Number 93: Illmatic by Nas
Release: April 19th, 1994
Genre: Hip-Hop
Favorite Tracks: The World Is Yours, N.Y. State of Mind, Represent
Where I heard it:
Growing up in the Bay Area, my childhood hop-hop upbringing included local artists like 2Pac and E-40. It was sacrilegious to be listening to anything contrary to the west-coast sound that was so prominent in the community. Thankfully, none of that mattered at the time because my rap renaissance wouldn't come until the end of my freshman year in high school. I looked down heavily on rap music before the maturation of my music taste, because...well, that's what edgy white teens do is criticize rap for its less musical qualities. My wall slowly began to crumble as I was exposed to the rappers of the golden age of hip-hop, namely through their inclusion in video game soundtracks. I played my fair share of the Saints Row series during the winter of my junior year of high school as an alternative to the much more popular Grand Theft Auto series, and found the former had a more diverse and enjoyable soundtrack. With Saints Row 2's addition of N.Y. State of Mind as the title screen track, it is impossible for me not to associate this GTA wannabe with what I discovered is one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever made.
I sip the Dom P, watchin' Gandhi 'til I'm charged
Then writing in my book of rhymes, all the words past the margin
To hold the mic I'm throbbin', mechanical movement
Understandable smooth shit that murderers move with
~ The World Is Yours
What to expect:
Rap music reached its pinnacle in the 90's with the escalation of the east-west rivalry and ensuing mainstream explosion that spawned iconic artists who revolutionized hip-hop with their introspective and scandalous content. Testimonies of poverty, violence, and redemption from an artist's upbringing were now the soundtrack to millions of listeners who were captivated by the tales of ghetto lifestyle. New York-born rapper Nas aimed to add his perspective to the mix through his influence by local hip-hop pioneers along with his strong connections to the Queensbridge neighborhood he grew up in. Illmatic peers into a day in the life of a poor black teen in the projects, but elects not to focus solely on the miserable aspects of his background. Instead, Nas looks back with fondness and nostalgia of the memories he had with his crew, all the while navigating the spotlight in his rise to fame and fortune with optimistic tone. Illmatic undoubtedly boasts the edge typical of a 90's hip-hop album, but its execution relies on subtle delivery through calculated rhyme structures highlighted by a laid-back and minimalist beat, allowing Nas's remarkable wordsmithing to take front and center. In comparison to the brash and flamboyant lyrical content of other popular 90's rap artists, Illmatic's unique and playful flow lends to a more palatable listening experience for those less familiar with the tropes of hip-hop. A brilliant album overall for first-time hip-hop heads!
This rhythmatic explosion is what your frame of mind has chosen
I'll leave your brain stimulated, niggas is frozen
Speak with a criminal slang, begin like a violin
End like Leviathan: it's deep? Well, let me try again
~ It Ain't Hard to Tell
Why it's my favorite:
My musical taste tends to gravitate more towards manic and eclectic content; just assault my eardrums with whatever you've got to give. Nas doesn't feature complex samples or beat breaks, but it stands as a testament to his talents that Illmatic does not need the excessive fanfare to showcase its value. This album exhibits simplicity in its production, but complexity in the societal commentary that reinforces its slice-of-life approach to songwriting. I'm so impressed at Nas's ability to relay his experiences without glorifying them or being overly existential as to why they occurred. Over time, I've become more accustomed to hip-hop with elements of story-telling that provoke thought as a listener, and Illmatic serves as one of the most elaborate and sincere accounts of life in the underground I've ever heard.
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