Nas-Illmatic Review

Back again with another album review, and this time, I'm nothing short of extremely impressed.
Nas' 1994 debut, "Illmatic" came in with low commercial expectations, and not much of a critical expectation. While Illmatic is only a Platinum record, it has spawned around 20 Platinum records. Illmatic is a powerful, influential, jazz flavored hip hop debut by a then 21 year old rapper who had just entered the industry. In Illmatic, Nas talks about his life in New York, his family, and his personality. But it just seems like much more. Nas brought in rhymes that were completely unimaginable to this point in the rap game. Busting out lines like, "I rap for listeneres, blunt heads, fly ladies, and prisoners, Hennessy holders, and old school n*ggas" in, "Memory Lane" and also spits an incredible verse in the album's lead single, "Halftime", such as, "Versatile, my style switches like a faggot, but not bisexual, I'm an intellectual, Of rap I'm a professional and that's no question yo." Nas came out with thunder, even if it didn't mean topping charts getting noticed by the mainstream. Nas shows nothing but brilliant lyricism and adds in plenty of piano rhythms along to help give the album some jazz and alternative hip hop background. Nas has influenced greats such as Eminem, Jay-Z,(Who he would later feud with) and modern day rappers such as Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco. Illmatic may only be 39 minutes and 51 seconds, and may only be 10 tracks long, but the legacy it leaves behind is far greater. Illmatic changed rap, and opened up the minds of songwriters across the world. Whether one likes rap or not, this is a classic that can't be passed up, and is a 10 track showing of sheer brilliance.

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

*denotes recommended track

1. The Genesis
2. NY State of Mind*
3. Life's a B*tch
4. The World is Yours
5. Halftime*
6. Memory Lane*
7. One Love
8. One Time 4 Your Mind
9. Represent
10. It Ain't Hard to Tell*