Nas - Illmatic

Illmatic stands as the pinnacle of mid-90s classics, shaping the hip-hop genre unlike Biggie's "Ready to Die" or Jay-Z's "Reasonable Doubt," both released later. It was a transformative force in East Coast hip-hop, elevating Nas as the Best Rapper Alive in 1994 and raising the bar for production, lyrical technique, content, and artistic ambition.

Every track on Illmatic holds significance, from Premier's masterful "N.Y. State of Mind" to the AZ-assisted "Life's A Bitch" and Pete Rock's piano-laced "The World Is Yours." The album begins with a powerful trio of songs that alone could solidify its classic status. Tracks like "Memory Lane" and "One Love" delve into Nas's neighborhood and local legends, shaping him into the person he became.

With Large Professor delivering the first single, "It Ain't Hard To Tell," and Premier bringing the certified street anthem "Represent," Illmatic showcases Nas as serious, lyrically dense, and possibly unmatched at just 20 years old. Standing on the shoulders of his predecessors, Nas made them proud with this timeless masterpiece— Time is ILLmatic