Illmatic [PA] by Nas

Pros: A hungry MC with beats so hot, it doesn't matter what he's saying.
Cons: Two mediocre songs prevent this album from being perfect.

So, first of all, for the record, “Illmatic” is not the best rap album of all time. At least not in my humble opinion. As someone who was a first-hand witness to hip-hop’s golden age (roughly 1988-1994), I can rattle off ten hip-hop albums ...

Pros: Advanced lyrical technique and avid storytelling; top-notch beats; brevity of album; one great guest performance
Cons: Album a little short in duration

An album like Nas' Illmatic may not leave a good first impression. Think about it - if you subtract the intro, "Genesis", which is not a song at all; and "Halftime", which was a previously released track on the ...

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It has been a long time since I've touched on any Hip-Hop music- my last such review was on Queen Latifah's first album (review h ere). To be honest my interest in the genre has been waning somewhat. As Epinions' ...

Pros: The word "positive" sometimes has negative connotations, so I'll just call it "admirable" and "earnest".
Cons: Some complain that it's too short. I think it's just right.

Alright people, you axed for it. I finally caved in to popular demand and gave a listen to Illmatic, the 1994 debut album of hip-hop superstar Nasir Jones (let’s just call him Nas for the sake of brevity). And while I’m admittedly tough on ...

Pros: Nas' staggeringly detailed lyrics. Prophetic. Brilliant production. Underground feel.
Cons: One "weak" track.

I made a statement a few reviews ago, actually in my review of The Chronic, that I was going to start a series-of-a-kind that covered all the old hip-hop classics. This review is the second in the series, and I’ve chosen NY Street poet/prophet ...

Pros: CLASSIC, Pure Unmatched Lyrical Masterpiece, Rellevent and Brilliant Subject-Matter, Perfect Production, No Filler, AZ
Cons: N/A

Before I am, Before Nastradamus (Nastra-Garbage), Before It was Written, Before Stillmatic, Before God's Son, Before Nas "Big Chain" Escobar, Before Commercial Nas, there was ...

Pros: A life-affirming album of struggle and personal growth with music befitting of its narratives.
Cons: Nas hasn't reached his songwriting peak yet, so a couple tracks fall short.

Let me get this out of the way first and foremost: Nas' 1994 debut Illmatic is not the greatest hip-hop album of all time. Hell, it's not even the best album of '94. The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die has that beat, ...

Pros: There’s a couple of OK parts here and there
Cons: I’m going to take that xylophone, and beat you with it!

I’m starting this review as I listen to the album for the first time. As such, I have no idea how I’m going to feel about the album, or what my final rating is going to be. I’ll have that worked out by the time I finish, but I do know this ...

Pros: One of Nas' best efforts.
Cons: Only 10 tracks.

I remember being in high school and into rap, not very into it, but that was a time when rap still had some kind of meaning and the rappers were delivering something more than, "that girl over there has an ill-nana and she's shaking her thing and she's ...

Pros: Lyrical perfection, perfect fitting underground production, varied subject matter, Revolutionary.
Cons: Length, Album dips "One Time".

Everyone knows about this album; it is very highly acclaimed by almost every single Hip-Hop head and critic in the world. Nas had already built a reputation in the underground world with his appearance on the Main Source’s Live at the ...

Pros: As close to perfect as any Rap album has come to date.
Cons: A couple of weaker tracks.

Where do I begin when re-reviewing this album? And this isn’t just any album, this is Illmatic, one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Rap albums ever released. The first time anyone had ever heard Nas was on Main Source’s ...

Pros: Perfect production. Prophetic, creative and focused. AZ's appearance.
Cons: None.

No introduction is needed for Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones. Son of famous blues musician Olu Dara and one of hip-hop's greatest (and perhaps most inconsistent) talents ever, back in 1994 he released his stellar debut, Illmatic. From the moment ...

Pros: It's the second best hip hop album ever released.
Cons: Wheres the rest of it!??

You know how each year has a defining moment that EVERYONE remembers when they look back. For instance 1992 had "Mecca And The Soul Brother" and 1993 had "Enter The Wu". Well as 1994 turned it's head it brought about a street ...

Pros: Nas, AZ, Production, Everything
Cons: None

Nas released Illmatic in 1994 and many rap enthusiasts believe the masterpiece is one of the best Hip Hop albums of all time(I agree with them 100%). Illmatic is virtually flawless. The production by DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip and Large ...

Pros: Just about everything I can think of...
Cons: ...Read the review, lazy-@$$.

Well...

It's been quite awhile since I have written a review here at Epinions. Over the course of a month or so I have dropped the ball on writing completely. My father passed away at age 55 on New Years Eve night. My life has completely...