Nas /// Illmatic XX
“Illmatic”
one of the most rated Hip Hop albums. It's iconic album cover presenting a
young Nasir Jones in front of a rugged New York street sets the scene, for what
some have argued, for the best piece of storytelling in contemporary music. The
visual imagery and the collage of New York sounds help take the listener into
the gritty ends of Queensbridge, deep into Nas' realm.
Iconic tracks like “N.Y State Of Mind” and “Represent”
are a great combination of words and sounds creating gritty atmospheres.
The piano loop on “N.Y State Of Mind” helps
reinforce Nas' story of the constant dangers in street life. The xylophone
sample (taken from a 20's film soundtrack) on “Represent” creates an eerie stage for Nas' tales of gang warfare.
This re-issue (of which there are many)
includes a second disc with extras. “I'm
A Villain” is on the same vein as “N.Y
State Of Mind” in terms of lyrical content; the beat however is simple and
not as effective as the latter. The disc also features a freestyle that has Nas
spitting over a xylophone sample (similar to the one present on “Represent”). The rest however is
nothing special, most of the remixes are available elsewhere. Illmatic XX would have greatly
benefited from some rare cuts; if you're after a worthy re-issue you're better
off tracking down the Gold Edition Box
Set.
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