Illmatic [PA] by Nas

Staring Down A Legend: Nas's "Illmatic", Twelve Years Later

Author's Rating:

Pros: A hungry MC with beats so hot, it doesn't matter what he's saying.

Cons: Two mediocre songs prevent this album from being perfect.

Bottom Line:
Revisionist history posts "Illmatic" as the definitive hip-hop album. I say otherwise, but it's damn close. Classic material. Read More

Nas is like a - Half Man Half amazing

Author's Rating:

Pros: One of Nas' best efforts.

Cons: Only 10 tracks.

Bottom Line:
Nas' Illmatic is just a debut album, but to me the best album he's released bedside Stillmatic released 10 years later. Read More

Look, son, someone's trying to rise above it all

Author's Rating:

Pros: The word "positive" sometimes has negative connotations, so I'll just call it "admirable" and "earnest".

Cons: Some complain that it's too short. I think it's just right.

Bottom Line:
Why do people focus so much on Tupac when this guy seems just as smart and genuine, and far less cartoonish? Probably the most sophisticated rap album I've heard. Read More

Virtual Perfection: The Magic of Illmatic

Author's Rating:

Pros: Advanced lyrical technique and avid storytelling; top-notch beats; brevity of album; one great guest performance

Cons: Album a little short in duration

Bottom Line:
Possibly the best rap debut in history, Illmatic establishes Nas as one of rap's greats with his advanced lyricism while backed by some of the game's legendary producers Read More

Okay, Let's Get This Over With: Illmatic

Author's Rating:

Pros: The rapping and the production are top-notch; a strong, if overlooked concept

Cons:

A couple songs fall short; Nas is still developing as a songwriter

Bottom Line:
Though not the Holy Grail of Hip-Hop or the untouchable album people paint it as, Illmatic is a great album, and a must-have for anyone's hip-hop collection. Read More

Realising the realism of life in actuality

Author's Rating:

Pros: .....

Cons: .....

Bottom Line:
A Hip Hop milestone definitely. Read More

Nas' Illmatic - Often Imitated, but Never Duplicated, No Doubt, one of the Greatest

Author's Rating:

Pros: CLASSIC, Pure Unmatched Lyrical Masterpiece, Rellevent and Brilliant Subject-Matter, Perfect Production, No Filler, AZ

Cons: N/A

Bottom Line:
Nas will never be the same after Illmatic. One of the most superior and brilliant albums in music history... Read More

Not Stillmatic, but the legendary Illmatic...

Author's Rating:

Pros: Nas' staggeringly detailed lyrics. Prophetic. Brilliant production. Underground feel.

Cons: One "weak" track.

Bottom Line:
Nas will never better Illmatic, and in 2002 it still holds its own as one of hip-hops greatest albums. Superior, prohetic ghetto poetry this. Read More

"Nas is like the Afrocentric Asian, half-man, half-amazin"

Author's Rating:

Pros: Perfect production. Prophetic, creative and focused. AZ's appearance.

Cons: None.

Bottom Line:
Without a doubt one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. This is Nas at his absolute best, it would be a crime not to own this album. Read More

Nas drops the Illest album of his career--You will never get the mic back!

Author's Rating:

Pros: It's the second best hip hop album ever released.

Cons: Wheres the rest of it!??

Bottom Line:
The hip hop album that saved many careers, including hip hop's own reputation! Read More