Reviews (page 9 of 14)
This is the most excited I've been to jump into an album since this experiment started. This is one of those albums that always makes my top albums of all time but it's been a couple of years since I played it. One of them ones that you love but rinsed as a yoot so don't go back that often. Incredible flow from Nas throughout with different rhyme styles throughout which was unmatched at the time. The sampling is sick too. DJ Prem needs mad props for coming up with THAT beat for NY State of Mind (aka The Greatest Hip-Hop Song of All Time). Just watch this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DXw4AtwclU&ab_channel=Tracklib Highlights: N.Y. State of Mind The World Is Yours Halftime One Love One Time 4 Your Mind Lowlights: Don't like the beat on Life's a Bitch Always a toss-up for me between this and 36 Chambers for the best East Coast album. Think Wu slightly edges it but it's so close.
Not really my style at the moment, but with that in mind, I liked it.
Urban
How have I never listened to this before? This is fabulous. Perfect mid-90s vibe. Loungey, scratchy, real music, real flow. This is a gem. Saving every song. The authentic Queens accent is the cherry on top.
I recognise the greatness of this album, and it's immaculately produced and performed. There's something about it though that never really clicked fully with me, maybe the immaturity of some of the lyrics. That said, the lyrics aren't overly misogynistic or homophobic (apart from a couple of slurs here and there) and the story of the album is very transporting in a way that feels genuine. Listening to it feels like listening to a snippet of a day in early 90s Brooklyn or Queens. Bumping it up to a 9/10 because it's so influential, and to counter some of the rap haters in the reviews.
A classic
First time listening to a rap album. It was quite interesting. Love the melody and the beats.
2 Stars (5/15)
Highlights: This World Is Yours, Halftime. In a nutshell: the shape of hip-hop to come. There's something unique about Nas' delivery that sets him apart from his peers on both coasts. It sounds softer but still packs the punch (I don't know how else to describe it). As said previously, hip hop isn't my thing. But I can tell that Nas has influenced dozens of hip hop artists. Some of them I've encountered in this project: Kendrick Lamar, Lupe Fiasco and (possibly) Tupac. Overall: 5/10
really really good this. didn't know much about Nas but definitely will be looking more into his stuff
This is bloody awesome, especially for a debut album. It's way too consistent.
Gear: Moondrop Variations Artwork: 👶🏿🍼🌆 Production: 😑🙂👌 Music: 🎤📜🌆💔💡🔊💲 Rating: 🌆🌆🌆🌆(🌆)/5
No. 294/1001 The Genesis N.Y. State of Mind 4/5 Life's a Bitch 4/5 The World is Yours 4/5 Halftime 4/5 Memory Lane 5/5 One Love 4/5 One Time 4 Your Mind 4/5 Represent 4/5 It Ain't Hard To Tell 5/5 Average: 4,22 Just awesome from beginning to end. Great lyrics & great flow.
# Album Name: Illmatic # Artist: Nas # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Meh. It was nothing more than a passing by for me. Ive said it before and ill say it again, the earlier hip hop stuff is still more palatable than the newer stuff. # Top Tunes: None. # Would I listen to it again? Probably not.
Best wel nice 7.5/10
Tedious
Well, here we are. So, full disclosure, rap and hip-hop are not my go-to genres. Being more of a rock guy, I don’t tend to do really any rap. That means that I have yet to listen to any of the most beloved rap albums. This project, however, is a good entry point to some of those albums to see how I would react to them. This is one of them. I heard many great things about Nas, but never listened to his music before. All signs pointed to this being one of the most important hip-hop albums in existence, so the expectations were high. I will say that Nas is very talented. The flow within the songs is amazing.(god I hope I’m using that term right) Everything just goes smooth and the samples are on point. I can see why many consider him to be one of the greatest rappers. I also enjoy the focus on growing up in Queens and the various factors that affected Ana’s, especially the focus on the lives of those come to Nas and how growing up surrounded by gangs and drugs had a big impact. It gives a nice personal edge to the album. It’s a nice touch for a rap album to see about things other than fame, money, and sex, in that order. However, my biggest issue with this album is that not many of the songs had an impact on me. I kind of felt that most of the album sounded similar for most of its runtime. As someone who isn’t that big into hip-hop or rap, this didn’t particularly sway me. I can see what many like about it, but for me it didn’t really do much. Favorite track: It Ain’t Hard to Tell Other hits: Life’s A Bitch, N.Y. State of Mind, The World is Yours
Quintessential rap. Nothing about it really sticks out.
Overall: 8/10 This album inspired so many rappers that its hard to analyze it on its own. The beats are chill, which I find hilarious given the lyrical content (Nas grew up in a violent environment). Pretty stellar album that I'll need to revisit. Fav Song: Memory Lane (Sittin' in the Park) Least Fav Song: Halftime
Sehr gut produziert und arrangiert. Hier wurden die Schwächen in der Melodie und im Rhythmus, da fast immer gleich, hervorragend kompensiert. Hier ist mehr Schein als Sein.
Not my genre of choice but had groovy rhythms and rhymes.
Better than expected. Highlights: - The World is Yours - Half Time - It Ain't Hard to Tell
Really not for me but I'm not it's audience obviously. I've never visited hip hop and rap as a genre. This had some good beats but not for me.
Not my thing, but the beats are great and Nas' flow is great. By the time this album was released, I was no longer a hip hop head and I was pretty detached from popular music. I mention that to make clear that I have no sense of how this album fits in the progression of hip hop. Regardless, the groove is deep enough throughout this album that it kept my head bobbing through the whole listen. I'll go 4 stars on it.
Rap
3.5
A pleasant surprise, I've never heard a complete Nas album, this one left me shaking my shoulders at the rhythm of the songs, hmm, hmmm :-D
Good background listening. Good beats. Mostly the same
not for me sorry
Was alright, not super engaging - sounded like it was probably very influential and important but I didn't enjoy it much
Not my cup of tea, but can see why it's rated well
love this one, it doesnt resonate with me though, but I can clearly see the master piece it is
This is the exact kind of hip-hop I can't stand.
Absolutely no contest, this is the best hip hop album of the 90s. The rapping is absolutely top notch, and the beats and instrumentals are just as fantastic. The hip hop scene in New York was bursting in the 90s, and this album is the absolute best thing that era of music has to show for it.
Man. I know I say this every time but rap isn't my genre. Even I can't deny that this is great. The rhymes and flow is better than about any I've heard. It doesn't really feel like the grittier bits are glamorizing - it feels more like he's reflecting the environment he knows. NY State of Mind, Life's a Bitch, and The World is Yours, Halftime are standouts.
Feel good music. Not usually my style but loved the lyrics and the music
I said a hip-hop, the hippie, the hippie To the hip, hip-hop and you don't stop the rockin' To the bang-bang boogie, say up jump the boogie To the rhythm of the boogie, the beat
DJ premier!! Undeniably talented lyricist and had a big cultural impact on east coast rap scene. One of the best debut albums…
10/10
A couple of the songs were interesting but the rest all blurred together. This is really not my thing
Well, this is a long time coming. Of the "greatest rappers" out there, I hadn't listened to Nas until now. I've heard of him before as an East Coast rapper, and the reputation of his debut album Illmatic eclipses the rest of his discography. I just never sought it out until this journey, and after listening I can see the hype. What Nas accomplished early on with his lyrical flow and storytelling on this record established the standard to which we hold rappers today. He employed a lot of intricate wordplay and rhyming schemes that utilized some vivid imagery to paint his upbringing in the streets of New York, where drugs and violence were rampant at the time, as well as his understanding of hip hop's history to push the narrative forward. I can point to lines from the get-go "Musician, inflictin' composition of pain/I'm like Scarface sniffin' cocaine/Holdin' an M16, see, with the pen I'm extreme" ("N.Y. State of Mind") or "King poetic, too much flavor, I'm major/Atlanta ain't Brave-r, I pull a number like a pager/‘Cause I'mma ace when I face the bass/40-side is the place that is givin' me grace" ("Halftime") and recognize the degree to which Nas articulates in a manner that I can follow along as if we're in a conversation while still trying to up his own game. The various people involved in the production, such as Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Large Professor, and Q-Tip, helped accentuate Nas's lyrics. They each brought an eclectic mix of samples and thumping beats to keep pace and bring out the vibes with elements from jazz, funk, and soul. Some personal highlights include the Hammond organ prominent throughout "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)", the swirling mix of horns on "It Ain't Hard to Tell", and the eerie electric piano sample for "Represent". That said, as much as I recognize this is a landmark album in hip-hop music, I still found the album dated in some of the language Nas used. There are lines such as "I'm out for dead presidents to represent me" ("The World is Yours") and "Versatile, my style switches like a f-----" ("Halftime") which were probably notable for the time but haven't aged well as the years went on. Especially where I can see how Illmatic influenced later albums that I've already listened to on this journey such as Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city, and Common's Be which have a more refined sense of wordplay and more polished production. I respect Illmatic for what it brought to the rap game. This is one of those albums that walked for others to run, while still being enjoyable. As such, I can recommend it to those curious about what came before.
GOAT DEMAIS esquece illmatic é arte
um absurdo. os beats, as letras, tudo cabulosíssimo. tem jeito não, é um dos melhores da época memo. life's a bitch and then you die.
Yeah, yeah, say what, zukka, zukka. Got it all in here! Felt there was a heavy m’n’m influence and a solid base line on each track. The World Is Yours and Halftime top the album. The rest seemed like typical thug rap to me. Sounds like nasty Nas is a clever intellectual bisexual. Know what I’m sayin’. (2.8*s)
Nas can't be matched lyrically, his flow and rhyme scheme become the standard for all East Coast hip hop post-1994. I'm familiar with most of the tracks on here but didn't realize this was his debut, really solid. Also didn't know Q-Tip had his hand in there but really no surprise, masters of their craft and a great combo. A crisp classic 3.35.
Nasty Nas k-ills it with this debut album. This is hip-hop boiled down to its essence but with added complexity. The beats are raw and the lyrical content is smart. Nas' flow twists through rhyming schemes that come together flawlessly. This album cracked the code and the balance is almost unrivaled. Nas is one of the top wordsmith masters of all-time and on this album It Ain't Hard to Tell...3.75.
Nas and his featured artists consistently have good flow with some decent lyrics accompanied by relatively simple production. The songs are pretty straightforward and consumable. The one knock I have is that everything started to sound the same by the end of it. The songs all have similar structure with basic beats and little variance to the hook so they start to run into each other. Illmatic is a pretty good album but I'm wondering why this is held in such high regard instead of just another run of the mill debut album from a NY rapper. Maybe it hit at the right time or represented NYC in a way that I'm not aware of. Either way, decent album just didn't stand out as a landmark album to me in any way. 2.85 stars
Fav: The World Is Yours Least Fav: One Love (feat. Q-Tip) Albums like these really make me want to get into hip hop, it just hits all the right notes for me
might be my new favourite rap album?
It’s good but rap just gives me no goosebumps
Some of this is catchy, a lot of it sounds like it was done to the same click track. Just not a huge fan but I recognize its impact.
A solid debut from a young artist at the time. I can appreciate the album more based on brevity. Many artists in this genre think more is better. This album disproves that. I also liked the choice of of sampling which is subtle, yet helps tie together old world influences with the new. My only real complaint is the overall feel of each song, with every one feeling like it was written at the same tempo.
I don’t know a lot about Nas but know a lot point to this album as a major inspiration or at least an important album of the genre. Liked this a lot, pretty simple overall which really allows Nas’ talents to take center stage.
Makes me feel cooler than I am. Nice rhymes.
A classic but not an all time favorite of mine. Rounding up based on influence alone. 3.5/5
Yet ANOTHER rap album. Yet another zero rating in truth
Smooth
Not bad but Stillmatic is the better album
Classic hip hop album and you can tell. Feel like I’m selling drugs in New York in the 90s while listening to this. Very solid throughout, not much to complain about. Can’t give it a 5 because it didn’t age as well as other albums from around the same time
Again just a case of respecting the album rather than enjoying it.
Without a doubt Nas is lyrically excellent. Illmatic is like a window into the Ghetto, for a white brit the whole topic is another world to me, but Nas is a storyteller. It's good, production is great. Beats all meld into 1 on this album though, sounds like 40 mins of the same track imo. Heavy topics, well worded, I think he might have smoked an L at some point. Don't think he mentioned that. Was going to go middle of road but listening to those samples perfectly repurposed is something magic, also It Ain't Hard to Tell is a great track. Love the flow.
Rapwith a silent 'C' He must have been delighted when he realised 'Nigga' 'Trigger' and 'Bigger all rhyme
жизнь - сука, и тут я согласен на все 100.....
Hip-Hip is not really my genre, although I like some here and there. Nas is an artist I have never heard of. Some of the samples are interesting and the vibe and delivery is a bit more chilled and laid back when compared to say N.W.A. or Public Enemy. However the lyrics could be considered \"angry\". This album contains all the elements that Hip-Hop fans seem to love. Those who aren't into Hip-Hop like myself may find this album drags a bit.
Used to be five stars, but still amazing. I especially love Halftime and Sittin in da Park with that awesome organ sample.
This is a hip-hop "Mount Rushmore" album candidate for me. Not only is it one of the greatest debut albums of all time, but it's probably the most important East Coast hip hop album considering the landscape at the time. Nas, who was only 20 years old at the album's release mind you, assumes the "King of New York" mantle with a somehow unassuming bravado. He leans on an already lifetime's worth of experiences growing up in inner city Queens. A vivid picture of the NY streets is painted throughout these 10 tracks, helped even more so by Nas' fluid & poetic lyrical approach. There are just too many memorable verses to count that each track almost warrants its own in-depth dissection. Lest I forget to mention the production and sampling featured throughout. Snippets from Kool & the Gang, The Gap Band, Michael Jackson, etc. paired with DJ Premier & co.'s crisp beats make for a very clean and enhancing production. The only "negative" I can think of is that the album flies by while listening. It's so seamless and comfy for a hip-hop album that 40 minutes goes by just like *that*, then you're right back to "The Genesis". Not a single wasted second or bad track on hand, which is a testament to the talent of both the artist and production team involved. Easy 10/10 for me. "Nas'll rock well, it ain't hard to tell"
The motherfucking greatest album of all time. The thing that started my whole music journey. Even bought it on CD. As I go through life, I find myself finding a new favourite song from this album. A top 3 is hard even on a 10 track album 1. New York State of mind 2. One love 3. World is yours All very interchangeable with top 3 bc I’m an indecisive duck
Nothing too memorable. Kinda bland. Two stars for some good sampling.
классический реп 4/10
The best rap album all time
Someone could tell me that this is objectively the greatest rap album of all time and I truthfully would have a hard time trying to argue. I guess it ain’t hard to tell.
One of the best albums on the list One of the best albums ever The best hip hop album ever
eh
This is my era of rap, beats, flows, life stories, and all smooth. A classic
Es malardo, del rap que no me gusta para nada. Todo ladrido.
The only thing better than this classic? Seeing Nasty Nas perform it live with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra at Red Rocks.
Best debut Hip-Hop album ever released, if you disagree you know nothing about Hip-Hop.
Nas is one of the greatest rappers of all time and represents NY rap better than almost anyone. I really like this album, but its lyrics have aged poorly and have a lot of misogyny, homophobia, and racist tones. I suppose that's part of Nas's life experiences through 1994, but it still needs to be included that despite the excellence in flows and beats, the content of the lyrics doesn't fit in with the social conscious of today's world
Just not In the mood
Greatest rap album
it seems better than a lot of post-80s hip-hop because it’s not so obviously psychopathic but there’s still so much fucking swearing
Can't even remember anything about this, and I only finished listening to it an hour ago.
American shit hip hop
Flow besser als der aus meiner Nas in Allergiesaison
Strong mid nineties hip hop album
Maybe the best rap album of all time? Hard to say, but it's a strong contender for the greatest album of all time, genre aside. Holy smokes, this record is incredible.
Lives up to the hype, though I will need to relisten and dive deeper to fully appreciate.
Prima te beluisteren, maar verder ook niet heel bijzonder als je het mij vraagt. 3 sterren is zat.
Life’s a Bitch was a vibe.
All time great East Coast hip hop.
landmark
Illmatic is revered as the best, or one of the best, rap/hp-hop albums of all time, and for good reason. The sound, the flow, the lyrical dexterity, the very real way it brings you into where he's from and the life of his community, the storytelling, it's all outstanding and an obvious 5/5, even if it's not actually my favourite album (I thought The Blueprint was better, for example). A massive influence too, even to this day, that's some legacy and heritage.
This is great - have listened to this a few times over the last couple of days and it gets better with every listen. Flow on this is brilliant, lyrics and storytelling are great, and the production gives it enough music around it without distracting from the main event. Can't fault it, best rap album we've had. 5/5
Really not a fan of rap
One of the few albums have that come up that feature regularly in my normal listening history. Not enough belters to justify five stars but not far off.
Nas started writing on this album when he was only 16 years old but once it actually released he was 20. 4 years of writing, rapping and co-producing and one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time was finished which still to this day is regarded as one of the best written Hip Hop albums of all time. Even at his young age, Nas was able to right self conscious and introspective texts that he could perform like no one else. This album is a masterpiece and without a doubt one of the best Hip Hop albums ever made as well as one of the best of all genres. The album starts with the intro track 'The Genesis' which isn't really a finished Rap track. It's more a Spoken Word sound collage that sets a sonic tone for the album that Nas will extend on. There is still a beat and it's pretty great but it's the sounds around that that make this an incredible intro track even with how short and substence lacking it actually is. The first actual track is the legendary 'N.Y. State of Mind' which is just one of the craziest songs ever made. Nas starts off but stops his delivery to say "I don't know how to start this shit" before giving us 4 minutes of one of the greatest flows that I have ever heard. He did this track in only one take and this is what came out! That alone should tell you how crazy this guy and the album itself is but there's more. Because not only is the beat incredible, the chorus catchy and his flow impeccable but the lyrics itself are some of the best written Hip Hop lyrics ever. They do "only" tell about Brooklyn and New York and his state of mind but he does it with so much lyricism and attention to detail that even Leonard Cohen might be jealous of some aspects of his writing. He also drops one of the most legendary bars in the form "I don't sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death" which was used by so many other rappers as well. The song is simply perfect. The chorus of 'Life's a Bitch' might be one of the albums best but don't be fooled because the Jazz Rap verses on their own are again lyrical perfection. They are both philosophical but also extremely real while being performed with incredible flow. The production is also absolutely incredible. Pretty much everything from 'N.Y. State of Mind' that can be applied to this track, can be applied to this track. It's groovy and jazzy East Coast Hip Hop perfection. From one incredible chorus to the next. 'The World Is Yours' keeps the Jazz Rap production as well as (of course) absolutely amazing verses that don't really stop with the introspective and philosphical depth performed like he's been rapping for 30 years already. I don't even know what else I can say except that this is another perfect track. The track 'Halftime' already shows us that the first half of the album is nearly over. It turns the Jazz Rap a little bit down and lets more Boom Bap shine through together with the Conscious Hardcore Hip Hop we're already familiar with. His flow and his verses are stunning but I am not going to suprise anyone with these infos now. Yeah, perfect track again. (It's really difficult writing a review when every song is incredible in the same exact things and there isn't really a change of quality. It's all the same perfect...) On the second Side of the album, 'Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)' reintroduces a the Jazzy production with some nice Soul Jazz sample flips. No one will be surprised but he delivers perfectly some perfectly written bars. I think this might be one of the best songs on the album although they are all so incredibly close to another that that doesn't really mean much here because even the worst moments are some of the best in music history. 'One Love' not only adds some Political aspects into the rhymes but also Q-Tip who is one of my personal favourite rappers in terms of voice and overall ability. He performs the chorus perfectly and Nas verses are just majestic on this track. The production is simple but unbelievably effective. I think this might be my favourite song on the entire album just because of the lucky addition of Q-Tip. The "worst" actual song on the album is probably 'One Time 4 Your Mind' which in consideration what this album offers still means that it's incredible but just less perfect, if that makes sense. Even with most people agreeing on this take, I still love the track but I get where they come from. His flow at points feels much weaker and at parts actually off. But I think the problem is the beat which I feel like doesn't serve him too well but he did the best thing possible with it and still delivered some killer verses. The pure perfection picks right up again on 'Represent' which not only has some killer verses but also a lovely Boom Bap production that serves Nas much better. He's absolutely killing it on this track and delivers some of his most energetic and thought through bars of the entirety of the album. One of the best on the album. The album ends earlier than I want with 'It Ain't Hard to Tell' which is just a perfect finale to this perfect album. The beat and the production is Jazz Rap finesse, the verses and the delivery is absolutely amazing and Nas nails the albums ideas and concepts for a final time and closes the album in a way that the listener only wants one thing: another listen of the album! favourites: One Love, N.Y. State of Mind, It Ain't Hard to Tell, Represent, Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park), The World Is Yours, Life's a Bitch, Halftime least favourites: none Rating: decent 10 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes
1. geneziz - 1 2. mind - 1.5 3. bitch - 1 4. uuorld - 1 5. halftime - 1.5 6. memory - 1 7. love - 1 8. time - 1 9. reprezent - 0 10. hard - 1.5
good beats n stuff
Sooo good. A blast from the past.
Decent album, not the biggest rap fan but i think this type of rap is more palatable for me than some of the stuff I hear nowadays
STRAIGHT FUCKING CUTTER BANGER I COULD DIE TO THIS SHIT GOD THIS CUTTER, FUCKING CUTTER
No entiendo por qué es icónico, no me gustó para nada.
Incredible album. But not every song.
"I never sleep 'cause sleep is the cousin of death." It's one of those albums that can (and should) make you fall in love with hip hop. When I was growing up in the 90s in post-communist Eastern Europe, New York for us was a symbol of capitalism, success, Western world, an El Dorado. This album takes me to the parts of New York that I could not even imagine existed at the time. It's gritty, dark, cold and cloudy, the streets are dangerous and living day to day is hard. And yet there's this magic in the air that shines through the album, especially when you're with your crew, sitting on a bench just outside your block reminiscing. The contrasts between the beautiful jazz loops and hard knocking beats set a perfect background for Nas' incredible almost liquid flow. It's just perfect.
Solid rap album from beginning to end. Literally flawless.
Rap. Ok rap but not great rap.
The greatest Hip Hop album of all time, they say. I'm not the greatest aficionado of Hip Hop, so who am I to agree or not, but I had a very good time with it and maybe it's the greatest I've had in here. Dope.
I mean, some albums you just don't need to say anything. If Illmatic isn't the most respected rap album of all time, it's at least in the top 5. I've heard it a few times, and it's the definition of a classic. Either you like rap or you don't and it's the same probably for this album. It's full of classic after classic. Some of the sounds used for beats here are insane. 9/10
They call me nas, I’m not your legal typa fella Moët drinkin, marijuana smokin street dwella Always on the corner, rolling up blessed When I dress it’s never nuthin less than guess
pretty good, didnt expect rap from this time to be this enjoyable. good as background music
Iconic. Best in class.
Goat
In the 90s, I was a West Coast guy, so I didn't really listen to this on repeat like some hip hop heads did, so it's fun to listen to it now, with a bit of remove. I've never fully been on board with the genius of Nas, but this album is exceptional. the beats and samples are so good, and there isn't a weak song on the album. 4.5 stars.
This is really great. It’s Been years since I listened to this. Now I haven’t gone deep Into the lyrics so that could change how I perceive this. However the beats and music is classic Hip-Hop. This flows extremely well and IS A CLASSIC ALBUM Stand out tracks N.Y State Of Mind The World Is Yours Life’s a Bitch Memory Lane 5/5
Not a style I normally listen to but not as bad as others I couldn't get through.
pas ouf
It's a bit outside my sphere honestly. It's chill to listen to. Some funky beats. I'm sure it's a classic rap album by all accounts. Doesn't do much for me.
Solid album, only heard 1 f slur. Which, for a 90s hip hop album, is pretty impressive
The granddaddy of hip-hop albums. Hugely influential for many modern rap artists. I can hear many of my favorite rappers in the cadence and flow of Nas on this album. I have listened to this album multiple times over the years and each time am floored by how incredible Nas sounds over his beat selection. Maybe not the most mind-blowing production but what the production of the 90s lacks Nas makes up for in spades. His effortlessly cool flow paired with insightful and at times funny lyrics makes this a must listen. Essential hip-hop. BEST TRACKS All of them WORST TRACKS None
I don't quite understand the culture inspiring the music. A few good tracks in the middle, without dropping any N words or mentioning selling cocane or using guns to solve problems.
One of the best of all time.
Love it. Raw and pristine and the production is iconic
Great flow. I think his rapping is better than the actual beats they are on. I find most of the music itself pretty generic, but definitely makes up by Nas's rapping and great lyricism.
East coast rap goes hard. Great, driving, pounding beats.
Life’s a bitch and then you die. Probably have been underrating this one. Not at the very top of my personal rap list but still really good and understandably a classic.
Enjoyable hip hop album, cool instrumentals and sampling. I just can’t get into the genre enough.
Defining hip-hop album & personal favourite. Kinda tough to come out with such a good debut album, not sure Nas ever topped this
Good hiphop
First time listening to Nas. Good shit. 5
Great-sounding album. The only thing that this middle-aged white English woman didn't like was the bad language. I've said it before, I'm a prude! But the samples were cool, funky and stitched together perfectly; I was inspired to check out 'NT' by Kool & the Gang, which is sooo funky and chill and helped me understand more about what inspired hip hop in the first place. The live trumpet (his Dad!) was great when it came in. And yes - he's a great rapper. I don't mind rap when the voice is easy to listen to; it reminded me a bit of Melle Mel, so for me it had an 80s feel as well as harking back to 70s funk. Vocally, some really clever rhythms and cross-rhythms, delivered with laid-back ease. I just would prefer not having to hear the N word, the F word and the MF word Quite A Lot. I know I'm old, and he's no doubt talking in his authentic voice, but truthfully those words add nothing for me, and push me away a little bit. I'm sure he wouldn't be too fussed about that...
Hip Hop perfection!
Heard this a zillion times. Epitome of Nas. 100/10
6/10. Quality is objective. Taste is subjectively. Objectively, this is one of the greatest and most innovative rap albums of all time. However, subjectively, it just doesn't do much for me. Sorry. :)
Most Overated Hip-Hop Album Ever.
Good record. Not one of the best rap album for me, but, the beats and rapping is good.
I keep hoping I'll find a rap album that I enjoy out of this. The production was well done, Nas' voice was fine, just not my thing.
GOD
Está bien. Pero no llamó particularmente mi atención. Que se yo, normal
"I don't know how to start this shit" 💀
East Coast HipHop consisting of beats where every track seems to hone in on a 3-note sequence and samples repeating endlessly rather than opting for a longer, more interesting loop.
i understand how this is a classic of its genre but i don't like this kind of music
I really don't get what's great about this album. Not bad, but utterly forgettable. I've felt that way about east coast hip hop music before, so I guess I'm just not a fan.
Yeah! Listened to this at work so didn't really listen properly, but what I did listen to I enjoyed
Hard pass
Language was pretty extreme.
It Ain’t Hard to Tell when you have found a great album.
I didn't really vibe with this.
One of the greatest flowing albums ever made. You will find it hard to locate another album that conglomerates hip hop this well. Forty minutes of constant flow, yet still distinctly separate and varied between tracks. Pickup after pickup comes nigh-on to overwhelming the listener, but Nas’ frenetic yet controlled approach keeps the album on the edge, but never over it. A pure masterclass.
solid, really new york
Klassikko. Viisi tähteä.
Rap, mäßig spannend 1/5
Straight fire the whole way through
++: N.Y. State of Mind, The World Is Yours, Halftime, Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park), One Time 4 Your Mind, It Ain't Hard to Tell +: The Genesis, Life's a Bitch, One Love, Represent 9,1/10
it is really odd how a debut album by a 19 year old feels like the full summation of someone's entire "deal". in a lot of ways, that's gotta be both a blessing and a curse; people have both the highest regard for your short body of work and equally high expectations for whatever art you put out after it. in a way i wish i'd listened to a Nas album that wasn't Illmatic before hearing this so i wasn't just stacking the gems of his discography up against... well, Illmatic. overall, it's just a tight record that feels like a document of whatever situation Nas was in when he was writing and performing it, like the best art of young men. you can find little bits of lyricism that pioneer what you hear on hip-hop tracks both later in the decade and to this day. maybe that makes a lot of what it does "old hat", but there's value in studying the blueprint of what makes everything that came after tick. plus, if you don't care for Nas, there's always the all-star beats behind him that make the thing worthwhile. i hope Nas has a lifetime supply of Moet from how much he reps it on this record.
Peak cruising down the main street with the window open on a sunny day music
Love me some early 90s NYC hip hop. ATCQ. De La Soul. Native Tongues. How have I not heard this before, it’s a real treat. Slick production layering muted big band, double bass, lounge piano, jazzy organ, laid back beats & artful scratching. It’s all very lush, listenable and instantly set my head bopping. His voice is smooth & melodic and his narrative driven flows are neat. Wasn’t surprised to hear Q-Tip was involved and I anticipate this one is gonna enter regular rotation for me. Fkn loved it. My first five stars.
I was excited for this one, but I was disappointed. He’s definitely one the best rappers, but I felt the beats were bad.
The samples and lyricism are outstanding. It's got a nice flow to it, too. But to me, not a seasoned hip-hop listener at all, the lyrical content tends to be very repetitive, variations of the same two themes. Still, if there's a hip-hop/rap album that gets 3 stars from me, this is probably it.
Knowing next to nothing about Nas (other than that he has been around as a rapper in the industry for several years) I went into this album completely blind, and was pleasantly surprised at the grittiness and raw emotion. Really made me feel like I was an up and coming kid in NYC during the 90s, when the city was undergoing such rapid change (for better or worse, depending on your perspective/upbringing). Hesitant to give a 5/5 since some of the tracks didn't stand out much, but overall it was a great ride.
Heard of it, never heard it. Damned if this isn't some heavy shit -- and well-written shit at that! Nas walked so Kendrick could run, I think. Well worth a listen.
Notable tracks: NY State of Mind, The World is Yours, It Ain’t Hard to Tell
Enjoyed this. Was smooth rather than feeling like I was about to be violent to women whilst brandishing a "piece".
a quintessential rap album. one of the best debut albums ive ever heard, solid from front to back with no fluff
It kind of blended together after a while
I really want to love this album. Listened to it a couple times over the years, but it's never resonated. Such a landmark, important album for the future of rap & hip-hop, but maybe difficult to enjoy because of all the progress made by the music is has influenced. The LoTR and Oklahoma problem. Foundational for the genre, but not very deep as an individual work. But maybe I just don't like it. Favorite Tracks: Memory Lane (Sittin' in da park), Represent
I went into this album with way too much hope. While it's a revolutionary album, and had some sick lyrics, I was a bit disappointed. I expected souch better from what is considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time. Favorite Track: "N.Y. State Of Mind".
Нас класний репер, але не люблю цю платівку
The lyric writing is insane in this album.
Regilizing the realism of life and actuality, fuck being the baddest a persons status depends on salary
It was okay. Very outdated sounding. Lyrics were good. Overall it was right down the middle.
Feel like zenci
Stone-cold classic.
Never listened to this album and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Will totally listen to it again
I can't give this full points because it uses misogynistic language here and there, as well as a single instance of a homophobic slur (although he censors himself in modern performances of that song). Putting that aside, there's no doubt this is a pinnacle of hip hop. The production is classic and tight, and the stories of his life in New York are expertly expressed and vibrant throughout.
Smooth hiphop, enjoyable
Always heard of Nas but hadn't listened to much of his music. His hip hop is really smooth and I recognized some of the rhythms were sampled for other songs.
Solid. New to me. Heard the name but not the music. Glad to fill this cultural gap. Not my favorite but well above average. And holds together as individual tracks and as a cohesive album. 4
Misschien wel mijn favoriete rapper aller tijden. Wat is deze man fantastisch, dan te bedenken hoe oud hij was toen hij Illmatic maakte, en te bedenken dat dit zn debut was? Bizar. Van de tram geluiden in opener The Genesis word je echt meteen New York van de jaren 90 in gegooid. Daarna neemt Nas je met zn rustige flow mee in zijn leven, schetst hij nummer na nummer waar hij mee dealt. De features die er op staan zijn fantastisch, de legendarische verse van AZ bijvoorbeeld. Productie door Q-tip en DJ Premier, ge-wel-dig. Soms heb je een perfect album, en dit is er zo een. FAVO: Alles. Luister dit album. Het is geweldig, 1 van de beste albums ooit gemaakt. I dont care of je van hiphop houdt of niet.
Another confirmation I really do not like hiphop if this is peak hiphop...
Not my sort of thing but appreciate it
I don't know if I really like it, like I liked three songs, my fav is “One Time 4 Your Mind”
Illmatic is sacred in the annals of hip hop, having often been christened the best hip hop album of all time. When you listen to it, it becomes abundantly clear that rappers have tried to recapture the magic of this album for decades, and seem fated to always come up short. The internal rhyme schemes, fluidity, and searing insights into life in the Queensbridge projects are unparalleled, recalling the street prophet poetry of Rakim.
The song about getting high cuz we can die any day was good
I had never heard of Nas before so I wasn't expecting much from this. Wow what a surprise. Lyrics and flow are great. He's an amazing rapper. I do find that musically this lacks a little, with small samples overused, which I find a tad annoying. Still an enjoyable album though.
this album went under the radar for me until N.Y. State of Mind was featured in Ozark (shout out to Ruth Langmore and Killer Mike), since then I've listened to it countless times, an incredible album, easy 5 stars
10/10 album
I am not a rap fan, but I respect.
I thoroughly enjoyed this whole album. I'm struggling to figure out why it isn't a 5... This album is a 5.
I didn't listen to this yesterday but I've heard it before. I will listen now.
love the avant garde samples of the city, a true NYC classic.
Not my cup of tea when it comes to rap. Still a pretty dope album though. Songs stream naturally from one song to the next. Great samples; the baselines sampled are absolutely nutty. To figure out a tone and cadence that fits the vibe of the samples is insane. Super talented guy, just not my personal choice when it comes to rap. Stand out songs: NY State of mind, Life's a Bitch, The World is Yours, Halftime, Represent.
Trying to find a reason this isnt a 5
Another album that I can sorta understand its importance, but this genre really isn’t my thing. The beats are a bit too repetitive. The lyrics are ok but nothing stood out to me. 2.5/5
Great album.
I was pretty into the first half but couldn't get back into it after an intermission.
There’s a reason why this album is a classic. To the point, doesn’t overstay its welcome. Production is fire and bars for days
Eh it was fine.
Klassischer Hiphop. OK.
Ordinarily I wouldn't give something like this a chance but I read the Wiki article first and pulled it up. Thus far I'm at track 7 and haven't yet deleted it. I've heard much worse. UPDATE: Near the end my hand involuntarily reached for the delete button but I managed to fight off the compulsion and made it all the way through.
Great, lean album with no filler.
Standouts: •lifes a bitch •Halftime •Represent • it aint hard to tell Skips: • one love ++Production Gesamt: 4,5/5+
I like hip hop. It is halfway techno, trip hop, electronic... and in this case surprisingly fun lyrically. At first I was way into it. At first. Now, maybe I am going through a tough personal phase, or am generally impatient lately or or or... OR, maybe it is the case that once again, listening to one or two songs is super refreshing but a whole album gets kind of redundant. In this case it is NOT the lyrics or the subject matter or anything that way, it is the same voice, same groove, same vibe sort of thing that eventually made me look at how much longer it was going to "take" to finish up. With all that said, this is astonishingly good for a 19 year old!! Wow!
Just a no.
I’m not a rap kind of chap. Offensive at times, but not the worst.
There’s a few great rap albums out there and this is one of them!
I listened to this album a year or so ago for the first time (I wanted to explore hip hop some more and this seemed like a good place to start). Listening to it again today, it brought along the expected pleasant familiarity. It still feels enjoyable, and doesn’t stick around long enough to start feeling stale. It’s odd though, despite enjoying this a year ago, I never went on to listen to any more Nas. Perhaps I should.
Remains (arguably) the single greatest hip-hop album ever made. Pure poetry from start to finish.
This was really impressive, I liked this a lot. It's one of those albums for me where even when I wasn't like wildly loving a song, I still felt that something important was happening. This might be the most "New York" album that I've gotten on here (though there's a few contenders). Nas was only 20 when this came out, and it's really just an autobiographical piece about his life in the Queensbridge Houses. It's a bit bleak for sure, but not in an overwhelming way that some of the other hard rap albums fall into. He just comes across as an incredibly talented writer and storyteller that ended up in a really tough place. All older rap sounds a bit dated (and this has it's moments), but I'd say it falls into that less so than a lot of the other '80s and '90s albums I've gotten on here. My biggest issue is that this doesn't have a major stand-out track to me ("N.Y. State of Mind" seems to be the most popular, but it's like my third or fourth favorite song on here). "The World Is Yours" is great, and "Life's a Bitch" stands out too, but this one really works more as a whole work to me. Favorite song: The World Is Yours Other: N.Y. State of Mind, Life's a Bitch, Halftime, Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park), One Time 4 Your Mind, Represent, It Ain't Hard to Tell 8/16/24
Fabulous flow with no low spots
One of my favorite hip hop / rap artists through time. This album sets the scene and defines the genre up til today. Nas has a great voice, relevant lyrics and the music composition is fantastic. No favorits on this album - it is just one i can hear over and over again :)
Første album jeg hørte flere gange
Generally an enjoyable listen, hip-hop isn't something I listen to a lot, and not something I know a ton about. The lyrics seem interesting and the production good and I can see how this would have inspired a lot of people in the community. I think I've heard a few of the tracks before but I'm not entirely sure Standouts Halftime Life's a Bitch 3/5
Not my genre but I can here some value here.
I was so excited to listen to this when I saw it on the list bc I’ve always heard what an important album this is in hip hop history!! Loved it!!!
Enjoyed a few songs, but also didnt like a few. An alright album 3 ⭐️
very enjoyable!
i don't think i'd ever listened to Nas before now but he's got good rhymes, beats, and just overall production. I'll definitely revisit these in the future! favorites: NY state of mind, the world is yours, halftime, represent
Nas' debut album is a gem. The production is not over the top and allows Nas to use his lyrics to describe the backdrop of his story. You get transported to the time and place of his choosing and feel the day to day struggles of his experience.
Finally, a 90s hip-hop album that isn't an hour-plus. And it's great.
One of the greatest and most consequential hip-hop albums of all time. Full stop.
Amazing album, Nas has probably my favorite flow of the hip hop artists from the 90s/2000s. Some of the best hooks I've heard are here, with N.Y. State of Mind, Life's a Bitch, The World is Yours, and One Love standing out. There wasn't any duds on this album, I could easily revisit it. Even the backing music is interesting, with pianos and cellos appearing throughout. Easy 5.
I think I should stop listening to albums outside so often, especially at night, because i get too cold and have a harder time focusing on the album. I’d also imagine having an easier time enjoying an album on a computer or TV First Impressions: fantastic rapping on every song from every artist, and phenomenal, warm, classic beats.
This lived up to my husband’s reaction when I told him this had been generated for me.
Solid groovy album that deserves a relisten. But also worked in the background to wind down from a day in the dales and barbecuing. Perfect late-night vibes
One of the best hip hop albums of all time.
Violent, vulgar, racist, misogynistic. WTF? CHEEYEAH!
I don't dislike it, and I can see why it's liked, so this is a solid 3. I'm neutral on it.
Today's going to be a good day. I love this album so very much.
Album #1 I am not a regular to hiphop and rap. Still enjoy this album. Reminds me of my childhood watching my older brother playing GTA. While I enjoyed listening it, I am not going to save it at Spotify.
No, I don't know what you're saying, but go on, it's nice enough The album ended before I noticed it. The vibe was good
Tried listening to this on my way to school in 2018 when a pair of mormon boys sat across me on the bus and started conversing with me. I never ended up finishing the album but whenever I think of it now I think of them. I probably wouldn't have liked the album to this extent if I had finished it back then, so maybe they were secretly doing me a favour
boh noiosetto
Not a fan. Album was ok but I didn’t favorite any song.
I really like the music, much less keen on the lyrics. Not a big fan of rap in general.
Awesome album. This is just a stellar album that I first listened to in college. "Halftime" is one of the best rap song of all time. Nas has incredible flow and lyricism, and the jazzy, East Coast production is perfect. *****
Enjoyable
Takes me back to my brief spell as a teenage rap head. Terrific
Not a fan of rap.
nope
This was great, awesome album.
4 out of 5. While not being a genre I have an interest in this was a pretty good album and lyrically it has a good flow. I can see why people find this album influential. Favorite song: Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)
Rightfully one of the most iconic rap records of all time, and a pillar of the jazz rap subgenre. Feels totally perennial; rite of passage beats; iconically New York. It’s amazing! Sadly didn’t get to spin my vinyl copy of this today!
So so solid. Love the production and flow especially.
Sorta can't overstate how important this album was to me in youth, and I definitely have made and retained a lot of friends due to my early immersion in hip-hop music... it does seem in recent years that there has been a re-evaluation of hip-hop's greatest album, which would have been Illmatic basically since it came out in '92. it's sort of interesting listening to this as the 'old' best hip-hop album of all time (obviously, To Pimp a Butterfly is the new GOAT hip-hop album, although i don't even think it's Kendrick's second best album and I would place like 4 albums before it, including Illmatic) anyways, I don't understand the distinction of this as an "old school" hip hop album, to me it sounds incredibly modern and I do think from top to bottom it is a perfect album. I do wanna give a special shout out to the production on "The World Is Yours" - if there was any question that Pete Rock is the greatest producer in hip-hop history just that track alone would dispel any doubt.
Not something I would listen to normally. Listened to it and it seems okay, but I most likely would listen again. So although it may be considered an all time great, I'd give it a personal 3.
Illmatic by Nas is definitely a classic album. Although I’ve reached a point in life where hip hop doesn’t resonate with me as much these days, this still remains a timeless album that is always fun to revisit from time to time. The production of this album is raw and gritty yet high quality, with amazing producers like Pete Rock, Q-Tip, DJ Premier, and a few others. Nas is truly an amazing MC. His lyrics are vivid, and he has a remarkable way of giving a clear visualization of life in NYC, with a smooth and intricate flow.
I had never listened to Nas that I am consciously aware of. I like the jazzy hip hop the album incorporates. A few of the tracks I really enjoyed much more than I expected especially on the second half. I think it’s an album that could grow on me in the right mood but for this listen I think it’s good and I can see how influential it is. 3.5
I can't add much of substance to what's been written about this album. It can be a tough listen from a sheltered life, but real is real. I appreciate that it can hold up to casual listening on the back of great production and flow, but also has depth and layering in the lyricism that I can't really process without reading along with the lyrics out in front of me.
The thing my friends and I would bring up when listening to and discussing this album was Nas' age. There had been adolescent rappers before; younger than Nas even. Biggie Smalls was roughly the same age when he released his own debut album 'Ready to Die' in 1994. But whereas Biggie shows that he has the capacity for sprawl, for levity, and let's be honest, for filler, Nas does not, at least not as much. Biggie's message can be a little diluted, which is typical of easily-distracted young people, I guess. Nas, on the other hand, goes hard and (mostly) stays hard with a level of discipline that's only forged through life experience, mostly erring on the side of traumatic. The production is absolutely on-point. The opening chords ringing through on "N.Y. State of Mind" sound like a car alarm blaring off in the distance, with a truly menacing piano sauntering through. This song gets analyzed to pieces, and truly, all I have to add is that my favourite line is NOT "I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death" but rather, "life is parallel to hell, but I must maintain." Note that Nas isn't exactly saying life IS hell, but runs in the same direction. Will they intersect? What would make that happen? How can he PREVENT that from happening? Does he even want to? I mentioned the relative lack of filler on this album, but "One Love" and "One Time 4 Your Mind" are viewed as the superfluous tracks. However, the groove on the latter song feels so deep, it's like gradually filling a room with smoke from several cigars. My favourite cut off the record has to be "Represent," another DJ Premier beat if I'm not mistake. With a hook like a music-box, we have another song about memory. The echoes you hear sound woozy, as if it's all in a dream or some hazed out recollection that makes you question whether it even happened. A common trauma response. A
Absolute classic. There are no skips on this album imo. Nas delivers on every song. 8.5/10
Nice beats, didn’t understand a lot of the lyrics.
Ill
This album is from 1994 and this is when that music was popular, but nowadays this is very outdated. I have also moved away from rap music, as I have gotten older, and I don't think that it was very exciting to listen to. Quite meh but alright in the background, I guess. Nothing too exciting, just a bunch of yapping but I do understand that this was the rap music that was popular back then.
This was actually the 11th album I received and I didn’t listen to it and now that I am on album 350 I thought I’d better catch up. I have not hidden the fact that I am not really into Hip Hop/ Rap and that’s probably why I delayed listening to it and it surprised me I actually quite enjoyed it and found my self tapping along with the beats.
Classic
I'm ill so I didn't get all the money at through it but I'm intimately familiar with this record. It's a classic from the production to the flow.
Meh ..
(Sigh…)
Illmatic by Nas is definitely a classic album. Although I’ve reached a point in life where hip hop doesn’t resonate with me as much these days, this still remains a timeless album that is always fun to revisit from time to time. The production of this album is raw and gritty yet high quality, with amazing producers like Pete Rock, Q-Tip, DJ Premier, and a few others. Nas is truly an amazing MC. His lyrics are vivid, and he has a remarkable way of giving a clear visualization of life in NYC, with a smooth and intricate flow.
I think hip-hop is the only genre where if you took thousands and thousands of fans and asked them what the best album of the genre is, you would get one clear front-runner. Illmatic would be that, it's just perfect in every way. A young Nas rapping like he's been perfecting the art for centuries, alongside some of the very best producers of the time (and of all time). Super concise, not a single second wasted, not a weak track/beat/bar across the whole thing. Makes 40 minutes feel like 10.
Nas' Illmatic caught me by surprise! It was full of very catchy hip hop music, and before I knew it, the album repeated and I didn't stop it. The lyrics were purposeful and smartly crafted--and I'm always a sucker for songs covering meaningful topics. The samples chosen and used were different. There's even a Kool & the Gang sample bookending the album!
I'm not the biggest hip-hop fan anyway, so I just thought that I was missing key information around knowing who this artist was and what this album was. But turns out, Nas' Illmatic never really got a lot of radio play, and therefore was not as big of a mainstream hit. I can see where this album was likely incredibly influential to the hip-hop scene moving forward; it seems to be a blueprint for hip hop artists as to what constitutes the perfect hip hop album. The lyrics are also sharp witted. But as someone who already has a weak relationship with this type of music, I found the album to be pretty standard 90s hip hop.
Another great rap album that i get from this page. This have been on my list for a long time and today, I finally heard this masterpiece. I honestly ain't got much to say. The Rap and Hip-Hop world it's kinda new to me. But I know how to recognize a hit when a I hear one. And definetely, this album got a lot of them!
No va
Great listen, I enjoyed this more than many of the other hip-hop albums I’ve had so far. Super lyrical rapping but the samples and scratches are cool too. Heard of Nas but never listened to any of his music. You can really feel the gritty sounds of NY from the 90s
10/10
It wasn’t bad but not my thing
Classic.
I'm not the biggest rap guy but I always liked this album a lot. Many of this songs are spread across different playlists that I've made. I'm hardly an expert on the genre but I'm pretty sure this is an all-timer.
7/10 One that comes with a big reputation Loved Nas style and flow, impeccable Production good and brought a specific vibe, weren’t particularly intricate though But unlike my favourite rap, it (the tunes/beats especially) didn’t speak to me on a deeper level. it took until the last song for me to really engage with the music Best: It Ain’t Hard To Tell
It grew on me on the second listen. It'll grow on my as I listen to the lyrics. Bangers: Life's a Bitch
Rap não vou ouvir de novo não. Putz, que preferência desse site chata pra rap! Saco! Tem que variar essa bagaça!
Fantastic. Great rapper with some good collaborators here. Thirty years later it still sounds good but more n bombs than I like was always my problem with Nas and hip hop of this era generally. Hearing this again reminds how I never made the t-shirt for our hood: illimantic
I feel like I've heard of Nas for a long time, and this album too, but never really had a sense for what the fuss and attention was about, and also never bothered to seek it out. So thank you, 1001-albums project! Overall, I enjoyed listening to it, and particularly liked "Life's a Bitch", "Memory Lane", "One Love", "Represent" and the video for "The world is yours" (not as much the song, though), as well as his impressive lyricism throughout. I particularly appreciate it that the themes of many of the songs are thoughtful and not glamorizing tropes of gangs, drugs, women and violence (but clearly based on a lot of experience among all of that). I do feel like one of the unwashed masses listening to this album, though, knowing (after reading the extremely extensive Wikipedia article about the album) that this was a seminal moment/album in East Coast hip-hop. Kudos to Nas for breaking ground 30 years ago!
The first three or so songs were the best--especially the trumpet solo on Life's a Bitch. Lyrics throughout are really strong complicated raps with the usual explicit language--crazy rhyme schemes! I don't think the music stands up to the raps though and there isn't too much here that sticks with me after it's over. I looked Nas up after it was over and read that he was only 20 when it came out--impressive debut.
MANIFEST: Very tired of listening to so many rap albums among the 1001 most important albums in history!!! 🤦🏽 If I want to do the challenge and not give up, I'm going to have to abandon this style. METHOD: I will listen to 2 songs from the album suggested. If the album is rap or hip hop that is not very melodic or harmonious, I will listen the list of the author's 5 most listened to songs. Sorry, it's the exception I have to make about of so much snobbery on the part of critics... Rap is a respectable cultural artistic expression, with melodic winks, rhyme and very very standard rhythm, but it is not music! 😘
One of the best hip hop albums. Love his rhyming and the 90s production
All praise for 90s rap. I will probably give this album 5 stars but I recognize that is betraying my allegiance to West Coast rap. My favorites are: “NY State of Mind,” “Life’s a Bitch”, “One Love,” and “Represent.”
Great debut album. Liked his later efforts much more. This felt produced like WuTang with the dirtier East coast sound. Perfect length. Feels a 3.
Oooh, this is good. Really good! This is what it must feel like to discover a classic about 30 years after it came out. Not too late. Roaring and funky.
🔥🔥🔥🔥
För att vara rapp så var den ganska bra. 90-talet, vilken grej! 4/5.
life's a bitch the world is yours memory lane represent it ain't hard to tell
so good
Classic classic
Listened to first few songs - not bad
Sounds like typical rap from the early 90’s. Appreciate the message. Beats just seem to be typical and redundant.
Simply one of the all time greats... The flows and vibes of this album are something else!
relisten. love love love this album. One of my faves when it comes to hip-hop and the 90s.
Great beats and a good mood album
One of the best rap albums
El mejor disco de hiphop de todos los tiempos, dicen. One Time 4 Your Mind.
Good.
While I may not be the target audience for Nas's "Illmatic," its artistic merit is undeniable -- every aspect of its production shines and there were lots of nice surprises along the way. Though I can't really relate to the content, I can fully appreciate this album is a significant work of art. The best hip-hop album the generator has given me so far.
This is not in my wheelhouse. Though it is well put together and fun
01) The Genesis - 5,0 02) N.Y. State of Mind - 7,0 03) Life's a Bitch - 7,0 04) The World Is Yours - 7,5 05) Halftime - 7,0 06) Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park) - 7,5 07) One Love - 7,0 08) One Time 4 Your Mind - 7,0 09) Represent - 7,0 10) It Ain't Hard to Tell - 7,5 TOTAL: 6,95 (70/100) Current ranking: 157/221 I'm not an expert on rap music, but as far as I'm concerned this is totally ok. Listenable, understandable, good samples, not boring. A good rap album.
Could do without the queerphobia but otherwise this shit still goes hard.
Another rap album- what gives?
This album is musical dope. Every track. This is what I envision all of the best albums to be--end-to-end art.
Obviously a hugely influential album, but my weakness is that I don't have an appreciation of some older hip-hop records. This will be one I have return to once I'd be able to understand it more.