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~~Dirty~~ · 02-16-2011, 05:49 AM

Discussion thread for Nas - Illmatic album

A lot of you might know already that I'm a huge Nas fan. Call me a dick rider, fanboy, whatever, I don't care. I bring this thread to attention not just because it's my personal favorite, but because it's widely regarded as the best hip hop album ever. If nothing else, highly influential in hip hop. Of course many people disagree with that but I want to hear what you all think of it.

I'll start with my thoughts on the producers on this album, which is basically an all-time all-star lineup. The whole album is stacked with ridiculous beats. DJ Premier produced NY State of Mind, Represent, and Memory Lane. Pete Rock produced The World is Yours. Large Professor produced One Time 4 Your Mind, Halftime, and It Aint Hard to Tell. Q-Tip produced One Love.

I can't even pick a favorite song off this album. I'll listen to One Love and be like "Wow ok, that's definitely the best." But then I'll hear Halftime and change my mind. Then I'll listen to It Aint Hard to Tell and think the same thing. Unbelievably fluid and complex is how I'd describe Nas on this album, and in general as a rapper. There's a ton of street slang and Queensbridge references, but the rhyme schemes are so complex and smooth. He just keeps flowing, transitioning to another set of rhymes so easily using a ton of multi-syllable rhymes and internal rhyme patters. Early Nas is like the ultimate combo of street rap and intelligence. And he wrote and recorded it when he was 19-20 which is unreal. It's just one of those albums that is timeless to me and a true classic. Post favorite songs, verses, and lyrics if you want and just discuss your thoughts on Illmatic. I know some disagree, but it's one of those albums that can never be over rated in my opinion. Every single track is killer.

One Love is probably my favorite. Sick Q-Tip beat.

02-16-2011, 05:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
~~Dirty~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 981	Illmatic Discussion thread for Nas - Illmatic album A lot of you might know already that I'm a huge Nas fan. Call me a dick rider, fanboy, whatever, I don't care. I bring this thread to attention not just because it's my personal favorite, but because it's widely regarded as the best hip hop album ever. If nothing else, highly influential in hip hop. Of course many people disagree with that but I want to hear what you all think of it. I'll start with my thoughts on the producers on this album, which is basically an all-time all-star lineup. The whole album is stacked with ridiculous beats. DJ Premier produced NY State of Mind, Represent, and Memory Lane. Pete Rock produced The World is Yours. Large Professor produced One Time 4 Your Mind, Halftime, and It Aint Hard to Tell. Q-Tip produced One Love. I can't even pick a favorite song off this album. I'll listen to One Love and be like "Wow ok, that's definitely the best." But then I'll hear Halftime and change my mind. Then I'll listen to It Aint Hard to Tell and think the same thing. Unbelievably fluid and complex is how I'd describe Nas on this album, and in general as a rapper. There's a ton of street slang and Queensbridge references, but the rhyme schemes are so complex and smooth. He just keeps flowing, transitioning to another set of rhymes so easily using a ton of multi-syllable rhymes and internal rhyme patters. Early Nas is like the ultimate combo of street rap and intelligence. And he wrote and recorded it when he was 19-20 which is unreal. It's just one of those albums that is timeless to me and a true classic. Post favorite songs, verses, and lyrics if you want and just discuss your thoughts on Illmatic. I know some disagree, but it's one of those albums that can never be over rated in my opinion. Every single track is killer. One Love is probably my favorite. Sick Q-Tip beat.