31 Years Of Illmatic
Nas, New York, and the Lyrical Legacy of Illmatic
10 tracks. 39 minutes and 48 seconds. Over a billion streams in 31 years. One of the most influential hip hop albums of all time.
Nasir Jones, aka Nas, from Queensbridge, New York, crafted his debut album Illmatic when he was just 20 years old. The iconic album was, and still is, groundbreaking for many reasons. Let’s start with the most obvious: its lyrical mastery. The storytelling throughout the project is one of the most noteworthy parts of this album.
On top of that, we have to touch on the stacked lineup of producers that worked on Illmatic, including DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Large Professor, L.E.S., and Nas himself.
The length is also notable: 10 tracks that fit together like puzzle pieces to reveal the greater image that is New York rap. This album is New York through and through, and it sparked a resurgence at a time when West Coast rap was arguably dominating—for example, Snoop’s debut album had dropped a year prior and was topping the charts. While the spotlight was on the West Coast, we still have to recognize New York's place at the time, with groups like A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang Clan holding it down.
Nas’ impact has spanned decades, inspiring major artists like J. Cole, Eminem, and Kendrick Lamar, who have all publicly credited Illmatic as a source of inspiration. Nas raised the bar as a narrative-driven New York artist. His appreciation for the city isn’t confined to Queensbridge, though. On tracks like “The World Is Yours,” Nas recognizes Queens as “the foundation” but also shouts out uptown, Brooklyn, Mount Vernon, Long Island, Staten Island, and the Bronx.
In a 2016 interview with Red Bull, Nas was asked what it’s like listening to Illmatic today. He replied, “...I’ve got to say, it’s still a really good record. It’s a really good piece because it’s honest.”
Illmatic’s honesty and rawness are part of what make it remarkable…and even timeless in a hip-hop landscape that looks quite different today.
Gritty, soulful, boom bap. However you want to describe it, we still have it on loop.
All lyrics quoted from “Illmatic” (1994), Columbia Records.
