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songs
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- 1
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The Genesis
- 01:45
- 65,187 plays
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- 2
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N.Y. State Of Mind
- 04:52
- 168,843 plays
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Life's A Bitch
- 03:29
- 133,450 plays
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- 4
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The World Is Yours
- 04:50
- 181,808 plays
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- 5
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Halftime
- 04:21
- 102,404 plays
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- 6
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Memory Lane (Sittin' In Da Park)
- 04:06
- 105,206 plays
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- 7
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One Love
- 05:24
- 108,095 plays
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- 8
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One Time 4 Your Mind
- 03:17
- 68,826 plays
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- 9
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Represent
- 04:13
- 88,245 plays
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- 10
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It Ain't Hard To Tell
- 03:22
- 151,656 plays
album review
Often cited as one of the best hip-hop albums of the '90s, Illmatic is the undisputed classic upon which Nas' reputation rests. It helped spearhead the artistic renaissance of New York hip-hop in the post-Chronic era, leading a return to street aesthetics. Yet even if Illmatic marks the beginning of a shift away from Native Tongues-inspired alternative rap, it's strongly rooted in that sensibility. For one, Nas employs some of the most sophisticated jazz-rap producers around: Q-Tip, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, and Large Professor, who underpin their intricate loops with appropriately tough beats. But more importantly, Nas takes his place as one of hip-hop's greatest street poets -- his rhymes are highly literate, his raps superbly fluid regardless of the size of his vocabulary. He's able to evoke the bleak reality of ghetto life without losing hope or forgetting the good times, which become all the more precious when any day could be your last. As a narrator, he doesn't get too caught up in the darker side of life -- he's simply describing what he sees in the world around him, and trying to live it up while he can. He's thoughtful but ambitious, announcing on "N.Y. State of Mind" that "I never sleep, 'cause sleep is the cousin of death," and that he's "out for dead presidents to represent me" on "The World Is Yours." Elsewhere, he flexes his storytelling muscles on the classic cuts "Life's a Bitch" and "One Love," the latter a detailed report to a close friend in prison about how allegiances within their group have shifted. Hip-hop fans accustomed to 73-minute opuses sometimes complain about Illmatic's brevity, but even if it leaves you wanting more, it's also one of the few '90s rap albums with absolutely no wasted space. Illmatic is a great lyricist, in top form, meeting great production, and it remains a perennial favorite among serious hip-hop fans. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
See all-
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- Stillmatic (Parental Advisory)
- Released 2001
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- Nas (Parental Advisory)
- Released 2008
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- Hip Hop Is Dead (Parental Advisory)
- Released 2006
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- It Was Written (Parental Advisory)
- Released 1996
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listener reviews
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Nas Illmatic
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- By CAP33092
- 7/30/2009 18:36:14
- Hands down best rap album ever made
- 2 out of 2 people
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The Illest shit Eva!!!
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- By Ausaini17
- 7/22/2009 07:35:57
- Illmatic came out when I was just 5 years old, now that I'm older and I listen to it now, I love it!! The stories, the lyrical complexity and the Beats are all crazy!! My favorites from this album are (all of the really) Life's a Bitch, One Love On time 4 you Mind, It Ain't Hard To Tell and New York State of Mind.
- 1 out of 1 people
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Perfection
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- By Dmack Masterice
- 2/21/2009 18:46:10
- Straight up shit is real and any day could be your last in the jungle
Get murdered on the humble, guns'll blast, niggaz tumble
The corners is the hot spot, full of mad criminals
who don't care, guzzlin beers, we all stare
at the out-of-towners (Ay, yo, yo, who that?) They better break North
before we get the four pounders, and take their face off
The streets is filled with undercovers, homicide chasin brothers
The D.A.'s on the roof, tryin to, watch us and knock us
And killer coppers, even come through in helicopters
I drink a little vodka, spark a L and hold a Glock for
the fronters, wannabe ill niggaz and spot runners
Thinkin it can't happen til I, trap em and clap em
and leave em done, won't even run about Gods
I don't believe in none of that shit, your facts are backwards
Nas is a rebel of the street corner
Pullin a Tec out the dresser, police got me under pressure
I have yet to hear ANYONE (besides AZ) spit a verse as hot as that. Till this day there are very few MCs able to stay on the same level as Nas - 4 out of 4 people
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Absolutely Amazing
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- By UnrivaledSHOGUN
- 12/10/2008 19:15:01
- The album is simply amazing from start to finish. The album kicks off with arguably the best track, "N.Y. State of Mind" and never loses a beat. You can easily lose yourself in Nas' wordplay and some of the best music production ever. Every track is funky and easy on the ears. Put some of the best rap verses ever written over them and you have a truly timeless classic. Warning, after listening to this album, very few rap albums will ever leave you feeling as complete as this.
- 5 out of 5 people
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Don't touch the skip button
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- By INFAMOUSHAVOC24
- 12/3/2008 17:31:02
- this is a classic from start to beginning you wanna sit back and open your ear to real hip hop and great music this is a cd for you.nas is at his best here lyrically he show why he one of the greatest to brace the mic from N.Y. state of mind to life a bitch with AZ Halftime one love and represent.This is the begin for a soon to be legend in the game
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Nas' best
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- By I KruZer I
- 10/4/2008 22:38:50
- One of the best albums in hip hop, easy.
- 3 out of 3 people
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a must have CD
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- By VA Stylin
- 7/29/2008 20:19:44
- This album was tight down to the album cover. Thus what started the beef between him and biggie. Thinking B.I.G. took the style of his album and flipped it.
- 3 out of 3 people
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Must own
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- By Karchwurst
- 6/11/2008 02:23:30
- This may be one of the greatest hip hop lbums ever...not just of the 90s...All Star cast of DJs alone makes it a must buy, nevermind the flows and lyrics of Nas himself.
- 4 out of 4 people
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Buy This CD
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- By JaY RoMe 07
- 5/9/2008 22:39:35
- The best Cd Ever Made.
- 2 out of 2 people
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