, obviamente, a Nas. Escuché ya varias veces este álbum y que decir, es muuuy pero que muy chulo. Unas bases simples pero guays y diferentes, con canciones icónicas como The World is Yours o N.Y. State of mind (las más famosas). No mucho más que decir, dentro de su género es de mis álbumes favoritos, le doy sobre un 3.8 o 3.9, así que le daré las 4 estrellas.
aunq no sea muy fan del rap, reconozco q absolutamente todas las bases d este album son alucinantes. Supongo q como es rap, debería prestarle más atención a las lyrics pero me da mucha pereza. En general me encantó la vibra d el album en general, así q 8/10