You lame New Yorkers tickle me with that (2pac is only famous because he passed, talk). No, Nas didn't have to die. He just had to be from clown-town New York. Nobody listens to illmatic outside of NY. Pac had the #1 album in the world while in prison (me against the world). Pac had the #1 album in the world when he got out of prison (All Eyez On Me). I'm pretty sure he wasn't dead when those albums came out, so try again tether! You East Coast lames should thank God 2pac passed because if he was alive, Hip-Hop wouldn't be the clown show that it is today. Because of 2pac, nas was able to sign a multi-million dollar deal with Hennessey. Let's hear nas talk about that!
April 16, 1994, I went to three record stores trying to cop that album. The first two were sold out... This is the first day of its release and it wasn't even noon yet. When I got to the mall and copped the cassette tape, I immediately ripped open the package and popped into my walkman. It took me like 20 minutes to listen to NY State of Mind because I kept rewinding it so much... when "Life's a B" came on, I legit shed a tear.
I remember them days!!! The record shops, the cassette, and the adventures of just buying an album; the younger generations could never understand this shit
Damn, that's dope. I was 2 years old. But I did my homework years ago. It has easily stayed in my #1 spot. Not many albums have 0 skips and where every track is a must listen. Not just 0 skips but I always return to every song for one reason or another. They all got messages, insane beats, flows.... Every song is a 10/10 for me. Some albums get close in recent times. Kendrick with TBAP and DAMN. Even Mr Morale is climbing up there because of the content. The concept is beautiful. It's the evolution. The next step. So it's hard to compare. But Nas did what Kendrick did but in 1994, in many ways. So much truth and love all over the album. A glimpse into his world. Into NY. A look into Queens. The Chronic is also a 0 skip nearly. The skits aren't always played but it's a must for a first listen. It adds to the vibe, the energy of Compton and the lifestyle. I love albums that teleport me to an area, state of mind and time. Memories captured on wax.
Definitely the best rap album for centuries. Kids these days dont know the difference between rap and hip hop. I was high on that album for a week straight didnt listen to anything else. Nas is goated fr fr💯💯💯
@@spokenword3927 illmatic has 9 tracks bub. Chronic, doggystyle, get rich or die trying, it was written, e1999, art of war, all eyez on me, the preface, aziatic, amerikkkas nightmare, mmlp, em show, 36 chambers, wutang forever, official, tru 2 da game, chronic 2001, dark & hell is hot just to name a few. All these r better bub
@@kjahmbanso Shady? Common is a good dude he does a lot for the community in the Chi. Women are attracted to that, but he ain't trying to stay tied down.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is a solid top 10 album... making these lists are hard because most of the hip hop audience isn't unified in their tastes. We have generational differences, regional differences, respectability politics differences, etc... You ask a thousand people to name their top ten and you're going to get at least 500 different variations.
@@KtotheG I agree. You have to take east and west coast bias out the window. Wu tang forever should have definitely been a top 10. Maybe marshal Matthers lp also. That album was as perfect as it gets. Maybe the Eminem hate for the white boy is why. Idk
@@eugene3484 You gotta come up with fair criteria. That would eliminate the biases. Back in the '90s, when we would discuss who's the best or whatever, we had criteria in mind, like freestyle ability, stage presence, album consistency, hot singles, influence, longevity, etc... by the time the '00s hit, it seems like fans abandoned the idea of criteria and they just went with personal favorites. Personal favorites will always include a lot of bias. Criteria force you to meet a bar.
@@gumbz_ke “Rap birthed hip hop” This is objectively FALSE, homie. The original 5 Elements of Hip Hop (which was birthed in the '70s) are MCing, DJing, Breakdancing, Graffiti & Knowledge. Hip-Hop itself is the street CULTURE that formed these elements. As for “rap” itself, it evolved from early MCs (i.e. “Masters of Ceremonies”) who helped host these neighborhood block parties alongside these DJs. “Real rap dont exist these days” HUH? If you're an old head, LL is coming out with a new project, Snoop is out on tour with west coast legends, Common & Pete Rock are out on tour right now, and Nas is still releasing solid projects almost every year. If you're a young hip hop head, we just had Kendrick body the world's biggest “pop” rapper and lift his entire coast. Not to mention, you've got J. Cole, Lupe, Black Thought, Conway the Machine, Freddie Gibbs, and Killer Mike still rapping their asses off. Hip-Hop & Rap is in a GREAT place right now.
@@gumbz_ke “Real rap dont exist these days. It hip hops turn now. Rap birthed hip hop” That's literally what YOU said and now you're CONTRADICTING YOURSELF by copying what I said - i.e. Rap (which evolved from MCing) is just ONE element of Hip-Hop culture. If anyone needs to do some Googling, it's you bruh. Google: “Hip Hop 50” with Mass Appeal. Google: the “Hip Hop Museum” Tour. I helped put on BOTH those events last year and had to learn from Hip Hop Legends & Historians (emcees, DJs, producers, managers, etc.), so the source of my knowledge comes from the folks who STARTED this shit. Meanwhile, you're out here contradicting your OWN words and ignoring everything I said in my previous reply proving that your initial comment was verifiably FALSE.
@@gumbz_ke “Real rap dont exist these days. It hip hops turn now. Rap birthed hip hop” That's literally what YOU said and now you're CONTRADICTING YOURSELF stating “all rap is hip hop, but hip hop is not only rap.” Even worse, you're legit copying what I said - i.e. Rap (which evolved from MCing) is just ONE element of Hip-Hop culture. If anyone needs to do some Googling, it's you bruh. Google: “Hip Hop 50” with Mass Appeal. Google: the “Hip Hop Museum” Tour. I helped put on BOTH those events last year and had to learn from Hip Hop Legends & Historians (emcees, DJs, producers, managers, etc.), so the SOURCE of my knowledge comes from the folks who STARTED Hip Hop. Meanwhile you're out here contradicting your own words and ignoring everything I said in my initial reply completely SMH.
I like Stillmatic better, but I understand why. At that time having a teenager rap with the smarts and wisdom of an OG was like witnessing a Rap messiah.
Peace 7; This is the Best rap album ever released! ‘88 Set em straight…easily from Top to Bottom and no famous guest verses. Chuck ripped the mic device in shreds on every cut. “Rebel Without A Pause”, Is better than any song Nas ever released. “Bring The Noise” is as good as any cut Nas ever released. There are no drug raps or crime songs. The most lyrically potent and important album ever made. This album was a divine message from ALLÃH. The tracks were designed to wake up the masses of Black people; in the diaspora…it reached globally!
I agree..Definitely my favorite hip hop album 👑🐐 “Bullet holes left in my peephole , I’m suited up in street clothes .. hand me a 9 and I’ll defeat foes” 🔥🔥
Shout out to Nas for Illmatic being number 1. However, Cardi's Invasion of Privacy over Southernplayalistic, Good Kiid Madd City, Reasonable Doubt and Madvillainy is a crime.
NaS is the Best of the Best. Yhe output the quality, the style and substance is timeless. Does have to rebrand or switch styles every 5 years he just evolves.
@@Smitty72 nobody cares. Nas has always been disrespected, underrated, and under appreciated in the game. So many fake fans that only like him for his first album when he has countless others that are amazing. Even his new 6 albums in 3 years. The KD trilogy and magic trilogy were absolutely insane yet don’t get talked about that much. KD3 is up there with illmatic and that says a lot considering Nas is 50 and is 30+ years into his career. He’s still making amazing music and isn’t rusty.
@@Tweakkkkkk why would it need to be better than either? When I judge an album I judge it on it’s individual merit not in comparison to something else. Why would Jay-Z and Kendrick be compared to Cardi’s album? That’s like comparing Nas to Nicki Minaj.. different audience, different take.. different life experience. Ppl need to stop that comparison bs and admit if something is good it just is. End of story.
@@TheXZfactor end of which story? Wasn't it about comparisons to begin with or you didn't watch the video? Billboard put Cardi album over Reasonable doubt and gkmc and it's wrong in every way regardless of cardi's album being good. Still doesn't hold a torch to gkmc and reasonable doubt and we have to call that out. Get the point!
Totally deserved ! Illmatic album is dope with the combination of Rapper Nas and greatest producers of early 90s such as Pete Rock, Premier, large pro and Q-tip. The story telling was exceptional and inspired generations of rappers. WE also need to acknowledge Rakim, Big daddy Kane, main source and public ennemy they promoted the born of Nas.
Nas and Illmatic being No.1 is a well-deserved placement. But the other honorable mentions were underserved. Some justice needs to be done to that list
Billboard got it right this time, Nas is the greatest hip hop mc of all time, illmatic gave birth to these so called hip hop artists of this generation faxx 💯,F gay z definitely!!!
