30 years ago, American rapper Nas' first album was released. He celebrates the anniversary of this now cult album, during a unique concert at the Zénith in Paris this Thursday, November 7.
On April 19, 1994, American rapper Nas unveiled his first album Illmatica record which, through the depth of its texts, the quality of its storytelling and the richness of its productions, marked a decisive turning point in the musical landscape in the United States.
Nearly 30 years later, this album continues to influence artists around the world. To celebrate this success, Nas began an anniversary tour in Europe and the United Kingdom on October 22, with a stop at the Zénith in Paris this Thursday, November 7. An opportunity to look back at the genesis and impact of one of the most emblematic albums in the history of hip-hop.
Revival of the hip-hop scene
At the end of the 80s, the neighborhood of Queensbridge, one of the cradles of New York hip-hop where Nas came from, was booming, driven by rappers such as Big Daddy Kane and Roxane Shanté.
But at the beginning of the 1990s, this scene gradually began to lose its importance, competing with the emergence of new artists – NWA or Dr. Dre – and new sounds from the west coast of the United States.
It is in this context that Nasir Jones, aka Nas, took his first steps in hip-hop at just 15 years old. Spotted by the American producer Large Professor, he was invited in 1991 to add a verse to the song Live At The Barbequefrom his group Main Source.
The determination of the man who claims to be a “verbal assassin” and the technicality of his flow on this track quickly earned him the status of a young prodigy on the Queensbridge rap scene, and the entire community impatiently awaits the release of his first project.
“He is in line with Kool G Rap, Rakim and Big Daddy Kane and embodies their renewal, as an extension which allows New York to continue to exist in the face of the emergence of the west and the south” , indicates to BFMTV.com. Nicolas Rogès, journalist and writer specializing in rap.
Poetic and realistic story
Expected to turn the corner, Nas began writing and recording his first album at 17. A project which would culminate two years later with the release ofIllmatic in 1994, under the Columbia label.
At a time when “bling-bling” gangsta rap was gaining popularity, the rapper took a step aside with this album and depicted with honesty and realism the daily life of his Queensbridge neighborhood, marked by crime, violence and poverty.
In the documentary, Nas: Time is Illmaticreleased in 2014, Nas explains that he wanted to offer his listeners a glimpse of “what the streets were like, the sound of them, the taste of them, the smell of them.”
With this album, Nas thus introduces a style of narration new for the time both in substance, with raw storytelling, punctuated with punchlines, but also in form, with complex rhyme schemes and a mature and poetic, at only 20 years old.
“Nas is an observer, a man who describes what he sees below his home, in Queensbridge, from his 'Project Window' (the name of one of his future songs). He multiplies the metaphors, the references to street, to those who remain locked up there, but also to those who are behind bars”, analyzes Nicolas Rogès.
“It's raw, without artifice, it's tragic without being tearful, it's the album of a man who lost one of his best friends in a shooting (Ill Will) and who wonders if the violence will end by leaving him,” continues the specialist.
Hailed by critics upon its release, Illmaticcarried by the now cult piece N.Y. State of Mindallows Nas to establish himself as one of the greatest urban poets of his time – he proclaimed himself “king of poetry” – and to redefine the codes of hip-hop to restore the image of the coastal rap scene East.
Redefinition of rap standards
At a time when albums were often produced by one or two producers, Nas also innovated with Illmatic by surrounding himself with some of the biggest names in the industry: Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Q-Tip, Large Professor and LES And the level is such that a real competition takes place between these producers, each seeking to surpass themselves to offering young Nas the best of their art.
“It's crazy to look at the list of producers that appear on the album: some of the biggest names in history, with already established careers, come together on the album of a young rapper who had never never released a record and who deliver some of their best productions”, notes Nicolas Rogès.
Originality and singularity d’Illmatic thus reside in this mixture of musical influences, combining both soul and jazz samples with boom-bap rhythms emblematic of New York rap. A rich musical cocktail that inspired many generations of beatmakers after the album's release.
Illmatic also redefined rap standards in 1994 thanks to its format. With only 10 tracks for 39 minutes of listening time, Nas proves with this disc that quality and consistency can take precedence over quantity. An effective model which will influence many rappers to review their approach in terms of construction and structure of albums.
A lasting cultural impact
30 years after its release, Illmatic left an indelible cultural mark on the hip-hop scene, inspiring a whole generation of artists like Jay-Z, Ghostface Killah, J. Cole, Mobb Deep, Common, the Wu-Tang Clan and Kendrick Lamar, all of whom recognized the influence this album had on their music.
“When I was listening to Nas back then, I was like, 'Oh shit! He killed it. It forced me to improve my writing… The whole Illmatic album forces you to give your best- even, it was a source of inspiration,” Ghostface Killah confided in 2015 to the HipHopDX site.
“'Illmatic' is the quintessence of New York rap and the birth of one, if not the, greatest rapper in history. But the curse is that Nas is at such a level of mastery and writing on this album, that he will, over the rest of his career, systematically be brought back to 'Illmatic' and his following albums will suffer from the comparison”, nevertheless nuances Nicolas Rogès.
Despite everything, the influence of this record is still felt today: Nas' lyrics are now analyzed within the framework of literature studies at university while Illmatic is one of four hip-hop albums held at the Harvard Library.
And Nas' first album will once again be in the spotlight this Thursday, November 7 during an event concert by the rapper at the Zénith in Paris, proof that his impact on the music scene and among hip-hop fans remains intact.
