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Nas - Illmatic
- Many believe that the early to mid nineties was the golden era of rap and hip-hop. Few records seem to support this statement better than rapper Nas's (Nasir Jones) 1994 classic, "Illmatic."
Most of the album's tracks were written when he was between the age of 18 and 20, and only by age 21 did he achieve the means and record label support to put his work to record. The result is a brooding, yet hopeful and intense but not melodramatic hip-hop extravaganza. The album is distinctive in its heavy sampling from jazz. It seems fitting for the album to have a modal jazz flavor, given that much of the album's lyrics deal with tough life in the Bronx.
"New York State of Mind" opens the album with a jazzy piano line and intensive insight into the gang lifestyle that dominated his childhood neighborhood. "Life's a Bitch" is one of the most deceptive tracks on the album. Its title and main refrain are distinctively pessimistic about life, whereas the verses are positive in their sentiment that hard work and optimism are essential to make it anywhere in life. This is particularly evident in lyrics such as "I switched my motto, instead of saying f**k tomorrow, the buck that bought a bottle could have struck the lotto."
It is this constant conflict between pessimism and optimism that makes the album so lyrically poignant. "The World Is Yours" (title taken from the tagline of the film "Scarface") continues the lyrical theme of the necessity of self-esteem and confidence in succeeding in the world. "Memory Lane" is, like its title, nostalgic while simultaneously acknowledging the difficulties of life, all on top of a jazz organ sample so catchy you'll find yourself humming it for days.
"One Love" is the album's darkest track, with lyrics written in the form of a letter to a friend serving time in jail. It speaks of loyalty towards friends even through the hardest of times. In addition, this track has the album's coolest sample, a bell type instrument played in slick, jazzy form. The groove on this song is truly hypnotic.
This album is essential to the hip-hop catalog of any music fan. The lyrical craftsmanship is more professional than just about anything any rapper has done before or since "Illmatic." Most of the tracks have such smooth beats and cool jazzy samples that the album's dark, New York mood is inescapable.
While this album is very much a piece of urban, mid-nineties east coast hip-hop, you don't need to be in a "New York State of Mind" to appreciate the album's unique mood and brilliant lyrics.
Reviewer: Kris Lorenz
new
Reviewer's Rating: 9.5
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Reader's Votes: 0
Added: 19-Jun-2009
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