#81 Illmatic by Nas

The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

2025 Album Rank

81

Total Points

793

Year Released

1994

Billboard 200 Chart Peak

12

Weeks at #1

N/A

RIAA Sales Certification

2,000,000 (Multi Platinum)

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Illmatic Album Details

Illmatic is Nas's debut album and one of the most celebrated works in hip-hop history, released on April 19, 1994. At just 20 years old, Nasir Jones crafted a vivid, poetic portrait of life in Queensbridge, New York, blending autobiographical detail with sharp social commentary. The album is notable for its tight runtime, ten tracks, no filler, and its all-star production lineup, including DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Large Professor, and L.E.S. Nas's intricate rhyme schemes, internal rhymes, and complex wordplay set a new benchmark for lyrical excellence in rap.

With its gritty realism and cinematic storytelling, Illmatic captured the essence of New York street life in the early '90s. Songs like N.Y. State of Mind, The World Is Yours, and One Love became instant classics, balancing hard-edged narratives with moments of introspection and hope. Initially a modest commercial success, the album has since been recognized as a defining statement of hip-hop's golden age.

Interesting Facts About Illmatic

• The album's title, Illmatic, was inspired by Queensbridge slang meaning something beyond exceptional or supreme.
• N.Y. State of Mind was recorded in one take, with Nas delivering one of the most acclaimed opening verses in rap history.
• Large Professor, who mentored Nas early in his career, was instrumental in getting him studio time and connecting him with top producers.
• The World Is Yours features a piano sample from Ahmad Jamal's I Love Music and was produced by Pete Rock, who also provides the hook.
• Q-Tip produced One Love, built around a sample of The Heath Brothers' Smilin' Billy Suite Part II, framing Nas's verses as letters to friends in prison.
• The album cover features a childhood photo of Nas superimposed over a backdrop of Queensbridge housing, symbolizing his roots and perspective.
• Critics praised Illmatic for its cohesiveness, a rarity for an album with multiple producers, attributing it to Nas's strong creative vision.
• The intro track, The Genesis, includes dialogue from the film Wild Style, a nod to hip-hop culture's origins.
• Although it peaked at only No. 12 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart upon release, the album's reputation grew steadily through word of mouth and critical acclaim.
• In 2020, the album was added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

Illmatic Tracklist

1. The Genesis
2. N.Y. State of Mind
3. Life's a Bitch
4. The World Is Yours
5. Halftime
6. Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)
7. One Love
8. One Time 4 Your Mind
9. Represent
10. It Ain't Hard to Tell

It Ain't Hard to Tell Music Video

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