How 'ILLMATIC' Changed Hip-Hop FOREVER

[@Goldenera95]

1994 in Brooklyn was very Gloomy and Crime Filled. Teenagers ran wild on the streets and had grown Men Afraid. Shootings and Face Cuttings was a Regular thing. Stretch & Bobbito radio station was the only station that mattered. Snoop dogg "Doggy Style" Album was everywhere, Wu Tang " Method Man" song /Single was Making super noise. Then Nas Dropped Illmatic on April 19th and everything changed. Rappers were rapping fast and sounding real Goofy at that time with no real Bars ( Jayz and a few others ), Thats the truth, The past is the proof and can't be changed despite alot of people wanting it to. Nas god like rhymes, music concepts, and beats was Next Level in every way imaginable. Illmatic has aged in a wonderful way. . It can not be compared to any other rap album because what Nas offered on that album was the 1st of its kind.

[@Smokeynephewabk]

wtf do nas got to do wit Brooklyn jack ass

[@TheFinancialFrank]

@Goldenera95 Couldn't have said it better myself. Nas was just that dude.

[@LIVEinClownWorld]

@Goldenera95 Brooklyn "used to be..." isn't it still gloomy and crime filled? Didn't that city get affected by the border crisis?

[@WavieCrockett-27]

It Was Written 😂😂😂

[@-CelShader-]

@@LIVEinClownWorldBrooklyn is gentrified and safe, now. Super low crime and no blight.

[@dwightlewis1172]

I was 22 years old, buying old albums and equipment, doing our best to emulate our heroes. Me & my crew didn’t utter one word the entire album and looked at each other in disbelief and ran it back 💪🏽🔥🥁

[@alexandren5131]

The people that put this record together were able to perfectly encapsulate the time and vibe. It's really is a masterpiece, and for someone's debut, it's an epic accomplishment. I still jam this one regularly, I had to buy it a couple times because I had worn it out! Lol peace & one love

[@IDoubleJ]

Illmatic is like The Godfather Part I. It's a highly respected and deeply beloved body of art

[@respectlife216]

Very true but godfather part 2 is equal

[@IDoubleJ]

@respectlife216 Oh absolutely. In fact Illmatic and It Was Written are like Godfather Part I and II for me. Both are excellent for different reasons.

[@MLawrence-z9k]

​@@IDoubleJ Illmatic is basically the greatest day time NY album It Was Written is basically the greatest night time NY album

[@hlahla9479]

This much is true 💎

[@KINGMONKEY1989]

Still played religiously to this day in my household. This album is the definition of hip hop to me. Nas and Illmatic are perfect in every way when it comes to the rap game.

[@noiseannoys_]

If you weren’t around in the 90’s to experience the music no matter the genre you won’t understand how amazing that decade was. Dr Dre changed rap/hip hop with The Chronic, Nirvana with Nevermind changed rock and Boyz II Men with CooleyHighHarmony changed R&B. Those 3 albums kicked off the 90’s being released in 91/92. So for the next 8-9 years you had artists working their asses off trying to compete with those so you had tons of great records coming out every year.

[@Marvin-ut4xs]

The 90s remind me of the 80s so much. Music changed so fast, meaning what was hot one yr wasn't necessarily the sound in the next yr or 2 or it was just obselete .

[@b9479]

​@@Marvin-ut4xswhen 94 came, it was like a whole new decade and all the great rappers from the previous era became irrelevant. Wu Tang, Snoop, outkast, biggie, Nas came in like a massive flood and washed everyone out of the way

[@Marvin-ut4xs]

@@b9479 u ain't lieing lol

[@KFresh1026]

Nas was a Blessed story teller. He gave memories in lyrics that were relatable for lots of people. I was a 84 baby had older brothers that enjoyed lyrical story and enjoyed a artist in the prime and evolved with the times steady keeping the tempo thats kept him with the sound he grew. so nice to see music evolve and become more then i would of ever guess as a small child💕 Such a Blessed time 💜

[@cwrichardson3]

He still is a blessed storyteller

[@delbertprince5302]

My favorite songs are “Memory Lane” and “New York State of Mind “. “ It ain’t hard to tell” is classic.…..

[@AB3L30NE]

Those 3 songs are my 3 favorites off of the album even though every single song is on the same level of perfection

[@IDoubleJ]

My favorite album and the greatest album of all time. Illmatic, Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers, and Me Against the World my 3 favorite albums.

[@123theprodigy5]

Man, I clicked right away as soon as I saw the notification. ha ha I’ve been waiting for this one.

[@LIVEinClownWorld]

Great video! I just recently picked up the 20th anniversary CD. This album is definitely in my Top 5 all time

[@cjjones258]

Absolute classic! My personal favorite 90' hip-hop album. I was lucky to find a fresh German imported copy on wax for $10🎤

[@rvght_]

finally the long awaited video has come

[@IDoubleJ]

Nas is my favorite writer and rapper. Nas is the greatest of all time. Nas, 2Pac, Ghostface Killah, Jay-Z, Kendrick my top 5.

[@MrCalverino]

NAS & PAC 4 EVER!!! I was late jammin this album but better late than never...

[@respectlife216]

Exactly, nobody touches those two

[@camronshean1758]

19:03 Eminem also lost his notebook of rhymes. On November 1 2000 MTV News reported that Eminem had lost a notebook that contains the lyrics to the then upcoming album with his group D12, and that Eminem was offering a cash reward or a chance to meet him in exchange for it's return. According to Eminem's spokesperson, Dennis Dennehy, the songs weren't recorded yet. According to a statement from his label, Interscope, Eminem last saw the spiral notebook on Friday October 27 during a Delta Air Lines flight from Cincinnati to New Orleans and the notebook sports a picture of Britney Spears on it's cover.

[@willsalter8113]

94 was a dope and tragic year. I personally was 11 at the time and experienced a lot that year. I played little league baseball and buried childhood friends in the same year. I’m from the same neighborhood as Yummy Sandifer (R.I.P) and I saw a lot. We were forced to grow up faster than we wanted because we had no choice. Drugs and gangs changed our everyday existence but through it all we still had good times. We danced, we laughed and those of us who made it through forged life long bonds. Music was so pivotal because back then it meant more to us. You had to actually go into a store and purchase it. So you felt a connection with the artist who you listened to because their music had to make you wanna spend money with them. Nas was and is still special because of the way he could take you into his world with his words and his flows. I’m from Chicago and I identified with how he expressed his world view because even then it so feel to me. When he rhymed about IllWill (R.I.P) I saw my cousin Mario (R.I.P). Nas made you see the beauty and feel the pain all at once. Nas has been and Will always be my favorite. Thank you for this video because to take that trip down Memory Lane meant a lot.

[@tutistic7743]

Thank you so much for delivering this video! Been waiting for it for a long time 💪🏽💯

[@suavobaby90]

Excellent effort with this masterpiece my guy 💯

[@blankchannel7656]

Unpopular Opinion: Memory Lane is the best song on Illmatic

[@EffortlessEffervescence]

Fair enough

[@PapaJRuiz]

Incredible video big dawg. This album was life changing.

[@dboygreenz]

Crazy, I can't believe all those timeless albums came out that year

[@MerajTypeBeat]

Love your videos bro. Keep it up!

[@manwiththeplan4130]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Love this album had a copy on vinyl. Hearing the back story and process of making the album just makes me love it even more

[@paucabezas1698]

i been praying for you to make a video on illmatic since i first met your channel, clout. I havent seen the video yet but i already hit the like button. Keep making this stuff man i really like your content youre one of the best yt channels on hiphop for real. 1L

[@paucabezas1698]

man great video i had a great time

[@Marvin-ut4xs]

I was 19 when illmatic came out & in the army in Seoul , Korea. I'm from Louisiana originally. East coast got their shine back around that time. Illmatic/purple tape etc; it's like them young dudes studied Rakim/g rap/krs/chuck even Scarface & put all that stuff they grew up on in a blender/mixed it up & took it to the next level. NY need another movement like that.

[@trevorjames4619]

Nas look like Guru rockin’ the white hat wit’ the glasses. Some things. Nas is originally from Brooklyn. Nas did lose his rhyme book for illmatic, which would’ve had different lyrics had he had it, but he eventually got it back because, according to his brother, wrote his address on his rhyme books, and someone mailed it back to him. The little girl big Lez is holding is his daughter. The very first time anyone ever seen Nas, if you watch the main source video for just hanging out, when the camera is going thru the crowd in the beginning, on the right, you will see a young Nas. It cannot, it will not be stated enough how impactful this album was. It encapsulated what the early 90’s in the projects were like. A time in and of itself that harbored a kind of energy that words will never be able to describe.

[@Dee-7414]

In 94 a lot of us from Chicago, and all of Illinois consider 1994 to be the tragic year, A lot of people died, a lot of people got locked up. A lot of people got lost, horrible and 94 men if you were there.

[@m.e.5482]

Indeed.

[@Dee-7414]

@@m.e.5482 It's nothing to brag about. It's just what we took our lessons out of.

[@m.e.5482]

@@Dee-7414 I didnt take it as U braggin or I woulda called it out fam. I'm was growin up in terror town at this time

[@Dee-7414]

@@m.e.5482 It's not bragging, It's not nothing, is just, This is what happened, It's not just some Rap, HIP-HOP, GANGBANGIN sh!t. Sh!t goes deep a lot of people were affected stay up.

[@m.e.5482]

@@Dee-7414 like I said b4. Now U soundin like a goof troop honestly. This ain't even chicago shit n U actin xxtra. No1 cares fam. U must be stuck in place or sumthin. Life Goes On n U havent

[@DedraFabreTravelingChronicles]

Thank you! I am going to see Nas in LV next year, and I wanted to learn more about the history of Illmatic.

[@staygold15]

This is the Bible of Hip Hop

[@EffortlessEffervescence]

Ppl dont understand how successful that album truly was at the time. Illmatic was a victim of its own success because everybody I know had the bootleg before the album. It could've went platinum in the NYC area alone if we counting the sheer number of ppl dubbing and bootlegging the album

[@earlmcwilliams822]

Yooo! This album was so instrumental in my journey to young adulthood. In 94 I was a sophomore in high school and my cool older female friend took me to buy the cassette from Sam Goody. We ironically also got married in 2001 and are still together and love reminiscing about that time she took me to buy Nas’ album. I just remember having my cassette player and listening to both sides and just staring and the cassette player and reading the credits. Man what a time to be alive.

[@BLACKZEUS24]

In 1994, when Illmatic released.......I was 1 years old 😅😅😅 I can't remember that date man but the album has many classics I still bump to this moment in time

[@zev847]

i love listening to Memory Lane when walking to my old primary skl, the nostalgic euphoria the song give u is amazing

[@johnjohnson8030]

Nas One of my favorite artist ever Classic Album one of the best albums ever any genre Dope video keep showing us these stories behind the classic albums 💯!!!

[@CivilianRick]

If Kurt woulda waited 2 weeks we still prolly woulda had bro around

[@BklynZu]

Check it Brooklyn 1994 grimy crime ridden streets with fly teenagers smoking Beedies drinking 40z rockin' Lo Wear Karl Kani Guest and Jansport bookbags cutting class going down to Flatbush to all the dope hooky parties not only playing rap but also playing reggae fusion tracks of Supercat & Mad Lion joints then one day on Video Music Box a mini documentary about this young cat named Nasty Nas The illmatic Emcee that did a guest appearance on The Main Source track" Live At The BBQ" saying some of the wildest sh!t was every recorded was dropping his debut with " HalfTime" that we first heard in '92 the streets of NYC couldn't wait for this album to drop

[@aldali724]

ONE TIME FA YA MIND ONE TIME

[@Dmaj089]

Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt are the greatest albums in rap respectively. GKMC too. Street poetry. Hustler poetry. Life poetry.

[@oophorror2251]

Reasonable Doubt wouldn’t exist without Illmatic. It’s 🗑️.

[@Dmaj089]

@@oophorror2251 Illmatic wouldn't exist without Rakim or Big daddy Kane now would it? Reasonable Doubt is a classic stop being a hater.

[@delbertprince5302]

DJ Premier and Large Professor did a great job with different songs on that “Illmatic “ album.

[@delbertprince5302]

Nas is a goat

[@trappedresults]

Hey clout Cancun I’m always on the look out for your next video. I’ve been wondering if you will ever do a Flatbush Zombies video. Are you interested in making one? The fans on both sides would love it I think. 🙏🏽

[@charlita25]

Thanks for this trios down memory lane

[@Soldierboy39]

I remember being 11 years old at the time this came out and I was heavy into West Coast rap at the time. Ice Cube, Snoop, Dre, etc...but when Illmatic came out I listened to it and honestly, at that age I couldn't understand why the older teens I knew couldn't stop talking about this album. Took me a few more years of growing up and listening to it again to realize what rare jewel this album is to music!!

[@KiNGRaZoR316]

Illmatic was my freshman and sophomore years of HS. Such a huge turning point in Hip Hop: 1994 Before Illmatic and 1994 After Illmatic.

[@shemereali551]

Voted da Greatest Album ever made Nasir Timeless

[@markbrooker3729]

When I heard Halftime, I was forever hooked

[@hugheswhiteman1674]

Top 5 hip hop album

[@icecreambeats101]

0:22 that started the reign of Robert Horry. He got those 7 rings 😊. He got more rings that Michaelquisha Jordantravious

[@MrCalverino]

I live in Houston and I was 10yrs old summer 94' that was an amazing time in the city!!!

[@icecreambeats101]

@@MrCalverino if Jordan hadn’t retired he probably would’ve won from 91 all the way to 98 but win Robert Horry won his 7th ring that was amazing. He won it with the spurs and I was shouting yes!!!!! He got his 7th ring. If Dennis Rodman would’ve started with the lakers from 99 to 2001 with Kobe he would’ve had 8 rings total instead of 5.

[@MrCalverino]

@@icecreambeats101 the rockets were tough, phil Jackson even admitted that so we cant say 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@1beatsbytdot]

My favorite album of all time🔥 came out 2 years before I was born but by the time I was 8-9 I went back and instantly loved it. Makes me feel super nostalgic every listen. Life’s a bitch , Memory lane and halftime the best tracks to me

[@MGEULTIMAX519]

Anytime I talked about 90s Rap Nas is always added beside 2 Pac BIG Immoral Technique Made And at that time Puff Daddy

[@geofuego1]

July 30 1994 I was 11 years olds when I got to the United States 🇺🇸

[@TSiMan99]

“He wanted to have Jesus Christ in a headlock…” WHAT? I beg your fkn pardon?🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😭😭

[@MLawrence-z9k]

The only thing I'd change on this album is make "Represent" the final track instead of it being the 9th track but that's literally it!!!! The album is as perfect as it can get wether its the intro , the production , the tracklist , the tracklist order (except for switching the last two songs around) the artwork , the story telling!!!!!! It's definitely the greatest album as far as how everything perfectly fits together !!!! There's very few perfect albums so I'll just pick my top 10 perfect rap albums each album from a separate artist in no particular order that's pretty much perfect from beginning to end (lyrics , production , artwork , amount of hit tracks , tracklist) : The Chronic (Dr. Dre) 1992 Illmatic (NaS) 1994 E. 1999 Eternal (BTNH) 1995 All Eyez On Me (2pac) 1995 Picture This (Do Or Die) 1996 Life After Death (Notorious B.I.G.) 1997 Adrenaline Rush (Twista) 1997 Chapter 2 : World Domination (Three 6 Mafia) 1997 Marshall Mathers LP (Eminem) 2000 Good Kid mAAD City (Kendrick Lamar) 2012 Some of these artists have other perfect albums so im only choosing one from each separate artist 💯

[@life4ers]

slightly better...man the version of memory lane on the album is crazy good. For me, one of nas greatest songs.

[@FloridaGeorgia]

New York Hip Hop heads still had a sense of pride back in 1994, they (for the most part) weren't trying to sound like the West. West Coast G-Funk had pretty much taken over the nation in 1993. Some of the hottest producers in New York came together like the Avengers to bring the Hip Hop crown back home to New York on Illmatic. I loved the album. I preferred the NY rappers at that time because I felt the West was too too too gangsta🤣I could only listen to G Funk for but so long. NaS did his part, WuTang did their part, but it was B.I.G. who ultimately brought the Hip Hop crown back home to NY.

[@EffortlessEffervescence]

Yeah It went in waves... By 92/93, New Jack swing era was officially dead after Wreckx and Effect. Onyx came with a big splash. Black Moon kept it bubbling. Then the Wu with another big splash that kept NYC relevant nationwide etc...That whole time we hearing pieces of Illmatic, pieces of Biggie and what was gonna drop next. It was the best of times culture wise because the talent was there, but worst of times commercially because the sales didn't reflect that, until Ready To Die and Puffs formula did what it did and brought NY back into contention on a commercial level

[@FloridaGeorgia]

@@EffortlessEffervescence I’ll always give credit to Teddy Riley from 1985 “The Show” and beyond, but I think most Hip Hop Heads will put Wrex N Effect in a category more with BBD than ATCQ, LONS, or the Dogg Pound. Even though Wrex was East Coast rhymin, the music was too associated with R&B. I think Hip Hop was at its best in the late 90s when you could tell a record was from California, New York. New Orleans or Atlanta just from the music. Then St Louis came with a distinctive sound in the early 00s

[@aaronx8006]

Most west coast rappers are wack lol especially at that time 😂 ice cube was in nyc at that time working with producers and 2pac is from NYC ..lol only one that I feel could even compare is Kenny and he a nerd ..😂

[@d.k.borelli8267]

you should do every nas album. his discography is amazing

[@endlessthespokesperson6876]

🇿🇦0:45 The next day in 🇿🇦South Africa unveiled their now-current flag then 18 days later we had our first democratic elections 🤞🏽💯

[@crimson6323]

You probably have the best rap album documentaries on youtube

[@larryricejr]

This jawn came out when I was 5, sister was born this year. But I didn’t listen and appreciate the album til 2001. I would listen to the albums the Source said was 5 Mics and that’s how I came to love the album.

[@nickdimes1630]

Can you cover it takes a nation of millions to hold us back

[@darksamuraidmt98]

Represent is god like

[@MixerMal]

It was written has gotta be next!

[@troyyinfinite8011]

Bro we need a video on Busta rhymes the coming🔮⚔

[@zev847]

can u do lost tapes pls

[@panamera53]

One album that's not talked about enough

[@pmcneil15]

Arguably a top 3 album all time, imo. And Nas is arguably the greatest story teller in rap history. And top3 overall, imo

[@MetalSonic420]

Illmatic is forever legendary. The Hip-Hop Bible.

[@delbertprince5302]

The Illmatic album is legendary

[@DrunkenLockwood]

PLEASE DO THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G READY TO DIE

[@Donself1978]

Great Job but you missed “One Time 4 Ya Mind”.

[@donnyarchive12_]

do ready to die next

[@delbertprince5302]

“Represent” is a classic track….

[@ElijahMCMalik]

Ayo Clout, We need one for Pray For Haiti By Mach-Hommy

[@BHTSGOHRD]

Do a video on Charles Hamilton or Spaceghostpurpp bro

[@CarbinKid]

Nas is every MC

[@토토-t4f]

Nas changed the game totally. What Matters is just few knew it fully

[@III15CRiMEY]

_--iLLMATiC MAiN BUZZ ..iN N.Y.C. CAME FROM The Source Magazine ..GiViNG HiS ALBUM 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤 ..iYKYK!!-_-

[@EffortlessEffervescence]

Yes and no. A lot of ppl heard the album early cause it got bootlegged. Hip Hop heads were anticipating a Nas album since back to the grill again. Songs from Illmatic was in every bmw and Lexus before it officially dropped. The source rating just confirmed what the streets were already saying

[@III15CRiMEY]

-_-🧢🎓!!-_-

[@ThaTGanGTV]

Yea Nas was the 1st artist to have an all star lineup of producers to work on one project

[@III15CRiMEY]

-_-💯!!-_-

[@tyliekinc.]

Can you do Puffy’s No Way Out or Biggie’s Life After Death album?

[@西班牙人在台灣]

you know the rules no diddy

[@jermainedupreegrant2039]

Please do big l Lifestylez ov da poor and dangerous

[@beasteurope7844]

❤❤❤ евала, много добро и информативно видео, брат!!👍👍

[@respectlife216]

Nobody is touching Nas and that is a fact.

[@jaronnwoodson3162]

BPD tho?!?😂😂 ...BDP BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS gud video tho cuzzo 👍

[@euraniajimenezjimenez7550]

Jay z heard this album and B.i.g album and went from Hawaiian Sophie Spitting to Nas and B.i.g Spitter 💯✌️✌️

[@EffortlessEffervescence]

Not exactly But cool story 😎

[@delbertprince5302]

Nas is the difference maker in the rap game…..

[@blackice3395]

Great fucking video!

[@MGEULTIMAX519]

Immortal technique and Mase

[@lumga8563]

Could you please make B.G Chopper City In The Ghetto

[@braveskillz5214]

Thank God Dj Premier got his way 🙌 Represent goes dumb every single listen

[@markanthony1004]

One of the greatest hip hop albums yet it’s Nas’s 2nd best after It Was Written which is saying a hell of a lot In 94 I turned 7 I really wasn’t up to much lol but Nas might be, arguably, the greatest rapper in history. Illmatic is one of the most important rap albums of all time yet still It Was Written is somehow better and Nas's greatest piece of work imo obviously

[@IzzyDunit]

Can you please do life after death notorious B.I.G

[@dayfelperdomo]

One Time 4 your mind it's not that bad, it's just that it haves represent after

[@nycmoperations5053]

the problem with one time 4 ur mind is it sounds dated..even back then..it was never wack...between that @ halftime..they both sound old compared to the rest of the album..its still a classic regardless

[@vaijonhorton640]

To Pimp A Butterfly next

[@shlidgn90]

Nas is the GOAT. Period. Lil Wayne and Eminem will say this.

[@BBE359]

yessir

[@gordythecreator]

It's the UN-SPOKEN TRUTH. Been #1 since day #1. If I want, I TAKE, however my cheap thieving-azz even paid for it, TWICE! Respect was due

[@EffortlessEffervescence]

I wish more people had. I was too broke to rub 2 pennies together and so I dubbed it from my older brothers dub to listen in my Walkman. I wasn't even considering the impact it would have on Nas's career, I was just happy to be able to enjoy it. Bootlegging hurt so many artists back then its a shame. Eventually purchased the album more than once in my adult life tho

[@eddiemarin2984]

Nas was def more of a descendant of Rakim not kool g rap

[@ghostfacepanda]

HELL YES!!