We considered opening this piece with a quote or two about “Illmatic”, but quite simply there were just too many good ones for us to choose from. Instead, we’ll highlight that Billboard named it as the best rap album of all time…
A big call perhaps when you consider the existence of some of the other heavyweight rap albums that are out there, but that it’s a contender should already tell you everything. It’s not just that the retrospective reviews are glowing either, at the time of its release back in 1994 it was met with widespread critical acclaim including from tastemakers such as NME, Rolling Stone, The Source, and Spin magazine.
That’s not to say things were entirely perfect, its initial sales and the chart success of its singles were considered underwhelming and fell below expectations considering the status of Nas as one of Hip-Hop’s rising stars. Ultimately though, it would prove its enduring quality, going on to be platinum-certified, and even being preserved in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
But what exactly makes the magnum opus of Nasty Nas so special? Well, it’s several things, and really it is the way that these things blend and mesh together into one coherent piece of art. Let’s start with the man himself. Nas was just 20 years old when the album was released, but raps with the confidence, style, and intelligence of an old master. His rightfully acclaimed lyricism delves into documentary-level detail, telling gritty stories of Queensbridge, the inner-city New York neighbourhood that Nas would call home. Even today more than 30 years on, the realism and razor-sharp lyricism of Nas’s storytelling still paint a clear picture of what it was like back then.
All of this is set against a backdrop of beats and samples produced by some of hip hop’s all-time great producers. Pete Rock, DJ Premier, and Q-Tip are all iconic figures who made telling contributions to “Illmatic” (side note, Pete Rock was behind the desk for "The World Is Yours" which pops up in this month’s Penta Sounds playlist!). Along with the other notable producers who weaved their magic too, you might think the album would lack a sense of cohesion, but far from it. The range and variety of funk, soul, and jazz that permeates the album is a major strength and has even been studied by music journalists and academics.
Ultimately, we’re not experts and we don’t profess to be, but we are fans and lovers of great music, and that’s exactly what “Illmatic” is. It’s certainly one of the hip-hop greats, and given its legacy and influence you could argue that it will go down in the history of music in general. If you’ve never listened to it before, now is a great time as it hits 30 years of existence. If you already know it, this is a reminder to revisit it and reacquaint yourself with this masterpiece.
Still credits: “Nas - Illmatic (Full Album)” uploaded to YouTube by OldSchoolHipHop
