One does not simply make a blog around hip-hop album reviews, and not do a review on such a classic album...
Nasir Jones is pretty much remembered as a freaking legend. His music can be remembered as some of the best he has brought to hip-hop. Conversations with rap junkies are always made, most that reminisces about classic hip-hop music. And if Illmatic isn't brought up in those conversations or if the person don't like it, then they may need to reevaluate their life and slap themselves.
Now, if you haven't even heard one bit about Illmatic, then get the hell out of here! Nas' debut album is pretty much seen as THE best hip-hop album ever (with many calling it "the hip-hop bible"). Nas managed to be signed to Columbia with the help of MC Serch and released the album at the age of 20 when completed in 1993. With the strength of his verse on Main Source's "Live At The Barbecue" (and his 1992 debut single, "Halftime"), producer Large Professor comes on and manages to return the favour, helping out along with legendary producers like DJ Premier, Pete Rock & Q-Tip. The album only features 10 tracks, 10 (which was weird at the time, seeing that many would add a lot more to their albums), which revolved mostly around gangs, poverty, and the Queensbridge rapper's own experiences. And while the album didn't sell much like a lot of albums would nowadays, this can be remembered as a classic, with people remembering it for its content and its production.
Nas would have a big discography after this, and with every album, he'd prove his spot as a legend, even if a certain album proved to be mediocre (Nastradamus), he'd still be respected by nearly everybody, heck, even the non-rap junkies. And while my write up of the intro is not as long and detailed as usual, it's pretty much because this album doesn't need an introduction (but yet, I just wrote one and you're reading it).
So let's get into it...
1. The Genesis
On an album full of 10 tracks, why an intro? The thing with rap album intros is that it need to be worthy of your time, and most fail to do that. In nearly 2 minutes, Nas could've rapped a short 16 on the instrumental, why not? But then again, why am I even complaining, this was actually alright to begin the album.
2. NY State Of Mind
AWWWWWWWWWWW YEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! The album kicks off terrifically as DJ Premier comes on to provide the wonderful soundscape for this brilliant standout, which Nas kills in such a fierce way. The banging drums and lyrical content is real on this one, and he doesn't fail to impress the hell out of me, neither does Premo. Nas spits some fire as the deep piano keys lays through the whole song. With standout lyrics like "rappers, I monkey flip em with the funky rhythm I be kickin" and of course, "I never sleep cos sleep is the cousin of death", this still bangs out today, probably being the best song on the album. A hip-hop masterpiece!
3. Life's A Bitch (Feat. AZ)
On the third track of Illmatic, Nas gets AZ, who is the only guest on the album, and he pretty much renegades this one hell of a song. Nas still manages to continue with a very good verse tho. This song is perfecto! The production from LES is very chill and smooth (heck, not even J Dilla could beat the sample flipping from this song), with Nas & AZ both coming out with some heat. Nas' father, Olu Dara, plays the cornet at the ending, and it is actually very great for the song. It's kinda sad that AZ still remains slept on, even if this one hell of a song put him on to where he could've been today. Overall, this is a wonderful track!
4. The World Is Yours
You know what, forget about "NY State Of Mind" being the best song on the album, this one takes the freakin cake! Some call this the second best, but this is the most incredible song here. Pete Rock produces this beautiful jam and nails it with the sample. Nas murks this song with some wonderful lyricism from start to finish, with him impressing me through every line he spits on the song. Of course, this was the song known as the sample for Jay-Z's "Dead Presidents", that started the infamous Nas/Jay-Z beef that lasted a very long time (Ether is still way better than Takeover), and as both songs are great, this one is just... lyricism at its freaking finest!
5. Halftime
This was Illmatic's first single (which debuted on the Zebrahead soundtrack) and Large Professor comes on, producing this very decent track. This song offers some good production, and Nas was on point with the sick lyricism. Of course, compared to the other songs on here, it sounds outdated on the album with the heavy horns and bassline, especially when this came out in 1992, but this is a very nice song, and I really liked it a lot.
6. Memory Lane (Sittin' In Da Park)
The second out of three beats from the legendary DJ Premier. Out of the three beats, I didn't necessarily find this one the weakest, but only the fact I'd put this in last place out of all the Premo beats. However, that doesn't mean I don't like it. "Memory Lane" is a very great song as Nas reminisces about his gangbanging days, while spitting some hot fire. This song is great for what it is, with the beat banging out really nicely. And while both verses on this song were epic, the second verse happens to be such a standout on this track and makes me really appreciate this a lot, even to this day.
7. One Love
Q-Tip is on the boards on this standout, and nails this in the wall. Here, Nas dedicates this to his friend doing time in prison, and is very interesting as heck. Tip comes on the hook and adds a smooth touch to it, as Nas spits some sombre bars. This was a really amazing song and Nas once again doesn't fail to impress me, as Tip uses a sample that sounds really xylophoney, with the instrumental having an amazing snare. Even to this day, this song is a goddamn classic!
8. One Time 4 Your Mind
This song has a title that is a really common phrase in hip-hop history, especially in song openings. But I always found this a weak song, production-wise, because I never really liked this one when I first listened to it. My thoughts have changed a little, and it's only the lyrics that stand out most of the time, as the instrumental has a slowed down vibe to it, while most songs were upbeat. This was alright overall.
9. Represent
This was my favourite Premo beat on the album (although "NY State of Mind" had a really impressive beat). Nas still nails the song, and it's something you can bump your head to. Premo gets upbeat with his production, while Nas has some nice rhymes. I really liked this. This is probably my favourite instrumental on the album, as it does a very good job at impressing the listener. Nas ends with a shoutro and it's not that bad to the song, cos it really suits. Overall, everybody knows that Premo + Nas = classic. This is one of the reasons why people are still waiting for a collab album!
10. It Ain't Hard To Tell
Large Professor provides his best instrumental on the album, sampling the underrated Michael Jackson classic, "Human Nature". This one just ends the album AWESOMELY! I mean, this song is just hip-hop at its finest, with lines like "Nas is like the Afrocentric Asian, half-man, half-amazing". No hook, and it still stands out, while Nas raps about his flawlessness. I mean, this is just so freaking wonderful! A great song, with a delivery so powerful.
Illmatic certainly stands out to be one of the best hip-hop albums ever, still living up to the hype. Everything about the album is so good. You can bump your head to this or you can sit down and just listen. It's not my personal favourite like The Infamous or The Minstrel Show is, but it's such a wonderful album that left a mark on the game, especially in the day and age. Nas had some outstanding rhymes which could impress the listener a lot and he never failed to impress me.
What made me like Illmatic so much was the lyricism. It was so good, and Nas performed on those songs very well. The performance is so flawless and he does a lot with it. He only gathers one guest: AZ, which, even with modern albums like To Pimp A Butterfly and 2014 Forest Hills Drive, shows that popular features don't always have to make an album so good. The length happens to be a certain key to the album, which interests me into it a lot more. There's only 10 tracks, surprising because normally, at least 5 tracks would be added in to have a 50-something-minute album. But, like an EP would be nowadays, it ends up running for nearly 40 minutes. So imagine if Illmatic was more full-length than short...
But on to the actual album, even the weaker ones still standout on the album (that goes for you, "One Time 4 Your Mind"). They come out alright, and are most of the time saved by the flawlessness of Nasir Jones. The production is on point: DJ Premier got his banging beats, Large Professor got some decent basslines, LES has his smooth samples, and Q-Tip has his xylophone touch. The album's formula is so flawless and impressive, that it's the reason why so many people "overrate" it, especially on hip-hop websites. You can't go on a rap site without someone calling this the greatest album of all-time.
Yes, there are much better produced albums than Illmatic, but not more mind-blowing and influential than it. Everything makes the album complete. Without even 1 little thing, this could've even turned into a mess. Heck, even a few more tracks could've messed this up. So BUY THIS ALBUM! This is so good, and for you hip-hop junkies, you can add this to your collection, digital or physical... wait, you may already have it. But if you guys sleep on old-school hip-hop like this, then WAKE UP!
The Furious 5ive
The World Is Yours
NY State Of Mind
One Love
It Ain't Hard To Tell
Represent
Choosing my top 5 tracks for this album was hard to do, seeing that there's 10 tracks on this album. It's a fact that there were so many good songs on this wonderful piece of work that could've been on the list. Therefore, you should know that every song on here is recommendable!
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