I consider myself fairly new to the genre of hip-hop. It wasn’t until my mid twenties that I began digging into it as an art form, interestingly enough after listening to an album on this list. That being said, I consider it a Cardinal sin that I’m just now digging into Nas’ Illmatic. There’s something timeless about it that can’t be ignored, something that still continues to influence rappers like JID, Kendrick Lamar, and Saba who all released albums THIS YEAR. This album isn’t just impressive by the standards of its time, but even released today would stand toe-to-toe with the best offerings of the year. Nas crushes each beat like he’s a veteran in the game, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that this is his debut album (on the opening track “N.Y. State of Mind” he begins a flow, confesses he doesn’t know how to start, recalibrates, and then drops an absolutely killer verse. Supposedly this isn’t a skit, but him actually being caught off guard by the beat, and it greatly illustrates just how skilled he is as an M.C.). He flows from one verse to the next, weaving a tapestry of stories that chronicle life in the inner city of New York. The jazz influenced beats, a trait undoubtedly inherited from the east coast scene and his musician father, also help add to the narrative, providing a sometimes laidback, sometimes haunting backdrop for his rhymes.
In general I lean towards hip-hop that has something to say, instead of relying on trend following, clout chasing, and just having a banging beat. What Illmatic does brilliantly is immerse the listener in the world of Nas. Listening to this album feels like having a conversation with the artist while he walks you through Brooklyn. Nas really demonstrates that he can do it all, killing beats on songs like “Halftime” and “Represent” with a cocky bravado while by contrast sitting back in the pocket and providing reflective commentary in pieces like “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)” and “The World is Yours”.
The more I listen to this album the more I can see it becoming a permanent staple in my music collection. Every song is a masterful composition of genuine storytelling, memorable hooks, and catchy beats. And given that I’ve only had a few days with this album and I’m already as impressed by it as I am, I feel confident saying that this album is, indeed, a certified classic.
My Rating: 5/5
The Word and The Song 