JTtheJEDI
""I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death..""
Ain't Nothing But Music
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Never put me in your box if your sh*t eats tapes.
-
Jun 2, 2011
- by Madpenguin
- posted in Hip-Hop Culture: Breakdance, MC, DJ, Graffiti
Rating:
Hailed by many hip hop fans and experts to be a hip hop masterpiece. Nas debut album Illmatic did for lyrical finesse what Dr. Dre's album The Chronic did for beats and that was simply raise the bar. When Illmatic first dropped during that time. The album was pretty much on another level when compared to many emcees, who claimed at some point or another they were mic rippers. Illmatic has gone down in history as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. Unfortunately for Nas, Illmatic would also be the measuring stick for all of his future releases, in which, in the eyes of many fans, he would never again reach the same level of greatness. Personally, this is my favorite Nas album, and it can easily make my top 10 list of favorite rap albums of all time.
+5
Illmatic debut in 1994, and the hype was pretty heavy surrounding this album from what I remember. Nas stole the song on Main Source's track Live at the Barbeque. In which many felt he dropped the best verse on the entire album. So anyway, read on to see what I think about one of my favorite albums.
The album begins with the intro called Genesis, which isn't exactly a song but a little conversation going down between Nas and AZ over a head boppin' beat. I loved this beat when I first heard it, and I was hoping that they flowed over this one. Funny enough, around 2000 or so, Shyne would actually use this beat for his track Gangsters Don't Die. The intro leads into the first track.
Utilizing his mutli-syllabic and internal rhyme style, Nas kicks off the album with solid story telling on NY State of Mind. He gives a description on New York violence and paints a very good picture of his hood. This track is just one of many street narratives you will hear on this album, and it's one of my favorites from Nas entire catalogue. The production for this track which is done by the Legendary DJ Premier consist of a hot bassline, with a saxophone, and light piano keys in the background. The Rakim sample was definitely fitting for the hook, and it was a great idea to begin with this track, since Nas was being hailed as the next Rakim.
Here goes one of my favorite verses from the track, and Nas simply opens up with pure fiyah!
Rappers I monkey flip em with the funky rhythm I be kickin'
Musician inflictin' composition of pain
I'm like Scarface sniffin' cocaine
Holdin' a M-16 see with the pen I'm extreme now,
Bulletholes left in my peepholes
I'm suited up in street clothes
Hand me a nine and I'll defeat foes
Ya'll know my steelo with or without the airplay
I keep some E&J, sittin bent up in the stairway
Or either on the corner bettin' grants with the celo champs
Laughin at base heads, tryin to sell some broken amps
Premier is also responsible for two more tracks; Represent and Memory Lane (Sittin in the Park). The latter is a very solid track that I can listen to because of the solid rhymes, and once again Nas is on point, by once again painting a very clear picture with his lyrics. This was a track that got better over time for me. Believe it or not, Represent was my number one favorite track on the album at one point because Nas reps his hood. I also love the production because it's one of my favorite beats which is made up of a sped up beat, and a keyboard in the background. This beat is hot, and it goes well with Nas lyrics and subject matter.
My favorite track on the album would be the Pete Rock produced track The World is Yours, which was also one of the hit singles from the album. Pete is behind the boards and he does the hook as well. Although very simple, it has a very catchy sound that goes along with the piano melody, and I love the scratches. Nas gets pretty deep with this one.
The dopeness just seems to be never ending on this album. Another track which goes down as my fave would be One Love, which is produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. The production is fitting with a slow tempo beat, with a xylophone playing in the background.This is a track where Nas appears to be writing a letter to friends who are doing time, by keeping them up to date on hood stories. The track has a very down to earth feel due to Nas storytelling. The things he's going on about is very heavy, especially if you've witnessed events very similar to this. Listening to a track like this, could only cause one to wish they had a boy like Nas around to keep them informed. It's a rotten thing to come back home from the island, to find out how much has changed, and no one told you anything. Plus, they were ignoring all of your kites.
Life's a B**** is among the hardest on the album. Produced by L.E.S., this track features Nas protege AZ, who in many peoples eyes outdoes Nas on this track with his verse. I'll say both of them came correct with some sharp lyrics and great word usage. The beat also has that mello feel, with a bit of soul and jazz added to it. I love the trumpet which closes out the song. I will also mention this is the only track with a guest appearance. Also, every time I hear this track I feel like burning one.
The last three tracks left would happen to be produced by Large Professor. Halftime and It Ain't Hard To Tell, are two braggadocio tracks with Nas getting ill on the mic, and spitting some sick bars blanketed with multi syllables and bad punchlines. I always wondered how dangerous Nas could be in battle. He would eventually let us all know in 2001 against a certain rapper from Brooklyn. The last track left happens to be One Time 4 Your Mind. Once again Nas gets introspective here, and he tears up the mic. However, this track just doesn't seem to hold up well with the others, especially concerning production. But I don't skip it either.
The only real problem that I have with this album would be the length. In a sense, the fans only got 8 tracks back then. Halftime dropped about 2 years before the album, and Genesis isn't a song at all. But, if you never heard this album before, then you're getting 9 tracks. Illmatic in all honesty, despite it being a great hip hop album all around. This is a very difficult album to recommend though. To my experience, those who are unfamiliar with complicated rhyme styles, and are used to simple lyrics that are delivered today by almost all mainstream rappers might not feel this album at all. My best advice would be this, if you already heard some of Nas later work and liked it, then you should definitely give this a try. But if you seriously plan on diving into the hip hop genre, this is a very important album to have in your collection, and it will require multiple spins to completely understand where Nas was coming from. But as a final note, if you need this album, then I recommend the 10th anniversary instead, which comes with the original album. Plus, a bonus disc with remixes and two new tracks, with the new track Star Wars being the better one.
Track listing:
1-Genesis
2-NY State of Mind
3-Life's a B**** featuring AZ
4-The World is Yours
5-Halftime
6-Memory Lane(Sittin in the Park)
7-One Love
8-One Time 4 Your Mind
9-Represent
10-It Ain't Hard To Tell
Fave Tracks:
World is Yours
NY State of Mind
One Love
Represent
Honorable Mentions:
Halftime
It Ain't Hard to tell
Pros:
-Lyrics and production
-Storytelling
Cons:
-Length
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Post a Comment
FM_ALEX
June 02, 2011
With out a doubt a classic
Madpenguin
June 02, 2011
Sure is. I plan on doing the rest of his albums some time this year along with several others. But there's just so many other things I want to review too, there's just not enough time in one day.
woopak_the_thrill
June 02, 2011
great to read this one again.. :)
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More Nas: Illmatic reviews
review by JTtheJEDI.
July 06, 2010
Illmatic, Nas' debut album is an undeniable classic that instantly gave him respect in the rap game. The album is very interesting in the fact it relatively short,only 10 songs including an interlude, and having no notable guest appearances. Even in the interlude, the back ground music is Nas' verse on Main Source's song "Live at the BBQ". The album featured production by Q-Tip, Pete Rock, Large Professor, and DJ Premier. The album was filled with classics including … more
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About the reviewer
Madpenguin
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May 22, 2011
Last Login: Jun 15, 2013 08:21 PM UTC
Last Login: Jun 15, 2013 08:21 PM UTC
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About this musician
Illmatic is the debut album of American rapper Nas, released April 19, 1994 on Columbia Records in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place during 1992 to 1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. It features production by several renowned hip hop artists, including Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, DJ Premier, and L.E.S.. Illmatic has been noted by music writers for its hardcore style, production quality, Nas's lyricism and multi-syllabic internal rhyme patterns, and inner city themes based on his native Queensbridge, New York.
Upon its release, the album debuted at number 12 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 59,000 copies in its first week. However, its initial sales fell below expectations and its five singles failed to achieve significant chart success. While it experienced initial low sales, Illmatic received generally positive reviews from most music critics upon its release and earned praise for its production and Nas's lyricism. On January 17, 1996, the album was certified gold in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America, and in 2001, it earned platinum certification after sales of one million copies in the United States.
Since its initial reception, the album has been recognized by writers and music critics as a landmark album in East Coast hip hop. It contributed to the regional scene's artistic renaissance in New York, while marking an influential, ...
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