Reviews (page 8 of 13)
Much like my review for The Chronic, 1994 saw me still listening to rock, be it classic or modern. Still, I like Illmatic more as the beats and sampling is more nuanced and rhythmic. There's more throwback to jazz and R&B. It's also an incredibly important album for the genre and the times.
Brilliant and seminal album, an important piece in the history of hip-hop but also, more importantly, a joy to listen through, with bangers at every turn and lyrically engaging. Manages to sound fresh even nearly 30 years on. 5/1001
It's good, wow.
Absolute Samplefest. Classic 90s HipHop, more Jazzmatazz than Public Enemy.
so good
It's classy, chill. Veo que influye a mucha banda actual.
Pretty good stuff.
Really really good!!
It was good. Not something I would usually listen to but I loved the driving beat and throwback feel. I knew a couple of songs too which was a nice surprise.
Feels like the shift from old school to modern hip hop. Lyrics feel authentic, unlike a lot in the genre that feel too forced or artificially hard.
This might become one of my favorite Rap albums.
👍🏻
I'm a big fan of It Ain't Hard To Tell and one or two others here. Overall I'm not in love with this enough to give it a 5, something about Nas' flow I find a bit hit or miss but I think it'll just take time to land for me. In that sense I do actually find it hard to tell.
It was good! I enjoyed all of it!
Imi place. Rap străin clasic chiar nu prea am ascultat. E nice
Nas has really appealed me to. I understand and respect how influential this was on East Coast rap, but it just doesn’t do it for me. There’s some good hits tho don’t get me wrong. And every song Nas is going pretty hard and has good flow, it’s just not a 5 star album for me. I wanted to give it a 3, but i’m giving it a 4 bc it’s influence on modern rap
Nice
it took me a long time to listen to this because i had to shift my brain over to listening to hip hop. but it really is excellent. iconique.
cool chill album to study/work to
I like this one a lot more than i thought I would
I know it's influential. But as a European, the message and lyrics just dont have the impact I see it having on other people
I knew NY State of Mind but there are so many other tracks on this album worth checking out. Great record. Favorite tracks: N.Y. State of Mind, The World is Yours, Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)
Not my usual style of music but I enjoyed it.
“Memory Lane”
cheese omelette
Best flowing and clear rapper I've heard. Uncensored so actually speaks truthfully about subjects. Enjoyed it despite my judgements
Nice
Not something I would typically listen to. I enjoyed it over all.
Smoke weed to get high cause someday we’re gonna day— powerful line
3.7/5 Fave tracks - Life's a bitch, The World is Yours, It Ain't Hard to Tell
gangsta rapsy nawet dobre, represent dobry bicior reszta spoko do słuchania, wszysatkie piosenki raczej podobne
ich han gern rap
One of my favorites so far
Catchy, strong beats, but feels like it doesn't change tempo at any point (too repetitive)
Actually, thought I’d recognize more songs. Bangers.
To be upfront, I dont really listen to hip hop or operate near that world to appreciate the lyrics. However the backing music is great, an instrumental of this album would be really soothing. Little piano blips, glockenspiels bops, the music is banging. Also he doesnt really believe in a chorus. I wasn't prepared for that.
Love this album.
Really cool to listen to this and hear the influence it had on not only east coast rap but def west coast rap too. Ahead of its time for sure. Will relisten
Another grat hip hop/Rap album from the 90s... catchy and a classic
it is illmatic
Who taught nas to flow like that?
Das Album ist definitiv ein Vibe, gut als Vinyl
Good
This is probably the best example of what this is. I don't love everything on this album but almost every song works beautifully.
Yeah, we're cooking with gas here. Never heard a lick of this before now. Glad it's fallen into my lap. Downbeat, intricate, tough and clever - right in my rap sweet spot.
Pretty much every song where the beat uses a jazz sample is a good time in hip hop town. Can't say I loved the entire album, or even part of it, but I can say I appreciated that this is different in a noticeably good way from a lot of the stuff we've heard in this genre from the list. I'll go with the four to copy you cats.
I really enjoyed The World is Yours, One Love, and It Ain't Hard to Tell. The rest kind of blended together for me, but I enjoyed my listen.
essential ny rap, it’s nas, who the fuck else
Really good, classic
Listened to this one a couple times as well. The beats and flow on this album are unmatched. Definitely had me head bopping all the way through. I didn't know "The World is Yours" was Nas, but that song rocks. Rap still isn't really my cup of tea, but I appreciate this one more than most other 90's rap.
Really good Nas!!
Great hip hop album. One of the best from it's best days.
Classic album, the style of hip-hop I really like, mostly drum and bass and constant rhymes. Not my favorite style -- less jazzy than A Tribe Called Quest. The intro puts you right into a setting, then NY State of Mind - Life's A Bitch - The World Is Yours is a 3 track combo that is hard to top. Halftime not so memorable. Sittin' in da Park is smooth and fun. I wanted an actual Q-tip verse on One Love but he just did the hook. One Time 4 Your Mind, seemed like an interlude that was longer. Represent is one of those classic sounds I like. I like the keys and the bounce. Same good feel on the closer.
I listen to this top album of all time
Yeah this was a good album
“I never sleep, because sleep is the cousin of death” loved this album.
Ihan parhaita ysärin rap-levyjä. Kaikki osa-alueet mintissä ja lyriikatkin kiinnostavia verrattuna länsirannan gangstailun naisvihaan. Btw, eksyin viime kesänä keskellä yötä yksin Queensbridgen laidalle, kun hyppäsin kännykän simahdettua väärään metroon. En tajunnut, mistä alueesta on kyse, mutta jostain syystä silti vähän kuumotti. Eipä siellä tosin taida enää nykyään olla tän levyn mukainen meno.
Ikoninen rap-järkäle!
A notable hip hop album from my limited experience, not the top spot but a solid top ten for sure, I love how dense the lyrics are and the beats are quite good.
Stand out tracks: - Halftime - It Ain't Hard to tell
I liked the beats and the flow. As usually with hip-hop I was not listening to lyrics very much.
Has every rapper complained about the "shit" music that's playing now a days? This truly plays like a conversation. One Love has a xylophone? Its not out of place but why is it there? Represent is the bests so far and was placed second to last.
An absolute classic of hip hop music. Nas nails this one and continues to do so even to this day. Im getting older so it’s beginning to feel more and more like I shouldn’t be listening to this kind of stuff, but when it’s this good? Hell fuckin’ yeah boy!
90s East-Side Hip-Hop, although I probably know these songs more as samples in new hip-hop. But there are classics like 'It Ain't Hard to Tell' and 'The World is Yours'. Such smooth tracks, exactly what I like best in the genre.
Very strong beats, combined with good flows and rhymes. Classic for a reason. Also, the Ahmad Jamal sample
The produciton was great, the flow was nice. The message did not strike awe.
Highlights: "Life's a Bitch," "The World is Yours," "One Love," "It Ain't Hard to Tell" Carrying the torch of ATCQ's hypnotic jazz loops with one of the most influential flows ever before Biggie hit. You can absolutely hear the influence of this album after the fact; you can hear his rivals, you can hear the rhymes cribbed by Doom, the turns of phrase plucked by Kendrick, and it's kind of hard to tell who shaped whose narrative flow between him and Wu Tang -- more of a dialogue. And it makes the right choice for such a verbally dense album by keeping itself concise at a blistering 40 minutes. Not totally timeless, but holds up even after so much imitation. Hip-hop has never gone back to the stiff rhyme on the two and four after this.
Good beats, good energy, some good bars and overall an enjoyable listen. Not something I'd personally listen to often but definitely one of the best rap records I've heard so far
I really liked this album! It took me a couple songs to get into it by I was really enjoying it by "The World Is Yours." He's got a really nice flow that compliments the instrumentals a lot so it's really easy to listen to.
8.5/10 solide album. nice samples. a retourner plus souvent
Really good old school NY rap. Lacks variety, but a classic.
Solid hiphop album. Consistent quality throughout, with nice flows, beats, and samples.
I like the flow and rapping style.
A personal favorite
Pretty classic. Not an album I love, but one I appreciate.
Recently listened to this for a different list. I liked it, but nothing stood out too much for me. 3.5/5
Somewhat already heard pretty 👍
A glimpse into the streets of NY in the 90s and a portrait of a hardened rapper who has grown up in conditions that I cannot imagine. One of the primary reasons I enjoy rap is the storytelling aspect. No other genre is more-equipped to convey so much raw truth, so quickly, and so vividly as rap/hip-hop. The truly special rap can make you feel like you are a part of that life, if just for a moment, and Illmatic falls in that camp. Nas has a great flow, I can see the bridge from old school to new school, I can see the birth of a more intimate style which speaks to the struggles of life in the rougher areas, and I can see the passion flow through the words making up these stories. A genre defining album, a time capsule, a solid hip-hop album.
Enjoyed
While I’m not a huge fan of gangster rap this album has great beats and features Qtip who I’ve always liked. I’m not sure that other albums by Nas live up to this one.
I don’t think people give this album enough credit for how much it changed the rap scene, which, at the time, was in a sort of lull. Most artists started sounding the same and blending together. Nas cam on the scene with this album which was so innovative while also feeling incredibly familiar that his style took over the community so quickly in a way most people underestimate. This is such a thought provoking, beautiful, and very enjoyable album. 4/5
I really enjoyed this one! I had never heard anything by Nas, and this was probably a good introduction.
Pretty good 👍
Well crafted all in all, and there were some really great hooks in there, but overall the album didn't capture me as much as I was expecting (though I had expected exceptionally great things from it from ratings I've seen out there). Trying to discount my expectations for this album I think this is deserving of a 4, but it wasn't quite as transcendental as I was lead to believe it to be
It smells like a NY cigar
I'm gonna be real I have no idea what he's saying but solid rap record 👍
Brilliant
I am not a hip hop expert, but this feels like a classic hip hop masterpiece. Hardcore east coast at it's finest. Flawless combo of rhythm and lyrics. Nas is one of the best.
I enjoyed it. It definitely has that East Coast rap feel to it. I had not heard this album before and I was not overly familiar with the songs, but I knew a few. I did not find the beats that memorable but the rapping is good.
Didnt expect to enjoy it this much
I would definitely listen to this again. Short but full of great music.
3.5
One of the best hip hop albums.
Slaps tip to toe
Enjambments!
Illmatic is like THE 90s hip hop record. I'm glad I listened to it, it's good. I mean, it's not the best rap record I've heard or anything, and I imagine it would have hit harder if I was like there at the time. But it is good.
I recognize this is a landmark album. But I did not really even register this album. Don’t know enough about Nas or rap at the time.
The clever rhymes come so thick and fast you have to rewind
Actually found myself grooving! Did I detect a sample from Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" in "It Ain't Hard to Tell"? Nice!
The debut album from one of the best to ever do it. Nas has to be top 3 lyricists on pretty much everyone’s list. Totally forgot about how awesome that Human Nature sample was on It Ain’t Hard to Tell. 4. TBz 1. It Ain’t Hard to Tell 2. N.Y. State of Mind 3. Represent 4. One Time 4 Your Mind
I can't really add anything that hasn't been written. Firmly grounded in East coast hip hop while also raising the bar. You can't really call yourself a hip-hop head and at least appreciate Illmatic. Unless of course you are just in to ring tone rap or mumble.
When I saw the album was rap I was like “oh no” but it was actually decent to be fair. I liked the instrumentation and stuff and it wasn’t mumbly so Pog
- Incredible production quality and beats - Great classic hip hop sound - Nas has great flow - Didn't realize how many of these songs I've heard before - Favorite songs: Memory Lane, Life's a Bitch
Classic rap album
Great debut album, solid rap classic.
really fucking good
I like the beats and Nas has a great flow.
This is the sacred cow of hip hop, but I think I need to be American to get the full experience. I get what the guy's saying, but the only thing I know about New York is that they speak with funny accents and there's a billion dead rats everywhere. But despite that, the beats go hard, the rhyming schemes make my amoeba brain hurt and the album length is perfect. 4/5, I'll definitely return to this one, and I'm sure it will grow on me a lot and then I'll regret not giving this a 5.
Very cool
I once heard it said that “there are two types of people: those who like hip-hop, and those who haven’t heard Illmatic.” I was 18 when I heard that, so I bought the CD from McKay’s. And nine years later, I think they were right
I'm not huge into rap, even then it's got a few good entries
pretty good
Great beats, strong lyrics. Seems like I have to explore 90s rap.
Nas is one of the most revered rappers of all time, and yet to me I think he is still somehow a little underrated. Production, and beats are of course incredible, but the star is Nas' flow and lyrics. How killer is that slow piano riff on "NY State of Mind" and how killer is it how he dances around it with his vocals? Don't even get me started on his annunciation; every word is audible and precise and yet his innate coolness still remains. I love this line in "NY State of Mind": "I know this crackhead who said she gotta smoke nice rock And if it's good, she'll bring you customers and measuring pots But yo, you gotta slide on a vacation Inside information keeps large niggas erasin' and their wives basin' It drops deep as it does in my breath I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death Beyond the walls of intelligence, life is defined I think of crime when I'm in a New York State of Mind" There's so much to unpack there- touching on how to navigate interactions with crack dealers and narcs inside of gangs, and then this legendary rap phrase: "I never sleep cause sleep is the cousin of death". It also just does so much to make you feel like you are a New Yorker and you are there with him experiencing all of these thoughts. The intro track to this album gives you those car horns and NY soundscapes and then blasts you with all of these lyrics that really teleport you there- to a setting that is foreign to me but one that I've attempted to vicariously experience through film and TV. That line "sleep is the cousin of death" can be heard again in rap, like 11 years later on The Game's track "Dreams": "Daydreamin' yesterday, dozin' off backstage I thought I saw Eazy talking to Jam Master Jay So I walked over, heard Jam Master say "It's a hard knock life, then you pass away" They say sleep is the cousin of death, so my eyes wide open 'Cause a dream is kin to your last breath". In reading more about this one particular line, I came across an actual quote from Nas as he was talking about The Game being influenced by this line and he said: "Game also plays on the word “so” which also sounds like “sew”. If he were to sew his eyes wide open he would be able to avoid sleep, and not die." That's really cool. I appreciate this facet of rap so much. When i start to do dives into rap lyrics and these little interconnected ideas that are so easily skimmed over- I get jealous that other genres of popular music don't often have them or when they do it's not nearly as complex or interesting enough of a web to investigate! It truly blows me away. I think that's one of the best things that Nas has brought to rap and to music. Of course it's good songs, but it's also the influence and inspiration to other artists. This is a high 4/5 for me. I'm noticing my strict standards for a clean 5/5 and while I do love this album I think it's just a bit more 4.8 or 4.9 instead of the "perfect" 5. Still an amazing record. One of the best rap albums of all time.
This record feels like trying to get rid of stubborn anal warts. Painful, but in such a way that it sexually awakens you. There's no turning back now, Bobby.
Pre-listen: considered one of the greatest rap records of all time. I listened to it many times around 10yrs ago but it’s never quite been GOAT material for me… let’s see if that’s changed. Post-listen: okay… there are more bangers on here than I remember. Nas’ flow is smooth, continuous and unpredictable, which overlays clever internal rhyme schemes that creates a collective delight to the eardrum. Insane that he was 19-20yo when recording this album. The instrumentals have that gritty East Coast sound, but they’re intertwined with soul and jazz samples throughout that make it more varied and palatable. I’m giving this a 4.49, as I want to savour the 5 rating for the God-tier albums. It just doesn’t quite reach the heady heights of my hippity hop favourites, but it’s almost there.
Beats rhymes attitude. Can’t be beaten. Too big to fail. Has a certain tone to it which I feel is pretty representative of the time and the place where it comes from. Do believe it’s a bit shallow in places but is that an unnecessary Michael Jackson sample to save the day? Sot NY State of Mind One Love Represent It Ain’t Hard to Tell 4/5
Repeat- 4
4.0
One of those albums that just feels foundational, a dense dark brick at the base of so much to come.
Good album but doesn’t sound as fresh as other old school hip hop albums. 8/10.
This album is amazing. I find myself naturally lost in the beats and lyrics.
classic
Rapzao tri massa
It sounds like a lot of the New York rap I wasn't allowed to listen to growing up. That made it seem briefly un-notable, until I realized that this is the album a lot of that pulled from. One of the first to produce and rap in this style. Shoutout NYC
required listening.
3,5 eigenlijk, ik snap dat dit in 1994 echt heeel sick was maar voor mijzelf doet het niet zo mega veel, heb ‘m eerlijk gezegd een beetje uitgezeten pls haat me niet
This is my second time listening to this album, and it's incredibly good. I'm not very well versed with a lot of hip hop, but before I listened to this album, I knew it had a reputation as one of the best hip hop albums of all time. I absolutely love the beats, and Nas raps with an incredible amount of force. His rhymes are outstanding too, and this album really shows just how great Nas is at his craft.
Classic album. Captures that old school sound verry well. Nas has a great flow
4 I don’t know if my tolerance for rap is improving or if I’m finding more rap that I enjoy. Nevertheless, I’m here for it. I really quite liked this album though I went in expecting to tbh. The beats are interesting and catchy but not too repetitive. The lyrics a poignant without becoming gratuitous. I wish I had more specific reasons but all I know is this is a recipe for an album that I would like. The back half is a little hit or miss where it becomes easy to ignore but I don’t think it’s a major detractor. Favorites: NY State of Mind, Life’s A Bitch, The World is Yours, Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)
4 Great rhymes, great beats, great lyrics, great flow - I see why this is considered a crown jewel of the genre. Similar to NWA’s debut, Nas chooses to shine a light on his home city and way of life, not afraid of showcasing the ugliness for the sake of capturing the reality, but whereas NWA took a deliberately aggressive approach to reiterate the hardened Compton culture, Nas opts instead to chronicle Queens with poetically smooth delivery, making it easy to forgot how many themes of violence and crime there are underneath. Even as someone who had a pretty atypical upbringing in small town America, there’s still a lot of relatability on this record, especially on tracks like Life’s a Bitch. Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high? I’ll drink to that. The World is Yours is a song I’ve known for years thanks to Tony Hawk’s Underground, but I’ve never realized it was off this album. A little bit of a contrast to the previous track, but still a good tune nonetheless - makes me want to bust out my skateboard and cruise the streets of Hollywood. Every song here is good though and has a unique sound to it, likely due to the fact there were like 5 or so producers across the album, but I still find it impressive there’s a clear direction despite that. I see why everyone hypes this up. While not the most amazing thing I’ve heard, it’s very good. Favorite songs: The World is Yours, NY State of Mind, Life’s a Bitch, Represent, It Ain’t Hard to Tell
Fora
Banger, absolute classic rap album
This has been pretty good! The album has got a really good flow to it, and I can appreciate it.
NY state of mind- well thats certainly a take on that👍 Lifes a bitch- think i’m gonna have that chorus stuck in my head👍 The world is yours- Chorus a bit overproduced for me, but otherwise v solid Halftime- this is a fun track with a lot of energy and great flow👍 Memory- again not sure i like the skipping vocals One Love- love chorus, story in verses👍 One time 4 your mind- this is fine, didn’t really stick out to me Represent- Another weaker chorus It ain’t hard to tell- I like this brag track, really flows well👍 Not really my type of music, but v accomplished for what it is 4/5
Great album. Had a lot of friends that were into Nas in college and hip hop wasn't my thing then. I'm still by no means a hip hop connoisseur, but I've warmed to it a ton. That said, I love the beats and flow of this album. Not a song I want to skip when I listen through it. I'm not much of a lyrics guy for any kind of music, so I think in hip hop especially there is a lot I miss that I wish I didn't. The only thing I really want more of that's not here in this album are heavier hooks with more melody. I like this a lot overall and I'll be coming back.
As a hip hop head, I’ve a confession to make: Illmatic doesn’t really do it for me. I get that it appears regularly on best of lists and gets five mics in The Source. Nas’ flow is nice, The beats are smooth. NY State of Mind and Represent are absolute classics (those samples - nice). But there’s not much else I return to regularly. Why is this? I don’t vibe over the other tracks - Nas can’t quite decide on the mood he’s after- a little jazz sample like ATCQ here, a little MJ sample like something more mainstream there - leading to an unevenness overall. Also surprisingly short. A 3,5 respectfully rounded up to a 4.
I've always tried to find a way in with this album, and never had before. Today it made a lot more sense. like a bridge between old and new hip hop, and with some of the tightest flow and rhythm. Still not without its problems, but very good.
Het was oké. Normaal niet zo’n fan van hip hop maar dit was wel prima
Needs another listen, excellent hip hop of the era
Pinnacle 90s rap album, extremely well NY State of mind top tier song.
I liked it. Pretty chill. Old school
This album let me be someone else for a while. I'm sure that wasn't the intent.
Goated
Clean
I wish I had more to say about this album but for some reason I really just didn’t connect with it. I think it was probably really influential in shaping the post-2000 rap sound. The lyrics are good, a mix of vulnerability and wit. The production is okay, but I won’t hold that against Nas too much. Maybe on a different day this is rated higher, but it’s a 4 if I’m true to myself
- классик блэк реп, нот бэд/нот со импрессив - просто симпатично - классная обложка - It was released on April 19, 1994, by Columbia Records.
Such a different sound from other contemporary rap...but I loved it. Was a big G-Funk sound fan growing up and now feel I missed out on this. 4/5
Cult by one of the best lyricists of all time.
In my memory, this album was a near-perfect representation of East Coast rap, a standard by which all others should be judged. On a fresh listen, it's still really, really good. It just doesn't hold up to the legend I built up in my head over the years. Smart, with incredible rhyme schemes and flow. Best track: Represent
Whenever someone's discussing the all-time greatest MCs, Nas is invariably in the mix, and it ain't hard to tell why. He's not my #1, but his wordplay is solid and his delivery is quick and nimble. There's some overlap here with West Coast gangsta rap, but much of it is superficial. It's not so much gang-related braggadocio as it is an honest representation of the stark realities of living in the rougher areas of NYC in the '90s—which happens to include drugs and violence. It's classic East Coast hip-hop, and as far as the West Coast is concerned, much closer in spirit to Tupac's more introspective work than, say, Snoop's "Doggystyle."
I enjoyed this album more than I expected
incredible, great beats, great lyracism and fantastic vocal style, as a debut album just fantastic. Fav song: NY state of mind least fav song: represent
Absolutely here for it
it's a solid early-90s, NY hiphop album. IDK if it deserves the classic of the genre status it holds but it's pretty great.
Un clásico, parece. Tiene buenas canciones, pero estoy seguro que se me escapan muchas cosas que para un gringo están más claras. En cualquier caso, los hits son hitazos que todavía escucho.
Classic
3.6/5 pretty good hiphop
It took me way too long to finally listen to this full album
Really good. Especially liked last song it aint hard to tell and lifes a bitch and also one time for your mind. NY state of mind also great Would recommend/re-listen.
Great hip hop record. Not the best one I've ever heard, I don't think anything quite lived up to "Ny State of Mind" but that's fine
Pretty much as definitive as an album can be for it's era and genre. But it's not a totally perfect album the beats while good can get old with the repetitiveness on some of the tracks. And the storytelling on the album isn't always the most engrossing and can be kind of repetitive. Other than that the albums pretty much perfect, especially in regards to Nas' rhymes which are pretty unmatched.
Pretty enjoyable, I recognized a few of the songs but never knew where they were from. Sounds like the 90’s
It's Illmatic. NY State of Mind. 'nuf said.
Listened as background music, so I didn't fully absorb/appreciate the lyrics. The beats & production are good.
Альбом понравился эффектом прокручивающейся назад плёнки (пластинки). Классно звучит в целом.
Enjoyed this. Hesitant to start it as it's not my type of music, but thought it was quite relaxing and easy to listen to
Classic album. A lot of kinds come from this album that I didn’t even realize
I had to go back and listen to this. 20 plus years on I am astonished by how assured it is for a debut and how impressive the lyrics are. More observational than first person it provides a overview of life in a manner that should really should be taught in school. The production is great as well. While not my favorite genre, this one is a keeper.
4.5/5. It's Illmatic.
Understand why Nas is known as such a legend, life's a bitch and then you die.
Real solid, great working music.
This was very 90s. I enjoyed it.
Så nära att vara en femma
A classic but not my favorite type of hip hop
Slusljiv hip hop '90
Another classic. In my collection
so far its a pretty solid record all around, theres some forgettable verses/choruses although tracks like the world is yours is absolutely amazing but i guess we already know that. a lot of this record is just me thinking “yeah this sounds great” but just nothing stands out as just mindblowing like everyone hypes it up to be. a lot of other hip hop artists from ny in the 90’s give his messages with much better flow lyics and delivery but not to knock down this record, it does deserve the hype it gets and i can see why people say its amazing, it just doesnt stand out to me personally like something like enter the wu tang, the low end theory, or midnight marauders for example did. as i said early though solid record
My standard rap disclaimer is that I'm not a rap person so I always listen with an ear from someone who doesn't listen to this genre regularly. I loved this. The beats felt fresh and the lyrics were great and Nas' flow was fantastic.
Why does every one have to be a "b***h a$$ mother-f***er?" on this record? Even with Nas' flow going, it still just seemed a LOT to call out everyone like that ALL the TIME. Still, he really had it going. I liked his word play and the groove was really nice. Short album, not skits. Pretty good.
So this might be the greatest hip hop album of all time, but it's not my favourite. I was pretty ignorant of it though, wasn't into much besides the Beasties and old school 80s rap at this time. My tastes developed but I didn't go back to this. Hearing it now, I can see why it's loved and admired, and Nas has great delivery, but it's not really my thing. Definitely decent. ... That's what I was originally writing anyway, then, song by song, this just got it's hooks in me. What a great album. Are those sleigh-bells in Half-time? Is this Nas' Xmas song about smoking weed and staying alive on the streets? Anyway, I'm bumping up to 4 stars because of that incredibly strong run of tracks through the middle. Tracks - NY State of Mind, The World is Yours, Half-time, Memory Lane, Represent.
Great!
Good hip-hop. Powerful lyrics. Maybe not my favourite type of music, but it's a good album nonetheless.
The Genesis: I suppose this is more of an intro to the album, as it's relatively short. I like the music in the background a lot and I would've preferred it had there been no talking over it but I can see the creative intention behind it. (⭐⭐) N.Y. State of Mind: Some of the lyrics really caught my attention. Clever commentary of the life the singer lived in New York. The chorus helps break up the song and make it more digestible, regardless of it just repeating, "New York state of mind." The lyricism is great and I believe that is the strong point of this song. The music is good but I wish it had more rather than just repeating the same melody. (⭐⭐⭐) Life's a Bitch (feat. AZ & Olu Dara): I like the music, it has more to it. The message is clear and the rhyming is great. Overall, not much to say but a good track nonetheless. Wish the chorus wasn't as repetitive, even though only sang twice, it was very jarring and borderline boring. (⭐⭐⭐) The World Is Yours: A lot of the music in this album sounds extremely similar which makes it boring. That could be argued as a choice made to create a cohesive album, but it can also be argued that the same can be done even with different music. Could be much better with different production. The chorus is an upgrade from the chorus in the previous song. Although still repetitive, it has a different melody, which contrasts it from the rest of the song, paired with the interruptions of record scratches and Nas speaking, it makes it a more enjoyable experience. (⭐⭐⭐) Halftime: Off the bat, the music in this one is much more different from the rest which helps make it a standout, even very early in the album. (⭐⭐⭐⭐) Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park): The rhyming in this one is great and the music is interesting, the background vocals helping add to the feeling. (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) One Love (feat. Q-Tip): Not much to say but the song was enjoyable. (⭐⭐⭐⭐) One Time 4 Your Mind: I like the break in the song for the short moment of talking. The music is great and, overall, this song is fantastic. (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) Represent: Super catchy and probably the best off this album. The music has a good amount of variation and the chorus is different enough from the rest of the song to offer a good change in pace. (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) It Ain't Hard to Tell: Off the bat, a good ending to the album. Has reative music and the lyrics are strong. My only complaint is that it feels a lot shorter than it actually is. (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This album is extremely backloaded, a majority of its most creative and lyrically sound songs are found at the end. The album is cohesive, keeping similar themes throughout the songs to help tie them together. A classic early 90s album for fans of hip hop. The album cover is creative and helps convey the mood of the album off the bat, the cityscape in the background shows New York City, a prominent theme in the album. 3.9/5
Amazing old school real hip hop 4/5
Great East Coast vibes, with Nas's flow and bars top notch. It isn't to my taste as much as some other hip hop may be, but the quality here is undeniable.
Lyrically cannot be beat. Still, I’ve had other Nas songs and lyrics stick with me more. It’s still iconic.
Some lovely production here. Not listened to this album through before beyond the singles so it was a good day.
Highlights: Halftime, One Time 4 your Mind. Just a great sounding album. Even if you think you don't like the genre, give it a shot.
Liked this very much. Well done Mr Nas
A brilliant hip hop album, nearly 5/5. The beats a little repetitive though. 9/10
Hip hop sweet spot and you don't stop
One of the best hip hop records ever Fav tracks: - N.Y. State of Mind - Life's a Bitch - The World Is Yours - Memory Lane Least fav: - One Time 4 Your Mind
Great flow, massively influential
it has the definitive nas song interesting that it goes for quality over quantity
Yeah I’m gonna have to listen to this more
The rap music
Is this why there is Little Nas? And did they coin the phrase “life’s a b and then you die?”
Life’s a bitch, and then you die.
Good one
As somebody that is not a big fan of hip hop this was a very enjoyable album to listen to.
This is a lyrics-focused album. The beats and the samples are minimal, making the listeners focus on the lyrics, on what the album is narrating. Which is apparently his life in the rough areas of New York City. I love everything about this, the sampling, the vulnerable and not the usual machismo-driven lyrics, and the overall solid length of 30+ minutes. Definitely a classic.
Surprisingly awesome
В то время звучало интересно, сейчас - нет. 7/10
I enjoyed this much more than I anticipated. The lyrics are intelligent and on point. Overall a good listening experience.
Was all round quite good nothing be to say about it really. 4.35/5
yees
Dope
Don't feel too qualified to judge, but the tempo and overall feel seems a pivotal moment for hip-hop -- from showier and classic acts to grittier, more specifically urban (i.e., NYC-centric). Pretty ill, indeed. Beats seem very much of the moment. Clear, articulate flows in the rapping, too.
Classic hip hop. I was surprised how few tracks I recognised by name, but knew more of the songs when they came on. NY state of mind and the world is yours were stand outs, but the whole album works well as a piece
Great grooves.
Dope
As far as debut albums go, there are few more iconic and impactful Rap albums. Nas' lyrics and flow are smooth, simple, and restrained in a way that you understand his journey and views that got him to this point. All while showcasing the potential that would make him a figure for the industry moving forward.
Nas is an insane lyricist. This album also serves as a who's who, featuring members of Gang Starr and Tribe all over the record. Still insane all these years later. Plus, front-loaded with some of the best rap tracks ever. Favorite tracks: "New York State of Mind", "The World is Yours", "Memory Lane"
A pretty good album,not up to the standard of the best from Eminem, A Trube Called Quest or Kanye but NY State of mind and Life's a Bitch, Halftime are great. 3.75 stars
Illmatic by Nas (1994) Here we have intensely local East Coast hip hop brought to the listener by a variety of producers supporting the considerable talents of 20-year old Nasir Jones, ‘Nas’. With relatively smooth beats, and softly pulsing R&B and jazz keyboards rocking in the background, these tracks are generally free of production gimmicks, tending to focus the lister’s ears on the poetry of the lyrics. And the lyrics are every bit poetic. With a consistent meter that isn’t evident on the printed page, we hear a mature mix of cadence, alliteration, creative visual figures, syncopation, and exquisite internal and external rhyme. Nas delivers his poetry with crisp diction and disciplined spoken tone. It helps to have an ear for urban slang and street life references, but there are resources available to the serious listener who wants to understand (I recommend a critical use of the Genius app). Several nice touches are heard here in the midst of the violence, drugs, and sex, like the outro to “Life’s a Bitch”, with a very nice low register jazz trumpet performance by Olu Dara Jones, Nas’ father. It’s a “keepin’ it real” declamation of the criminal, violent, and drug-saturated facts of life for the young men living in the low-cost high-density habitation of the Queensbridge Houses (‘projects’) on the eastern banks of New York’s East River. Who was the genius who decided to keep these people poor and far from Fifth Avenue but close enough to Manhattan to make a daily commute for doing the dirty work? The unified field theory of 20th century American urban planning is cheap labor. Nas draws vivid pictures of the results. “Life’s a bitch and then you die; that’s why we get high, ‘cause ya never know when you’re gonna go.” “Beyond the walls of intelligence, life is defined; I think of crime when I'm in a New York state of mind.” “My strength, my son, the star will be my resurrection; Born in correction, all the wrong shit I did, he'll lead in right direction.” One may recoil, or wish it away, but this is an integral element of the artistic trajectory of our day. And on this album, it is done well. 4/5
Some of it is hit and miss for me, but it's undeniably a great hip hop album. Giving a 4 as it would probably grow on me over time. The last track is my favourite
Was pretty good and can see why Nas was so influential to others in the future.
First time listening to this. I kept having moments where I thought the music sounded familiar but then realized that it's because the rapper Logic seems to copy a ton of Nas's themes. Good album.
Abjectly East Coast. Didn't realize NAS came up around Tribe. Harder than Tribe, though.
Solid album. Fully appreciated the Michael Jackson sample on It Ain't Hard to Tell when listening through.
Dem New Yawrk beats are fya
Jam after jam on this album. I can see why people call it a classic.
Illmatic is a properly impressive piece of work honestly. He wrote this piece when he was 19 and at that time had more lyrical ability then most rappers would ever achieve honestly. It's a really solid piece of work, but I don't think I'm a huge huge fan of it. I've listened to it a quite a few times, and it's sort of the album that people respect you for listening to. But eh, I don't like it all that much. Could be my southern bias too a certain degree, but I don't think I love it as much as everyone else does.
Solid. Kinda tame beats but words and flow are great
Definitely caught and kept my attention. There's a darkness to many of the track's rhythm and harmony that I like. It's not so dark as to be overly dissonant or grating to my ear, and it's not a downer; it's really a texture or layering that I'm feeling. Melodically, it's a bit more interesting to my ear than other rap and hip-hop I've heard. I could almost see the notes climbing up and down the staff as a song progressed, and I don't normally get that kind of visual imagery. Very cool. I'll need to go back to listen again and read the lyrics, too. As someone who loves poetry, I'm hearing some intriguing uses of meter and lyricism. 'Memory Lane' and 'Represent,' among others...I need to dig in. Great album. (Follow-Up: I just scrolled the Wikipedia article; dang, that's a long one! I'll definitely have to read it.)
Reminds me of knuckles stages.
An instant classic, probably the greatest hip hop album of all time. Highlights for me are N.Y. State of Mind, Halftime, Represent, and It Ain't Hard to Tell
This album is a fine example of 90s East Coast hiphop.
Really good but I just wish there had been more variety in the beats 8/10
I have some familiarity with Nas, but for most of this album, I was a first time listener. I was excited to see a classic hip hop album show up, and I am happy to now be familiar with the studio debut of Nas. I appreciate the artistry of storytelling and rhythm of delivery that Nas has. I also enjoy the musical mixes and beats backing the lyrics. It's good.
Haven’t ever listened to Nas before this and this isn't a genre I have much experience with... The rap on this is impressive, albeit with the occasional problematic lyrics. The music has lots of 90s flair, although iI found it was a little stripped down for me as the music and samples could become monotonous. Although I guess maybe that's part of the deal here since the focus is on the rap. I liked listening to this. Although I don't see myself listening to the whole album, there are some songs I will revisit again. Hovering around a 3.5 rating so I guess I'll round it up since the rap is so strong. Favorite songs: “Life’s A Bitch”, "Memory Lane (Sit-in' in da Park)", "Represent", "Ain't Hard To Tell".
021121 13:38 4
Narsty nas
bastante mejor de lo que había esperado si soy sincera.
Nas never had quite the best beats but he remains probably the best lyricist from the 90s. His Lifes a Bitch verse is my favourite rap verse of all time.
Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Life's a Bitch, Memory Lane, It Ain't Hard To Tell Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Well deserved classic status, enjoyed myself more than the amount of songs saved would indicate.
7.5
Great Album. Heard a billion times now but its fire 9/10
I've heard this before, a few years ago. It's a good album, one of the last I know of from before rap started to sound like shit a year or two later. Glad it came up, hit the spot this morning. 4/5.
Love the old school hip hop
Classic
Classic as fuck
Not a hip hop fan, but holy shit does Nas have the gift of poetry. This didn’t feel like a collection of songs, but a love letter to the gritty New York so many of us grew up in.
I don't like the language, but the music is phenomenal. What a talent. Really enjoyed this. Listened to it at least three times today and just keeps getting better.
Every track has a solid groove, the rhymes are so effortless 8/10
It goes, hard.
A fantastic rap album.
Slick beats, mean flows, classic album.
Me gustó mucho. No puedo creer que este disco se me escapó cuando me estuve metiendo en Hip Hop de los 90s. En The Genesis, escuché una voz conocida ... el que canta en Public Enemy, puede ser? PD. En "NY State of Mind" dice "The city never sleeps, full of villains and creeps", es contradictorio pero me hace querer un poquito más a NYC 4/5
Good stuff. Beats are solid
Dope album actually
Great album
Sick jazzy 90s hip hop
It was good
I was quite enjoying this album, but I did have to listen to it in three goes, as it was a bit much to have blasting at home. From what I've read, illmatic was the first album of its kind, making way for people like dre, Jay z, biggie smalls etc. For this, it definitely deserves to be up there on this list.
Boomer Gut
Рэп, но хотя бы не раздражает
Can see why this is so acclaimed, really good tracks and lyrics
Amazing verses, liked the later songs on the album more than the well known first couple of tracks
A rap album that I actually enjoyed listening to and would consider coming back to if I ever wanted to listen to rap. Fav Track: Halftime
Started out a bit slow, but the 2nd half of the album is all bangers.
Enjoyed this, so much that I listened to it twice through without pain
OH HELL YEAH
Some lyrics still as poignant today as when they were written which asks questions about how much social progress has really been made
Keine Ahnung, soll ich jetzt wieder das alte Lied anfangen, von wegen früher war HipHop besser, die MCs haben's mehr real gekeeped und von der Consciousness an sich? Naja, aber für mich ganz persönlich/meinen Geschmack war das schon auch so. Auch wenn Nas meinem Lieblings-Flavor nicht durchgehend am nächsten kommt: meinen kross gebratenen Rehspeck kricht er natürlich trotzdem, und kriegen Premier, Large Professor, Q-Tip und die anderen für die Produktion. Für seinen supergechillten Old-Newschool-Flow, für das Selbstbewusstsein (mit 19!), für die klare Artikulation, und für Queensbridge: 4 Punkte
Its that bridge to modern hip-hop. Halftime is rad. Memory Lane is rad. Aint hard to tell is a great closer
It's a very good classic rap album. For me, these songs could be more strong and the thematic sounds old for modern days, but I respect the historical music from the hip-hop movement.
I still have a hard time sitting and listening to rap because the words are a lot like poetry so I always feel like I need to read along. What I picked up from this I liked.
Finally, a rap album! I’m wondering how I’m going to feel about this one, though, as I’m not a big fan of glorifying violence. So I actually liked this one more than I thought I might.
Still can't pull out individual tracks but always enjoy listening as a whole
Chill! 3.5 rounded up.
Has a 'old school' New York feel. Can feel the pain but also filled with hope
Can definitely see why this is considered one of the best rap albums ever
Old school hip hop
Very complex rhyming
Good background beats, interesting lyrics.
Classic album from a classic time in hip-hop.
damn decent . ill prolly listen to this as socially acceptable music
Yeeeh. Listen 4 times to this one to try to understand the hype. Sure the rhyme structure is interesting, his flow is nice and the production from prem is tight. For me, I think it lacks any killer hooks and maybe that is the reason I’ve never really got into Nas.
3.5/5
Nas’s flows on this are so good, literally flowing. Just so smooth. The instrumentals aren’t super grand or anything, but they’re groovey and funky, sort of minimalist here and there. Almost lo-fi hip hop/jazz inspired. I think it’s good, I know how influential this was, how big it was and has been since, but I can’t rank it a 5. Would like more hooks, more instrumental changeups, bigger sound. A couple songs that maybe go on 45 seconds too long
An amazing rap album in every aspect, storytelling , lyrics, beat choice,... no misses one of my favorite hip hop albums 9.3/10
The lyrical flow is great and works nicely with the samples and beat. But the content isn't much different than other rap albums.
MUY BUENO
Somehow I missed actually listening to this thing. Seems to be about worth the hype. The low end backs up the bars, and reinforces their sheer density. Probably the best fusion of East Coast sound and jazz that I've heard yet. Deserves a closer listen than I gave it, though.
yep
Overall Rating - 2.55/5 (5.10/10). Solid album. Good flow, decent skill.
Lauded for production and lyrics, east coast rap
This album was ok. I see why it is so popular. It it just not the type of music I like to listen to.
I’m enjoying more than I thought I would? I’ve never given hip-hop a try before really but it’s really not bad! I’m finding I really like the relaxed beat in the songs as it gives it a nice swing feel. Everything is rapped in quite a satisfying way as well.
Interesting, bueno, bien, rap con onda.
Most albums like this are an hour & a half so I’m grateful this was 40 min…that felt like 2 hrs… By the “second hour” I think it finally clicked for me. Maybe I just gotta LA state of mind! Bazinga!
Damn, a rap album from the 90’s that’s under an hour and not riddled with the worst attempts at comedy you’ve ever heard? Who knew it was even possible?
Good vibes
Some of it is pretty good, but it feels much more dated, both lyrically and in production/beat style than some other rap of the era such as A Tribe Called Quest. It’s got a nice feel overall but none of the songs are particularly memorable by the time the album ends.
Yes, I could never really get into hip-hop, but it felt very vintage in a pleasant way.
this era of east coast rap is so good. I wasn't totally into it but I'll probably revisit sometime.
liked this! i have Get Down on a few playlists but idk if ive ever rlly listened to nas. saved
Not my type of music. But I like the vibe