hiphop Illmatic Appreciation

[Superstition]

A topic in Whatever a couple weeks ago, made me realise how little some people actually understand and appreciate this album.There has never been a rap album like this, before or since. Nas is the best ever to do it and this illustrates why.I think a lot of people don't get it because they don't grasp what he was doing, how masterful and potent it is, how influential it was. I reckon some think that Illmatic is celebrated so much simply coz it's an "accepted" classic, and nobody has the grapes to go against the grain. But for this LP, more than ANY other I can think of, this is 100% NOT the case. This isn't the emperor's new clothes, this is a bonafide classic of modern lyricism, worthy of standing next to classic albums of any genre, in any era. And I honestly believe that naysayers either don't get it, or are just trying to be different. Use this topic to share thoughts on favourite songs, verses or lines; or stir up debate or just kick up a fuss.

[n/a]

if anyone got a link up it

[Cipher]

if anyone got a link up it

:D!Still, was going to do this before, Ill up it in a bit, but yea, Classic.

[The King]

Absolutely amazing album. Session on pro evo for 3 hours and have this on repeat is the one.

[LYRICAL_APARTHEID]

Album is sick.Werent only Nas but the whole Queensbridge side of things (movement) was running rap in the 90s.Dont act like this album is far beyond anything else, cos classics like Hell On earth / The Infamous had that same type of energy.

[Superstition]

First verse on the album, hits you like a stocking full of gravel across the jawside. Every line is f*cking ill but I highlighted the bits which jump out at you...

Rappers I monkeyflip 'em with the funky rhythm I be kickinMusician, inflictin composition of painI'm like Scarface sniffin cocaine, holdin a M-16, See with the pen I'm extreme, now FEEL that f*ckin HUNGER, the way he just LAUNCHES into it. Coldest opening to a rap song ever? Easily top 3. Bulletholes left in my peepholesI'm suited up in street clothesHand me a nine and I'll defeat foesY'all know my steelo with or without the airplayI keep some E&J, sittin bent up in the stairwayOr either on the corner bettin Grants with the cee-lo champsLaughin at baseheads tryna sell some broken ampsG-Packs get off quick, forever niggas talk sh*tReminiscing about the last time the Task Force flippedNiggas be runnin through the block shootinTime to start the revolution, catch a body, head for HoustonOnce they caught us off guard - the Mac-10 was in the grass, andI ran like a cheetah with thoughts of an assassin f*ckin poetic...Pick the Mac up, told brothers, "Back up!" The Mac spit, lead was hittin niggas, one ran - I made him backflipHeard a few chicks scream, my arm shook, couldn't lookGave another squeeze, heard it click - yo, my sh*t is stuck!Try to c*ck it, it wouldn't shoot, now I'm in dangerFinally pulled it back, and saw three bullets caught up in the chamberSo now I'm jettin to the building lobbyand it was filled with children, probably couldn't see as high as I beWho the f*ck else can tell stories like that in rhyme? Who can paint a picture that vivid, with imagery like that, in a rap verse? With effortless, conversational flow which steps in and out of one of DJ Premier's best instrumentals like he was born to spit on the beat... (Hint: nobody)(So whatchu sayin?) It's like the game ain't the sameGot younger niggas pullin the triggers, Bringing fame to they name and claim some corners, Crews without guns are gonersIn broad daylight, stickup kids, they run up on us.45's and gauges, Mac's in fact,Same niggas'll catch a back-to-back, snatchin yo' cracks in blackThere was a snitch on the block gettin niggas knockedSo hold your stash until the coke price dropI know this crackhead, who said she gotta smoke nice rockAnd if it's good she'll bring ya customers in measuring pots, but yoYou gotta slide on a vacationInside information keeps large niggas erasin, and they wives basinIt drops deep as it does in my breathI never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death :D ARE YOU f*ckIN DUMB!!!!Beyond the walls of intelligence, life is definedI think of crime when I'm in a New York state of mind

And a quote from Premier about this verse:

With Nas, when we did "N.Y. State of Mind," at the beginning when he says, "Straight out the dungeons of rap/ Where fake niggas donât make it back." Then you hear him say, "I donât know how to start this sh*t," âcause he had just written it. Heâs got the beat running in the studio, but he doesnât know how heâs going to format how heâs going to convey it. So heâs going, "I donât know how to start this sh*t," and Iâm counting him in [to begin his verse]. One, two, three. And then you can hear him go, "Yo," and then he goes right into it. He didnât know how he was gonna come in, but he just started going because we were recording. Iâm actually yelling, "Weâre recording!" and banging on the [vocal booth] window. "Come on, get ready." You hear him start the sh*t: âRappers I monkey flip emâ¦â And then everyone in the studio was like, "Oh, my God," âcause it was so unexpected. He was not ready. So we used that first verse. And that was when he was up and coming, his first album. So we was like, Yo, this guy is gonna be big.

That sh*t got done in ONE TAKE!!!

[Ken]

Illmatic is da oneone of the best rap albums ever

[Cipher]

Fav. Illmatic tracks in order?Mine are..1.Halftime/One Love2.Aint Hard To tell3.World Is yours/Memory Lane/4.NY State Of Mind/Respresent5.Life's A Bitch6.One Time For Ya mind7.Genesisthough this changes every few years..Seriously one of the best rap verses ever spit.It aint hard to tell, I excell, then prevail, the mic is contacted, I attract clienteleMy Mic check is life or death, breathing the snipers breath, I exhale the yellow smoke of buddah through righteousstepsDeep like the shining, sparkle like a diamond, sneek an uzi on the island in my army jacket lining, <G.O.A.T. BarHit the earth like a comet;Invasion, Nas is like the afro-centric asian, half man half amazinCause in my physical I can express through song, delete stress like motrin, then extend strongI drink moet with medusa, give her shotguns in hell, from the spliff that I lift and InhaleIt aint hard to tell *sick saxaphones kick in*Delivery and flow was absolutely sickeningly nice, Internal rhyme, GET TO KNOW.

[Superstition]

I can't rank the songs, like I seriously can't. It would go something like this1. NY State of Mind/Life's A Bitch/Memory Lane/Halftime/One Love/It Ain't Hard To Tell/The World Is Yours2. Represent/One Time For Ya Mind

It aint hard to tell, I excell, then prevail,The mic is contacted, I attract clienteleMy mic check is life or death, breathing the snipers breath, I exhale the yellow smoke of buddah through righteous steps Deep like the shining, sparkle like a diamond, Sneek an uzi on the island in my army jacket liningHit the earth like a comet invasion, Nas is like the afro-centric asian, half man half amazinCause in my physical I can express Through song, delete stress like motrin, then extend strongI drink moet with medusa, give her shotguns in hell, From the spliff that I lift and InhaleIt aint hard to tellDelivery and flow was absolutely sickeningly nice, Internal rhyme, GET TO KNOW.

Seriously every word of that verse is ridiculous. How anyone can put down this album is beyond me. Aren't they listening to this sh*t? Nobody else can do this.

[McLovin' Jones]

Lyrically, my favourite rap album everHe wasn't being lyrical just t be lyrical unlike boring ass rappers like canibus.He balanced it by actually creating songs which seemed together nicely.In addition to that, the age he made this album at was startling. Dude was in his teenage years.

[Agony]

I don't even buy albums anymore but I would actually buy this album again if I lost my original copy.Thats how much I rate this album.

[The Infamous]

I will write up my opinionFavourite tracks would be NY state of mind and Halftime which is Nas's must under rated track of all time.'You wont ever see me in the streets with out a ton of reefa its like malcom x catching the jungle fever''i miss mr magic versatile my style switches like a faggott but not bisexual im an intellctuall on rap im professional and thats no question yo''I got more kicks than a baby in a mothers stomach''Im a nike head I wear chains that existes the feds'thats just from the top of my headMy favourite hiphop song of all time

[Savant]

I'm gonna flood this topic LOL.

[kr.]

Nas is the best ever to do it and this illustrates why.

Yes.Bare cliche but NY State of Mind >>>>>>>>>>>>>

[juju]

co sign the original post, best hip hop album ever, that's not even my opinion it's straight FACTS, also real talk when u say how people who don't rate it think it's some bandwagon ting, reminds me of my friend who won't listen to bob marley just cos everyone likes him, SMH, also i cant understand for the life of me how people can rate reasonable doubt or stillmatic or it was written over this (i swear i've seen ppl on this forum say this) are these ppl deaf?one time for your mind is the only track thats even slightly weak, the world is yours is a personal fave tho cos i play keys

[Agony]

"I need a new nigga, for this black cloud to followCause while it's over me it's too dark to see tomorrow"

[McLovin' Jones]

co sign the original post, best hip hop album ever, that's not even my opinion it's straight FACTS, also real talk when u say how people who don't rate it think it's some bandwagon ting, reminds me of my friend who won't listen to bob marley just cos everyone likes him, SMH, also i cant understand for the life of me how people can rate reasonable doubt or stillmatic or it was written over this (i swear i've seen ppl on this forum say this) are these ppl deaf?one time for your mind is the only track thats even slightly weak, the world is yours is a personal fave tho cos i play keys

I need to be in a certain mood to listen to Illatic but Reasonable Doubt can be flung on any time..It's nuthin'

[Savant]

http://home.gwu.edu/~noz/nas1.html VERY GOOD READ.Ok.I can feel the passion in Superstitions post lol and it that is expected from ANY hip hop fan, this album is the perfect merge of lyricism and beats. One thing we wont be able to grasp and understand is the impact the album had on the culture. Even the eldest of forum members wont get it because; they were still quite young when this dropped and they were in a entire different continent.I have one cousin in NY (SMH @ him telling me to jam in a hotel if I reach) who was around 16/17 when it dropped and he tells me when this dropped IT WAS A WRAP. Material like like this had never been heard before and started many other rappers copying Nas' style.[intro: Nas]Yeah yeah, aiyyo black it's time (word?)(Word, it's time nigga?)Yeah, it's time man (aight nigga, begin)Yeah, straight out the f*ckin dungeons of rapWhere fake niggaz don't make it backI don't know how to start this sh*t, yo, nowThis part doesn't even get me hype, it makes the hairs on my neck stand to attention. I get the same anticipation every time I hear it, its like "oh sh*t here it comes, this IS gonna be f*cked"I read somewhere Nas was very hesistant here, it was very real when he said "I dont know how to start this sh*t". The arrogance of before quicky turned to like a self doubt when he said that, thats a real insight. How can he say something like that when mans rhyme book is filled with PURE FIRE.That intro is just mad.

[McLovin' Jones]

That's a quality alot of people don't clock when it drops...The IMPACT.It's not necessarily the quality of the songs 100% of the time, but the manner in which each songs drop...Same way we look at albums like Paid In Full by Eric. B & Rakim as somewhat simplistic, THEM days it was chnaged the game.

[Superstition]

"I need a new nigga, for this black cloud to followCause while it's over me it's too dark to see tomorrow"

URGHI might actually go against the grain and say Nas' verse on that track is as good as (maybe even better! or maybe not) than AZ's...

I woke up early on my born-day, I'm twenty, it's a blessingThe essence of adolescence leaves my body now I'm fresh, andMy physical frame is celebrated cause I made itOne quarter through life, some Godly-like thing created WTFFFFFFFFGot rhymes 365 days annual plus someLoad up the mic and bust one, cuss while I puffs frommy skull cause it's pain in my brain vein money maintainDon't go against the grain simple and plainWhen I was young at this I used to do my thing hardDroppin foreigners take they wallets they jewels and rip they green cardsDipped to the projects flashin my quick cashand got my first piece of ass smokin blunts with hashNow it's all about cash in abundance, niggaz I used to run withis rich or doin years in the hundredsI switched my motto -- instead of sayin f*ck tommorrowThat buck that bought a bottle could've struck the lotto

Hearing him drop these pearls with such a sick flow, it's utterly baffling. It's God-given talent which nobody else has, how does one mind conceive of all this? sh*t is sheer poetry, there's no other way to put it. And the album is stacked FULL of sh*t like this. Every time I listen I'm marvelling at something new, trying to fathom how you can compose rhymes this way. Genius.

[Removal Man]

i listened to Reasonable Doubt last nighttheres some classics on that, but hoe it could ever be mentioned in the same breath as this albu i do not knowi dont even like Nas anymore, he bores the socks of mebut this, Illmatic, the best

[Dadinho]

i dont even like Nas anymore, he bores the socks of mebut this, Illmatic, the best

Yep

[McLovin' Jones]

i listened to Reasonable Doubt last nighttheres some classics on that, but hoe it could ever be mentioned in the same breath as this albu i do not knowi dont even like Nas anymore, he bores the socks of mebut this, Illmatic, the best

The quality of the songs on RD are equal if not better than those on Illmatic however, the impact is incomparable.Like I said, the fact that Illmatic changed the game and birthed a new style makes it better.

[Superstition]

Of course Nas will never live up to the 91-96 era, but I can't say he bores me nowadays. On every album there are always a handful of phenomenal tracks which duly take their place in his list of great songs. And his emceeing is just sick to listen to, even just random streams of consciousness and imagery, it's too much. Not to say he's infallible, he is definitely too lazy too often, and has a worse ear for beats than Helen Keller. And I know it's personal preference, but I really feel the songs on Reasonable Doubt aren't on the level of these here - Jay-Z would be the first to admit it. Jay can't touch what Nas accomplished here.

[McLovin' Jones]

Of course Nas will never live up to the 91-96 era, but I can't say he bores me nowadays. On every album there are always a handful of phenomenal tracks which duly take their place in his list of great songs. And his emceeing is just sick to listen to, even just random streams of consciousness and imagery, it's too much. Not to say he's infallible, he is definitely too lazy too often, and has a worse ear for beats than Helen Keller. And I know it's personal preference, but I really feel the songs on Reasonable Doubt aren't on the level of these here - Jay-Z would be the first to admit it. Jay can't touch what Nas accomplished here.

Ahhhh, I dunnoAgain, this is just personal preference but Regrets, Can I Live, 22 TWO'S FFS...Even Friend Or Foe...f*ck it...*bumps Reasonable Doubt*