Nas - IllmaticAnd so we begin Kyle Collins Reviews His Music with my favorite hip-hop album of all-time.
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (who thankfully shortened his stage name down to Nas) dropped his debut album on April 19th, 1994. This album has been debated as not only one of the greatest hip-hop albums, but also one of the greatest albums... ever.
Born in Long Island City, Queens to father jazz trumpeter Olu Dara and mother Fannie Ann Jones. He made his debut on Main Source's "Live at the Barbecue" (off their Breaking Atoms, an equally influential album). He then dropped his first single, "Halftime," albeit under the moniker Nasty Nas. However, it took Nas a year and a quarter to drop his second single, "It Ain't Hard to Tell." Both singles were produced by Large Professor, the producer of "Live at the Barbecue."
Illmatic not only features production by Large Professor (who supplies three tracks, the two above, and "One Time 4 Your Mind"). Oh, no (also the name of a great producer, but I digress...), Nas snagged Pete Rock ("The World is Yours"), Q-Tip ("One Love"), L.E.S. ("Life's a Bitch"), and my favorite producer, DJ Premier ("N.Y. State of Mind," "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)", "Represent").
Oh, and he has one guest (not counting Q-Tip's chorus) on the album (AZ, oh, and this one song pretty much made his fucking career). ONE GUEST VERSE. If Illmatic were released today, Nas would be contractually obliged to have an 18 track album (3 skits), and only about 5 to himself, the rest would feature label mates and other artists on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Plus every other third track would be a feature heavy track with T-Pain, Akon, The-Dream, or whoever the new popular guy to get for a hook is. Anyway, I'm ranting here... Shall we get on to the album?
We shall.
1. The Genesis
A typical album intro. Boring and unintersting, except for the fact "Live at the Barbecue" is playing in background... which on second thought... still isn't that interesting.
2. N.Y. State of Mind
Produced by DJ Premier
DJ Premier lays down an awesome beat that, combined with Nas's awesome lyrics, helps create a very... very epic song. However, you've heard this before (granted, you've probably heard this entire album before, and if not, put down the fucking Soulja Boy album and buy this shit.)
3. Life's a Bitch (feat. AZ)
Produced by L.E.S.
Nas's dad (Olu Dara) plays cornet on this. It leads off with the only guest verse on the entire album, one which made the career of AZ (didn't I just say this?). And then Nas comes with his verse... and then the chorus repeats... and then we fade out to Olu Dara's cornet. And L.E.S. solidifies his spot as "random Nas associated producer."
4. The World is Yours
Produced by Pete Rock
The only Pete Rock production on the album. Also known in the Collins household as "that fucking awesome song that Jay-Z sampled for that other fucking awesome song (Dead Presidents II) that pretty much started that fucking intense feud between the two." However, that could just be a regional thing... oh, and the title's referencing Scarface, but you know that... right?
5. Halftime
Produced by Large Professor
Look, kids, it's the first appearance of Large Professor on the album! Also the first single Nasir ever dropped (once again, didn't I just say these things?) Not as good as some of the songs on here, but still fucking AGES above the shit on the radio today. Warning, my distaste for the shit on the radio will be a theme throughout this blog.
6. Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)
Produced by DJ Premier
Premo's second beat. I'd give this track review a couple lines, but I think it can be summed up in one sentence: I love this fucking song.
7. One Love (feat. Q-Tip)
Produced by Q-Tip
Q-Tip of some group called A Tribe Called Quest (kidding... please don't hurt me) provides the beat and the chorus to a song composed of Nas penning letters to his incarcerated friend. The chorus is quick, just Tip repeating "one love" a couple times, before Nas gets right back into the verses. The third verse... is insane.
8. One Time 4 Your Mind
Produced by Large Professor
Large Professor's one contribution that wasn't released as a single. Nas pretty much describes what he does when he's chilling. That and then he and Large Pro do a call-and-response chorus. Probably the weakest song on here, but to quote myself from above...
9. Represent
Produced by DJ Premier
Premier's final beat. This song is fucking awesome. Also contains the "pullin' the Tec out the dresser" that Jay-Z decided to criticize on The Takeover... just a random fact for you... pretty much to make the track review look bigger in context... I think I can mvoe on now.
10. It Ain't Hard to Tell
Produced by Large Professor
Large Pro samples Michael Jackson (RIP)'s "Human Nature" (a fucking great track) for the final track of the album. No real chorus here, Nas just steps away from the mic and let's the beat play out before he comes back with the verses. Definitely the best track out of the three Large Professor-produced songs on here.
CONCLUSION: This album is amazing. There's not a weak track on here, even the weakest track on here is amazing. There's a reason this album is my favorite (and no, it's not 'cause I have shitty taste, you douche). It holds up, even after 15 years. If you don't have it, which you probably do, I suggest you run down to the nearest store that sells music (skip Wal-Mart though... fuck them) AND BUY THIS SHIT. And then ask yourself, "Why the hell didn't I get this earlier?"
Did I say "a week" in the intro, oh, sorry, I meant a couple hours. I'm usually much more procrastinative (that's not a word, but fuck it).
Next review coming tomorrow (actually later today)... hopefully, that is. Just because I did this one immediately doesn't mean my problem with procrastination is gone (neither does it mean my problem with herpes is gone... actually, wait, nevermind, you didn't hear that.)
Peace.
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones (who thankfully shortened his stage name down to Nas) dropped his debut album on April 19th, 1994. This album has been debated as not only one of the greatest hip-hop albums, but also one of the greatest albums... ever.
Born in Long Island City, Queens to father jazz trumpeter Olu Dara and mother Fannie Ann Jones. He made his debut on Main Source's "Live at the Barbecue" (off their Breaking Atoms, an equally influential album). He then dropped his first single, "Halftime," albeit under the moniker Nasty Nas. However, it took Nas a year and a quarter to drop his second single, "It Ain't Hard to Tell." Both singles were produced by Large Professor, the producer of "Live at the Barbecue."
Illmatic not only features production by Large Professor (who supplies three tracks, the two above, and "One Time 4 Your Mind"). Oh, no (also the name of a great producer, but I digress...), Nas snagged Pete Rock ("The World is Yours"), Q-Tip ("One Love"), L.E.S. ("Life's a Bitch"), and my favorite producer, DJ Premier ("N.Y. State of Mind," "Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)", "Represent").
Oh, and he has one guest (not counting Q-Tip's chorus) on the album (AZ, oh, and this one song pretty much made his fucking career). ONE GUEST VERSE. If Illmatic were released today, Nas would be contractually obliged to have an 18 track album (3 skits), and only about 5 to himself, the rest would feature label mates and other artists on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Plus every other third track would be a feature heavy track with T-Pain, Akon, The-Dream, or whoever the new popular guy to get for a hook is. Anyway, I'm ranting here... Shall we get on to the album?
We shall.
1. The Genesis
A typical album intro. Boring and unintersting, except for the fact "Live at the Barbecue" is playing in background... which on second thought... still isn't that interesting.
2. N.Y. State of Mind
Produced by DJ Premier
DJ Premier lays down an awesome beat that, combined with Nas's awesome lyrics, helps create a very... very epic song. However, you've heard this before (granted, you've probably heard this entire album before, and if not, put down the fucking Soulja Boy album and buy this shit.)
3. Life's a Bitch (feat. AZ)
Produced by L.E.S.
Nas's dad (Olu Dara) plays cornet on this. It leads off with the only guest verse on the entire album, one which made the career of AZ (didn't I just say this?). And then Nas comes with his verse... and then the chorus repeats... and then we fade out to Olu Dara's cornet. And L.E.S. solidifies his spot as "random Nas associated producer."
4. The World is Yours
Produced by Pete Rock
The only Pete Rock production on the album. Also known in the Collins household as "that fucking awesome song that Jay-Z sampled for that other fucking awesome song (Dead Presidents II) that pretty much started that fucking intense feud between the two." However, that could just be a regional thing... oh, and the title's referencing Scarface, but you know that... right?
5. Halftime
Produced by Large Professor
Look, kids, it's the first appearance of Large Professor on the album! Also the first single Nasir ever dropped (once again, didn't I just say these things?) Not as good as some of the songs on here, but still fucking AGES above the shit on the radio today. Warning, my distaste for the shit on the radio will be a theme throughout this blog.
6. Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)
Produced by DJ Premier
Premo's second beat. I'd give this track review a couple lines, but I think it can be summed up in one sentence: I love this fucking song.
7. One Love (feat. Q-Tip)
Produced by Q-Tip
Q-Tip of some group called A Tribe Called Quest (kidding... please don't hurt me) provides the beat and the chorus to a song composed of Nas penning letters to his incarcerated friend. The chorus is quick, just Tip repeating "one love" a couple times, before Nas gets right back into the verses. The third verse... is insane.
8. One Time 4 Your Mind
Produced by Large Professor
Large Professor's one contribution that wasn't released as a single. Nas pretty much describes what he does when he's chilling. That and then he and Large Pro do a call-and-response chorus. Probably the weakest song on here, but to quote myself from above...
Not as good as some of the songs on here, but still fucking AGES above the shit on the radio today.
9. Represent
Produced by DJ Premier
Premier's final beat. This song is fucking awesome. Also contains the "pullin' the Tec out the dresser" that Jay-Z decided to criticize on The Takeover... just a random fact for you... pretty much to make the track review look bigger in context... I think I can mvoe on now.
10. It Ain't Hard to Tell
Produced by Large Professor
Large Pro samples Michael Jackson (RIP)'s "Human Nature" (a fucking great track) for the final track of the album. No real chorus here, Nas just steps away from the mic and let's the beat play out before he comes back with the verses. Definitely the best track out of the three Large Professor-produced songs on here.
CONCLUSION: This album is amazing. There's not a weak track on here, even the weakest track on here is amazing. There's a reason this album is my favorite (and no, it's not 'cause I have shitty taste, you douche). It holds up, even after 15 years. If you don't have it, which you probably do, I suggest you run down to the nearest store that sells music (skip Wal-Mart though... fuck them) AND BUY THIS SHIT. And then ask yourself, "Why the hell didn't I get this earlier?"
Did I say "a week" in the intro, oh, sorry, I meant a couple hours. I'm usually much more procrastinative (that's not a word, but fuck it).
Next review coming tomorrow (actually later today)... hopefully, that is. Just because I did this one immediately doesn't mean my problem with procrastination is gone (neither does it mean my problem with herpes is gone... actually, wait, nevermind, you didn't hear that.)
Peace.
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