When Nas unleashed his debut album Illmatic in 1994, he could’ve never predicted the lasting impact it would have on Hip Hop culture. Twenty-five years later, the album is still one of the most revered pieces of Hip Hop music of all time.
But Nas has evidently had enough. During an interview with Haute Living, the celebrated MC admitted the nostalgia has worn thin.
“I’m tired of celebrating it,” he said. “I’m grateful, but it has started to take on a life of its own. I just did the 20th anniversary with the National Symphony Orchestra five years ago and, the next thing you know, five years go by and it’s a calendar that I didn’t ask for showing me how fast time moves.”
Nas also noted he performed another National Symphony Orchestra show this year to again commemorate Illmatic. While he’s appreciative his seminal album means so much to so many people, he has no plans to continue celebrating it.
“Twenty-five years is a lifetime,” he continued. “So I did another Symphony Orchestra show for Illmatic this year; I got another plaque for it. I’m very grateful — it’s so crazy — but to celebrate one album when I’ve made over 10, all the things I’ve worked on — and I’ve been working for so long — to celebrate one album over all else is corny to me.
“I don’t want to celebrate another Illmatic anything. I’m done. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for appreciating that record, but it’s over.”
Nas’ latest album, The Lost Tapes 2, arrived in July.
Hes done with illmatic but comfortable making Nasir. People are just lining up to sell out as fast as they can.
Explain please
Gladly. Nas is an MC. For him to receive recognition for his greatest work should be an honor. However, hes so focused on being a venture capital bigwig that the focus on his musical genius is proving to be an impediment for his real objective, which is money. Think about it, it took him 6 years to drop an album, and that album was composed really with very quickly with no attention to quality. And then to make up for that he just releases a collection of old songs. Now to be clear I’m not against him making money, but for him to turn his back on his true gift makes him a sellout.
He didn’t even sell out on Nasir tho…
Exactly. He runs to Trump loving Kanye to make his album when our people hate Trump to the fullest. King HOV keeps it real and is more woke than kufi-wearing Nas for going against the system. Only ignorant and broke people will disagree on this. It’s the ROC in here!
Hes only done because he doesnt own the masters. Which means all this celebration is lin8ng someone else’s pockets.
100% on point.
Highly agree, Serchlight Publishing anyone? It’s the ROC in here!
Let’s celebrate Stillmatic now.
It’s a classic man. Do you know how many people wish they could make a classic album that stands the test of time??? Be grateful. I understand what you mean but…
I’m with him, folks don’t know how to look at the present. The record even sounds dated now. It’s old folks, appreciate the dude, he’s still bringing heat, just bring your brain up to date.
Dated my ass. It sounds as good now as it did then and makes most shit playing on the radio sound corny.
@James, to each his own opinion. That shit sounds dated to me. I’d still play it though. Just as well as Reasonable Doubt, by Jigga, the albums are Golden Era. Artists truly grow from the hood niggas they were when they brought these albums out. I think Nas has grown with the times. I have been critical of some of his albums since his 3rd, but I can still appreciate Nas’ currrent shit, it’s pretty dope to me, get out of the 90’s, he’s growing bruh, that’s what he’s trying to tell us.
The problem with Nas’ music collection is “one was ehhhh and the other was illmatic…” you all know the rest.
Real heads know that It Was Written wasn’t “ehh”…same with Stillmatic, God’s Son, Hip Hop Is Dead, Distant Relatives & Life Is Good
No lol. “Real heads” have tastes and opinions like anyone else. If being a great lyricist always to classic albums then every battle rapper would be in the top 10 rappers. Thats not the case though. Good albums aren’t just good lyrics or flow. Beats matter, song structure, chorus, flow, playback value, ect… REAL hiphop heads understand art is sunjective, and we all have different tastes.
That’s a moot point. No matter how subjective the art is, how many MCs can even say that they have an album on the same level as Illmatic? Not many.
That’s very true Will! Either way, Nas is top 10 talent wise as an Emcee all day! I’m not a big Nas fan, but I’d be a liar if I said he didn’t have such talent. Same goes for Eminem… Never been much of a fan, but I can’t deny his skills on the mic. Both are very talented in different ways.
“That’s a one hot album, every ten year average and that’s so….. (LAME!!!) Nigga switch up ya flow, ya shit is garbage/ What?, you tryna kick knowledge?/ Them niggas gone learn to respect the king/ Don’t be the next contestant on that Summer Jam screen/ Because you-know-who did you-know-what with you-know-who/ Let’s keep that between me and you for now/“
No, it didn’t “damn near” end Nas’ career, it ended it! Don’t be generous now. It’s the ROC in here!
How can a career be ended if a rapper drops 7 or 8 more albums?Just tryna understand that logic?? U can’t justify the statement ended career if my man dropped another 7 more albums…
Yes! Still holds true 18 years later. Takeover for the win! It’s the ROC in here!
It Was Written>Illmatic and it’s 8 songs (The Genesis Intro and the doo doo One time 4 your mind) don’t count
You know I’ve liked One Time 4 Your Mind either, always skipped that track
Never liked
One Time 4 Your Mind is great. Better than Halftime and Memory Lane.
You Are Seriously Trippin’ With That Statement…..
Hey Nas, can you also tell your fans that the beef between you and Hov, is dead. And that they don’t have to hate him lol. Most of them are still living off of said beef.
He’s already said it. Doesn’t even perform Ether. People are stupid though and won’t dead it
Blue Thought that comment was meant for the “Fuck Queensbridge” troll, not you.
Thank you! All these broke ass Nas fans always bring up King HOV talking shit when they stan their hero. You don’t see us bringing up that woman beater when we discuss all the immaculate business moves King HOV makes. Don’t hate, Nas stans, that’s a female trait. It’s the ROC in here!
You sound more like a Jay-Z groupie than a fan LOL. Calm down lmao
So being a nas fan makes you broke and being a jay z fan makes you rich? I get that you’re living vicariously because of the inadequacies in your life but even then, this is outright delusion.
Get help I’m a huge Nas and Hov fan have been since I was in my teenager days but I won’t lie Ether was a brutal diss Takeover I enjoyed as well was shocked when Jay dissed Nas I was wtf lol.
You still mad at Nas getting in your boy Hov ass! Nas ethered his ass!!! Hahahahahaha
IWW is better. Yeah I said it…
AGREED!!!!
I thought I was the only one who thought this! And if we’re talking underrated Nas albums I always fucked with i Am
Hell yeah I played I am from beginning to end countless times
I can’t say IWW is better….Because to me DOPE IS DOPE (There is no better) but I definitely prefer IWW over illmatic.
Nas has so many great albums man. My favorite was Streets Disciple, which was probably his most slept on work. Can’t wait to see what he does next.
Sekou Story, Nazareth Savage, American Way, These Are Our Heroes, Reason, War, Streets Disciple, Disciple, Just A Moment With Quan Yeah Strong Album 2004 10th Grade Year….
Lets start appreciating Gods Son, that album is fire.
As cliche as it may sound, Made You Look still amps me up to this day. Salaam and Nas are a vicious duo…
For real album is a classic and Stillmatic
Nas has some dope albums to his name, though nothing touches Illmatic. But then, 99.9% of rappers never make anything half as good, so while I understand and respect Nas’ opinion, his debut will be talked about and referenced for another 25 years cos it’s that classic.
People have been programmed to believe illmatic was his best album because it was dope and it was his first album. Personally I prefer it was written.And most artists first albums are considered their best (Especially if it was dope) because it was the first album they gave to us. So that album will always be in people’s memories more.(Not for me ,I can think for myself)
Many albums to celebrate.
That’s the only album people know from you, nigga. Lol. Nobody talks about your other trash albums, they only talk about your overrated debut. King HOV has many classics to his name and doesn’t have to live with the stigma that his first album is his only good one. He’s the master of hip hop and has adapted to many changes over the years while broke ass Nas fell behind. Perhaps he can celebrate when he’s finally free from Kelis’ clutches on his wallet. Haha. It’s the ROC in here!
This has to be the most corniest thing I’ve read all day lol
Ask Russell Simmons…
U should be thankin Nas and Queensbridge. Without them, Jay Z would never have crafted Dead Presidents. The whole single was based around Nas’ life in QB and that sample from Illmatci. Don’t be a sucka.
Jay z is a sellout in every way possible. He ripped off his business partners, sold out his wife and child by cheating, sold out his race by saying were done kneeling and sold out his craft with non stop garbage over the last ten years. Hes only on it for himself. You need to identify what it is within you that makes you want to worship someone so weak and fix it.
Last sentence some of the realest shit I’ve heard in a minute real spit man
Fuck Queensbridge, It’s IGNORANT niggas like you and another poster on this board, Your Mother’s pimp, that need to stay off rap message boards. Every time I come to a rap message board it’s inevitable that posters got to put up with stupid shits like you two. Nothing you two have said about Nas on this page or his career is relevant. Just shut up and let educated or intelligent hip hop fans discuss this Illmatic matter.
I forgot he even released something new this year. Love Nas, but his time as a rapper has passed. Keep making money in the business world.
Just because you have a garbage memory doesn’t mean he is finished.
Since when has a rapper that’s razor sharp with dope bars done?Remember nas is already cemented as a certified legend. So he got nothing to prove. When he make music it’s for the love of the art. Not because he needs rap money. Put some respect on nas name .Hip hop culture don’t need people like you.
Hey idiot That’s saying f**k Queensbridge, everybody knows Nas destroyed your butt boy Jay Z so bad That’s the word Ether has now become a VERB in the rap world (that means an action word dummy!)
So when somebody loses a battle or gets ripped the term is they got either that’s because Nas pimp slapped Jay in the battle of two all time greats.
Jay is a legend for sure his business acumen may have even passed his musical accomplishments, But that doesn’t change the fact that Nas got in dat azz!!
Sorry J I don’t know how many rap battles you‘ve won in your career but I darn sure know you lost one to Nas.
Because like the song says all he needed was One Mic!!!
Take Nas dick out your mouth.
I will as soon as Jay-Z gets his sac off your tonsils!
Dude you are part of the reason so much hate and ignorance still exists in the world every man woman and child deserves respect just cause you don’t agree with another man’s option doesn’t mean you have to agree cause you don’t but that doesn’t give you the right to insult that man cause he doesn’t feel or think like you do you need to grow up and be a solution instead of being part of the problem.
You should know, there’s a button to the bottom right of the comment that says “reply”. Use that to reply directly to that comment, else he’ll probably never see this. Copy your comment here, then paste it there, & afterwards delete this comment. Just trying to help.
That means he’s done accepting royalties and publishing then
Not his point?stop it bro ✋ he means giving him accolades even second an anniversary of the album comes up. Its understandable.
Right. Lol
First things first, how about you jump on the new Gangstarr record.
You know what’s corny Nas? Your beat selection.
100 percent truth
The dumb are mostly intrigued by the drum.
I can’t tell another man how he feels about something, but Nas please look at it like like this:
ILLMATIC wasn’t just a classic for hip hop, it was a part of people’s child/teenage/young adult life wherever you were on Earth at the time if you were in to hip hop music!
Music takes us back to a time in life, hopefully good memories, when you can close your eyes, bop your head and be like “that’s my ish”. In ‘94 when that album debuted I was in the 10th grade in South Sacramento!!! Enter the 36 Chambers, Midnight Marauders and Doggystyle debuted in the fall of ‘93 in September/November. Those three albums were getting me by then in April two days after my birthday ILLMATIC debuted. For me those four albums were THE cream of the crop, especially ILLMATIC! They all came out in my 10th grade year!!! ILLMATIC deserves to be celebrated for the work of art it creates and still resonates to this day!
That era was blessed and ILLMATIC was one of the reasons why!!!
I Thank you Nasir!
Not “white privilege” obviously, but what’s the slur for this type of privilege? Get over yourself. Really, you’re mad cuz people (who DO have their own opinions) like one album more than the others? There are plenty of reasons that may be the case, but you don’t care. You just think you know better than the consumer what they should like? Wow, don’t give this man another dime in royalties, i say. Watch him sue or cry…one way or another, he’d change his mind guaranteed.
Thank you ungrateful narcissist bastard!
His fans stay in denial. Only one hot album. That album cemented his fan base period. His other works are trash. If he was forbidden to pick his music, he would have dusted Illmatic. Even Kanye maintained Nas’s dull interests.
Saa, you know nothing about Nas’s genius and lyricism. Anybody who says Nas’s subsequent albums after Ilmatic are trash doesn’t deserve to be taken seriously. Even his lesser known or panned albums (by mainstream media) are quality albums.
I would take It Was Written (1996), I Am (1999), Nastradamus (1999), and Stillmatic (2001) over any rap album that is out today or that has been released since 2010. Nas’s catalog is fierce, educational, and wrapped in lyrical wizardry. One hot album, you’re hilarious ?and I mean that sarcastically.
Can’t forget God’s Son.
Man shattap lol
Really, so you are saying to us IT WAS Written was not a hot album, God’s:Son, Life is Good, Really… You have no love for hip young kid!
Saa u fucking Idiot u Kno nothing about real lyrics u probably in love with bum ass rappers like future,rat ass 69 ..to say Nas is trash u need your ass beat !!!
Nas worst album BETTER than 97% of albums from new rappers. So how can any nas album be considered trash?You use the term trash too loodely.You need to learn the REAL definition of trash
*Loosely
Your comment only proves that you can’t be taken SERIOUSLY in any hip hop debate. Pick any track or album that you consider trash and you’ll discover that he’s still spitting dope bars on those tracks and any nas album you consider trash you’ll find dope tracks that still sound dope to this day. So what more you expect?
Nas is dope but people need to stop acting like thats his only good work. I would be pissed to if all people talked to me about was an album I did as a kid. Yes it was a great album, but move on sheesh
think about it what if jay-z was only asked about reasonable doubt, dr dre about the chronic, or snoop about doggystyle
None of those measure up to Illmatic record. That album is the gift and curse of Nas. So well written!!! Arguable the best Rap Album Ever!
U for real… Best thing Jay-Z did was The Blueprint, Dre’s features made his 2 albums so I can’t put him in the same category and Snoop did not release anything even average after Doggystyle.
Nas has other career highlights to be asked about though. See: Ether, Belly, One Mic, Made you Look, beef with 50 Cent, etc.
Snoop has more career highlights because he became a pop culture icon outside of music. Dre generally is most revered for the Chronic the same way as Nas with Illmatic, buy he also kinda pioneered the whole gangster rap genre with NWA and discovered the highest selling rapper ever.
It Was Written is better than illmatic! Yeah, I said it! illmatic has that Raw vybe that can never be matched but he took it to a whole nother level with his writing on It Was Written. I Gave You Power is still one of the illest concepts and verses ever written in Hip Hop! That whole album was crazy! I feel him though (pause)! It’s disrespectful to his other albums to just celebrate just that one.
Illmatic was Hopper tutorial…for most of the cats in my era. Nas was born 1973 . we broke barriers the 72 thru 75 babys. Illmatic is a prime example of it.
Totally agree. It was written was a masterpiece
Yes it was Written was a masterpiece, I heard it was written before illmatic, it was written and reasonable doubt were my first two cds I was young great times
I always said “It Was Written” and “I Am” where better albums than Ilmatic.
No disrespect….Illmatic is Hip hop gem. It was Written is the album that elevated Nas as a top tier Hip hop Icon.
The Feed is people that Nas is just tired of the requests. But will turn down a lot of money if he does…just another day, a young guy in my neighborhood was paying Illmatic on his motorcycle heading off in the sunset. Simply amazing, that album is older than him.Think people! That album is older than this young man and drives around with his boys listening to Illmatic. They all bob the head! 2019 crazy! Nas cannot get away from his excellent effort of Illmatic. Hip hoppers just feen off that record. I understand it when you have something perfect and no one wants to let it go. It is like talking to a childhood friend. Constantly want to remember what they did in the past. I feel you Nas. You are the GOAT brother! No album even came close to teens across the world that is why! Every record pure fire! The realness was captivated so many young thugs. Ask yourself though… Who wants to hear the entire record the Chronic, Or Reasonable Doubt or the other so call greatest albums. Zero, that is how big your story with Illmatic! You just made a perfect hip hop album that everyone remembers and will never be duplicated in Hip Hop ever. They did tried with Kendrick Lamar. Well who talks about that album these days. Illmatic we still do! Crazy, I know! Pure Art, pure art!
Lol, stop the bullshit. You didn’t see anybody riding into the sunset playing Illmatic. You probably heard “Dead Presidents” and thought it was “The World Is Yours”. King HOV made it a hot song. You’re just delusional, I get it. It’s the ROC in here!
Damn you were able to write while having HOV’s dick in your mouth….impressive
lol stop trolling, and get jay’s nuts out of your mouth!
Stillmatic is a classic he embarrassed Jay with that and the song’s on that were untouchable
Imagine being an artist with multiple projects and only one that pre-dates the rest only gets attention. That era is over. He has progressed and so has his sound. I get it.
That’s the problem with the word “progression”. It doesn’t mean better, as many imply. Progression is supposed to be progress, but let’s be truthful, Illmatic is his best overall work, hands down.
R.I.P. Illmatic then… Phenomenal record, but let’s talk about how amazing I am……, Stillmatic, God’s Son and Hip Hop is Dead are.
I’ve always said that I am is one of his most underrated albums. That album was was solid from front to back.
Let’s celebrate it was Written now.
One was “nah,” the other was Illmatic That’s a one-hot-album-every-10-year average And that’s so (lame) – Jay Hova
All his other albums suck tho ..
his 2nd best work is GODSON to me. I listen to that all the time. and Life is Good holds up excellent over time and I believe to be in his top 5.
I think he just does interviews with clickbait suckas who don’t know what to ask oreven take the time to digest his catalog b4 speaking with him. Because how can you still even ask about this after all the info has been out there about the making of.. production…
His problem is the elephant in the room…production. Lyrics are always waaayyy above birdy level.
Exactly, you can’t fuck with the production on that album! Nas knows that who the fuck he kiddin”. Primo, Pete Rock, Qtip, n Large Pro with a budget to clear samples! its lights out. Nobody wants to spend money on joints anymore because of how music is sold or streamed now. So for everybody who never supported, this is how we got to where we are today.