Nas - Illmatic

We won’t spend the whole of this article talking about it, but it is absolutely wild that Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones was only twenty years old when his iconic debut LP, Illmatic was released. There is just such a remarkable level of maturity, an album that introduced a young rapper with an astonishing command of language, detail and rhythm. Nas had emerged through the NY hip-hop scene as early as 1991, appearing on Main Source’s “Live at the Barbeque” (billed at just 17 years old as ‘Nasty Nas’, a name he reiterates at the start of the track, “Halftime”). It was with the help of MC Serch and Main Source’s Large Professor that Nas secured a deal with Columbia Records, and Illmatic was recorded across four NY studios between 1992 and 1993. Besides Nas as the voice, the production on Illmatic is superb, with five of the scene's best talents providing highlights and such a sense of cohesion too. DJ Premier’s hard-edged loops and stark piano on “N.Y. State of Mind” contrast with Pete Rock’s soulful production on “The World Is Yours”, while Q-Tip brings a different warmth to “One Love”. There are samples, but they are minimal compared to other albums from the same era, and also so carefully integrated to bed into the song without distracting or taking the lead. There is even a flash of trumpet from Nas’ father, the celebrated jazz musician Olu Dara, which all just adds to the richness of the production.

"it remains a sterling example of how great rap can be"
- Pitchfork

Without directly playing as a concept album, Illmatic is also deeply focused on Queensbridge, North America's largest public housing development in New York where Nas grew up. He is not always the protagonist, but he is also never detached from the narratives. Queensbridge is not simply a backdrop; it is the source of the record’s characters, conflicts and observations, from the more threatening street themes to those expressing various ambitions and self-determinations.

Illmatic is so focused and remarkably concise, its ten tracks running for around 40 minutes with no wasted space. The sequencing, the production and Nas’ unique voice give the album the feeling of a complete statement rather than a collection of vignettes. It’s pretty much a perfect album.