BET Talks Presents: It Ain't Hard To Tell - The Illmatic Legacy | BET Talks

Many albums are considered but there's only one Illmatic. #BET #BETTalks #HipHop #Illmatic #Nas
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[@Don.M.]

The GOAT album from the greatest MC!

[@gabrielmucavele6598]

Minor correction... greatest Mc ever a.k.a God Mc

[@Phillybloodline]

Absolutely

[@RAakaCHI-191]

Ice Cube said to NaS on his 'The Bridge' podcast, "Back then we were doing our penmanship, then you came and put it in Cursive". Highest compliments from 1 of Hip-Hop Greats! Illmatic is like New Testament to Catholics, it is like BC & AD, Before Illmatic and after Illmatic! Facts!

[@sjb3240]

Like saying NWA album dropped on 8/8/1988 (it didn't), he was wrong again. Rakim was the first and changed the way people flowed. Nas built upon that and held it down with crazy longevity.

[@peterkombe429]

I appreciate how Nas is remembered while he is still with us.

[@leonorancube9854]

I seen the whole picture of growing up in NYC USA from listening to Nas and I'm from Zimbabwe never been to the States but his music took me there walked me through the streets of Queens

[@adeakin3758]

Deep

[@Blaq_don]

Wapedza wangu, Nas is the GOAT period... it's not even close

[@keemdarius9084]

I'm from Uganda, I've listened to nas since 1998. Before the internet, I didn't get to listen or watch him without tv. His music has been a great teacher and positive influence in my life.

[@ideac.]

its nice to see how huge hiphop culture is in africa too, im glad that other continents and coutries can relate to some crazy life situations man

[@Mongerhyung_com]

Zimboys tiripo sikhona laaa hoyooo Nas my favourite rapper for real

[@echad6259]

Yup. Nas is special.

[@legacyns1]

deep like the shining, sparkle like a diamond sneak a uzi on the island in my army jacket lining hit the earth like a comet invasion Nas is like the afrocentric asian, half man half amazing..🔥🔥🔥

[@jimmybenyoucef4416]

Illmatic should be in a museum. Pure goated!. Legendary Nas 4eva♥️🙏

[@RAakaCHI-191]

It's also studied at Harvard University.

[@ltod2]

Jimmy I think the National Hip Hop Museum in DC has it,go see .The Hip Hop Muesum in Bronx NYC next year when built will have it no question

[@Justice777Allah]

True. Well it's in the Library of Congress, pretty cool.

[@tartan360]

Illmatic the greatest hiphop album of all time

[@jessewilliams7517]

The fact he dissed Mobb Deep & Cormega on “Stillmatic” yet years later they still willing to vouch for this masterpiece PROVES how masterful NAS is as an artist!

[@rellj8611]

Illmatic deserves a Pulitzer award.

[@scaryhenski]

This album will never die you can’t call yourself a Real Hip Hop head if you don’t know Illmatic.

[@KashRulez77]

💯💯💯

[@gregpuryear8163]

The legendary illmatic album speaks for itself

[@tbohfela]

The greatest album from the greatest rapper.

[@lifeisagambletv]

I remember riding the A train to Euclid Ave to see my grandmoms in cypress and I first heard live at the BBQ... I said to myself "this is real rapping..." when illmatic dropped it was my daily life soundtrack while riding the train to school...being from Brooklyn and at that time having a queens mc as your favorite rapper I got into a lot of arguments... "who's the best mc biggie jay z or nas..." illmatic represent... "my mic check is life or death/breathin a snipers breath..." - Nas

[@Fashionhustler]

East NY ! 💪🏽 Cypress Hills

[@lifeisagambletv]

@@Fashionhustler salute!

[@chaosinorderrr]

Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor is also up there as a modern day classic

[@carlostharealest5637]

Congratulations to the 🐐 For 30 yrs of this historic album Continue to flex your muscle on the culture ❤🍾💪🏿

[@lamarsmith9532]

I’m not the type to look for that quick shine I’m in it for the long run! You most def are my brother still🔥🔥🔥 in 24🐐💐💐💐

[@RAakaCHI-191]

Going on 30 Summers! GOAT 🐐 MC!

[@brianbelton7075]

Facts!!!

[@cm88__ny]

I just watched Nas perform Illmatic in Belgium tonight. Flew there from NY. Nas is one of the most influential artists of my time. So glad I got to witness him. Now, here I am in bed going down an entire Nas rabbit hole. 😂

[@johnwebb2442]

Happy 30th Anniversary for the Hip Hop/Rap classic album Illmatic.

[@RAakaCHI-191]

"Biggie's Ready to Die album came out several months after Illmatic, and Biggie was crowned king of New York in the popular culture of Hip Hop heads, Ready to Die unfairly over-shadowed Illmatic, which is truly a classic album. Though they were quite distinct artists, they innovated in analogous ways. Biggie merged language that was high and low, vernacular and vocabulary words, in a way that sounded natural. He did this with a sophisticated understanding of the patterns of black language. When a different or unusual word or phrase could be introduced while still maintaining the aesthetics of black language, he inserted it. NaS, in contrast, merged concepts that were high and low, vernacular and metaphysical, in a manner that was whole rather than pieced together, thus presenting a complex that is unusual in any music outside of jazz. What Biggie started to do with language in 1994, NaS had already begun to do with ideas on Illmatic. He carries us through the "Righteous steps" of the cosmic, oceanic, and literal dimensions of his person. He transcends." - Imany Perry (Born To Use Mics)

[@casteltheghettomonk4392]

Don't ever disrespect Nas or put him in the same sentence as Notorious STD, fakest ever biter nothing special no original, all fake . They ovwrhyped him after the beef and death x5

[@syncerecredentials]

Nas needs a museum like jayz had. Each album was a staple in time!

[@SixthDivison]

Jay Z has a museum?

[@syncerecredentials]

@SixthDivison idk if it was permanent it may have been a pop up but yes he did a museum for all his albums and achievements a year ago in the Brooklyn library.

[@Monolo-wc5jo]

We know who you talking about bro, that one guy named Jay Z switched his style up after illmatic dropped. Nas raised the bar definitely with that

[@Advaitamanta]

I bump Illmatic songs daily over here in the upper Indian Himalayas.

[@hayden.43167]

Illmatic is hands down the best album to ever come out

[@cyrilxolani8097]

Stillmatic 🔥🔥 changed my life for real

[@worlds_1st_ortegz]

Greatest Albums of all Times, Golden Era 1979-2005: 1. Big Pun - Capital Punishment 2. Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol 1 & 2 3. Kid Frost - Hispanic causing Panic 4. Cuban Link - Chain Reaction 5. Fat Joe - Don Cartagena 6. Eminem - Slim Shady 7. B-Real - Black Sunday 8. Nas - Illmatic 9. Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt 10. Rakim - Paid in Full

[@fabianjon698]

This album created many young critical thinkers 💯

[@nicest2159]

Illmatic change the way how I listen to hip hop and I was listening to hip-hop way before illmatic came out point blank 🤔 illmatic got me through a lot of dark times in my younger years

[@dreday99]

This gave me chills

[@bcr1103]

Nas is the most revered rapper of all time and rightly so 🙌

[@church_on_chrome2961]

And to think he has a symphonic version of this w the National Symphony Orchestra, celebrating the 20th Anniversary.

[@steeltown2946]

Illmatic is a timeless 💎 everything about that era from the music videos to the music itself is the definition of Hip Hop. In it's purest format. That album got me threw middle school & high school. And as a adult, still continue to listen till this day. I never get tired of the songs.

[@rayzrealm]

*This piece was enthralling.*

[@grinchoi1]

1. I grew up hearing It Was Written 1st. But when I went back n listened to Illmatic my mind was blown from Nas just turning on a switch when the beat drop with "rappers I monkey flip 'em with the funky rhythm..." 2. For me Pac will always be the greatest. But Nas is easily next for me, hands down the greatest storyteller in history of hip hop and Illmatic is the greatest hip hop album for me.. 3. If you haven't already listen to the original version of Memory Lane. That Primo beat is sooo tough! I wish they kept that version on the album!

[@basementvybz309]

Takes you back to that time. For me that’s when you know something is special. I haven’t seen another MC to come out the gate like this.

[@Eastpointe]

Nas’s Illmatic is thee timeless “Thriller” album masterpiece of Hip-Hop, hands up and down!❤

[@DJObiSmalls]

That’s cool… cause Off The Wall = Ready To Die

[@jonathancoleman6482]

Bet finally showing nas love

[@4u4000]

That’s a first right. Shoutout to Ralph. Also Bangladesh speaking facts 💯

[@victorosong]

He won a Grammy

[@lorenzoburton3974]

Nas finally getting good press.

[@ltod2]

Nas been getting good press since he did guest verse 30 on back to the grill again on mc search joint,then the hype for his debut album was serious

[@damuri22]

Nas took over 1994

[@MedranoHijo]

Every real Nas fan knows Nastradamus had no good press. And The Ngga Album had mixed reviews. So yeah, he's been there but walks through it like a wall. 😂

[@cron9756]

@@MedranoHijo we do not talk about nastradamus here sir.

[@MedranoHijo]

@@cron9756 Why not?

[@Victorylap2024]

I was born in 91, this is my fav hip hop album

[@tonydynamite3748]

This albums raised me a lil nicca from africa/ ethiopia! I was hooked! I used to write the lyrics while listeing to it. Nas is a modern day Picasso!

[@realdeal139]

The Goat!!

[@NandoGriffiths]

Uncle Ralph 🔥🔥🔥

[@justincasano1041]

It's still the measurement that every album released since is measured against. You know how many times I've seen a publication say "will this be the next Illmatic" Put it this way, BIG L and Biggie both released albums in that same timeframe and they were dope but Illmatic was so ahead that it devalued everything around it. People literally scraped projects and ideas after it's release. I remember Biggie won album of the year at the source awards and said Nas absolutely deserved it afterwards. Just to think he didn't win a Grammy for that lol. It was written is my favorite album due to its range and versatility, but Illmatic is the greatest ever recorded

[@isaacfrimpongopuni7754]

The Greatest, EVER!! ❤

[@hotchocolategirl1der]

I'm still playing Illmatic. It's my #1 fav album across all genres. And shout out to Ralph McDaniels! He curated my childhood every day after school.

[@MrB831]

Nas you are the greatest! All of QB rappers are prolific!

[@leightonsavary7607]

Dope words for a magnum opus hip hop album 🔥👌🏽

[@ducatarina]

Nas can be the GOAT

[@Ant-Live]

THE BEST TO EVER DO IT‼️✌🏿👊🏿

[@jamesosei6888]

Illmatic will forever be the greatest Hip-hop album ever and Nas is the GOAT Mc!

[@LilbiitZaddy]

GOATED

[@KoketsoMakgoba]

Nas is the Great! No MC can say they dont like Nas without hating

[@NerdyRed23]

Illmatic by Nas is still a golden classic and relevant to this day masterpiece

[@TheRealYZY]

One of the most respectable albums of all time.

[@yourfriendlyneighbourhoodvue]

I first heard Illmatic when I was 5 years old back in 04', I lived in Montréal, Canada at the time. Listened to it again back when I was 14 years old when I lived in Toronto. I’ve never been to New York yet Illmatic made me feel like I’m from there, it was as if the TTC turned into the New York Subway System once I put on Illmatic while going to school and it felt like Jane and Finch was turned into Queensbridge. Now I’m 25 years old, that album is still in my top 5 probably behind "The Gentle Side of John Coltrane"; Miles Davis’ "Kind of Blue"; Marvin Gaye’s "Romantically Yours"; "Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane" by Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane and then Illmatic

[@In4mous1]

This should’ve been a entire documentary

[@TheKhadimnet]

GOAT N@S, and even more when you hear his peer giving him credit

[@kingmuatchiofficial]

The GOAT 🐐🐐🐐🔥🔥🔥✊🏿

[@happygolucky7241]

TIMELESS RECORD ❤️‍🔥 💯 💿

[@supaman5363]

THE GOAT.

[@Aprylbaby]

I named my son Nasir❤

[@jermaineyoung3193]

B.E.T should give Nas the I Am Hip-Hop Award this year, it's long overdue.

[@Dabridge4009]

All of his awards are long overdue....30 years over due

[@KgaugeloMagolego]

From South Africa 🇿🇦 Nas Ilmatic is a classic. Represent/ The world is yours 🤯

[@sinceretv7819]

Nas is Something crazy for real

[@dre7580]

🐐 🐐 🐐 👑 👑 👑

[@cyrilxolani8097]

Greatest MC ever

[@derrickpowell6247]

Nas is a beast!!! For him to had been so young and flowing lyrically with so much wisdom is phenomenal! 😮

[@hydro8sixty]

Nas music would send me on a journey to research the subject of his lyrics

[@chrisventura1881]

Its #1 in my book as well. Timeless.🙌🏽

[@Dabridge4009]

The greatest of the greats..period...it's not even close

[@williesween8780]

I’d put Illmatic behind paid n full and ready to die, but it is in the top 5 greatest hip hop albums of all times, which still says a lot.

[@ShawnWhiteMusic]

Classic!!🔥

[@CrizzNandez]

That kid from queensbridge has come a long way … 30 years later he’s GOAT status !!

[@powderedtoastfacekillah734]

I still remember the 1st time I saw the video for “I Ain’t Hard to Tell” He was rocking the red jacket and skull cap with the brim against the white snow. That’s been emblazoned in my memory since the 90s

[@MacavelliWilliams-lr2nf]

Goat 🐐 I'm Nas Fam From Florida The Man Storytelling Is Unmatched

[@Bertwynder]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@undertakerfanz628]

Ralph McDaniels was the man

[@kincamell2]

Timeless

[@moffatchirwa166]

"Pac was Like Jesus, Nas wrote the Bible."

[@d_vyneblackkrown1201]

WOOOOOOW . and Bone Thug and Harmony were the disciples.

[@UNDGT]

This is 🔥 both of yall

[@charlesmwanza8649]

Wow

[@anthonyanderson9303]

Yall don't know that quote?

[@iceiceiceification]

J.Cole - let nas down

[@baṭo_saṅsārin]

Nas 👑🗽🦁😇 G.O.A.T.

[@JA-mj9re]

Nas is the greatest to ever touch the mic untouchable. The goat 🐐🐐

[@keemdarius9084]

Everthing you do, be righteous..word

[@selftalkwithsal4229]

NAS IS THE GOD OF HIP HOP!

[@rawmic7]

The most dangerous MC💯

[@KEITHBANGOLA]

Nas is Hip Hop ❤

[@ramadhankabotta488]

Illimatic

[@DippedInInk]

No disrespect but yall love illmatic but IWW was God level storytelling coming from a young black man in the projects.

[@BusyB1993]

Agreed.

[@stephenoni2019]

Nas is the greatest! There is no argument. It's not about nostalgia; this man is the King of Rap

[@EmakhosiniSiyakhuleka]

DOPE 🔥

[@binyamtsegaye5139]

Nas is the 🐐 not even close

[@iraford5788]

Agreed

[@marlonstewart7918]

🤔

[@MedranoHijo]

​@@marlonstewart7918 He put out more music now than any posthumous rapper. The longevity is too unmatched. And I get the feeling Nas is going to be the key elder to pass on certain wisdom, while many begin to fade and perish. I'm tryna tell you.

[@Iamraretalent]

Couldn’t have said it better myself ✊🏾 🐐

[@uriellevelupriley684]

This is really Great 🌟💯🌟 Nas the🐐 of rap. He dropped *Illmatic* right when I just lost my friend *Eltramaine Sanders* from a cop Amico and L.T was only 14. We marched the streets. Then I heard Illmatic 1994 summer was too hot 🔥. R.I.P L.T we still here✨🙏🏾❣️ 5:53

[@dymegee]

4:15 Destiny wouldn't let daddy focus on the interview. 😂 She a grown woman now.

[@betterdayz2003]

Nas, too real... Nas, true king...

[@TheJournies_Of_An_OG]

I was just listening to the 20th anniversary, Live At The Kennedy Center, accompanied by the National Symphony Orchestra earlier today…

[@jasondejesus9770]

Facts!!!

[@ROTECO94]

There can only be one king 👑 and the Name is Nas 🫡🫶🏾🙏🏿 People just don’t understand how illmatic changed the game i was a teenager in 1994 in Ghana 🇬🇭 west Africa in college in Accra listening to Nas songs. Fast forward i came to Copenhagen Denmark 🇩🇰 1998 and I’ve been to Nas concert 🎵 3 times and it’s just mind blowing 🤯 to see this incredible icon of hip hop. I’m still going to watch 30 anniversary concerts 25 October in Copenhagen 😂 Good music never dies

[@TG-nh9jx]

Can’t believe people debate Jay Z or Nas. It’s not even close. Nas is the best to ever do it.

[@Thun23rd]

no filter from the mind to the mouth👑

[@joenatani352]

"No filter between my brain and my mouth It just comes out"