Illmatic

It sounds like one song in one.

Good flow

1. Hate skits in albums. Even at the beginning. 2. Really repetitive and boring choruses - one sentence repeated a few times before the verse starts again. 3.

Q-Tip told this about Nas: "Just from when you heard Nas initially, you knew he was ill. When I first heard him rhyme, I knew he was ill. Everybody knew he was ill. But I told Faith, “You guys got somebody special.” Because he has vulnerability in his rhymes. A lot of niggas who MC, you don’t hear the vulnerability. He keeps it relatable, but he has a lot of depth. He can keep it gangsta, he can keep it educated, he can keep it thoughtful. He can tell you that he’s the shit, & he can tell you when he fucks up. And that’s what makes Nas endearing to everybody."

Ja hoor hoe lekker is dit

This record is amazing!! As soon as the album starts, you are in the mode. This is probably one of the best rap albums I've heard!!

Nope

Not very interesting, bored me after a bit. It wasn't really terrible.

The opening line of Nas' debut album, Illmatic is "I don't know how to start this shit." What then follows is the delivery of a series of vivid tales reflecting his experiences on the streets of New York City. Lyrically, the album is intense, raw, and authentic. The production is solid, with beats that blend elements of R&B and Jazz, featuring distinctive touches such as the piano in "N.Y State of Mind," the horns in "Halftime," and the xylophone in "One Love." I appreciate the contrast between the anger and frustration expressed in the lyrics and the calmness of the beats, creating an atmosphere that feels more like a rational discussion than one completely driven by angst. However, one aspect I found lacking is the diversity of sound. The beats across the tracks tend to be too similar in tempo and rhythm, and at times, the lyrics can feel somewhat repetitive. While this is not the type of music on my regular playlists, I still felt this was a fascinating listening experience

Not my Thing!

Love the samples and organization of the songs. Very musical. Can’t relate much but well done album

classic love nas

Yes.

Unnnnnngghhh. Nasty Nas and 90’s hip hop FTW!

I am not going to run out and buy a Nas album, but this was not nearly as bad as I feared. Most songs had an actual tune, and I understood at least 20% of the lyrics if I tried real hard to listen.

A classic. The album is cohesive, but no standout or breakthrough songs for me (which was a surprise).

My pick for best rap album of all time. The perfect blend of gritty, jazzy beats with clever and soulful rhymes. Usually when people claim that gangsta rap is a form of street poetry it’s bullshit, but in this case it’s true.

It’s all there

knicks, pizza, illmatic

Didn’t even need to relisten to know this is an easy 5*. I did it anyway and it’s still just as great as I remember. Understandably called one of the best (if not the best) rap album of all time.

Classic. Deep topics, poetic and every song knocks it out the park.

5 stars immediately. The greatest hip hop album of all time in my opinion. I've listened to this album so many times and it always sounds so fresh to me. I don't trust anyone who doesn't give this album at least 4 stars. *New favorite album so far Favorite track: The World Is Yours

Great rapper, but not really my cup of tea

Great rap album

Pretty good

I... cannot understand why this got as big as it did. It's just not really an enjoyable album. Nas's rap rhythm is a bit offputting, and the lyrics really don't capture a whole lot. Pretty mid.

old school, can't believe i was 2 when this game up and they were doing this madness

Loved it. Played it on repeat.

Debatably the greatest rap album of all time, definitely the best of the 90s, in my opinion. Nas perfectly captures the seedier side of New York in a tight 40 minute package.

What a solid, tight album. No wasted space. You can easily just find you've listened to it 3 times back to back. A classic for a reason. Defining.

Rap isn't usually my type but this shit rocks!

THE best rap album of all time bar none

I might not have been in the correct mood for this one. Definitely not a bad album, it's a classic. Great rhyming, but slightly too same-y.

Not my thing but I like the beats. 02/04/25

An absolute classic If hip-hop is supposed to be a window into the streets, ILLMATIC sounds, feels, and even fucking SMELLS like NYC in the '90s. When the war against the Disney-fication of NY was still being waged.

No

Perfect no notes

Will probably stay as the most overrated album of all time for me. I really tried to give it a chance cause of the hype. But aside from the first listen I did while playing a game and not paying much attention, I couldn't get through it. It's so fucking boring and uninspired. The production is shit, the lyrics are shit. I'll never understand

Sometimes I sit back with a Buddha sack. Mind’s in another world thinking how can we exist through the facts.

The greatest hip hop album of all time but I've never heard it, or him. It's a raw example of a decade where we Brits were just listening to very different music to America. Even then, I'm amazed I haven't come across it before. It's a fine example of hip hop. I can see why it gets the plaudits. Something just a bit higher level about the way it all fits together.

Dig the jazz tones. I'm waffling between 3 and 4... First album by a young rapper, impressive.

Nas’ flow was not bad. He needed more variety with his subject matter. Hearing him rap about weed and about how his neighborhood is bad got old after a while.

One of the best pure rap albums I can think of

Hiphop is really not my genre, but I've heard other stuff by Nas and I usually like it, so I was expecting this to be good. It was good, but maybe not as good as I was expecting. I did enjoy listening to it, and I did listen twice, so I can't complain. Four stars.

Masterpiece.

All time classic

Hip hop, acústicamente atractivo, bien sampleado, por lo demás no tengo mucho que opinar de este género que no me identifico en absoluto

One of if not the greatest rap albums of all time. Great production, otherworldly flows and iconic tracks. This is one of the best records ever. Done by one of the best to ever do it. 10/10

Meins ist es nicht

Feels like an expert bartender mixed this tall delicious drink with a touch of class.

Great storytelling + beats, enjoyed!

"Life's a bitch and then you die" fand ich ganz cool als Zitat. All in all bin ich einfach kein großer Hip Hop Fan.

I'm sorry, but rap just isn't for me. Halftime was a bit above averge, but overall just not my thing

Bitte helfen Sie mir, ich bin in Gefahr!

I'm No Rap/Hip-Hop expert, but it was quite good. Probably won't listen to it again

Never listened to Nas before now. Pretty cool. -1 star for lyrics -1 star for good flow. -1 star for catchiness. -1 star for originality. -1 star for good album mix. More like 4.5 but round up.

Every track hits. Easy 5.

Pretty solid

Good stuff, would relisten

Easiest five in the whole dang list

Every couple years I try to get into hip hop, and I always end up listening to this one. This is maybe my 4th time trying to get it, but I still don't.

A strong album that transports you to Nas's environment in NYC in the early 90s. The struggles, trials and tribulations are real. The lyricism is great, delivery is excellent, but a lot of the songs are at a similar tempo and while they are different, they can fade together more if you don't pay attention as closely.

Great album. Concise 90s rap album too which I feel like is rare

Cool stuff but did space out a lil. Beats are nuts tho and some classics.

Illmatic goes hard for a debut album. Nas showed up with top-tier bars, killer flow, and production that still sounds great today. “N.Y. State of Mind” and “The World Is Yours” hit especially hard, and the whole thing is tight with no filler. It’s not something I play on repeat, but you gotta respect the craftsmanship. Solid 4 stars. Favorite song: "The World Is Yours"

A classic that I've never quite connected with as much as I wish. The first three tracks after the intro are unimpeachable, and I'll always love a track with Q-Tip on it. It's pretty damn good, but not as good as people often cite is as being imo.

Probably the best hip hop album I’ve heard so far. A minimum of the annoying sound effects, the rapping does impressive things with language and the beat is kind of addictive. Almost a 3 if I thought I’d ever choose to listen to it.

With a few exceptions, rap records pretty much sound the same to me, which would also include this one. I can't deny the high ratings, so there must be something about it, but I just don't get it. Some of the samples were good in terms of interesting or original.

Suca Pozzo

Lives up to the hype. Incredible flow. Wonderful beats. Lyrics that will need multiple listens to process.

Good, solid 90s rap. Flows incredibly well, very relaxing album. Eastcoast rap debut, impressive. Has been recognized by writers and music critics as a landmark album in East Coast hip hop. Considered one of the greatest hip-hop albums.

N F M. Love the tunes but not the world I live in or want to hear about. Sorry 🤦🏻‍♂️

Yeah it's awesome. It doesn't sound all that groundbreaking, and I'm not sure it was at the time in terms of being a new sound, but holy cow is it just quality. In the past I've struggled to get into some older hip-hop that don't have choruses or hooks, but I could listen to Nas rap for hours on end without any problem. Just so smooth and the lyricism just fits like a glove. The jazzy instrumentals are top notch as well. 9/10

Classic rap, nothing special but the lyrics.

A stone-cold classic, obviously. "I don't know how to start this shit" into -that- verse is a GOAT level hip-hop moment. A few songs don't hit the same highs for me, so it's a 4 as a matter of personal taste (I take ATCQ over this).

I made it through two and a half songs and that was it for me. Had to turn it off after that.

Nah bro jetzt werden die big arms ausgepackt. Auf jeden ein sehr sehr gutes album

good

Nice rhymes. Laid back. But. Sorry, I can't do the drugs and guns.

🤷‍♀️

This kept growing on me as it played. I guess it took me a few tracks to acclimate to the production aesthetics of its time. So, I liked it, Nas is impressive, but I never quite climbed into 4-star territory on this listen.

A classic for a reason. Dude's wordsmithing skills are unmatched. Knocking a star off because musically, it's lacking a bit. Like, I get that this is old-school no-hooks hip-hop. But it's a lot to take in. I've listened to this album many times, but today was the first time I was able to get through the whole thing. Fatigue sets in after about 5 songs. but damn can that man rap.

One thing I like about this project is that it's really informed me on rap. I dare say I'm starting to get a deeper understanding of some constructs and can discern standard from exceptional (aka Kendrik). Maybe this was groundbreaking in 1994? Maybe Lil Nas X was inspired by Nas. But I found this pretty formulaic and kinda boring. But I didn't immediately discount it and that demonstrates I've come a long way in my rap education. So middle-of-the-road rap means I'll go straight down the middle of the stars.

This is pleasant enough but wasn't earth-shattering. Nice loops and the flow is good, but I didn't feel like this was doing or saying anything I haven't heard before.

It was great to hear this again with a fresh perspective. The vocal delivery is masterful, the tight beats add to the tension. This was a different era for hip hop. Music seemed to matter. It's almost a cinematic album with the sharp storytelling.

These are surely not the best 1,000 records????

pretty good, love the sound

This is what I call book smarts rap/hip hop. It strays from my tastes of bitches, killing, drug references and living the life of a G. It has a direction and a message. The beats are strong and hard hitting. There’s no bubblegum, intentional radio friendly track on this album. I’m not sure what makes Nas a hip hop icon but that’s ok. I didn’t hate this. Now I’m going back to the Jackass Soundtrack Choice cut: Memory Lane

Thought I’d hate this when it first started but it grew on me a lot. Glad I got to listen to it.

Already known this is one of my favorite albums so yeah.

Quite enjoyed this album. Not ordinarily a genre I would listen to until I started the album generator. Found this to be more melodic and easier to listen to.

I understand that this album is held in high regard, but I don't understand it myself. Sure, it isn't bad but I think it's a bit boring.

One of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time and one of the greatest debut albums of all time. That's it. Best Tracks: NY State of Mind; The World Is Yours; It Ain't Hard To Tell

Not my cup of tea, but still decent for the genre.

Een regelrechte klassieker, maar toch voor mij geen 5 sterren. Ik ben te weinig into het genre om dit een perfecte score te geven. Toch 3.5, wat ook een mooie score is.

the genesis- 6 NY state of mind- 7 lifes a bitch- 7 or 8 the world is yours- 6 or 7 halftime show-7. my style switchs like a f but not bisexual. okay girl memory lane- 7 one love- 7 one time for your mind- 7 represent- 7 it ain't hard to tell- 7

Smoother and poetic, thhis has aged well

Good beats, good flow, kind of grim and self-important. This did not cut through the haze of my depression.

Today was a lousy day, yet I didn't mind listening to this. The songs fit together. I found it strangely comforting. Will add it to my collection and revisit.

I like every song, but overall it just feels a bit repetitive.

I liked the rhythms but I disliked all the derogatory language.

At a cafe while visiting Paris, the waiter asked where I’m from. I said ‘Queens,’ and his response was, ‘Ahh, like Nas!’ What I like about this album is that it’s short and sweet. It isn’t overpacked like a lot of other rap albums. Every moment is iconic. Go Queensbridge!

Never listened to Nas and didn’t expect much. The first track reinforced the feeling. By song three I was vibing with it. Very pleasantly surprised.

Rap. Do not get it..

Great beats, great flow, great delivery. A classic in all forms.

A classic album with no weak tracks, perfectly suited for its time. Today the production style sounds dated but the lyricism and flow still make this feel like a masterpiece. Favorite songs are: NY State of Mind The World is Yours Lifes a Bitch Memory Lane 10/10

My kinda hiphop!

it's not typically me to judge music just by the lyrics but i can put respect on them, the backing production felt pretty cool (especially for 1994,) and overall i was decently captivated from track to track

Feb 25th 2025 (Wed) | Day 2 - Fav track: One Love (feat. Q-Tip) #1990s #1994 #spotify #'25 #feb '25 [4*]

⭐⭐⭐ Some decent tracks. Would probably be better listening to while high, which I am currently not.

I see why people love it. Not my cup of tea though.

Not for me.

Bit mid All sounded the same Interesting lyrics

Repetitive and offensive

First time listening to this set of tunes all the way through. Illmatic is an excellent hip hop album. Top 3 tracks: 1. N.Y. State of Mind 2. Halftime 3. It Ain’t Hard to Tell 9/10

Classic 90s hip hop. Life's a bitch is a quality song

Interesting that the mix of producers works so well.

I remember Nas being the hot name in hip-hop around this time and I was aware of a few songs. This is on my buddy's Top 10 List so it has some cred in my eyes. I always thought his rhymes were good but that he sounded a bit angry on every song. The music lacks depth, compared to other artists at the time, it's simplistic so's not to take away from his lyrics. I get that his message is designed to open eyes but I can't quite connect. I enjoyed "Memory Lane" and "Halftime" more than the two biggest hits, "NY State Of Mind" and "The World Is Yours". Just average for me, not a T1001 lister in my opinion. 3 stars since none of it was bad.

I know fuck-all about the intricacies of hip-hop, but I know what sounds good to ears. And this album was seriously awesome. It has aged well compared to other 1990s music, and the energy and brilliance of the flow is undeniable.

First of all… I just had the weirdest experience. I looked at the year the album was produced and thought damn, I didn’t know Nas was recording that long ago! He was popular when I was in high school. Wild. And then I realized that 94 was only like 6 years before I was in 9th grade. 😬 Anyway, Nas is crazy talented and this album grows on you as it progresses.

90s rap. Decent.

Endless yapping..

East Coast hip hop is hit or miss for me, and I tend to prefer late 90s/early 00s Nas. That being said, Nas is incredibly influential and a great rapper, so I understand why this particular album made the list. “Life’s A Bitch” is the best track. The others are fine, but nothing to really write home about. I think Nas has better albums, but this one’s okay. I will say, the length of this album is one of its strengths. Many 90s hip hop albums are overly long, but this one is concise, which benefits the flow and really shows the importance of the tracks that were included. I’d give this a 3.5 if I could. This album really changed the game. I wish I liked it more.

A gotdamn classic.

1. Illmatic 2. The Wall Its an album much dynamic in the feel that put in the street mood

It is very easy to argue this is the greatest HipHop album of all time. It's also of course one of the greatest albums of all time and could comfortably be the greatest album of the 90s (I wouldn't say that lightly though, stiff competition). Genesis opening to N.Y state of mind is an album opening that every rapper ever has tried to replicate and none have ever succeeded. I could spend all day listing each track individually and saying why it's one of the best rap songs of all time but I won't bother because all you need to do is listen to this master piece and you'd agree. A perfect album in every sense of the word from beginning to end.

Didn’t do much for me.

Good influential rap album, not one of my favorites ever, but it's good Favorite song: The world is yours

Rap, 1994 -> 1

As good as hip-hop gets, if you ask me. A very atmospheric album.

Top 3 rap albums ever

5/5 is an insufficient amount of stars. Amazing album start to finish

fav songs: the genesis, n.y. state of mind least fav songs: one time 4 your mind, represent

Liked it. Good old 90’s era hip hop. Had never heard it before.

A surprisingly enjoyable album for me, relatively short and sweet and with beats that I could get behind. Not what I'd ordinarily pick to listen to but a nice listen nonetheless.

Great hip-hop album

Ok listen. Not really my thing.

A better album, I felt, than the ones I've gotten so far on this list. Namely from song catchy beats and strong lyrics, bust importantly it didn't overstay its welcome.

OOOOH THIS RAP IS SO NICEEE, 90’s rap built diff with those breakbeats Fav song : miss honey - jingoro

It's just a good rap album with good backbeats and solid vocals to match.

Awesome album

Production felt a bit dated but overall it was alright. I prefer other nas albums. 3 stars

I love Nas's style, but the nihilistic attitude can wear thin if I'm not in the mood. I like a lot of the production, though it doesn't feel quite on par with the top shelf material of that era. An excellent overall album.

Trash

Standout track, “Life’s a bitch”

Good music! Nice for car rides.

Brilliant storytelling from a king of the east coast rap game.

Was aware of Nas but had not listened to this album previously. Really enjoyed it - great beats - strong smooth lyrically delivery and no gimmicks. Strong 4.

Illmatic One of my favourite hip hop albums and one of my favourite albums in general. I only really ‘discovered’ it about 2 or 3 years ago but I absolutely love it. There’s a minimalism to the beats and use of samples that matches the desolation and despair of the lyrics. The hooks are insistent, they nag and punctuate like a drone particularly on the excellent NY State of Mind - the bass, the piano and the And I really just love the production and sound overall and the snare sound in particular. He is obviously a brilliant rapper too, there’s a real density to it all in the internal rhymes, the cadence as well as the overall story telling. The verses on the World is Yours are pretty incredible, for example. He’s definitely in the same mould as Biggie and Tupac etc, but I find his lyrics less brash and self-aggrandizing and much more like reportage. While there is some triumphalism, overall it feels much more introspective with an undertow of bleakness and futility, and a feeling of being trapped by your circumstances. The whole first half up to Halftime is superb, it might dip slightly with Memory Lane but One Love with Q tip with it’s jazzy bass and xylophone is excellent, I love how his voice works with the bass sample One Time 4 Your Mind, Represent is a banger, that piano/bell sample is great, and It Aint Hard to Tell is superb, the Human Nature sample knocked back in the mix is lovely Overall great album, easy 5. 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢 Playlist submission: NY State of Mind

This is one of those 'life on the streets', hard hittin' albums, in that Tupac, Biggie, beef vein (beef vein!) - gangster confessionals, if you will. Whilst not exactly my cup of tea, on the evidence here, he does take his place amongst those respected luminaries. That's when it manages to pull away from cliché. Thankfully it does that a fair bit, and it is far superior to the gangsta rap which it birthed. It is pretty much a diary, and Nas's lyricism is undeniably good. The album is too long. But I do like the way the cars on the cover look like one of those nose tapes athletes wear. It was growing on me each listen. It has just tipped to a low four.

Obviously considered one of, if not the greatest hip hop album ever recorded. Which makes me realise it’s just not really for me as a genre, which is ok. World is Yours and It ain’t hard to tell are very good, and there’s no missteps on here, just not my bag 3/5

Nas is someone that I always skip over other names when in a hip hop mood but this album is incredible. Hard to believe this was his debut. First half is stacked with bangers

Classic. One mic. So many others 🫡

Not my style

À classic

Automatic 5 stars

I listened to this album years ago and didn't really like it, but now I'm wondering what exactly I was thinking! Really, really good album, the run of the first four tracks might be the best I've heard on a hip hop album.

Fire

This is obviously one of the most influential hip-hop albums of all time. In my opinion, it's not the best rap album, but it defines an era. For that it borders on a 5 (and I'll give it a 5). Best Songs: NY State of Mind, The World Is Yours, One Love, It Ain't Hard to Tell Worst Songs: The Genesis

Fun og

Shout out John Jay

It was ok

this album is quite great. it just doesnt hit that level greatness that makes it a 5 for me. when it comes to early 90s classic rap albums, im more of wutang and Nation of Millions girl myself but NAS is undeniable, and ILLMATIC is unignorable

Illmatic was Nas’s debut album, and you can hear the heavy influence of New York rap styles in it. The flows were excellent and the beats were good. Just like the other older rap albums, I heard lines borrowed from new artists which I always think is super cool.

Its a rap album

Probably quite good, just not my thing

Not even a huge fan of Nas, but hard to deny this album

It was ok-it just didn't stand out to me.

Obvious 5/5. Legendary record.

Good album. Very enjoyable listen, Nas was definitely in the echelon of the biggest names in the rap game at that time in the early to mid-nineties and if I would have given this album the time that I gave Tupac, Biggie, and OutKast’s. I think it kinda just didn’t get the rep in the southern states as it did in the northeastern US.

Wow, never listened to this before and didn't know I liked this genre! great album a new favorite

Another classic old school hip a Hop album. Worth a relisten

When I first started listening to hip hop, this was one of the first I’d not the first album I listened to. I think the first was actually Wu-Tang’s 36 Chambers. For some reason, Nas had never been one of my favorites, when it comes to elite/classic hip hop.

Rapsy... ale dosc klasyczne, moze nie bedzie zle. Jest zle

Good lyrics, cool beats. Not one of my favorites but I like it.

This album is not for me at all. Favourite song: I couldnt pick one Least favourite: There was nothing on the album I enjoyed. Album artwork: Meh

I never sleep cause sleep is the cousin of death.

a game-changing album when it came out, and still a striking listen

💯реп

I need to find a course called "How to Appreciate Gangsta Rap" because YIKES there's a lot of it on this list (and in our culture, I guess). I'm glad for him that Nas got out of the crack game and into the rap game. The grooves and vocals were better than the usual, but this is still; all tropes top to bottom, nothing new. It was not a bad listen though. Less violent and gross than a some, like Notorious B.I.G. or Tupac.

Just not my jam at all

One of my favorite albums of all time. Nas wrote the bible. I can't comprehend how this shaped the rap landscape and brought an attitude to NYC. 1994 was a good year alright

Throwback but nice. Can totally hear his NY accent in this album.

Raps not really my genre. But this is melodic with compelling text.

Some badass og hip hop. Particularly love the world is yours.

Lyrically impressive, great flows, chill beats and backing tracks. Excellent album to listen to and chill. I haven’t really listened to NAS before and this one lived up to the hype. Definitely will be on the regular rotation.

Good shit

Musik för människor med lite mindre intelligens, typ Trumpanhängare och Putinälskare. Pol Pot hade nog gillat det här.

good and classic

Greatest rap album of all time

I don’t listen to a lot of rap, but this is a good album.

It was good but not one I will go back to I think

5-

Simply one of the best rap albums of all time. Nas walks the fine line between raw and polished lyricism, with the end product being an album that has stood the test of time.

Skaplig 90-talsrap, sparade några låtar, men hela albumet är helt ok med några låtar som sticker ut

ainda lembro do quanto o opener OBLITEROU minha mente do rock em 2014

Pretty good, no low points.

People being "hard" into mics gets a little repetitive.

I didn't know I liked this album this much but ended up playing through it three times, wasn't totally unfamiliar with it just not really properly listened to it, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Has a good slow jazz vibe. a little redundant song to song.

Loooove this allbum!!!

A classic by one of the GOATs of the genre, amazing atmosphere, great beats and irreplaceable flow. This one always makes me want to pick up a bass to play those loops!

The hip does in fact hop

Well it's not hard to see why this is so beloved, and there's not much else insight I feel I can provide. Great listen and I'm glad to have learned about something new

fire

A good album that doesn't hit in a big way for me. I can see what it's doing but I don't feel it

A hood classic Nas showing lyrical prowess impressive to his age at the time of recording.

If you've heard 90s hip hop, nothing will suprise you here. Hard to be blown away by a sound that was copied over and over again for way too many years. That being said... it's Nas, and if I was listening to this 20+ years ago it'd be one of my favorite albums out. A must listen for any hip-hop fan. 4.5 out of 5

felt familiar even though I've never heard it

Illmatic isn’t just an album; it’s a masterpiece that defines what hip-hop can be. it’s still as fresh and relevant today as it was back then. For me, this is the gold standard of rap albums, and its influence is undeniable. From the first track to the last, it’s clear that this is the work of an artist who understands the power of storytelling and the craft of lyricism. There’s a timelessness to this record. The first thing to mention is Nas’ lyricism. The word "genius" gets thrown around a lot, but here, it’s entirely appropriate. Nas paints vivid scenes of life in Queensbridge with an unparalleled knack for detail, weaving tales of struggle, ambition, and survival. Lines like “I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death” from "N.Y. State of Mind" stick with you, not just for their poetry but for their raw truth. His ability to balance introspection with hard-hitting street narratives is unmatched, making Illmatic feel deeply personal yet universally resonant. Nas’ ability to craft intricate rhymes and blend personal storytelling with larger societal commentary is nothing short of brilliant. He’s got a knack for using metaphors and wordplay in ways that feel effortless, but you can tell there’s so much thought behind every bar. His flow is arguably one of the defining elements of Illmatic. it’s the perfect balance of technical skill and emotion. The production is nearly flawless. Each beat matches Nas’ lyrical prowess perfectly. The jazz-infused samples, boom-bap drums, and soulful loops provide the perfect backdrop for Nas to shine. I love how the production complements the tone of each song, from the dark, gritty feel of “N.Y. State of Mind” to the smooth, reflective atmosphere of “The World Is Yours.” The production is sophisticated yet never detracts from the raw energy of Nas' delivery. It feels almost cinematic, as though the beats are telling their own stories alongside Nas' lyrics. Tracks like “One Love” and “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” exemplify how seamlessly Nas and his producers intertwine with the instrumental layers to create an unforgettable soundscape. Every detail, from the subtle background vocals to the percussion, is meticulously placed. It’s hard to fault Illmatic, but if I had to nitpick, the brevity could leave some listeners wanting more. While its tight runtime is part of what makes it so impactful, a couple of additional tracks might have fleshed out the world Nas creates even further. Additionally, while the production is stellar, a few moments feel slightly overshadowed by the beats, making you wish Nas’ vocals were just a touch more prominent in the mix. But honestly, these are minor issues in an otherwise flawless album. Illmatic is a shining example of what happens when lyrical genius meets top-tier production. It’s raw, poetic, and utterly timeless. Nas doesn’t just rap, he educates, reflects, and takes you on a journey through his world. Whether you’re new to hip-hop or a lifelong fan, this is an album that demands to be heard. There are few records in any genre that come as close to perfection as this one does. It’s a timeless classic, and for good reason. It’s a perfect encapsulation of ’90s hip-hop at its peak and a blueprint for everything that followed. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and dive into Illmatic

It's like a strong 8 on first listen. I definitely get that it's super influential, but the back half was a tad bit lacking for me. I think it'll grow on me though and it was very enjoyable. Life's a Bitch and then you die still the hardest line for me in most of hip hop and life in general.

I don't have much of a story here. I just remember not fucking with this album when i heard it when i was 14 cause my english teacher kept talking to me about it and I was sick to death of him talking about it. I hope he's in prison now a bit. Albums p awesome cool though glad i got to listen to it again.

An album that offers a shocking amount of parallel, often intentionally hypocritical, perspectives for such an autobiographical journey. Something that's interesting to revisit so many years into his career. A masterpiece borne from the inquisitive eye of a young man in a tumultuous world with more questions than answers. People talk about the career of Nas as a failure in ability to live up to his debut. I think it speaks more as the failures of a society to answer in a satisfactory way those questions so many 'Nas'es out there had from that generation. As the artist grew into the man, the impression of his words of wisdom appear to fall on the deaf ears of a world paralyzed by indecision. In a world such as this, we shouldn't have needed another one. Strong 8, Light 9

9/10 Your favorite rapper’s favorite rap album, and it probably should be your favorite rap album. At the age of 16 to 20, Nas wrote and released a lightning in a bottle Hip Hop album, being not just incredibly impressive for someone his age but would be a permanent blueprint for East Coast and Hip Hop as a genre. Even if you don’t like this album as much as other Hip Hop albums that you could debate are better than Illmatic, you’d be a fool to believe this record didn’t earn its reputation. We get a young and hungry kid from Queens already establishing himself as king of the game on here, and while for most rappers it seems like a typical premature statement to make, Nas’ energy, rhymes, and subject matter have set the bar for some of the best rap has to offer. His clever rhyme schemes paint a very grim portrait of New York, specifically through his life as a teenager subject to poverty and crime. We get crack deals gone wrong, bodies pumped full of lead, police confrontations that lead to an intense chase or a deadly shootout, an overwhelming exposure to violence and hedonism is what Nas puts the listener through on this record. And while most “Gangster Rap” records might dive deeply into the intensity and brashness of these themes, Nas offers a much more introspective and philosophical side to this kind of writing. What do we get to counter this intense and horrific lifestyle? Survival and “realness”. We get a duality of nihilism and perseverance on Illmatic that proved to be one of the most essential rubrics for “realness” in the genre, Nas reaps his glory and reputation not with temporary hedonistic desires but with a better way out of this loop of trauma and destruction, and better displayed with how Nas lives his life now. It’s a great “Hero’s Journey” soundtrack with a bunch of the most iconic Boom Bap and Jazz Rap beats of the 90s, most notably by DJ Premier and many other iconic East Coast producers. Unfortunately this album really does overshadow the rest of Nas’ discography, leading to many modern listeners believing it was a fluke, that’s until Nas would release a string of records with Hit Boy almost 30 years later consisting of some of the best rap albums this decade, establishing him as a noteworthy contender for the GOAT yet again. Woke Nas be like “My style switches like a f****t but I’m bisexual”

DAMN

For something we'll out of my usual wheelhouse I really enjoyed this

Should relisten. Good, but nothing caught my attention

The beats are so clean, the overall production smooth as glass. It feels like less sampling and more like composition. The opposite of Wu Tang and other contemporaries, but still part of the same story. Even when they are using samples, it's so damn clean. The rapping is such a great bridge between the late 80s/early 90s stuff and what we would get in the late 90s into the 2000s. Obviously very influential, a turning point. Just a stellar album all the way around. Maybe a little bit of filler, but not enough to ding it. He's obviously one of the best rappers, incredible rhyming.

Enjoyed it even if it’s a little one note. Not a ton of track variety. 3 1/2 star feel for me. First hip hop album that’s come up here which was nice for variety

Obviously an influential record, but one I find relatively boring. Pretty dynamic beats but pretty standard flows (to modern ears uneducated in hip hop at least).

I was not expecting to like this at all but I still don't think it's fantastic but I ended up liking it. I think the standout's for me is N.Y. State of Mind and Halftime.

Banger

One of the most important and influential albums in American music over the past quarter-century. I don't listen to it often but Nas' lyricism and general intensity have solidified this into a stone-cold classic. "New York State of Mind" and "Life's a Bitch" is still one of the best one-two punches in rap history. I think the second half is generally weaker but still consistently good, with some of the beats sounding a bit dated by today's standard. Still excellent.

thank god its something new. i am not super rap cultured so looking forward 2 it! love when an album starts w a media clip and or crosstalk so liking that. smth i admire the rap i have listened 2 for is that its so lyrically dense but it does make it slower to listen to attentively bc i keep wanting to pause n read the genius annotations lol. like his stream of consciousness narration it feels very fluid. also "straight out the fuckin dungeons of rap" is a great opener. "full of children" lmao. okay i like this guy. sleep is the cousin of death thats fun. ny state of mind by which he mean it sucks billy joel. "life is a parallel to hell" man i feel like i could listen to this like 5x n not run out of interesting snippets to think abt. the turntable scratching shit is extremely Rap From The Nineties tho lol. "he released this album when he was 20" thanks what am i doing w my life #??? etc. awwww his dad is the guy playing trumpet....no guys like out for Dead presidents. braves mentioned? sorry my notes r sporadic for this one bc i keep having to pause to think abt / read the lyrics lmao. ohhhhh its halftime bc u have to flip the track....ngl i do admire the its a physical item ness of records vs cds or streaming like u miss the opportunity to do fun stuff. boo f slur throw it in there w/e. okay sorry im just reading the genius dot com im not sayin anything particularly smart abt this 1 iknow. i wouldnt say this is an album id listen to on repeat--its By Design centering experiences, making references etc i dont get as a white guy from not queens + theres (as w every album we fucking listen to on this site) still the element of straight guy being edgy in ways that dont further his point mixed in w the instances that Do what hes trying to do--but the craftsmanship + the emotion behind the verses are absolutely dead on good as hell. really feel like as i said on ny state of mind i could listen to this one forever n consider the lyrics from a new angle forever. like my head feels stuffy from thinking abt it. i also know juuuust enough ball to see how this mustve been massively influential + how thisll give me new insight listening to rap/hiphop from now on bc i see a little bit more of the tradition now so unlike fucking aftermath by the stones or the blues breakers for once i feel like this was a 100% deserved inclusion on the albums to listen to before u die list. thats gonna be a 4/5 from me. standout tracks: ny state of mind, halftime, memory lane, represent. would i buy a physical record? idk but if i did i would relish flipping it over after halftime. going to have to come back to this one later honestly

The other day I drove past a cigar bar on a country road that had a sign in the Godfather font.

It’s hard to believe that Illmatic is over 30 years old. The production still feels fresh. It’s hard to put it into words, but there’s something different about this record that sets it apart from any other hip-hop records of its time. While it is undoubtedly East Coast, Nas’ rhyming patterns and lyricism definitely rise above most of what came then and immediately after and should still be viewed as a benchmark. Favorite tracks: The World is Yours, Halftime, It Ain’t Hard to Tell This would probably get 3.5 stars if I could

I pushed through this one quick and didn’t have a lot to say. Nas is…fine. He’s an incredible technical rapper and his beats are metronome precise but there’s always just a little missing oomph and this listen didn’t catch me. 3/5 on this one.

plays its hand a bit early doesn’t it? excellent verses for most of the runtime but the repetitive instrumentals can become a little grating after a while. one of those albums that i can appreciate for its impact while not being fully in love with it & that’s ok!

5/5

Really pretty good, and that's high praise given it's not really my genre of choice!

Не впевнений що можу оцінити реп не розуміючи мови. Хоча, може краще і не знати що він там співає

Interesting. Not my style but I see Why this is considered a good example.

Hip Hop. 1/5

Отличный альбом. Просто пушка, побольше бы такого 5+

One of the greatest rap albums of all time, absolutely phenomenal album. Every song is better than the next, all time classic Best Song: NY State of Mind Rating: 9.5/10 5 Stars

honestly hip hop kinda goated ngl

Old school 90s rap done right ✅

One of the building blocks of the genre

Classic 90s hip hop!

Another example of I can understand the importance of this album Music-history wise, but it’s just not my jam

I’ve heard this album before and really enjoyed it. First time listening on my new headphones though and being able to hear more of the intricacies and more oomph with the base felt like listening to it for the very first time. Halftime stood out to me on this listen as my favorite.

Life’s a bitch, and then you die…that’s why we get high! (cause you never know when you’re gonna go…)

The beats were cool and he’s a good rap artist but just not my thing

Hip hopiksi ihan ok

Best hip hop album of all time containing some of the best hip hop songs of all time

I don't like rap or hiphop so I'm not a fair critic here. There are a few rap artists or albums that with for me; this wasn't one of them.

Smooth

Not my style of rap. I only really liked the one track with Q-tip

Розйобний базовий NYC альбом , класично хіпхопний ,сам Насір крутий лірецист та флоу в нього важкий і ритмічно комплексний , це базаосноваґрунт так шо 10 з 10 , слова зайві

Класичний хіп-хоп альбом, та шедевральний лірика. Квінтесенція реп музики 90-х

Oh hey I know this one

First introduction into this genre of music, thoroughly enjoyed.

if you gave this one star and have hip hop in your least favourite genres on your page, i hope to never have to interact with you.

It was nice and I actually danced to some tracks but that's it

Uff. Sehr roh.

Unbeatable. One of the best of all time.

#452. All these songs are basically the same. This album just kinda fades into the background for me. 3/5: meh Song added to playlist: N.Y. State of Mind I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

This is one of the greatest rap albums of all time. One of my favourites. So many good songs on here. A master rhymer and the beats go hard too.

Classic hip hop album. Just a great vibe all the way through. Most of the hits you know from Nas are on this one, too. I remember what a huge hit this was when it was new - feels like it would be again today.

A 90s hip-hop classic, the benchmark of every album from the genre since its release. Timeless production throughout and electric delivery from Nas. This album transports you to 90s brooklyn, but in no way feels dated listening today. No song is unnecessary and the album does not outstay its welcome. Fave tracks: - NY State of Mind - Life's a Bitch - The World is Yours Worst tracks: N/A Rating: 9/10

A good groove, pretty non-abrasive and on occasion downright good.

This is better than most hip hop and rap albums imo. Still not what I’d listen to regularly but glad to be exposed to it.

One of the top 5 rap albums of all time.

One of the greatest rap albums ever

Nas tells a real story about real life in New York, and makes poignant points that were likely very much ahead of the time in which they were written.

Poignant production provides Nas the perfect platform for his flawless flows, masterful meter, and luminous lyricism: it ain't hard to tell why this is a hallowed hip-hop classic.

And the story continues. I can't relate, as this is a part of reality that is very remote from mine. I can only say that people tell this one to be very authentic, despite aggressive and hard. But on account, such is that part of reality, and it is said that this record is a more than adequate reflection on it. Musically, this resonates very well with me, the flow of the story telling, the musical execution, quotes, citations all sound convincing and original. Due to my technical non-competency to rate this, I build a position based on the music and the above opinion -making. I will have this one as one of a few records of its genre to give a repeated listen.

Aaand it sucks from the beginning. But then some parts are not terrible. But then some parts are terrible again!

6.5/10- Not a huge 90s rap guy. But this is changing my mind. Listened on a run and great vibezz.

one of the goat rap albums.

Not my cup of tea. I am not too much into hip-hop, apart from some exceptions, and this album is not one of them. Music-wise very boring and as I am not a native speaker, the lyrics (which are supposed to be very good) don’t make up for the missing variety in the music.

An album I've come to appreciate over the past few years, especially this time around. Way up there in terms of rap albums for me.

It’s ok, and I like his flow, a bit masculine for me though

Nas ⭐️⭐️⭐️ This album was sort of new to me. 1994 was not a hip hop year in my life. My flatmate used to play this album and I used to turn it off and put on whatever crappy cheesy house collection I was listening to at the time. Some amazing highlights. - Nas is clearly a great rapper - his flow and wordplay is excellent - The collaboration with Q-Tip - The world 🌍 is yours 💥 - NY State of mind 🇺🇸 Lowlights - it’s just too much Nas. - The album just get’s too samey - Needs more guests!

Very enjoyable. Especially the first half. I definitely want to spend more time with this album as I don’t really know it. I loved his delivery and the overall sound of it, evoking a strong sense of place. You feel as though you are in New York.

Magnificent. Probably the greatest hip hop album of all time

Mag ich nicht

I can't score this objectively - this was one of the albums that got me into hip-hop when I was young, and Nas was an absolute reference.

Life is too short to listen to bad music like this. Skip quickly through each track. Consider skipping the album entirely.

Started out great, but felt like it fell off towards the end. 3.5/5

Nas once asked us to collaborate with him. Imagine Nas, Houmous & Chutney. Unfortunately Len thought he was just an overhyped potty mouth. Len can be so stubborn at times! 4.2

En 1994, le hip-hop avait un accent, il parlait avec la nonchalance ensoleillée de la Californie. Dr. Dre et Snoop Dogg avaient imposé leur G-funk suave et hédoniste au monde entier. Le rap, c'était des voitures qui rebondissent, des barbecues et des rythmes lents qui sentaient la weed. Pendant ce temps-là, à New York, le Wu-Tang Clan jouait la carte de l'agression pure, du son crade et des mythologies de films de kung-fu. L'East Coast cherchait sa nouvelle voix, son nouveau prophète. Et puis un gamin de 20 ans a débarqué des cités du Queensbridge. Il s'appelait Nasir Jones, alias Nas et il n'avait pas l'intention de jouer le jeu. Son premier album, "Illmatic", est un ovni. Un disque court, dense, d'une maturité absolument stupéfiante. Oubliez les CDs interminables de 70 minutes, remplis de skits inutiles, qui étaient la norme à l'époque. Nas nous livre 10 morceaux en 39 minutes et pas une seconde de gras. Chaque titre est essentiel, chaque rime est pesée, chaque instru est parfaite. C'est un bloc de béton, un diamant brut poli à l'extrême. C'est là toute la force et la beauté d'"Illmatic". C'est un album intemporel. En 1994, je voyais passer des dizaines de disques de rap qui, six mois après leur sortie, sonnaient déjà comme des reliques. Les productions vieillissaient à une vitesse folle. "Illmatic", lui, pourrait sortir demain matin. Pourquoi ? Parce qu'il ne repose pas sur une mode, mais sur deux piliers indestructibles : le talent pur du parolier et l'excellence des architectes sonores. D'abord Nas, à 20 ans le mec n'écrit pas des textes, il peint des fresques. C'est un putain de poète de la rue qui ne glorifie pas la vie de gangster, il la raconte avec la précision d'un reporter de guerre , la lucidité d'un vieil homme et la rage d'un gamin qui a vu son frère et son meilleur ami se faire tirer dessus la même nuit. Son flow est d'une fluidité irréelle, ses rimes sont d'une complexité folle. Il ne se contente pas de rimer en fin de phrase, il tisse des toiles de mots, des échos, des assonances au coeur même de ses vers. C'est technique, c'est virtuose, c'est du grand art. Ensuite les producteurs et le casting est hallucinant, DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip. La crème de la crème de la production new-yorkaise de l'époque. Chaque morceau a une couleur unique et une âme. Les beats sont jazzy, granuleux, mélancoliques. Ils samplent des vieux disques de jazz ou de soul pour créer une atmosphère cinématographique, une bande-son parfaite pour les chroniques de Nas. Cette production, riche et texturée, est la deuxième raison pour laquelle l'album ne vieillit pas. Il a un son organique, chaud, qui transcende les époques. Alors, pourquoi un 4 sur 5 ? Pourquoi pas la note parfaite pour un album que je viens de décrire comme un chef-d'oeuvre ? Illmatic est un album que je respecte infiniment. Que j'admire, c'est une merveille d'intelligence et de technique. C'est un disque qui parle à ma tête mais pas à mon coeur. C'est un disque d'une telle perfection formelle qu'il en devient parfois un peu distant, un peu froid. C'est un tableau de maître qu'on contemple avec admiration, mais qui ne vous saute pas à la gorge. Pour moi, un 5/5, c'est un disque qui, au-delà de sa perfection, provoque une réaction physique, un choc émotionnel brut. C'est la mélancolie suicidaire de Joy Division, l'arrogance des Stone Roses. "Illmatic" est d'une autre nature, c'est une oeuvre plus cérébrale, plus contenue dans son expression. Sa violence est dans les mots, pas dans le son. Sa tristesse est dans le constat, pas dans les larmes. C'est pour cette raison, cette toute petite distance émotionnelle, que je lui accorde un "gros" 4 sur 5. Un 4 qui vaut le 5 de 99% des autres disques de rap. C'est un album mature, essentiel, un classique absolu du hip-hop que tout amateur de musique se doit d'avoir écouté. C'est une leçon d'écriture et de production. Un monument. Mais pour moi, il lui manque cette petite étincelle de folie qui transforme un chef-d'oeuvre en une obsession.

Monotone muziek

I wish we got a little more AZ in here, but this has a credible claim to being the greatest hiphop album of all time. 5/5

Great lyrics, if still not my genre of choice.

Had a good flow and rhythm, not spectacular enough though to warrant more than 3-stars.

Dit soort muziek laat me volkomen koud. Het is kort en er vallen relatief weinig onvertogen woorden, maar het is ook wel erg eentonig. Ene oor in, andere oor uit.

Maar 40 minuten. Zal elk luistermaatje dit rap-plaatje dan wel uitluisteren? Het is aan de andere kant wat eentonig. Dus wellicht wordt er weer doorgezapt. Er is vooral weinig mis met dit plaatje. Echt boven het jaren-90-rap-maaiveld komt dit niet. En dan hebben we weer een vergeetbare 3.

Ik heb mijn laatste hiphopalbums, van 2pac, ice t en dr octagon respectievelijk, met 2 maal een 4 en 1 maal een 3 beoordeeld. En ik heb deze week uit eigen vrije wil het album Mindstate van Pete Philly opgezet. Dan kun je niet zeggen dat ik een hekel heb aan hiphop. Dit album vind ik best prima te pruimen. De track NY State of mind gaat me nog wel iets teveel over coke, n**z en pistolen, maar de flow op de (doorgaans eentonige) (break)beat is lekker early 90s. Het geheel wordt opgesierd door af en toe een pianosample of een scratch. Maar ik vind de sound en de rap nergens uitspringen, ik zou Nas niet herkennen in een playlist. En dat heb ik met sommige andere rappers wel, ofwel door de stijl van de muziek of de rap ofwel door de stem. Wat misschien wel het meest bijzondere aan dit album is, is dat het nog geen 40 minuten in beslag neemt. Normaal gesproken krijgen we meer dan een uur voor onze kiezen, maar ome Nasir weet zijn ongenoegen een stuk sneller te uiten. En dat is toch prettig. Scoor je bijna een bonuspuntje mee. Bijna. Meer dan een 3 kan ik hiervoor niet geven.

Memory Lane was good. I appreciate this one, I can understand it, its draws a picture well of a story and feelings on a world/life (I don't understand) and it is not solely focused on ho's and how great he is. I am not a big rap fan, but I can appreciate there is something really impressive behind this album.

I really liked this. Great lyrics, great raps, great beats. I was groovin.

the stuff that i write is even tougher than dykes!!!!!!! the beats go harddddd, catchy and satisfying with a great variety of sound/melody, not too repetitive or samey. i liked this a lot. and obviously i loved all the NYC references. the outro of “the world is yours” made me kinda tear up ngl… fav tracks: NY state of mind; halftime

I was reminded of a conversation I had with my professor in college who was an old white gay man that said he didn’t like rap (classic), and when all the students of course were trying to clock him on his old white guy bias and ask him why he didn’t like it, he said the music that resonated with him was more oriented towards lyric melody than lyric rhythm. While that is, to this day, the closest thing I’ve heard to a valid justification for anti-rap bias, it did actually help me articulate what it is that draws me in about a lot of rap, particularly the era of *Illmatic* (and a lot of east coast hip hop). I don’t really have the language to describe what is so satisfying about the delivery on this album, other than he is obviously extremely skilled at rapping over a beat *on beat* (a low bar I realize, but a feat that many rappers nowadays cannot achieve), and his flow and the songs’ hooks are insanely catchy. I also am a sucker for any album about New York (he’s from Crown Heights 😎), especially with such vivid storytelling (even if some of the language has not aged well). It’s a time capsule without sounding corny and dated; even the songs that didn’t pop out to me as favorites are all still interesting and feel part of a cohesive body of work with no lulls. Fav tracks: N.Y. State of Mind, The World Is Yours, One Love (feat. Q-Tip), Represent

pa ja, ok

A classic that I've never listened to. I now understand. The beats. Nas' flow. 10/10

Fun

Meh

Phenomenal. The best album so far, very glad I got to hear it - very much on the list.

Songs i knew: all of em Songs i like: all of em pretty much Koffi delivered a banger, always a pleasure to come back round to this. Hit after hit, such a raw and gritty sound to this which you just don't get anymore. East Coast hip hop at its finest. Mid 5.

Along with the 36 Chambers, this is THE sound of 90’s East Coast hip hop. There’s not really much to say, there was hip hop before those albums and hip hop afterwards. For me, 36 chambers just edges it but this is still great. Beats slap, lyrics are a great mix of personal experience and storytelling, can’t pick a fault with it (try as I might just to piss Chris off). Best tracks: NY State of Mind, The World is Yours, Represent