Illmatic XX (deluxe 20ᵗʰ Anniversary edition, explicit)

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

Annotation

Digital album can be streamed or purchased at the following sampling rates:
- 16 bit/44.1 kHz (CD quality, lossy and lossless)
- 24 bit/44.1 kHz (high-resolution quality, lossless)

Countries excluded (Deezer)

(As of 2022-09-01).

  • South America: 🇫🇰 Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (fk)
  • Northern Europe: 🇸🇯 Svalbard and Jan Mayen (sj)
  • Eastern Africa: 🇮🇴 British Indian Ocean Territory (io)
  • South-Eastern Asia: 🇹🇱 Timor-Leste (tl)
  • Oceania: 🇨🇨 Cocos (Keeling) Islands (cc) 🇨🇽 Christmas Island (cx) 🇳🇫 Norfolk Island (nf)
  • Polynesia: 🇨🇰 Cook Islands (ck) 🇳🇺 Niue (nu) 🇹🇰 Tokelau (tk)
  • Micronesia: 🇫🇲 Micronesia, Federated States of (fm)

Countries excluded (iTunes)

(As of 2022-09-01).

  • Eastern Europe: 🇧🇾 Belarus (by)
  • Northern Africa: 🇱🇾 Libya (ly) 🇹🇳 Tunisia (tn)
  • Western Africa: 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso (bf)
  • Middle Africa: 🇹🇩 Chad (td)
  • Western Asia: 🇾🇪 Yemen (ye)
  • Central Asia: 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan (uz)
  • Southern Asia: 🇲🇻 Maldives (mv) 🇳🇵 Nepal (np)
  • South-Eastern Asia: 🇧🇳 Brunei (bn)
Annotation last modified on 2023-07-04 19:41 UTC.

Tracklist

| |
1▼Digital Media
#TitleArtistRatingLength
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)
Nas3.61:45
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
Nas4.64:54
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)
Nas feat. AZ & Olu Dara4.653:31
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)
Nas4.84:51
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)
Nas4.34:21
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
Nas4.654:08
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)
Nas feat. Q‐Tip4.455:26
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)
Nas43:19
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)
Nas4.54:13
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
Nas4.43:22
2▼Digital Media
#TitleArtistRatingLength
1I'm a Villain
producer:
James "Jae Supreme" Loving* (QB hip hop producer)
Nas4:31
2The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show on WKCR October 28, 1993
Nas feat. 6'9", Jungle & Grand Wizard7:47
3Halftime (Butcher remix)
producer:
Joe "The Butcher" Nicolo (hip-hop musician)
Nas4:37
4It Ain't Hard to Tell (remix)
engineer:
Dino Zervos
producer:
Large Professor
Nas2:50
5One Love (LG Main Mix)
remixer:
The LG Experience (rap producer Patrick Harvey)
Nas5:33
6Life's a Bitch (Arsenal Mix)
Nas feat. AZ3:30
7One Love (One L Main Mix)
Nas feat. Sadat X5:43
8The World Is Yours (Tip Mix)
additional producer:
Q‐Tip (American rapper)
remixer:
Q‐Tip (American rapper)
Nas4:29
9It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Stink Mix)
turntable [Scratches]:
DJ Ron (UK jungle/dnb producer Ron Samuels)
Nas3:21
10It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Laidback remix)
remixer:
The Creators (UK hip-hop duo), Juliano (hip-hop artist, member of "The Creators" as "Juliano") and Si Spex (Si Spex)
Nas3:36

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]