You have strong hip-hop records, the classics and then you have Illmatic (1994), the debut album by rapper Nas. The record that made the child photo popular as an album cover in hip hop and that also radically changed the landscape musically. Why was it so revolutionary and has it acquired the status of the ultimate hip-hop record over the years? First of all, it was common for one producer to sign
… for all productions, but Nasir Jones had earned so much respect by the age of 19 that he was able to gather a team of super producers around him. Competition has led to heavyweights like , and delivered one monumental production after another. With his slightly hoarse voice, controlled recitation and especially the poetic power of his monologues, 'Nasty' Nas proved to be a modern Shakespeare. Illmatic kicks off with a dialogue from the film Wildstyle that reflects the characteristic feeling of hopelessness in the deprived neighborhood. Somewhat awkwardly, Nas announces the first official track NY State of Mind and then performs one of hiphop's most eloquent narrative street accounts over a dark, hair-raising piano loop. The rest is history. (GL)more
