Illmatic is the debut studio album by American rapper Nas, released on April 19, 1994, by Columbia Records. After signing with the label with the help of MC Serch, Nas recorded the album in 1992–1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Apr 19, 2018 - 24 years ago today, Nas dropped his debut LP 'Illmatic'. Released on by Columbia Records in 94' Nas recorded the album at Chung King. Features Song Lyrics for Nas's Illmatic album. Includes Album Cover, Release Year, and User Reviews. Popular Song Lyrics. Billboard Hot 100. Upcoming Lyrics. Recently Added. Top Lyrics of 2011. Top Lyrics of 2010. Top Lyrics of 2009.

• Nas Illmatic Review

Submit • A more complete album than any other hip hop work. Some claim that Illmatic isn't actually all that great and didn't change the rap game as much as Tupac's and Biggie's groundbreaking albums. HOWEVER, this album is groundbreaking and beautiful because of it's simplicity. 10 songs is not a lot to include on only one album (including a song simply named halftime, put at the 5/10 slot). The great thing about Illmatic is that every part of the album is essential and represents a solid portion of it.

Every song on the album is great and when put together, they form a near perfect album. Submit • Sure, I guess it's my opinion, but you're missing the point First off, if you want to say it's not the best rap album of all time, use a less general argument than saying something along the lines of 'it can't be objectively judged because your opinion is subjective'. Sure, I agree, but that being your reason is not actually a reason for why Illmatic isn't the greatest rap album of all time, it's the reason why art is inherently subjective.

Nas Illmatic Review

That being said, in art, perfection and '-est' superlatives are misleading words because the music in question is often the object of inaccurate criticism: people try to bolster their own credibility by griping about something that is inconsequential. In art, perfection is something vulnerable that offers us incredible insight into the depths of the artist's work, and ourselves. For Illmatic, it serves as a window that allows us to see the harsh reality of a 1990's queensbridge. Illmatic has incredible rhyme schemes and lyrics woven into stories with it's incredible sequencing after 'Genesis' takes you to the gritty, bleak queensbridge stop. Followed by 'NY State of Mind', the rest of the album continues into the barren heart of a man corrupted by reality, and in other parts, it's almost uplifting with Nas's lyrical prowess and reflective pieces. The voice of Nas is what's truly important though; it's that of an 18 year old boy whose sad, unrelenting experiences forced him to be a tired, beaten man.

The cold underbelly of a world most of us never experience as told by Nas, is Illmatic. Submit • Greatest Album Ever in Hip Hop History For those disagreeing, you guys obviously haven't listened to it, as evidenced by you guys saying 'I'm the Rapper He's the DJ reached number 4 and Illmatic reached 12'. I don't know if you know this, but ranks on the charts are determined by sales, not popularity. And the reason for low sales of Illmatic was: 1. Not enough promotion on Nas' part and 2.