It’s been 24 years since Nas released his classic debut, Illmatic. Now, fans can enjoy it in a completely new way as the legendary MC has dropped a live version of the LP backed by the National Symphony Orchestra.
Nas performed this rendition of Illmatic with the National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in 2014. In February, PBS aired the special concert as part of its Great Performances series.
Check out the Illmatic: Live From The Kennedy Center stream, cover art and tracklist below. Vinyl copies of the album on sale at Mass Appeal’s online store.
1. The Genesis
2. N.Y. State of Mind
3. Life’s a Bitch
4. The World Is Yours
5. Halftime
6. Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)
7. One Love
8. One Time 4 Your Mind
9. Represent
10. It Aint Hard to Tell
The King
I sampled Nas’ voice cause he is the GOAT.
The last of the dying breed! The GOAT
All the rest are complete garbage!
The greatest album of all time…
by the rest are garbage mention me which rappers ur talking about ?
one hot album and thats all while every album by king hova is #1 and classic
I love Nas, but homie, stop milking your old material and GET IN THE LAB. And don’t rap about your past accolades and run down the list of your successes, just spit some dope rhymes. I’m starting to think he’s out of ammo. Another legendary rapper scared he’s not gonna “fit in” with these weak new rappers. Be above it. Peace.
It’s not Nas milking old material. It’s us fans appreciating art and greatness. That album is apart of the lives of many people. It’s beyond the album and the artist. It’s about a time and how many people we lost or grew apart from since then. You new generation Hip Hop heads not built to appreciate art that’s why it’s so easy for you to say.
New? I’m 36 son. I literally remember Nas as a teenager. I’m being objective man. As I stated, I love Nas. But I’m a grown man, so I can still have an OPINION that isn’t overwhelmingly in favor of the artists I enjoy. This attitude of you either have to blindly support or blindly hate anything with no objectivity is wack and I don’t subscribe to it. Nor should you. Nas…make some new music. Peace.
You sound like a bitch. STFU
nah man.. he aint milking anything, and if he has, its because he CAN. Illmatic is a once in a lifetime kinda album, do as many shows as re-releases as he wants. A legend like Nas can and should only put out material if or when he’s ready to. Life is Good is a GREAT album, and I appreciate that he took his time, lived life a little in between that and his previous album. At this point, I dont care if he takes 5 or 10 years between albums. His place is cemented, and I’d rather the music be inspired than forced. Quality over quantity always.
Talk about a washed up hasbeen, eh? Ilmatic was a quarter century ago.. Just let it go already, homie. Let it go.
man shutcho bitchass up, you wouldn’t recognize greatness if it was disguised as yo momma u fuckin pee-on
Is this is only good album or what
Make sure you learn how to spell properly before criticizing a king in a public forum.
Is there a physical version of this?
Oh wait, only vinyl. smh
we need a c.d. release!!! this was so amazing…. LONG LIVE THE KING.
Ive been hating Nas all this time, finally listened to illmatic the first time yesterday. No homo, that album is cold. but It Was Written was the best. Gotta say that shit beats all of Jays work especially Blueprint 3. I finally figured out. My bad for the Jay dick-sucking, please forgive me
And fuck all of you that are trying to troll on King Hovs dick in my mouth!!
Is this the album that he was rapping about on dj khaled shit lol
I laughed out loud.
dont nobody listen to nas no more
Lonzo don’t ball no more
Nas Album Done dropped in 2016…quit playin Nas!