30 Years Later: Why "Illmatic" is the Greatest Hip-Hop Album of All Time
"When I made Illmatic I was a little kid in Queensbridge trapped in the ghetto." -Nas
Nas dropped his first studio album, Illmatic, on April 19, 1994 released by Columbia Records. The tracks on this debut album capture the essence of urban youth culture at that time. Since then, Nas has achieved major success, with eight consecutive platinum albums, six #1 hits on the Billboard 200, and over 25 million records sold.
Illmatic stands out as a classic in hip-hop because it set a high standard and greatly influenced the genre. Nas brings a raw, authentic, and honest vibe to this project that is truly unique.
“My approach was to talk about that kid on the corner… that kid wasn’t on stage, I wanted the stage to come to him on the block.” -Nas
This is exactly what he was able to achieve — a young kid given the rare opportunity to share his experiences and tell his story. If you haven't listened to this album yet, do yourself a favor and give it a listen, it's only 40 minutes in length.
Lyricism on Illmatic
Nas, like many artists, draws inspiration from hip-hop pioneers like Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, and Rakim. These trailblazers helped transform lyricism from simple rhyming to a more complex and poetic style. Here are a few instances where Nas showcases his mastery of multi-syllabic internal rhymes.
The First “Super Producer Album”
Nas had a brilliant idea to enlist renowned producers for his debut album, and it paid off. Each producer brought their A-game which leading to a competitive atmosphere that fueled creativity. DJ Premier recalls being in the studio with Pete Rock and Large Professor, witnessing their skills in recording, scratching, and beat mixing. Their work inspired Premier to elevate his own craft. He even admits that hearing "The World Is Yours" prompted him to rethink his final version of "Represent," the first song he recorded with Nas. Q-Tip was similarly affected, remembering how DJ Premier's original beat for "Memory Lane" and Paul's (Large Professor's) production motivated him to step up his game.
Victim Of Bootlegging
Thirty years later, many people may not actually know that Illmatic fell victim to excessive bootlegging, a phenomenon that at the time had only recently surfaced.
Faith Newman recounts that “And everybody had it – all over the world, even. By February of '94, it was just done, and we had to pull the trigger. Just like, we gotta go. We got nine songs — nine and the intro.”
Demand within New York had grown so much, that MC Serch claimed he found a garage with 60,000 bootlegged copies. In Illmatic’s opening week, it only sold 59,000 copies which is astonishing considering the hype in the lead up to the album and that it was also critically acclaimed, it was the first solo debut album to be awarded 5 mics by The Source. It would take Illmatic almost two more years to be awarded Gold certification and over seven years for Platinum certification. As of this year, 2019, it has been certified as a Double-Platinum album.
In hindsight, perhaps the rushed release worked in Nas’s favor because the resulting product was a 40-minute length album with nine phenomenal songs and absolutely no filler. The short-length and lack of filler has maintained Illmatic’s replayability for 30 years and will continue for many years to come.
Illmatic’s Influence On Other Artists And The Genre Itself
Since its release, Illmatic has garnered acclaim from writers and music critics alike, solidifying its status as a pivotal album in East Coast hip hop. Its impact on future Hi-Hop artists is credited to both its production and Nas's lyrical ability. This album played a key role in revitalizing the New York City rap scene by introducing new stylistic elements to the region. Over time, it has become one of the most revered albums in Hip-Hop history, consistently appearing on lists of the greatest albums by critics and publications.