Illmatic by Nas Review

By: Cole Negen

     The year is 1994. Some of the best Hip-Hop music, albums that will stand the test of time, are being made in this year. Notorious B.I.G’s Ready to Die, Outkast’s debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, and of course, Nas’s Illmatic. This was Nas’s debut after appearing on multiple tracks as a feature throughout the early 90’s, as well as having his own single “Halftime” in 1992. Growing up in the projects of Queensbridge in New York City, Nas had a lot of connections to people within the industry. Illmatic production wise was in great hands, as Nas had contributions from DJ Premier, Large Professor, Q-Tip, Pete Rock, L.E.S. and executive produced by MC Serch. So Nas had a lot of backing behind him heading into this debut. The production all throughout the album layers smooth soul and jazz samples over heavy percussion and bass. The loops used through the instrumentals aren’t that unique or exquisite, but are smooth and paint a perfect backdrop for Nas to rap over. Whether it is an aggressive track laced with jazz loops to add a beautiful contrast, like on NY State of Mind, or just a misty and smooth instrumental for Nas to paint a picture with, like on One Love, every track’s production is spot on. But the main focus of this record, and the reason it is so important even still today, is Nas’s rapping. Nas uses these simple and smooth instrumentals to tell stories of living in the projects, as well as his run-ins with gang violence and drug dealing. Nas’s words come off as poetic, painting the perfect picture of what he is trying to portray.
     On NY State of Mind, Nas raps for about 2 ½ minutes straight on his first verse, as well as on his second verse to really eat up and fill its 4 ½ minute run time. He tells grim tales of drug dealing in Queensbridge. On the third track, Life’s a B****, Nas and his feature artist AZ talk about how they know they are destined to die one day, but also how they want to live for tomorrow, leaving the track off with a hopeful tone to contrast the depressing title and point of view. The World is Yours is another upbeat track, where Nas talks about how the world is his, but also that the world is yours, being the listener. Nas also talks about his place in the rap game as well as his projected takeover. The track uses bright piano keys and a golden hook, providing the background for Nas’s upbeat message. On Halftime, Nas flexes his poetic muscles, once again talking about his place in the rap game, this time a bit more aggressively. On Memory Lane (Sittin in the Park), Nas takes a very nostalgic tone. The bright piano and background vocals really set the tone, while Nas talks about his upbringing as well as the people in his life, some who have been lost to gang violence. One Love is one of the more creative concepts on the record, as Nas’s verses act as a letter to a friend of his who is in jail. Nas writes to him talking about what is happening in Queensbridge, with smooth Xylophone setting sort of a gloomy yet hopeful tone. Q-Tip provides a simple but sticky hook to tie it all up beautifully. One Time for Your Mind is one of the weaker spots on the album, not that it is bad, it actually is quite good. But when put up against all the other tracks in the tracklist, it proves to be the blandest and most uneventful. Represent is a cold-blooded ballad, where Nas goes hard spitting about gang violence and his upbringing once again. On this track however, Nas comes across as braggadocious and in your face. He sounds like a hungry 18 year old kid trying to make a statement. The hook is also the best on the record, with members of his group of friends yelling “Represent! Represent!” adding to the in-your-face attitude Nas delivers on this track. The production includes some icy bells, driving drums that keep the song moving at an urgent pace. Wrapping the whole thing up is one of my personal favorites, It Ain’t Hard to Tell. Nas once again shows off his poetry skills, by illustrating beautiful pictures and using figurative language, which comes off as hungry and clean. Behind him, the instrumental uses a great saxophone and soul sample, providing once again a misty and cold atmosphere.
     Illmatic doesn’t stand out by it’s uniqueness, or it’s game-changing style or really by its themes. What it stands out in, and why it is so influential, is that Nas took this sound, this style, this genre, and did it better than anyone else, period. It isn’t lengthy, just 10 tracks. The production and delivery is simple, nothing expensive or new. But Nas just had a hunger and a drive to really make it in the rap game. He set out to make a project that was not only good music, but was a surreal experience. He wanted to use his talents to make something that would expand your mind, and that’s exactly what he delivered. The album, plain and simple, is just Nas doing Hip-Hop better than anyone else has ever done it, or probably will ever do it. In a time when Hip-Hop was in its early years, Nas delivered an album so textbook, but at the same time clicked on all cylinders, to the point where it is hard to imagine someone out-doing it. It isn’t for everyone but if you like Hip-Hop or want to get in to Hip-Hop, there isn’t anywhere better to start than this.