Illmatic

~ Release by Nas (see all versions of this release, 23 available)

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1The Genesis
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1994)
samples:
Live at the Barbeque by Main Source feat. Nas (US rapper) and Subway Theme by Grand Wizard Theodore (Pioneer hip-hop DJ from the Bronx, New York City)
recording of:
The Genesis (from 1992 until 1993)
lyricist:
Nasir Jones (US rapper)
writer:
Fred Brathwaite (rapper, art world personality, MTV host)
3.61:46
2N.Y. State of Mind
recording engineer:
Eddie Sancho
producer:
DJ Premier (US hip hop producer & DJ)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1994)
recorded at:
D&D Studios in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
samples:
Flight Time by Donald Byrd (American jazz trumpeter), Mahogany by Eric B. & Rakim, Mind Rain by Joe Chambers (American jazz drummer, vibraphonist and pianist) and N.T. (live, 1971‐05‐29: P.J.’s, Hollywood, FL, USA) by Kool & the Gang (membranophone)
recording of:
N.Y. State of Mind (Song by Nas) (from 1992 until 1993)
dedicated to:
New York, New York, United States
lyricist:
Nasir Jones (US rapper)
composer:
Chris Martin (US hip hop producer & DJ)
is based on:
Just Another Day in the Projects
4.64:54
3Life’s a Bitch
engineer:
Jason Vogel
co-producer:
Nas (US rapper)
producer:
L.E.S. (QB hip hop producer)
trumpet:
Olu Dara
guest performer:
AZ (US rapper)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1994)
recorded at:
Chung King Studios in New York, New York, United States and Unique Studios in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
mixed at:
Chung King Studios in New York, New York, United States and Unique Recording Studios in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
samples:
Black Frost by Grover Washington, Jr. and Yearning for Your Love by The Gap Band
recording of:
Life’s a Bitch (from 1992 until 1993)
lyricist:
Anthony Cruz (US rapper) and Nasir Jones (US rapper)
writer:
Olu Dara Jones, Oliver Scott (soul singer‐songwriter, supporting musician for The Gap Band) and Robert Wilson (US vocalist/bassist, member of Gap Band)
composer:
L.E.S. (QB hip hop producer)
4.653:31
4The World Is Yours
engineer:
Jamie Staub
producer:
Pete Rock (US hip hop producer)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1994)
recorded at and mixed at:
Battery Studios (NYC; not to be confused with the mastering studio located at 321 W 44th Street) in New York, New York, United States
samples:
I Love Music by The Ahmad Jamal Trio and It’s Yours by T La Rock
recording of:
The World Is Yours (from 1992 until 1993)
lyricist:
Nasir Jones (US rapper)
composer:
Peter Phillips (US hip hop producer)
4.84:51
5Halftime
engineer:
Kevin Reynolds (engineer)
producer:
Large Professor
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1994)
recorded at and mixed at:
Chung King Studios in New York, New York, United States
samples:
School Boy Crush by Average White Band and Soul Travelin', Part I (The G.B.E.) by Gary Byrd
recording of:
Halftime (from 1992 until 1993)
lyricist:
Nasir Jones (US rapper)
writer:
Gary Byrd
composer:
William Paul Mitchell (Large Professor)
4.34:21
6Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)
recording engineer, engineer and mixer:
Eddie Sancho
assistant engineer:
Luis Tineo
producer:
DJ Premier (US hip hop producer & DJ)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1994)
recorded at and mixed at:
D&D Recording in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
samples:
Droppin’ Science by Marley Marl (QB hip hop producer & DJ of Juice Crew) feat. Craig G (QB rapper of Juice Crew), Pickin’ Boogers by Biz Markie and We're in Love by Reuben Wilson
recording of:
Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park) (from 1992 until 1993)
dedicated to:
Queensbridge, New York, New York, United States
lyricist:
Nasir Jones (US rapper)
writer:
Peg Barsella and Reuben Wilson
composer:
Chris Martin (US hip hop producer & DJ)
is based on:
Droppin’ Science
is based on:
Pickin' Boogers
is based on:
We're in Love
4.654:08
7One Love
engineer:
Tim Latham (engineer)
producer:
Q‐Tip (American rapper)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1994)
recorded at and mixed at:
Battery Studios (mastering/archival/digitization studio located at 321 W 44th Street, NYC) in Midtown Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
samples:
Mixed Up Cup by Clyde McPhatter and Smilin’ Billy Suite, Part II by The Heath Brothers
music videos:
One Love (clean video) by Nas (US rapper)
recording of:
One Love (from 1992 until 1993)
lyricist:
Nasir Jones (US rapper)
writer:
Jimmy Heath
composer:
Jonathan Davis (American rapper)
4.455:26
8One Time 4 Your Mind
assistant engineer:
Jack Herscha
engineer:
Kevin Reynolds (engineer)
producer:
Large Professor
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1994)
recorded at and mixed at:
Chung King Studios in New York, New York, United States
samples:
Walter L. by Gary Burton (jazz vibraphonist and composer)
recording of:
One Time 4 Your Mind (from 1992 until 1993)
lyricist:
Nasir Jones (US rapper)
composer:
William Paul Mitchell (Large Professor)
43:19
9Represent
assistant engineer:
Luis Tineo
engineer:
Eddie Sancho
producer:
DJ Premier (US hip hop producer & DJ)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1994)
recorded at and mixed at:
D&D Studios in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
samples:
Thief of Bagdad by Lee Erwin
recording of:
Represent (from 1992 until 1993)
lyricist:
Nasir Jones (US rapper)
composer:
Chris Martin (US hip hop producer & DJ)
is based on:
Represent (original demo)
4.54:13
10It Ain’t Hard to Tell
engineer:
Anton Pukshansky and Stan Wallace
producer:
Large Professor
mixer:
Diego Garrido
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Sony Music Entertainment Inc. (company owned by Sony Corporation of America from 1991–2004, operated worldwide except in JP; normally not a release label) (in 1994)
recorded at and mixed at:
Chung King Studios in New York, New York, United States
samples:
Human Nature (album version) by Michael Jackson (“King of Pop”), N.T. (live, 1971‐05‐29: P.J.’s, Hollywood, FL, USA) by Kool & the Gang and Why Can't People Be Colors Too? by The Whatnauts
recording of:
It Ain’t Hard to Tell (from 1992 until 1993)
lyricist:
Nasir Jones (US rapper)
composer:
William Paul Mitchell (Large Professor)
is based on:
Human Nature
is based on:
Nas Will Prevail
4.43:24

Credits

Release group

inspired the name of artist:Illmat!c (German rapper of Greek decent, started rapping in English, now rhymes in German)
part of:Pitchfork: The 100 Best Rap Albums of All Time (number: 5) (order: 5)
Treble: The 150 Best Albums of the 1990s (number: 12) (order: 12)
Pitchfork: The 150 Best Albums of the 1990s (2022-09-28) (number: 22) (order: 22)
Rolling Stone: 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time (2022-07-01) (number: 31) (order: 31)
Apple Music: 100 Best Albums (number: 39) (order: 39)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2020 edition (number: 44) (order: 44)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2023 edition (number: 44) (order: 44)
33⅓ (number: 64) (order: 65)
Discothèque Idéale Qobuz / Qobuz Ideal Discography (order: 173)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2003 edition (number: 400) (order: 400)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2012 edition (number: 402) (order: 402)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005 edition) (number: 762) (order: 763)
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/master/20148 [info]
lyrics page:https://genius.com/albums/Nas/Illmatic [info]
https://genius.com/albums/Nas/Illmatic-xx [info]
reviews:https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/42d3 [info]
https://www.abcdrduson.com/chroniques/illmatic/ [info] (from 2004-01-19 to present)
other databases:https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/nas/illmatic/ [info]
Allmusic:https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000623739 [info]
Wikidata:Q847541 [info]
discography entry:https://www.last.fm/music/Nas/Illmatic [info]