Memory lane is a masterclass in story telling.

@louinsights

Ай бұрын

Man listen

@stmattobkproductions

Ай бұрын

My all-time favorite!

@mr.reliable8123

Ай бұрын

My favorite song by Nas!!! I think that "Store Run" is a son of "Memory Lane". I love them both.

@coolcalmcloud363

Ай бұрын

@@mr.reliable8123 yo, i never saw it like that but I see it!

Ice Cube said to NaS on his 'The Bridge' podcast, "Back then we were doing our penmanship, then you came and put it in Cursive". Highest compliments from 1 of Hip-Hop Greats! Illmatic is like New Testament to Catholics, it is like BC & AD, Before Illmatic and after Illmatic! Facts!

Nas's style and flow were so distinct that he reached mythical levels in hip-hop lore nationwide

Lol. Correction Bo. After Live at the Barbeque Nas threw us a few bars on MC Search's "Back To The Grill Again". After that Halftime dropped.....

@bigfamsmusic

Ай бұрын

Serial killer that kills by the phone book

@dariusmcnair601

Ай бұрын

Then he dropped "It Ain't Hard To Tell" in December of '93.

@medesrevenge9192

Ай бұрын

@@bigfamsmusic "I got ta have it, I miss Mister Magic. Versatile; my style switches like a f****t......."

@ChiefRxcka

Ай бұрын

Literally was just bumpin that Serch album yesterday.

@XavierCoolDude

Ай бұрын

He’s is correct. Back to the Grill came out summer 92. Halftime came out late 92.

Illmatic is a rarity.. its flawless.. There is no flaw on it. Bought it the day it came out. One of those 63,000 was mine.

Bone Thugs even dropped in 94. That year was crazy good. Glad i lived it and still have all albums in my collection

Illmatic is so good that even with Hov dissing Nas he’d find ways to still compliment him on that Album

A time when bars mattered.

He is the most purest to the original artform, the most skillful rapper ever. His legacy now transcends all genres. In my opinion Nas is the true Goat!!!

@tatertots0046

Ай бұрын

I love Nas but purest to the original artform? No. That would be LL Cool J.

One Nas joint that people forget about is The World Is Yours the Q Tip remix. Check out the song and video. That's how we rocked back then!

@lamontbrown1773

Ай бұрын

That’s my joint Q Tip killed that beat’ the best Hip Hop album ever in my opinion

This album is a complete representation of what the genre is to me and why I love it

I’m from Louisiana and illmatic put me on east coast rap.The whole album from front to back rolls.I like it was written to but ilmattic had that raw NY sound like you could picture the city 🤷🏾‍♂️

And he delivered at the age of 19, it was so fascinating. How can a young kid be this so intellectual.

@TheSupremeDunk

Ай бұрын

Most rappers were young in that era delivering masterpieces

Hands down one of the best albums ever

I’m from Newark and we didn’t give a damn how many mics the Source gave it. We was waiting to cop that joint

@al5603

Ай бұрын

Brick City! Grafton and Broadway!

Ilmatic is an essential recording something we haven’t got in the 21st century

word the arrival of Nas was truly an event when you think back. 94 - 95 had MAAAAAAAD heat

Man, I remember hitting the story that Tuesday morning to buy this. Still my favorite hip-hop album to this day. Beginning to end, this album is a certified classic.

I LOVE these deep dives. Hope Bomani discusses the importance of Dre's Chronic and Ice Cube's first solo album...

This is def one of my all-time favorite albums. I didn't listen for the first time until 1997 and I thought it was the greatest music I've ever heard in my life. The rhyme schemes. The flow. And the content had me stick for months. Still listening to it to this day. Shout out to the big homie. Peace King.

NAS IS THE GOAT 🐐

Easily the most lyrically influential Hip-Hop album ever made. There are kids now who unknowingly recite lines from Illmatic because their favorite rapper’s favorite rapper quoted from this album.

@yo3rdtier128

Ай бұрын

That’s a lie, no it’s not

@marvinolds6671

Ай бұрын

Eric B. and Rakim: Paid in Full

Memory Lane the underrated killer on the LPa

Q Tip production credits is flawless

@pike8840

Ай бұрын

Are you talking his whole career or just on this album cause if u talking career then LL new album should be phenomenal

@moneyjordan8789

Ай бұрын

@@pike8840his whole career

"Biggie's Ready to Die album came out several months after Illmatic, and Biggie was crowned king of New York in the popular culture of Hip Hop heads, Ready to Die unfairly over-shadowed Illmatic, which is truly a classic album. Though they were quite distinct artists, they innovated in analogous ways. Biggie merged language that was high and low, vernacular and vocabulary words, in a way that sounded natural. He did this with a sophisticated understanding of the patterns of black language. When a different or unusual word or phrase could be introduced while still maintaining the aesthetics of black language, he inserted it. NaS, in contrast, merged concepts that were high and low, vernacular and metaphysical, in a manner that was whole rather than pieced together, thus presenting a complex that is unusual in any music outside of jazz. What Biggie started to do with language in 1994, NaS had already begun to do with ideas on Illmatic. He carries us through the "Righteous steps" of the cosmic, oceanic, and literal dimensions of his person. He transcends." - Imany Perry (Born To Use Mics)

@imsofocused4678

Ай бұрын

Biggie was copying Nas and WuTang's slang on Ready To Die. And The Source magazine called Biggie the king, not the people. Biggie even admitted backstage at the 95 Source Awards that he didn't expect to when lyricist of the year over Nas. We know Puff paid for those awards.

I'm a 64 year old white man. I love illmatic

@marcusjohnson7119

Ай бұрын

As you've gotten older do you still go back to listen to it

94 was such a great year you start with Snoop and Wu Tang debuts that came out the end of 93 then Illmatic, Outkast Southernplayalistic, Method Man Tical, Nas Illmatic, Biggie Ready to Die, Craig Mack album, Keith Murray The Most Beautifullist, Da Brat Funkdafied, Warren G Regulate, The Fugees Blunted on Reality, Thug LIFE those were just debuts. You also get albums like Scarface The Diary, Gang Starr Hard to Earn, Common Resurrection, UGK Super Tight. So Illmatic being the top album out of that year says alot

Album is incredible.

I got chills when Bomani reminded me of Halftime...but I was a huge Main Source fan. That Nas verse blew my mind!!! But that entire Main Source album. Is classic. It's not mentioned enough. #ImLookingAtTheFrontDoor

@al5603

Ай бұрын

I got to give you an upvote for your handle being reggienoble aka Redman the greatest from my hometown Newark aka Brick City!

The point you made about 90's rap drums is such a great point. Grew up in the last two decades then back tracked to older stuff and it just feels different. Great video as always.

One of the other reasons why Illmatic is only nine tracks is that the bootleggers and got to it so fast that the record company had to beat them to market. More songs that were featured on the album were cut for the sake of getting a legitimate record into music stores. That definitely helped the impactful because it was a spartan, but so amazingly produced.

Nas was 16 on live at the bbq

Gotta 1998, 99 and 00 next. 94 was a great year for music and movies.

@sirjer73

Ай бұрын

1988

YES !!! WITHOUT QUESTION!! And NAS is the 🐐

@THATBOISHAD

Ай бұрын

Illmatic is the greatest album. But Lil Wayne is the Goat.

@universoullifebalance

Ай бұрын

@@THATBOISHAD wayne up there definitely one of my favorites but I’ll Take Esco over every one

@THATBOISHAD

Ай бұрын

@@universoullifebalance I would take Esco too. However the volume of lyrics from weezy that can't be skipped over is crazy. Volume and quality is the reason for my judgement.

@universoullifebalance

Ай бұрын

@@THATBOISHAD I would give it to wayne he’s the mixtape goat 🐐 but Nas storytelling and Catalogue is better. Wayne has better punchlines

@THATBOISHAD

Ай бұрын

@@universoullifebalance That's fair. I can't disagree with that.

as someone who was born almost 10 years after illmatic the first time i heard it honestly made me realize why people hold 90s rap to such a high bar, stuff he talked about still hit today deep bars and beats that’s still hitting today id say life’s a bitch,memory lane and ain’t hard to tell are the tracks that stood out the most

@spenser6353

Ай бұрын

Represent was good too.

“Congratulations, you know you got a son I heard he looks like ya, why don't your lady write ya? Told her she should visit, that's when she got hyper” Sad truth about what happens when u get booked. Out of sight out of mind. She’s has to survive w/o you.

I'm 34, but I wish I could have been outside when Illmatic dropped. Illmatic is the reason why I put Nas above Jay. The replay value of Illmatic is unmatched when compared to his East Coast contemporaries. Also, Nas only had ONE guest appearance! There is nothing else to say...

@Stifler4220

Ай бұрын

Illmatic is #1 and greatest rap album of all time. But Reasonable Doubt is my #2. Is close.

@jamesmcclain4588

Ай бұрын

It's really quite simple it was everything New York that even outsiders and fans wanted and still wants to hear this is the reason New York rap died down because New York in some ways (not everyone) changed their sound which hurt New York to a degree

@DJAmuur

Ай бұрын

I remember the day it dropped. Like Labron James' arrival in the NBA, Nas was like our Labron when he arrived in Hip Hop and dropped "Illmatic".

That’s the thing people don’t understand Hip-Hop in 94 haven’t really gathered its wings, it was still HATED, low brow, then here comes this kid from New York. It was a in AWE moment.

Nas is TRULY your favorite rappers favorite rapper!!! Illmatic is the greatest hip hop work ever. No debating

Illmatic completely changed the format. NY State of Mind? The World Is Yours? One Love? memory Lane? Not a single song that is not brilliant. And he pulled his own dad's jazz into it? 5 Mics. 6 Mics. Jay-z switched his style to Nas' style. Also, you hit EVERY point.

@spenser6353

Ай бұрын

represent is my favorite track

I still remember the day I copped the cassette, didn’t even have a cd player yet. Classic album. One Love is still my favorite joint on there.

Thank you for mentioning Infamous!

Also, with regards to sales...Illmatic was bootlegged something serious. And the emphasis on first week sales was a new thing, so to speak.

This is one one-word response to why the 90s are the golden age of hip hop... ILLMATIC. This is an all-time great project for sure. Most of mine come from this Era 🤷🏽‍♂️

Dope review Bo. I’d only add one more point, like you said Nas had the Hip Hop universe waiting to hear his joint and could have had any feature he wanted. He chooses an unknown AZ as the only feature and he drops an iconic verse and AZ goes on to build a 30 year career from that verse…magic. Keep them coming🔥💯🎤 #94tilinfinity

Yo Bomani you really opened up a time capsule and was on point in your breakdown of the time of Illmatic and the 90s.!!!

Yes period

Mr. Bomani, regardless of how much sponsorship or how little you end up getting out of this segment obviously as long as you're not coming out off pocket, please continue.

The undisputed album from the undisputed 🐐.

Yes, Illmatic is a Hip-Hop classic. I became an instant Nas fan after I heard it. 🎧🎶🔥🔥🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙

1994 was a pivotal year for Hip-Hop It Ain't Hard To Tell!!!!!💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

First song i heard was "It ain't hard to tell" on a friends mix tape and we were blown away and played it over and over. In December of 94 my brother and me went to live with our family in the Bronx from CT and my cousin had a library of tapes and my cousins personally knew a lot of these dudes and it was one of the best years of my life.

Paid in full is the greatest album ever!

Excellent breakdown Bomani! And I’m even more impressed coming from a man from the south! The only slight critique is no mention of an unknown unheard of AZ who was a guest feature and this sky rocketed his career. Salute Bomani‼️🫡💯

Loved listening to this review.

Something so interesting about early hip hop. Is how fast the flow changed and evolved. Like it went from “clap ya hands everybody” to big daddy Kane, rakim and nas real quick.

Illmatic is the greatest rap album of all time, and one of the greatest all time in any genre!

@solaodebunmi9492

Ай бұрын

Simple!

Bomani a real hip hop head. Saw him at a Freddie Gibbs show years ago.

great analysis. excellent commentary!

Illmatic is a classic album

It was written is my personal fav by him. Just my preference.

Still to this day best ever, even Elzhi cover of it was excellent

I listened to this record in 2013 as a 19year old; it changed my standard of music lol

If it’s not the best it’s probably the most flawlessly produced and lyrically dense.

It took nas a whole year to make illmatic. He gave himself time to properly curate and craft the vibe and the direction he wanted it to go. So of course it was bound to be THEE classic of all classics. Pac said he would listen to this riding from LA to Vegas. That’s the impact this had on people. People still bump in the whip this till this day.

Great review

Great video Gentlemen. Love the series Bo'.

It’s not one of the greatest rap albums it’s the best album ever. It’s perfect. I remember when it dropped I just listened to it straight for months.

Dope show my brother keep speaking the real 💯

The Chosen One

Nas is Still to this day one of the most Greatest Lyricists of our generation & beyond !!! The things that he has spoken on a plethora of mixtapes along is like ??? Holy Shit how did he come up with that ??? The lyrics just flow like a river of warm butter to him !!!!! One of the GREATEST of ALL TIME !!!!

It is EASILY the GOAT hip hop album. Like many commentators have said on here, there is the ‘Before Illmatic’ era and the ‘After Illmatic’ era. He beautifully curated the art form before him and has remained the platform for everything after. Top 5 album in ALL genres.

One of the greatest! Yes sir!

Illmatic forced all rappers in NYC to step up their game. Nas had respect from listeners, and a lot of his peers in NYC wanted him on their album because of Illmatic.

I'm soo grateful that I came up from Rap since the very beginning so I ABSOLUTELY KNOW what it is & has been since time & memorial & just like JORDAN,, there hasn't been another one since !!!!!!!!!! NAS.

READY TO DIE is also flawless and I will add just as many radio hits...MAYBE more...R.I.P Biggie

#1 reason, Imagery! Nas’ verses had imagery and made you feel like you were there with him. And producers were also in their bags so much that if you removed Nas’ vocal, the beats themselves had imagery. The sounds of the train on the tracks in “The Genesis” made you feel like you were standing at the platform waiting to board the train or the train passing.

I have had a physical copy of this album in my possession for like the past 20 years.

Nas is hip hop in its purest form 🐐

NAS is a PROPHET of the MOST HIGH! A GOD on the mic🎤

This album is literal poetry. Imagery in every line

The 63K initial sales number is crazy. I bought it the week it released and didn’t know a sole that did not have it. In North Carolina, back then, NY artists were still completely outpacing artists from everywhere else. One correction Bomani. OutKast and UGK didn’t usher in southern hip hop. That’s disrespectful to the Geto Boys and DOC. That said, Illmatic is perfect.

This was a great video. I started listening to music on my own about 10-11 in 2001 (parents passed me down their stereo system) and while I heard about illmatic, It wasn’t until Nas biggest competition used the greatness of this album to shit on the rest of his catalog as well as Nas claiming to be Stillmatic that I eventually went back and got this album an saw the hype

bomani, you should include in this series november 9th, 1993 the day midnight marauders and 36 chambers were released

Fours Deuces & Trays from G- Slim cant go unnoticed.

this is beautiful, Bomani...you told it like it happened. I purchased the cassette from the WiZ ...

This series is dope!

Yes

No question Musically a masterpiece, lyrically a masterpiece, super production team, no filler, only one feature that was from an unknown and was fire, he changed the definition of lyricisim with triple internal rhyme schemes, and he lived up to the hype without being commercial!

I remember I was 8 years old in ‘92 and I was so captivated by hip hop so much that I started to rap as well. I’m just a kid… I didn’t know what to do, lol… I was just rhyming words with no structure at all. Fast forward to ‘94 and I’m over my aunts house. My older cousin was a hip hop head as well. I used to go through all of his cassettes of what will catch my eye. Not much so of titles and names. Then I stumbled crossed Nas’s Illmatic… the artwork… how his face was blended with the background of the city, I’m like who is this? Popped that joint in and was like 🤯🤯🤯. So this is how it’s done? The structure, the storytelling, the cadences, etc… I was blown away! Needless to say, I was a student. Nas gave me a master class in the art of rap and it changed the whole trajectory of my penmanship to where my peers and old heads from around the way couldn’t believe I’ve written any of what I was going around the hood spittin’. They had me rapping for everyone lol. I appreciate Illmatic and what it has done for me 🙏🏾. That’s why Nas is my favorite rapper and will always be the goat to me. Oh yeah, and I stole the tape from my cousin 😂

Honestly I think the length of the album plays a big part in Illmatic’s greatness. With zero fat, nothing that you want to skip, when the album ends you’re left wanting more. Illmatic isn’t my favorite hip hop album (it’s close, but E.1999 Eternal takes that honor for me), but it is the greatest hip hop album IMO.

Dope explanation on Illmatic tho🔥👌🏽

Hey Bo! I love your stuff. I’ve been a supporter for a minute. I enjoy your perspective on things. Anyway I want to put in a suggestion for an album in 1994. Lethal Injection not only had a few bops for the summer such as You How We Do It and Bop Gun, it also was one of Cube’s last legit hip hop album. He was still dangerous and not just controversial on this one. Cube was talking about the dangers of LA when most artists were talking about the parties. The production was grand funk infused and was among the first hip hop albums to bring George Clinton on in real life as opposed to just sampling him. And the bars! The bars were so West Coast G Funk. I hate this narrative that folks on the West can’t rhyme because what they rhyme about is being hard. It starts……To G or not to G is the question and like Smith told Wesson, I’m shady with the three eighty, old school diploma. I leave that ass in a coma. Anyway this was one of my favorite albums of 1994 and is SLEEPER. Please consider featuring it

And he put a joint on there just letting his boys shine that he didn't even rap on. And it is one of the best tracks on there.. Nasir 🙏🏿

Yes. Full stop.

Grew up in So Cal and NY State of Mind is still the Greatest song ever!!!

Hip-hop Bible! Best album ever!

Yes. Yes it is.

He wrote that album age of 15 !!

@WalkingWallet

Ай бұрын

Maybe some of it, but most was 17

@rachaad

Ай бұрын

@WalkingWallet facts. It's still impressive, of course

Greatest debut album of all time