“It’s only right that I was born to use mics
and the stuff that I write, is even tougher than dice
I’m takin’ rappers to a new plateau, through rap slow
My rhymin’ is a vitamin, Hell without a capsule”

-Nas

“N.Y. State of Mind”

If you have ever wondered what the best way to write a review for a monumental CD while explaining its socioeconomic as well as political significance, I believe Michael Eric Dyson and Sohail Daulatzai have created the prototype. Incorporating essays from some of the top hip-hop intellectuals and writers in the game, including Mark Anthony Neal, Imani Perry, Kyra Gaunt, Mark Lamont Hill, Greg Tate, Dream Hampton, and Guthrie Ramsey–to name a few–to create what can only be described as a masterpiece. Be it its’ track breakdown, its’ lyrical analysis, or simply the way it captivates the mind. Describing Nas’s whimsical style jumping from mainstream misogynistic music (“You Owe Me”) and conscious rap (“The World Is Yours”, “I, Can”, etc.) Dyson along with the other intellectuals do not limit their breakdown to simply Illmatic; but, relate every tracks relevance to other conscious rap, mainstream rap, political views, and present day economic situations. From the moment I received my copy, I didn’t set it down–but for sleep and sustenance. The significance of Illmatic will not soon fade and neither will the relevance of this work—this book is a must read for cultural scholars and layman alike.

In honor of the book that has consumed my day/night “Born to Use Mics: Reading Nas’ Illmatic”, and my reaching the halfway point, what better way to celebrate by making the song of the day the midpoint of the book and album “Halftime”.

Listen, analyze, enjoy!

Reasonable Doubt enacts the glamorous dream  of every young rapper. Age 27 when his debut was released, Jay-Z was much older than most rappers releasing a debut album and the depth of his life experience brings a gravitas to Reasonable Doubt that few rappers could achieve in 1996. “Regrets” is a song of a man re-examining his past, not grabbing at the flash of the future. But unlike the wizened admonishments of a rapper like Scarface (whose influence looms large on Reasonable Doubt), Jay-Z would never sound younger than he does here. He had spent years honing his rhyme craft, and he moves through every song with swiftness and self-assurance. Reasonable Doubt is the one album Jay-Z created before having to contend with multi-platinum pressures and superstar responsibilities. It remains his most consistent album because it was the only time Jigga made no compromises. The young rapper had been waiting 27 years to tell this story, and there isn’t a measure misplaced. The great Pharoahe Monch and Prince Poetry’s (Organised Konfusion) second collaborative effort, will forever be defined by hip-hop lovers accross the globe, as one of the most spectacular hip hop albums to date. The album, released in 1994 under the duo’s Hollywood Label, unequivacally matches the production of thier first album ‘Organized Konfusion’ (1991), another classic of its kind, whilst he pairs third album The Equinox was released in 1997. Track seven’s ‘Bring It On’,  displays the true inventiveness of Pharoahe Monch and The Prince Poetry. Pharoahe reaches a pinical of insane lyrical creation, with unstructured original styles, which takes rapping to heights never reached since. The Coming is the first solo album released by former Leaders of the New School member, Busta Rhymes, in 1996 by Elektra Records. With his funky dreads, raspy growl of a voice, and outrageous videos, Busta Rhymes has always stood out as a very unique rapper at the mainstream level. While he had not yet established a great name for himself prior to this release, “The Coming” produced a wave of excitement from fans who took to his spacey beats, wild lyrical flow and image. “Woo Ha!! Got You All In Check” was his big single off the debut, helping him to build a name for himself as one of the top MC’s in the Rap Business. The humming began for Nas’ 1994 release Illmatic, once the hottest producers in New York – DJ Premier, Pete Rock, the Large Professor, Q-Tip, L.E.S. – completed their parts on Illmatic, and Nas stepped to their tracks (many smooth and mellow, a few hard and biting, all mid- to low-tempo) and vaulted himself into the elite group of MCs. Not because of an ultrabutter flow and boldly distinctive voice like Q-Tip or Slick Rick but because of sharp articulation, finely detailed lyrics and a controlled tone reminiscent of Rakim. Those sounds and Nas’ no-nonsense urban tales pair Ill’s every beautiful moment with its harsh antithesis. From “One Love,” Nas’ letter to homies in jail – “So, stay civilized/Time flies/Though, incarcerated, your mind dies/I hate it when your moms cries/It kinda makes me wanna murder” – to the end of “Life’s a Bitch,” when his father, Olu Dara, steps in over the beat with a muted trumpet, searching for the tone with which Nas expressed the futility of his life, it’s all like a rose stretching up between cracks in the sidewalk, calling attention to its beauty, calling attention to the lack of it everywhere else. Infinite is Eminem’s first full-length and professionally packaged album. After years of cutting demo tracks with his mentors, the Bass Brothers, at their Ferndale, Michigan studio (dubbed “The Bassmint”), Eminem was ready to release his debut album. The album was written and recorded in 1995. At the time the album was first conceived, Eminem had been using the stage name M&M. However, he changed his stage name after the release of his first official single, in early 1995. Infinite marks the debut of the name “Eminem”. The album was only released on cassette and vinyl, and was originally sold through Mathers himself. Only 1,000 cassettes and 100 vinyl records were made. Eminem himself, and old friends from around the time Infinite was recorded, have claimed the laid-back and humble nature of the album is due to Eminem purposely making “radio-friendly” songs in hopes of getting on the air of Detroit’s leading Hip Hop radio station, WJLB. The Album remains a classic amongst true hip hop-heads, with Eminem’s fearless flow, and rhyming styles displaying why he is consistently recognised as one of the best emcees ever to reach for the mic.

It’s Flannel Friday here at work and what better way to match that warm, fuzzy, comfortable vibe than with a classic album.  I had to make a very important decision today and choose if I was going to listen to one of the two new Young Money/Cash Money releases or some classic shit.  I decided to put off Lil Wayne’s Rebirt and Young Money’s We Are Young Money until next week.  Surprisingly, I never listened to Illmatic religiously like I should have but every time I do get a chance to listen, I’m blown away.  Nas is definitely one of the illest of all time.  Every track on Illmatic is classic in my opinion, from the beats to the rhymes.  I wish I would have been listening to that shit back when it dropped, although I probably wouldn’t have understood any of it.  If you are a sleeper like me or a big Nas fan, take this Friday to listen back to Illmatic.  It’s the perfect way to start the weekend.  Here is my shit, New York State of Mind. 

Here is Alica Keys remix with Nas and Rakim.  Also very dope. 

Yo! Heres The Song Of The Day!!

So Since Yesterday We Put A Legend In This Music Game

The Great Michael Jackson

We Decided To Put Another Legend On The Page

Nd Who Esle To Put But The One And Only

Nasty Ass NaS!!

So Heres The Song Of The Day!!

New York State Of Mind-NaS

Illmatic One Of the best Hip Hop Cd Ever Made

It Must Be In Your CD Collection If You Love Hip Hop!

Enjoy! Word Is Bond!!

Srry Theres No Official Video Of The Song But Who Cares This Shit Still Goes Hard!!

By:Jeremie D.

A promo video for Nas’ Illmatic that gives a peak into the ideas and processes behind the creation of a classic album.

Clocking in at a total running time of 37 Minutes, Nas’ 10-Track long Illmatic is a no-questions-asked Hip Hop Classic. It is also one of the Albums included in the highly coveted list of albums The Source Magazine gave 5 mics (Pre-2005, when the entire process was bastardized by giving Lil’ Kim 5 mics). Since then, a very large number of albums, including all of Nas’ subsequent albums, have been weighed heavily against Illmatic to judge the quality.

“Halftime” was the first single off Illmatic, and demonstrates the Queens emcee’s ability to effortlessly rock the mic with unparallelled lyricism.

Its Throwback Thursday again. I was in the mood for a back in the day jam from my favorite rapper Mr. Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones aka Nas. This is “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” from his groundbreaking first album Illmatic. Enjoy

To many of hip hop’s biggest fans, one of the best albums in the history of the genre is Nas’ 1994 debut album, Illmatic. The album is indeed a classic and by far the greatest album that Nas has ever created. Time and time again, this album has been written about in magazine articles and blog posts, but now Illmatic is preparing to make the big leap.

Never in hip hop has there ever been an entire book devoted to an album. All of that is going to change in the near future. The book will focus on various writers’ opinions of the album. Each writer will write about their perception of the album. The main authors of the book are Michael Eric Dyson and Sohail Daulatzi.

Dyson and Daulatzi are not the only authors of Born To Use Mics. Other writers will include Adilifu Nama, Guthrie P. Ramsey, Jr., James Peterson, Marc Lamont Hill, Mark Anthony Neal, Kyra Gaunt, Eddie S. Gladue, Jr., Imani Perry, and more. The book is expected to hit stores sometime next month.

Back in april 94 Minya Oh (aka Miss Info) was Shortie…
I mean she’s still shorty but that was her nickname @ The Source Magazine… when she gave 5 mics to the Nasty One

December 28th….

               I normally don’t post on Friday, but I saw this on RapGa…..another site, and I had to speak on this. I’m uber excited! One of my favorite authors does research on one of my favorite albums, from one of my favorite artists. Directly from from Amazon…..

The best and brightest writers of the hip-hop generation reflect upon the era’s landmark album: Nas’s Illmatic.

From the moment then nineteen-year-old Nasir “Nas” Jones began recording tracks for his debut album the hip-hop world was forever changed. Released in 1994, Illmatic, was hailed as a masterpiece and is one of the most influentialalbums in hip-hop history. In Born to Use Mics, Michael Eric Dyson and Sohail Daulatzai have brought together the brightest minds to reflect upon and engage one of the most incisive sets of songs ever laid down on wax.

I rap for listeners, blunt heads, fly ladies and prisoners
Henessey holders and old school niggaz, then I be dissin a
unofficial that smoke woolie thai
I dropped out of Kooley High, gassed up by a cokehead cutie pie
Jungle survivor, fuck who’s the liver
My man put the battery in my back, a differencem from Energizer
Sentence begins indented.. with formality
My duration’s infinite, moneywise or physiology
Poetry, that’s a part of me, retardedly bop
I drop the ancient manifested hip-hop, straight off the block
I reminisce on park jams, my man was shot for his sheep coat
Childhood lesson make me see him drop in my weed smoke
It’s real, grew up in trife life, did times or white lines
The hype vice, murderous nighttimes, and knife fights invite crimes
Chill on the block with Cog-nac, hold strap
with my peeps that’s into drug money, market into rap
No sign of the beast in the blue Chrysler, I guess that means peace
For niggaz no sheisty vice to just snipe ya
Start off the dice-rollin mats for craps to cee-lo
With sidebets, I roll a deuce, nothin below (Peace God!)
Peace God — now the shit is explained
I’m takin niggaz on a trip straight through memory lane
It’s like that y’all .. it’s like that y’all .. it’s like that y’all

Chorus: repeat scratches 4X

“Now let me take a trip down memory lane” -] BizMarkie
“Comin outta Queensbridge”

[Nas]
One for the money
Two for pussy and foreign cars
Three for Alize niggaz deceased or behind bars
I rap divine Gods check the prognosis, is it real or showbiz?
My window faces shootouts, drug overdoses
Live amongst no roses, only the drama, for real
A nickel-plate is my fate, my medicine is the ganja
Here’s my basis, my razor embraces, many faces
Your telephone blowin, black stitches or fat shoelaces
Peoples are petrol, dramatic automatic fo’-fo’ I let blow
and back down po-po when I’m vexed so
my pen taps the paper then my brain’s blank
I see dark streets, hustlin brothers who keep the same rank
Pumpin for somethin, some uprise, plus some fail
Judges hangin niggaz, uncorrect bails, for direct sales
My intellect prevails from a hangin cross with nails
I reinforce the frail, with lyrics that’s real
Word to Christ, a disciple of streets, trifle on beats
I decifer prophecies through a mic and say peace.
I hung around the older crews while they sling smack to dingbats
They spoke of Fat Cat, that nigga’s name made bell rings, black
Some fiends scream, about Supreme Team, a Jamaica Queens thing
Uptown was Alpo, son, heard he was kingpin, yo
Fuck ‘rap is real’, watch the herbs stand still
Never talkin to snakes cause the words of man kill
True in the game, as long as blood is blue in my veins
I pour my Heineken brew to my deceased crew on memory lane

Real Hip-Hop…Nuff Said.

If you want to download the entire album Illmatic, click here .

The password for unzipping is : nasirjones

Me you ask?

Even though Lupe is my favorite musician of all time, Illmatic gotta be my favorite album of all time. Followed closely by Food & Liquor, The Cool, Reasonable Doubt, and It Was Written. (In that order)

White people can get down with Nas too.

Alex

Nas – Illmatic – 1994

This is a true classic hip hop record.  Nas was unknown in the rap world.  He managed to get Large Professor and Premier to lace him with beats and showed the world a flow that had not felt so new since Rakim had burst onto the scene.

If you can remember when this album came out then you will know what else was happening.  Outkast just came out, Wu-Tang was strong, Dr. Dre was owning the west coast, etc.  There was no shortage of now legendary rappers just getting launched.  In addition, rappers like Ice Cube, even then a veteran in the rap game, was dropping a record.  Still, even then, everyone stepped back and listened to this album in awe.  This young MC came out with a short record that had no filler what-so-ever.

Listening to the album now, I’m reminded that albums don’t have to have 17 songs to be considered a full length project.  It has only 10 tracks and every one of them is fresh.  It is arguably a typical record by subject matter but the beauty of rap is the way in which a story is told or an image is painted by the lyricist.  In this case, Nas delivered so well that he was acclaimed by almost every critic to be one of the best rappers in New York there-after.

The production is definitely strong and even today, I think most of the beats are bangers.  If someone presented me with the beat for NY State of Mind today, I would put it on my album in a heartbeat.  L.E.S., Large Professor, Q-Tip, Premier, and Pete Rock are all in top form for this new rappers album at a time when they were all swinging for the fences with other projects that didn’t all make it.

All in all, this record is one of the best rap records your money can buy.   Nas’ later beef with Jay-Z and critisizm of the rap game hadn’t happened yet and what you have is a young kid painting a picture of Queensbridge NY.

Easy pic for today.

Miss Info talks about her first time hearing Nas Illmatic and writing the review for it in The Source.

Nas' 1999 2X Platinum album "I Am..." featuring "Nas Is Like..."

What were you doing 10 years ago? Me? I was 12 years old in the sixth grade when this hot joint by famed Queens Hip-Hop artist Nasir Jones dropped the track gem, “Nas Is Like…” off the “I Am…” album. I grew up in a Hip-Hop household thanks to my older cousins, but this specific track along with Illmatic album changed my perspective on Hip-Hop. I started to grow an appreciation and understanding of the lyrics that the best artists in the game were trying to convey rather than just listen for the sake that it sounded good on radio.

This was another legendary collaboration between DJ Premier and Nas. It was also a reminder that Nas never lost that underground vibe that made Nas’ first album, “Illmatic,” a classic. “Nas Is Like…” illustrated Nas’ supreme lyrical talent to paint a picture of the environment he grew up in and where he is now. DJ Premier’s track is just bad ass plain and simple. The scratching, “birds” chirping sample, and Nas lyrical samples over the subtle and steady drumbeat is something you just vibe to with your headphones on and hoodie up not giving a fuck what’s around you.

The music video pays homage to Nas’ Queensbridge projects in Queens. No cash, no cars, no tec, no girls. None of the “flash” that is popular in today’s hip-hop videos (ok, so Nas does roll in a Rolls Royce with a girl and does flash some metal but its not excessive). All you get is real look at Nas and DJ Premier doin’ work in their environment. Queensbridge native and current NBA Lakers small forward Ron Artest makes an appearance in the video.

One of my favorite lyrical verses from the song:

“As far as rap go, it’s only natural, I explain
My plateau, and also, what defines my name
First it was Nasty, but times have changed
Ask me now, I’m the artist, but hardcore, my science for pain
I spent time in the game, kept my mind on fame”

10 years later?

I still vibe to this with my hoodie up not givin’ a fuck.

Nas wilding in Vancouver with a comedian.  Dope little interview