Nas’ classic debut album Illmatic has been added to the Library of Congress. On Wednesday (March 24), librarian of congress Carla Hayden named the LP as one of the “audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage,” alongside 24 other recordings.
“The National Recording Registry will preserve our history through these vibrant recordings of music and voices that have reflected our humanity and shaped our culture from the past 143 years,” Hayden said. “We received about 900 public nominations this year for recordings to add to the registry, and we welcome the public’s input as the Library of Congress and its partners preserve the diverse sounds of history and culture.”
Speaking on the environment that shaped Illmatic, Nas said he “felt proud being from Queensbridge … we were dressed fly in Ballys and the whole building was like a family.”
He added, “Queensbridge is a housing project in New York City. You know the story, it’s the good, the bad, the ugly, and I was just trying to survive that.”
Released on April 19, 1994, Illmatic debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 63,000 copies in its first week. The album was certified 2x-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in February 2019, after initially selling a million copies by December 2001.
Illmatic joins many other classic Hip Hop albums in the Library of Congress, including JAY-Z’s The Blueprint, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, N.W.A’s Straight Outta Compton, Run-DMC’s Raising Hell, De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising and Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet.
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Other entries for the Library of Congress’ class of 2020 include Kool & The Gang’s 1980 single “Celebration,” Janet Jackson’s 1989 album Rhythm Nation 1814 and Labelle’s 1974 single “Lady Marmalade,” among others.
Nas is having a huge year as far as critical acclaim is concerned. Earlier this month, his 2020 album King’s Disease won Best Rap Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, marking his first Grammy win.
Revisit Illmatic below.
YauL got a soRrY ass staff…(u have to read it to erase it): R.i.p. Pun
Nas the GOAT, anyone saying otherwise just watch how they move and how they talk.
NAS is definitely a legend. Hov is the GOAT tho…
Jay z ain’t no goat . Dude got owned by Nas in battle . Not to mention, Eminem murdered him on his own issh.
Jay is the GOAT, yeah he lost a battle but won the war. The Eminem murdered him comment was also from Ether. That one track didn’t erase his G.O.A.T Status.
You’ve been conditioned to think this. Lmao. Get an opinion lame.
I don’t know. They each different styles that is hard to compare.
They might as well add Stillmatic, God’s Son, and It Was Written while they are at it.
Hip Hop is Dead for me is easily one of my favorite of his— like Top 5. No one really talks about the album. It had a more polished feel to it without sounding too commercial. To me, it is top 5 album I have ever heard that found that delicate, very difficult balance.
First a Grammy win, now a placement in the LoC? Seems like the industry is finally starting to catch up and giving Nas his flowers. GOAT!
The Tom Brady of Rap is finally in! Congrats GOAT
One of Greatest””King ,”‘In HipHop World .From Past to Now Future ,Keep it Coming God Son””!J.paso$ from Mil-Ticket One Lov ?.
Hold up, blueprint, the chronic inducted before illmatic? join the laugh.. well they must have paid their way in there
Exactly what I was thinking when reading this!!! Like wtf?!!! Backwards as usual
Exactly lol. I understand The Chronic, but The Blueprint?
Tupac – all eyes on me, needs to be in there, the best ever!
2Pacalypse Now, Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z or Me Against The World possibly but no way in hell does All Eyez On Me belong in the Library of Congress. Pac didn’t spit one conscious bar on that entire album. Not ONE! You think it belongs in the Library of Congress based on what? Record sales? Pac significantly dumbed down his lyrics for All Eyez On Me so he could eat, period. On his previous 3 albums he was speaking the truth. On All Eyez On Me he was just talking shit
2pac me Against The World