1001 albums really suggests a lot of rap for me to listen to, but I don't think anything I have ranked so far in the genre even comes close to what Nas Achieved with Illmatic. I am absolutely awful at rating rap/hip-hop albums just because it is a genre that I have never really been too interested in (so this review is likely to be completely dogshit) but when it is done well I absolutely love it. I've always been aware who Nas was but I can say with 100% confidence that I have never heard one of his songs before but Nas' songwriting is completely unforgettable and is so revolutionary in the scene. The album openly explores Nas' own personal experience growing up in Queensbridge and aims to provide a raw and authentic portrayal of life there with a specific focus on the challenges that younger people faced while growing up in a harsh environment. It is a highly personal album to Nas, but we have seen so many other rappers explore similar themes, so what exactly does make him different? Well, that's exactly what makes him so revolutionary within the scene. It is easy to forget how old this album is just because it is so timeless, and so many of the themes that he explores throughout the album are relevant today. Even the style and the flow of his storytelling is so catchy and memorable, it is clear to see why so many other artists took inspiration from this. For me personally, I can see the clear links between Nas and artists such as Eminem (literally the only rapper I listened to growing up) in terms of the vulnerability that is presented in the music. So sure, there are so many other artists who accomplish a similar tone in their music, but who was the first to do it in 1994? There is no denying how impactful this album has been on shaping the genre that it is today, and we can only contribute that to rappers such as Nas, who were willing to lead that development.