Reviews (page 9 of 13)
Chill! 3.5 rounded up.
Has a 'old school' New York feel. Can feel the pain but also filled with hope
Can definitely see why this is considered one of the best rap albums ever
Old school hip hop
Very complex rhyming
Good background beats, interesting lyrics.
Classic album from a classic time in hip-hop.
damn decent . ill prolly listen to this as socially acceptable music
Yeeeh. Listen 4 times to this one to try to understand the hype. Sure the rhyme structure is interesting, his flow is nice and the production from prem is tight. For me, I think it lacks any killer hooks and maybe that is the reason I’ve never really got into Nas.
3.5/5
Nas’s flows on this are so good, literally flowing. Just so smooth. The instrumentals aren’t super grand or anything, but they’re groovey and funky, sort of minimalist here and there. Almost lo-fi hip hop/jazz inspired. I think it’s good, I know how influential this was, how big it was and has been since, but I can’t rank it a 5. Would like more hooks, more instrumental changeups, bigger sound. A couple songs that maybe go on 45 seconds too long
An amazing rap album in every aspect, storytelling , lyrics, beat choice,... no misses one of my favorite hip hop albums 9.3/10
The lyrical flow is great and works nicely with the samples and beat. But the content isn't much different than other rap albums.
MUY BUENO
Somehow I missed actually listening to this thing. Seems to be about worth the hype. The low end backs up the bars, and reinforces their sheer density. Probably the best fusion of East Coast sound and jazz that I've heard yet. Deserves a closer listen than I gave it, though.
yep
7/10
It's all right. Definitely not my thing though. I have trouble rating hip hop albums as I don't have as much experience with them. This one, however, I enjoyed it more than the others I've previously reviewed
[17th of July, 2026] Fave song: the whole second half of the album Funnily enough, I'd hear this album for the first time a few days back. Includes some hip hop classics, nice to jam out.
I am not really a rap listener, however this was enjoyable. I found that a couple of songs really stood out. I liked some of the instrumentals/samples that were included in the tracks. For me overall, nothing lifechanging, however was a good album to listen to. Will listen again.
Cool album, not my genre.
it's pretty good rapping 💥n.y. state of mind 💥life's a bitch 💥the world is yours 💥represent 💥it ain't hard to tell
Not my thing I can recognize it’s great
Actually really helpful to listen to when working.
Overall Rating - 2.55/5 (5.10/10). Solid album. Good flow, decent skill.
Lauded for production and lyrics, east coast rap
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 (rounded down for re-listen value) Another one that makes me hang my head and say "I'm 25, what am I doing with my life?" Incredible that this came out of a 20 year old, but in sort of a different way than, say, Kate Bush's "The Kick Inside" because it's like, shit, he's been through it. In light of that it feels evil to give this any lower than a 4, especially with the poetry on display, but it really does excel more at the poetry than the music. The beats aren't bad—I enjoyed every song—but there are very few I'd come back and listen to because the music itself went in one ear and out the other. One Love with Q-Tip was my favorite, or maybe hit me the hardest. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing
This album was ok. I see why it is so popular. It it just not the type of music I like to listen to.
I’m enjoying more than I thought I would? I’ve never given hip-hop a try before really but it’s really not bad! I’m finding I really like the relaxed beat in the songs as it gives it a nice swing feel. Everything is rapped in quite a satisfying way as well.
Interesting, bueno, bien, rap con onda.
Most albums like this are an hour & a half so I’m grateful this was 40 min…that felt like 2 hrs… By the “second hour” I think it finally clicked for me. Maybe I just gotta LA state of mind! Bazinga!
Damn, a rap album from the 90’s that’s under an hour and not riddled with the worst attempts at comedy you’ve ever heard? Who knew it was even possible?
Good vibes
Some of it is pretty good, but it feels much more dated, both lyrically and in production/beat style than some other rap of the era such as A Tribe Called Quest. It’s got a nice feel overall but none of the songs are particularly memorable by the time the album ends.
Yes, I could never really get into hip-hop, but it felt very vintage in a pleasant way.
this era of east coast rap is so good. I wasn't totally into it but I'll probably revisit sometime.
liked this! i have Get Down on a few playlists but idk if ive ever rlly listened to nas. saved
Not my type of music. But I like the vibe
I found this album to be interesting, it just misses me by a little. Its like there's a lot to identify with here, but it feels like art that isn't for me. And that's fine, there's plenty of talent on display here.
Maybe 2nd or 3rd time listening. Leaves me a little cold but some undeniable bangers
I liked One Love because I’ve heard it before. a good album but i’m not a huge rap person
It was fine. Listening I could tell that this was a well-made album and had some interesting storytelling about New York in the early ‘90s, but there wasn’t anything that made me go ‘wow! That was a great song’. A decent listen but didn’t do that much for me.
As with (for example) ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’, I can appreciate this album’s importance in hip-hop history, the high esteem it’s held in, and the craft, artistry, storytelling, etc. that went into making it, whilst not personally enjoying it to the same extent as most people, judging by the current rating distribution. ‘N.Y. State of Mind’, ‘Life’s a Bitch’ and ‘The World Is Yours’ are great, and the rest of the album was pretty good too (the production was really solid all through), but I did find it quite samey, and it was losing my attention by the end.
Meh. Not my taste but it's not bad
Okay sejt.
Pretty good. Three stars
Tooth, strong, literate, poetic
Okay
If you told me this was one of the most average hip hop albums of all time I'd believe you. Maybe I'm just too white to understand it... 😔
3/5
Hardcore Rap not my genre, The world is yours and It ain't hard to tell pretty good
Good.
I listened to itttttt
Good album with some great story telling! 6.8/10
Great poetic lyrics and an enjoyable listen
OG Rap sound. Not my fave. Wildly misogynistic, antisemitic, and homophobic. Crazyyyy
Nas is a great rapper, but I didn’t like the lack of dynamics with the production
Earlier rap and hip hop continue to be a blind spot for me, but I’m learning a little more every time. This album sounded good from start to finish and felt like a foundation of more that came after it.
Without any context this comes across as joyless hardcore hip hop. The Wikipedia article suggests the lyrical style is material for graduate-level literature study, and that Nas is not cashing in on the authenticity of his adolescent urban squalor. That may be, but it's lost on me. The narration is seemingly an inaccessible inner monologue.
Знову реп?
Not bad
good vocals, great beats, all around good
Not really my thing, I like parts of this but doesn't really stick with me. Nas is clearly super talented and really has a clear sense of self. I want to like this more, but it purely comes down to personal preference and it just isn't for me. Fav Track: The World is Yours
Hadn't heard this til now, it largely lives up to the hype, the musical backdrops are interesting and warm, the rhymes are clever and cool (the usual casual homophobia aside, extra point docked for that). Might return to this one!
vähän tylsä mut ihan kiva ja lämmin tunnelma
Classic hip-hop, what else is there to say. Convincing and to the point
Incisive lyrics and alright beats, I guess? I'm not a hip-hop expert but it sounded better than the average on this list.
Somehow Nas flew under my radar in the 90s. Not that I'm much of a hip hop fan. Decent I suppose.
Mega nice! Chillig und cool zum nebenher hören. Hab Lust jetzt mehr Hip Hop zu hören!
I like the beats on this one. It has that classic New York hip hop sound—raw, sharp. You can tell why people hold this album in such high regard. Not every track fully grabs me, but I respect the impact and the vibe. A solid listen overall.
Jamais écouté avant. Je crois que je ne suis pas encore complètement équipé pour comprendre ou apprécier le hip-hop à sa juste valeur. D'autant plus quand, comme ici, la production minimaliste, essentiellement rythmique, sert surtout d'écrins aux textes, visiblement brillants, mais dont les subtilités langagières m'échappent très largement. Reste, pour le nul en rap que je suis, quelque chose de l'ambiance d'une ville en décomposition, qui tranpire à travers chaque mot, chaque note, et la diffuse impression que cet album, en 1994, a montré la voie à de nombreux autres artistes. Top : Life's a Bitch (feat. AZ & Olu Dara) Flop : The Genesis
4 days of hip hop in a row. One of the better entries.
3 1/2 stars
Litt skuffa faktisk
-life's a bitch es como una super netota que te lanzan a la jeta pero luego como que la aceptas pues porque si, life is a bitch pero pues uno sigue viviendo -no escucho tanto hip hop pero no se me hizo pesado el album -me senti super walking NY con una hoodie en calles de dudosa procedencia -creo que me falta saber un poco del lore de Nas, pero ¿porque esta obsesionado con los Jackson 5?
Not bad - better than quite a few in this genre
Wasn't bad but nothing really grabbed my attention.
3 4
I don't love the album, but I do appreciate and love the fact that Nas influenced a lot rappers today in a huge way. New york state of mind is an obvious hit and used to jam to it on repeat.
I'll be honest in saying that hip-hop is not my preferred genre, but this album is full of great loops and smart lyrics. I enjoyed it far more than I expected.
Not my typical genre, but his flow is insane. N.Y. State of Mind brings to light the struggles of growing up in Queens. This is not something I will ever be able to understand personally, the drugs, the danger, but he communicates the message perfectly. He is incredibly clever with his lyrics, he must've struggled for a long time... Damn he had beef with Tupac and Jay Z! They all made up though, which is good! But damn, Jay Z was WRONGGGGG for that.
honestly great raps , it feels like a typival rap songs
His others are better
Rap américain des 90', j'avoue que le style me parait répétitif à la longue - pas un gros coup de cœur, mais l'album s'écoute. Les samples sont sympas, j'ai particulièrement apprécié It Ain't Hard To Tell (avec un sample de MJ sur Human Nature), et Represent.
Pretty good rap record, with some recognizable songs. Enjoyed.
Hip hop isn't my thing but I appreciate the chance to give this a go. Sounds ok, wouldn't rush back to relisten
My most despised genre, but this was catchier than expected. Happy to not be able to understand the lyrics.
Solid hip hip with nice lyrics
Amazing instrumental and poetry. Although I'm not interested in rap this album was excellent.
5/10
Not bad, nothing really was a stand out for me.
It's a solid, old-school hip-hop album.
Some interesting jazz and blues-inspired background tracks. He's a great lyricist.
no soy quien para opinar de hip hop, se lo dejo a mi amigo hirai. me gustaron los beats
I've always struggled to resonate with rap... and while this album is clearly good, it's the same thing here. Enjoyable, but doesn't resonate.
necesito escucharlo otra vez
pretty damn good.
I don't generally enjoy rap, so this album probably has a lower ceiling than other genres, but it wasn't bad. No weird skit interludes and no overtly and unnecessarily sexual-assault-like vibes.
yeshh another old rap
I don’t listen to a lot of rap but I enjoyed this. There were a couple lines that flowed really nicely and the beats where comforting. From what I was able to interpret this is mostly about the life in New York. I always worry that the themes aren’t really ment for me but there was a lot of him talking about the impressive things that he has done/will do. I don’t think that I would actively seek this out but I do enjoy the fact that I have listened to a proper rap album because Bizkit can’t be it. It does lose points for being homophobic and Sexist.
I like this classic old school hip hop rap album. Only rating it a 3 as it's not my favorite genre.
it's a vibe.
I hate N-bombs but I understand it's point in rap music. It's part of the reason why I don't gravitate towards it. Talk of drugs, violence & sex, money whatever. GETS real old, real fast. Yet, it's my issue. This is ok. I didn't mind it. I don't hate it, but I don't love it. He's got a good flow & knows how to play with words. The samples were nice. Nas won't make me like rap but it's slightly closer. 3
Álbum tranquilo con flow para escuchar mientras uno trabaja, no es mi estilo, pero si es bueno para conocer su música y escucharla mientras uno hace otra cosa
Nas paints a pretty gritty picture of what life was like growing up in the New York suburbs with your guns, drugs and hustles to earn your next buck. That's the way it was and he doesn't sound too pissed with it - it made him who he is. We get chilled, hypnotic backing tracks and minimal production. Some of the rapping is improvised, which is clever and also shows how he had honed his skills before he got into the studio. I liked Life's A Bitch and The World Is Yours but, let's be honest, I'm a middle class teacher from suburban UK. I'm not his target market and undoubtedly not the best qualified to give a serious review to urban hip-hop. So 3 stars for documenting the struggle and the attitude without resorting to aggression.
En la personal no me atrae mucho el rap, pero esta vez me puse a escuchar y ver las letras en profundidad y me gusto un poco mas
5.5
Supposedly renewed focus on East Coast rap. Interesting use of backing music. Standard rap beats with off-key and syncopated piano and horns. His father was a jazz musician, so either a direct or an absorbed influence? Gritty. Urban. He has said he wasn't celebrating "thug life" but more or less shining a light on it. Good grooves and still academically interesting.
I enjoyed this debut rap album from Nas! I don’t listen to a ton of rap or hip hop but I felt like this album had some catchy and fun tracks. It made for a great album to listen to while I was at the gym! Overall, I thought this was a great rap album that I would listen to again in the future!
Album #112 Nas: Illmatic So much 90s rap just feels like straight posing, over-indulgent bars about stealing, killing, and gangster life to the point where you begin to think whether or not we live in Gotham. Now obviously there is an element of fantasy there, and the music isn’t meant to be taken literally, I’m not trying to sound like one of those “rap is crap” guys, but I just never connected much to the lyrics or themes. However, Nas, or at least Illmatic, is clearly a tier above all of that. Nas is just a kid from New York trying to make it out through music, and that is exactly what he presents in his songs, and exactly what you feel when listening to them. Rap at its purest is about storytelling, and more specifically, storytellers. The kind of rappers who can paint a picture and keep you engaged through their lyricism are no different than the singer-songwriters of the past who did the same. I have a friend whose favourite genres are hip-hop and folk, which at first I thought was weird, but upon further reflection, I realized how similar they are. A Nas and a Neil Young are doing the same thing, presenting the world how they see it through their specific personality and perspective, which allows for the music to come across in such a personal way. It allows you a glimpse into their psyche and creates a stronger bond with the music. The fact that I can even listen to an album like this and enjoy myself through the entire thing is surprising enough for me. However, I’m still not crazy about rap, so it’s far from my favourite album, albeit it is definitely one which I can respect and see the appeal of. Best Songs: N.Y. State of Mind, One Time For 4 Your Mind, One Love Worst Song: Represent Score out of 10: 7.5
Average 90’s rap
like
a classic by one of the legends of rap 3.5/5
N.Y State of mind - 🔥🔥 Rest solid background music
Fresh, East Coast rap. This is an album I’m surprised I missed. A lyricist leading the music ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Highlights: “Life’s a Bitch,” “NY State of Mind”
A better time machine than the Delorean
My first rap album. It's a good one.
Just sounds like all 90s rap
A decent album, especially for a debut release. I had to remind myself that Nas wrote these songs in his teens, demonstrating his talent at a very young age. Considering this album helped influence Eminem (according to a quick Google search) is also very impressive. Without this album we may not have Eminem! Probably won't listen to this album again, but I can appreciate the beauty and hard work that went into Illmatic.
ny state of mind is insane, rest is pretty good
-nicht schlecht -nach einer Zeit nervig -coole Basslines
7/10
This album was decent for the first one to be rated however there was nothing special so 5/10
Odotin kuraa mutta olikin ihan jees ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3.5 - Solid album.
Ahhh one of the Golden Calfs. So - I remember when Nas came out, and I remember thinking he was terrible because he was always so far behind the beat with his flow. I must've confused him with some other dude, because listening to "Illmatic," he is extremely precise. I have no idea who I thought he was, but Nas is excellent. Lyrically he could be Shakespeare himself and I wouldn't know - all I really gathered from this record is that Nas is from Queensbridge. That isn't his fault- I just have a low tolerance for lyrics. Overall this is totally fine - the backing tracks are good, if extremely derivative of Wu-Tang, and his flow is great. It's good. THREE STARS
Liked: N.Y. State of Mind, The World Is Yours Added: N.Y. State of Mind (already added)
Obviously well done. The songs are clever and musical. I appreciate some of the jazzier(?) vibes. But what are we supposed to do with the casual homophobia of a song like “Halftime?” Not cool.
Ihan jees. Ehkä odotin enemmän. 3/5.
Toute les musiques se ressemblent, mais je m'y attendais vu le style , cependant j'aime bien le old school donc 3/5 c'est bien
Some extremely solid 90s rap. I enjoyed it, but its not my genre. Well executed tho.
Thank you to Milwaukee Ballet company for dancing to "the World is Yours" and introducing that song to me in 5th grade
This was actually not bad compared to what I expected. Not my favorite genre but it was ok.
Not bad. Never heard much of his music before but i can appreciate it.
Old school NY rap/hiphop
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Didn't love it. Didn't hate it.
Life’s a bitch and then you die… some pretty catchy beats and rap on this but I didn’t fall in love. I’d tried listening to this before and I think I fail to hear what everyone else is hearing. It’s good but I don’t know when I’d choose to listen to it over some other albums…
Hip hopin suuri klassikko, jonka biiseillä räpätään kovasta elämästä New Yorkin kaduilla. Tekstiä löytyy runsaasti ja biitit ovat jykeviä. Voin kuvitella että monien genren ystävien mielestä tämä on mestariteos. Kyllä tämä minunkin korvaani kuulosti aika hyvältä, muttei hip hop kuitenkaan ole ihan se lempparigenre itselleni.
Enjoyed it from start to finish. Simple production, but tight. Not a lot of waste on this record. I get that this is in the pantheon of hip hop record.
jeg forstår den kulturelle indflydelse den har haft og synes det er sejt, men ville nok ikke komme tilbage
Messa like.
its cool. its old school rap. its a vibe for sure. couple i recognize, gonna go with the world is yours. 3/5
3.5 but rounding down. I had a few songs saved already and I saved a couple more (so clearly I enjoy it) but it’s been less that 24 hours and I don’t remember what anything from this album sounds like
Got better as it went along. First track (proper track not track 1) didn’t click with me but gradually started to enjoy it. Good beats throughout.
7/10 - the lyrics and rap are strong but the beat can become samey; but a classic album of the times
bit repetitive
Not my usual music cup of tea but appreciate the artistic talent. I like that I get to listen to music I normally don’t while doing this project.
Just don't quite get it yet after 2 listens, but glad I've heard it if that makes sense
Not my type, but it was good.
Classic. Great lyricism. Personally It is not form me, but I can appreciate this work.
Not bad
A couple of songs really hit with me.
Occasionally found it repetitive, but on the whole I enjoyed it. Not necessarily something I would listen to again, but nice to have listened to. Fav song: N.Y. State of Mind Least fav: One Love
Some of it got a bit too repetitive but mostly I really enjoyed it- also very cute that his dad is playing the trumpet on Life's a Bitch. Favourite song: Memory Lane Least: One Love
Es un clásico aunque no es mí estilo favorito
I'm sure this is good but it just wasn't for me. Nothing caught my attention
Trop de nword pas fan
I enjoyed this and it was great to hear after public enemy to hear the progression in the genre. It definitely sounded moodier but more of an individual take on the hardships of the time unlike public enemy that was more of a collective fight the power. I have listened to this before and would listen again. Would give a 3.5 if I could.
I'm aware this record is a rap classic, but it didn't grab me particularly. I found it enjoyable but nothing stronger than that. I wonder if it's a case of being unable to appreciate how impactful this album is. The lyrics I do remember are good, so maybe I just didn't pay enough attention.
That was solid, there were some good songs, but I wouldn't be interested in listening to this again any time soon.
3.5 stars It’s really good but repetitive. It both deserves the hype and is overrated.
Знову реп, але на цей раз було навіть не так погано. Я не можу виділити композицію, яка б сподобалася чи не сподобалась, все відчувалося максимально рівно
I know that this is hailed as one of the greatest albums of all time. I can’t really tell. I guess it’s fine.
When I worked in a record store that primarily sold hip hop in 99-00 this was considered the s-h-i-t. Never heard til now. I get it. But not really.
dovrei riascoltarlo meglio
Nothing that really wowed me, but still a very listenable rap album that carries itself well. 2.5 stars.
Didn't know this is where Life's a Bitch and then you die comes from
Quite nice
3 stars, good for what it is. Not as much my vibe as some of the other rap albums
Ni
I get why this was universally loved and looked up to but I really don’t think it’s aged as well as a lot of people claim it has. Sort of boring, sort of the same boom bap beats and flow throughout this whole thing. Life’s a bitch is a bad song. I’m maybe being too harsh but I’m not really feeling it. Lyrically phenomenal of course, and that’s the big stand out here overall. I really feel like I’m going to get flamed for this one.
Given that I don't like the violence and misogyny associated with gangsta hip-hop, by two minutes into the opening track I thought that I was going to dislike the entire album. Also, way to much first person singular in that opening track. But the rest was OK. Not my bag but OK. Pretty slick rhymes and such, although I must admit that I didn't listen too closely to them (I was cooking dinner at the time). Tho I have mad respect for Nas for appearing in the 2020 remix of Fight the Power, which is all-the-more pertinent these days. Unfortunately.
A little monotonous for me. Cool album but not really my style
This album is of its time in both a good way and a bad way. Yes there is a lot of misogyny, homophobia and talk about gang violence. But in 1994, I imagine that is culture and Nas is living in. Does it make it ok? No. But is Nas talented and is this album smooth and fun to listen to? Yes. It has a very chilled feel, even though the subject of most of the songs is some variety of violence, threatening or intimidation. The overall feel is an album that you could put on as you just relax on an idle Saturday. As long as you dont listen too hard to the expletives. (2.850)
3.5
Obviously a very high quality album but just felt samey to me, couldn't get into
niet helemaal mijn stijl maar wel goed
This is a little too low-key to keep my attention, but I'm sure if I focused on the rhymes I'd be impressed. I guess I'll try again. I recently read Mark Ronson's memoir about DJing in NY in the 90s, which comes with a 19-hour playlist if you want to follow along. The World Is Yours is on it and I agree that that's a great track but I can't picture it on a dance floor. 3.5
Okay but not my vibe
Hip hop really isn’t my thing. That being said, I did like the rap on this album and I could see the talent. It’s better than I expected, so I guess I’ll give it a 3.
strong 3
There's some bops, but just an okay album
Life's a bitch and then you die. Yup. But. This album wasn't that bad.
Instrumentals on life’s a bitch are dreamy and I like. I like the Micheal Jackson sample
Yep, c’est du rap, et c’est un wrap pour moi
I watched Belly a couple weeks ago. Nas is a terrible actor. The album is ok
I liked the jazziness but the lyrics left me cold.
"i never sleep cause sleep is the cousin of death" - OKAYYYYYYYY "I can't call it, the beats make me fallin' asleep I keep fallin', but never fallin' six feet deep" - bars "Versatile, my style switches like a faggot But not bisexual, I'm an intellectual of rap" - AHAHAHHAHAHA "When I dress, it's never nothing less than Guess" - koja diva poslednja pesma sempluje human nature sa thriller koji sam juce slusala, coincidence? i think NOT! "givin' mics men-e-strual cycles" BRUHH HAHAHA ma super je ovaj album, moj prvi hip hop/rep album u ovom projektu. mozda i prvi rep album ikada, ne znam, ali ne slusam rep to je cinjenica. svakako, ovo je bilo toliko zabavno brate, a plus produkcija je super, the beats and the bars are fireeeeeeee!!! zanimljivo je malo promeniti zanr koji slusam jer onda i moram drugacije da pristupim slusanju, odnosno moram da pratim tekst pesama na ekranu ako zelim ista da razumem jer ne cujem ja to nista, pogotovo kad prvi put slusam pesmu. ima dosta semplovanja ali dobro to je taj hip hop nacin i guess, svakako je to dobro uradjeno, ima puno dzez pesama koje su semplovali, odatle uglavnom dolazi klavir u miks i to mi je super!
Pretty good, but not my preferred genre.
It has a nice vibe definitely more summer like but not my style and I found it pretty boring
Correct pour du RAP... Sans plus !
Fairly average lyrical content and flow, but good tunes behind it. But should Nas get the credit for this, or just his producers?
it’s okay. i had higher expectations
The Genesis - 4/10 Sets the tone of the album. N.Y. State of Mind - 7/10 Life's a Bitch (feat. AZ & Olu Dara) - 6/10 The World Is Yours - 6/10 Didn't like the chorus but the rest of the song is good. Halftime - 6/10 Memory Lane (Sittin ' in da Park) - 6/10 One Love ( feat. Q-Tip) - 7/10 One Time 4 Your Mind - 6/10 Represent - 7/10 It Ain't Hard to Tell -6/10 Crazy rhymes and rhythm
An alright album. Wouldn’t choose to listen to any of the songs but wouldn’t mind listening to them if they were playing.
This isn't really 'my genre' which makes it slightly more difficult to rate, I have the typical problem that, not being so well versed in this type of music, a lot of it sounds similar to me, and as such this album did come across slightly 'samey' and I had difficulty differentiating between songs. That being said there were some that I found marginally better or worse, the better ones being "N.Y. State of Mind" (which I have only just realised in writing down that it may be a pun on 'New York State') and "It Ain't hard to tell" which unsurprisingly do seem to be the more popular ones on the album, and the slightly worse one being "One Love" which I didn't vibe with as much. I think that hip hop and rap are genres where lyricism is really allowed to thrive and this album did have its fair share of well written songs, at least the parts I had focused on, which is made all the more impressive knowing that Nas was just 19 or 20 when creating this album. I could definitely see people rating this more highly and I can recognise a well crafted album, even with minor 'flaws' but this is held back for me by my own preferences and as such I can only rate it based on my own enjoyment which was more than middling, but nothing incredible. Side note: the more I rate things the less confident I am with my rating system. 69/100 Score edited 28/01/26
Hip-Hop isn't my kind of thing. I was pretty set on a 2 but as I worked my way through this I was quite impressed with just how tolerable it was. Don't think I'd consider putting it on again but it really is an incredible debut. I know I'd consider this a masterpiece if I was into the genre.
Very very powerful album. They make it clear about the message they send. Beats are great, don't listen to this genre but this is a great introduction.
This album was an excellent showcase of rap and hip hop with elements of jazz. I can hear how Nas has influenced many artists.
fine stuff
Haven’t listened to this before, I started this project to widen my taste in music and this is what I was looking for, because I wouldn’t have stumbled upon it otherwise.
hadn't listened to before, enjoyed! rap isn't really my thing but i did fuck with this. a good time
Pretty good considering I don’t like rap, felt chill and helped me focus doing work
Eh, it was fine. It was mostly background music that I didn't particularly notice or listen to, TBH. But I think I might like it more if I actually paid attention to it, so it's getting three instead of two.
The emergence of this genre is undoubtedly as significant as punk. Have not been familiar with NAS. Seems good of its type and I would defer to music historians and lovers of this album and the work of other artists inspired by it to rate it. Seems quite melodic and nuanced with some good production sounds but the whole rap thing does nothing for me unfortunately.
Flow is great, just didn't fully catch me
Ok
I liked it a bit. It wasn’t really my cup of tea, but that’s why I’m here.
i like his beats choices but i think the rap isn't for me
Intretsing listenign, to see what has to music be in those times, hearing an album that I have never heard before, with new set of ears, I want to listen to it again so I can pay attention to the lyrics more.
Not too shabby.
uh it's really vibey and it's good for listening in the background while doing sum else. the first half is way better than the second
Rap ain't really my thing, but I gotta respect this one. Found myself grooving along to the boom bap beats far more than I expected.
3.5/5
Seemed fine, but nothing stood out for me.
Highly influential east coast rap album. Full of interesting jazz and funk samples. Not my area of comfort but it has clearly aged well.
Never got around to listening to this before now, this is a great album
This album has enjoyable grooves & beats throughout, with top notch production that really elevates the tracks and allows Nas’ rapping and storytelling to leave an impression. Whilst there are a lot of positives here, I still left it feeling like I was wanting one or two more standout moments from the album. I find rap albums sometimes quite repetitive by the latter half, and this one was no different despite it’s many qualities.
6/10 songs added. Nothing mindblowing to me, just quality beats lyrics and flow. 6/10 feels apt.
unfortunately i am not a big fan of hip hop ✊😔
3,0 - Kraftvolle Texte, tolle Beats. In dem Genre mit das Beste, was ich gehört habe, mir fehlt nur leider der Zugang zum Genre an sich. Highlights: The World is Yours, Halftime
Pretty solid
I really liked reading along with this one. I’d definitely come back to this
I thought I would hate this, but I can understand the appeal.
Please stop. I'll give this a 3 because it's unfair to hold the genre against the artist. I will say it's more listenable than a lot because of the quality of the backup music. But, rap it us.
I’m really bloody bored of rap and hip-hop now. It’s definitely not my thing and this is just dull. A very few of the beats are interesting, but I everything else is just boring. I can’t give it 2 because it isn’t bad, but I didn’t enjoy it either.
good , 3.5
Gangsta. I liked it
Not my thing, but I like what's going on here musically and the rhymes are amazing.
I liked this a little more than expected.
Pretty good. Not my usual vibe but I liked it
Old school 90s hip hop. Not my cup of tea, but I have maximum respect. Good album, great rapping!
Håller med om allt cirkelus-musikus säger, med tillägget att det är en stark trea!
life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high (och lyssnar på nas ibland). klassisk musik från en klassisk musikepok, några höga toppar men som helhet finns det många bättre i sin tid och genre.
I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of DEATH! Ett fett album som nog alltid kommer hålla, minus homofobin menmen
Hip hop är inte min grej, men jag kan ändå digga lite
jag gillar det. äntligen någon som tar Texten på allvar mycket stark trea!
Det här kan man gött sitta och röka cali och digga till länge, länge. Enformigt så man inte märker hur bäng man är och hur länge man diggat
Ca s'écoute, pas de dinguerie
Je connaissais, j’ai l’album « it was written » qui est meilleur à mon sens, avec plein de bangers ! Cela dit il est bien et c’est un rappeur us emblématique
Enjoyed the jazzier parts of the album. N.Y. State of Mind goes hard.
Quite good album. I liked the beats, the flow and the production. It got a little too samey for me after a while, and no tracks really stood out. Could change my mind after a few more listens, but right now it’s a 6/10
I dont like rap, however lyrically (slurs aside) and rhythmically its good
Chill old school hiphop. Great beats. I can see how it's very influential, but it's not that much my thing. Faves: N.Y. State of Mind, One Love, Represent
Beats and samples are sick. Full on NYC attitude and some catchy chorus hooks but ultimately let down by Nas the man
Enjoyed the flow of this
Some real solid shit, but aside from the big songs, it didn't hit me as hard as I'd hoped it would.
Quite good
i don't tend to pay much attention to lyrics but i bet if i did this would be great
В одно ухо влетело, в другое вылетело.
I don’t listen to hip hop generally and know very little about the 90s era. I enjoyed the production and feel on the mixes, and Memory Lane was one of my favorite tracks. I can see how in 1994 this album got a lot of praise for the writing and production at the time.
I didn't listen to rap before, some songs were actually nice.
вайбово, претензий нет.
Cool. Rough 90s NYC. A lot to vibe with here and a lot that I don't as well.
Not enough variation to get higher, and it just sort of... ended. Solid vibes.
Bem diferente do que estou acostumada. Gostei muito, foi melhorando ao longo das faixas.
Good actually.
Good beats
Why is this crap on the list?
I know Nas is one of the greats but it didn’t completely click with me. Not bad though. Maybe didn’t age super well. Shoutout to The World Is Yours being on the NBA 2K13 soundtrack tho
3.5
Nas came, said what he needed to say, and split with little fuss. No joke songs, skits, or filler tracks, just 9 songs of straight-up spittin’ from the young, hungry Queens MC. I can’t say that I love it since I’m just not into this genre, but I certainly respect its hustle and flow.
A famous album but doesn’t do it for me - lost a little bit to the sands of time.
This is obviously a famous album that I have never listened to, and would never have thought to try if it weren't for this project. This is definitely a highly influential album. You can hear how the bones of songs like "the world is yours" have been taken by more modern musicians and improved on. Overall pretty good album.
Good example but Rap isn't my thing
It was a decently produced album for Nas' debut. This style of hip-hop isn't my vibe but I can appreciate that it is one of the better ones in the genre. With Prefix Mag's Matthew Gasteier stating in 2002 that "...you find the meaning not just of hip-hop, but of music itself: the struggle of youth to retain its freedom, which is ultimately the struggle of man to retain his own essence." Best: NY State of Mind Worst: Halftime
Ganz okay für 90s HipHop, der ja eher nicht so meins ist.
I like it for other people =)
I liked the beats
I loved the beats and Nas aggressive style. The story he tells and his observations of the world hit hard.
Seemed decent. I have listened to this album once before (30 year anniversary in 2024). Would listen to again.
Nice
good hip hop album, feels very 90s
3/5 i respect it, had good groove but not really my thing
Dude’s got beats and rhymes for days. He’s one of the best for what this genre is.
Thanks to this project for finally forcing me to listen to this album. It's great!
Nas' 1994 debut still lands like a snapshot of New York hip-hop in amber: gritty, jazzy, boom bap perfection wrapped in a young MC’s sharp perspective. The first three full tracks set a bar almost too high to sustain—“N.Y. State of Mind” is a stone-cold classic, all minimalist menace and effortless flow; “Life’s a Bitch” drifts on mellow horns as Nas and AZ trade weary wisdom beyond their years; “The World Is Yours” is slick, confident, and smooth as a subway ride at golden hour. From there, Illmatic gets a little patchier. “Halftime” shows its age with some dated bravado, while “One Love” is a clever concept piece that’s more notable for its xylophone loop than Q-Tip’s hook. Later tracks like “One Time 4 Your Mind” and “Represent” lean into gangsta posturing Nas doesn’t really need—he’s sharper when painting street-level detail than flexing clichés. But even with its uneven stretches, Illmatic remains a defining artifact of mid-’90s rap: brief, blunt, and brilliant in flashes.
Not my favorite genre, not a bad listen, I'm aware of it's importance, just didn't overly grab me.
Some great lyrics here. Stand out songs were Life's a bitch, The world is yours, and It Ain't Hard to Tell.
I respect Illmatic, but I don't love Illmatic. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, well produced, good lyrics. But it seems too effortless. No jagged edges to cling onto, it just doesn't spark something in me.
Smooth and lyrical, I enjoyed the flow
For the most part it kind of passed me by, however there were a few cool moments that I recognised. Not a bad listen overall.
Seems like a solid example of gangsta rap, solid beats and bass lines. Nas seems to be greatly underrated in terms of his lyricism and ability to rap, very impressive considering I don’t typically think of his name in the canon of great rappers. It’s a solid album.
Cool beats, good tracks. Probably matters more than I’m aware of.
Nice beats, smooth raps, good instruments. Embodies the identity of 90s rap music. Easy to bop with. A few of the songs were a little repetitive with both the lyrics and beat with no variation. 6/10
I've encountered some great hip-hop albums so far on this list - Illmatic is highly-regarded and up there on a lot of best-of lists. For my personal tastes, however, it is very dense, very wordy, and a lot to take in in one sitting. This is not my first time listening, of course, but it's an album which has never quite clicked with me so far. If anything, I like my hip-hop a little more "musical" than this. I like it, but it's just a solid hip-hop album with the emphasis on the lyrics and social commentary rather than exploring the possibilties of sound and music production.
Great album, pulls me into NYC in the 90's which is some outstanding writing (lyrics) but it's not a place I want to be pulled into. I don't want to live Nas' experience too often but definitely rates a spot on this list. "Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft", Mary Schmich.
“I switched my motto Instead of sayin’ ‘Fuck tomorrow’ That buck that bought a bottle Could have struck the lotto” – Nas: Life’s a Bitch The genesis - its okay, rythm like wasnt my fav (2,5/5) (least fav) N.Y. State of mind - like the beat, piano is nice (4/5) (fav) Life's a bitch - really like the vibe (3,5/5) The world is yours - like the lyrics and the vibe (4/5) (3rd fav) Halftime - good flow (4/5) Memory Lane (Sittin in da Park) - (3/5) One Love - (3/5) One time 4 your mind - chill (3/5) Represent - i likeee (4/5) (2nd fav) It ain't hard to tell - (3/5) ---> overall a good vibe with a nice rythm (3,5/4)
Totally 90s hip hop. I see why it made the list. Good samples. Typical lyric content of the time.
While the lyrics were delivered with undeniable talent, i found the sound to be a bit repetitive. Which is a bit of a shame. Still good, but I struggle to point to a standout moment.
the debut of the hardcore hiphop „king of queens“ has aged better than many other works of this era
I feel bad for giving it only three stars right now, but it didn’t catch me as much as contemporaries like 2001. On the other hand I really appreciated the lack of skits and relative shortness.
Not my thing
Bra flow på Nas, ikke helt min stil på rap, men helt ok. Det kan hende at dette er en plate som trenger flere gjennomlytt, men det gidder jeg ikke nå.
3.5
3.5
I'm not the biggest fan of hiphop, but found this album particularly enjoyable. 3/5
Listened to this on Friday and didn't write down my thoughts. Had other albums to listen to ya know. Anyways you were right Steve I gave it a 3.
Good rap. Poetic and musical. But as with most rap, harsh lyrics.
I can't judge rap, sorry... I guess it's great for the fans