Nas - One Love (Official Video)

[@Irobinson86]

We are on the heels of the 30th anniversary of the release of this classic masterpiece Illmatic. 🐐🔥

[@kasslesyeuk]

I was yesterday to his gig in Paris for the 30year anniversary tour, quel plaisir ! Still spitting with so much flow, one love !

[@thewhodat2314]

It’s not just a masterpiece it’s the best album ever made from any genre of music and this is coming from someone that lives in New Orleans it might even be honorable mention for the second best

[@raoulhery]

We are getting old

[@ProlificPops]

Hands down the best rap storyteller ever and it's not even close.

[@alvaroach]

*Cough Slick Rick *cough *cough

[@TenshinhanIsKing]

Who's the best MC of all time??? It ain't hard to tell

[@ProlificPops]

But Slick Rick's story rhymes and raps were nowhere near as complex as Nas's. You could clearly visualize every word Nas rhymed. And Nas was able to do this only as a teenager/twenty years old.

[@ProlificPops]

+113440489949128572361 Doesn't mean shit. Nas is very humble, so it's not amazing nor does it mean it's true that Nas said that about Big L. L was nowhere near as versatile and sharp as Nas.

[@AreYouSayingPow1]

+King Pops my nigga REWIND, I gave you power, and Sekou story are classics

[@TheIkaraCult]

10 songs, less than 40 minutes, not a single second of it wasted. One of the greatest albums ever.

[@justicesav.o_v7312]

9 songs*

[@tsetsefly3605]

Yes sir it's 9 but the deluxe is 12 *10* *

[@justicesav.o_v7312]

@@tsetsefly3605 deluxe?

[@7777Lace]

Facts

[@PaulaDentro-rp6yl]

Also no skits

[@drewsplove5339]

"Shorty's laugh was cold blooded as he spoke so foul...only 12 try'na tell me that he like my style..."🔥🔥

[@sonofmann]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX6UdGychN-cfNEsi=gCTtGSoKMmJSbJ2w

[@khairmoore]

pure imagery

[@masterfalcon1]

The best verse

[@BASEBALL67KING]

Nas was only 20 years old with so much knowledge and who could ever believe that he dropped out of school in 8th or 9th grade. Nas is Half Man Half Amazing

[@Panthaz]

It ain't hard to tell that Nas is the don

[@youngcannon3]

Same story with biggie

[@RoyaltyGotHits]

He was just 17 when he wrote it and he put it out when he was 18 so that makes this album so much more impressive.

[@BASEBALL67KING]

shotcaller2roy correct lol he wasn't even 20, he was 17-18 years old.... Even more mind blowing . In my opinion Nas is the best Emcee to ever spit on a mic. Respect to all other emcees tho.

[@RoyaltyGotHits]

Totally agree he is my avorite also.This is my favorite track of his too.

[@Nate01_]

30 YEARS OF ILLMATIC 👑🐐

[@AripLabalt]

how the fuck QB came up with nas & mobb deep almost at the same time.... AND they were only 18-19-20yo makin all that genius music... i'll forever be impressed

[@TMGettingMoney]

Damm that was well said and I totally agree, QB produced some legends💯‼️🏆👑💪🏾🔥🎤

[@Aboriginail]

it's what they saw.

[@jaykriss724]

Dude was around 17-20 years old when he made this album. That’s fucking crazy. Illmatic is hailed as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time

[@villedocvalle]

For a reason

[@juanmanuelortegacantin2001]

That's talent

[@lilmayodrops]

True genius. That's why he's still a Don today

[@diggie9598]

@@juanmanuelortegacantin2001 Talent won't get you any skills. Forget about talent.

[@adriant240]

It's good but I highly doubt he wrote the lyrics by himself. He had help.

[@cwpalacios1]

Nas writing ability for his age was insane. This brings me back big time.

[@clarencethermal5430]

Carlos Palacios It is I️ came back to this song just thinking about it.

[@KMcirca82]

add to that the fact that he dropped out in 8th grade and is self taught

[@keshangovender5896]

I agree!

[@kay-uw5lt]

Not only for his age, but for any age. I feel you, it brings me back too.

[@seewhativescene]

You're missing the point, his education was growing up in Queensbridge in the 80s-90s @@KMcirca82 pay attention to the lyrics he tells you everything

[@biglu323]

That fuckin xylophone. Such a tight ass beat.

[@ShortEnglish-ov5eb]

its a fucking kalimba

[@biglu323]

Jesus, whatever.

[@Marikdej]

biglu323 this conversation cracked me up, lmao. Who the fuck cares which instrument it is. This is one of the dopest hip hop tracks ever.

[@Mavers2009]

Qtip beat

[@LennyHabits]

Yep!!! Qtip a monster on the beats!!!

[@davidthompson9305]

Q Tip on the production... this man is a genius

[@Whtqh]

That's who brought me here how ironic lol

[@davidthompson9305]

@@Whtqh lol wth I posted this comment 4 years ago haha

[@aking6542]

David Thompson You were spitting facts here g, glad you could see your truth once again

[@aurelienb1238]

I love q-tip bit please skeak with the right words, i mean he's really a very good producer but not a genius for doing good loops

[@aking6542]

777 The key word is remade, think about it.

[@sambanelly25]

That first Grammy is long overdue. Congratulations Nasty Nas.👑🏆

[@ko-rp7ge]

🤝

[@kan50805]

First it was Nasty, but times have changed Ask me now, I'm the artist, but hardcore, my science for pain

[@sambanelly25]

@@kan50805 I spent time in the game, kept my mind on fame Saw fiends shoot up and do lines of cocaine

[@moderndayentertainment5812]

Fuck a Grammy Nas ain’t need one

[@h2junkey]

That piece of metal could never be worthy of what Nas’ has meant to hip-hop!

[@wav.yliving]

This shit is so dope, and so deep.

[@brizzeldizzel]

I feel sorry for people who didn't grow up.with 90, s hip hop rap best days

[@AidanGunn]

i feel sorry for me too

[@adeezy617newonenation]

What bout if i born i.n 1992

[@mjperkins5400]

For real!! Like it's like if I read that I'm the cell I'd be like this dude loves me he's riding with me

[@12stonesofisrael3]

deezy 10 strip It doesn’t matter what year you were born if the music sounds and feels good to you that’s what counts.

[@JelaniB28]

Nas took some Rakim blended with a Tribe Called Quest vibe, sprinkled it with his own essence and created Illmatic. Nothing but a classic.

[@83osoy]

Q-Tip made this beat

[@Mrelocoxd]

Also Primo, Pete and LargePro vibes on that album. They're, indeed, the Nas' sound.

[@johnb5057]

@@83osoy and hes on the hook!

[@method4597]

@@Mrelocoxd primo pete and large professor just so happen to be friends with qtip

[@seewhativescene]

@@83osoy Q-Tip also gave the World The Infamous by Mobb Deep

[@benjamincox4211]

I don’t think I’ve seen a music video that so accurately portrayed the lyrics without seeming cringe as fuck. Whoever directed this deserves an award

[@babylondon9893]

tru story! lol! ✊🏽

[@Alexander-is5tm]

Fr

[@merlinmediagroup]

Fab 5 Freddy.

[@monoblock15beats51]

@@merlinmediagroup he make the video ??

[@merlinmediagroup]

@@monoblock15beats51 Yes.

[@mattsmith656]

Nas is the greatest of all time by far.. so amazing how he was smart enough to stay safe and keep out of the streets as much as possible in his situation but still was able to convey all of the struggles of his neighbourhood/area. Such a unique talent

[@willydogg1440]

My favourite Nas song of all time. No-one in hiphop can tell a story like him.

[@1987jocj1113]

Definitely 💯

[@maxgarcia5778]

Slick rick was better as straight storytelling. not better overall but at story telling... Slick

[@1987jocj1113]

Max Garcia all the 90's rappers from New York, Brooklyn, Queens Bridge told the best stories

[@willydogg1440]

Max Garcia Slick Rick would be one of the guys Nas learned most from. But just in my opinion Nas is the greatest ever. I think it's more of an Eastcoast thing. The art of storytelling, bar Tupac I'd say Eastcoast is much more lyrical.

[@UsernameLoading]

Big L is better

[@Irobinson86]

Happy Birthday Illmatic One of the greatest albums ever made.

[@FindYourFree]

ever

[@Amari19_]

The GREATEST rap album

[@nuggetz9380]

@@Amari19_ facts

[@traviscarter1023]

4/19/94

[@youtubesucks1821]

I am... Was better and so was KD3 actually

[@Djtwice-gu4yj]

Name another mc that reached "God" status with their FIRST album! This album without a doubt is pure perfection. Nas is a genius. And the fact that he dropped out of the 9th grade and educated himself shows the true power of his drive and intellect. I still get goosebumps listening to One Love. The beat, the chorus by Q-Tip and the metaphors were by far a perfect 10! Favorite track of all time.

[@MikeG-pb3xp]

Djtwice2001 No disrespect to Nas, but his and my favourite emcee Rakim did reach "God Status" with 'Paid in Full', he is known as 'The God MC', no?

[@MIKEHUNT-TAKESAMERICA]

ready to die

[@MIKEHUNT-TAKESAMERICA]

in fact big was bigger (pun not intended) big tupac,the college dropout, resonable doubt, there lots of albums like this illmatic is my favorite then ready to die but that is bullshit most artist's get popular cause of there first album at the most there second and illmatic was not popular at first it dindt get platnium untill 2001 it was it was written that really made him popular getting double platnium

[@AtomLogic]

+Johnmobley 14 'pun not intended' "Big Pun"

[@AtomLogic]

+Johnmobley 14 Life After Death

[@Zerej89]

That third verse is top ten verses in history.

[@AAARREUUUGHHHH]

Not the only verse of illmatic thats top 10 either man. Memory Lane second verse if incredible

[@mssunshine8024]

Factsssss

[@alexandreleger4587]

memory lane's second verse is the best

[@DANNY10MADRID]

where does the 3rd verse start and end?

[@AAARREUUUGHHHH]

@@DANNY10MADRID A short time after the second verse. You should be ashamed for making such a dumb comment lol.

[@ItsAnEndlessWorld]

Damn Nas is under appreciated, Illmatic is timeless. It's been years and these songs are still on heavy rotation for me especially one love.

[@juanmanuelportillacardozo6785]

Agree

[@rikeek]

Delinquent Tris TIMELESS

[@Mo-mw4it]

Correction, TIME is Illmatic.

[@alr.3137]

no he is not underappreciated but he would have deserved more commericial success - but I guess timeless music is only truely appreciated by few

[@Daduu]

Year after year and it still feels like it’s my first time hearing it. Crazy, only album I get that exotic feeling.

[@ambry88]

it blows my mind to think this dude wrote illmatic at 20yrs old. and technically wrote "it aint hard to tell" at 17yrs old. Lyrical mastermind.

[@47gaming7]

Check out Joey Bada$$ the new age Nas. Progression is his message.

[@sbz1234]

He actually wrote most of it between 17-19.

[@angelrangel4205]

No don't listen to joeybadass. I used to listen to him and only the 1999 mixtape was pretty decent but after summer knights he's starting to sound like the niggas in radio. Pro era you were good until capital Steez passed away. Rest in peace.

[@47gaming7]

Pugg you just aren't smart enough to get the lyrics. Your opinion is so irrelevant after that comment holy shit lol

[@47gaming7]

Sorry bud not on anyone's dick, just recognize real rap and promote it. 99 is a classic and so is B4.DA.$$ and the group collectives are fire and he's only twenty. He put out 99 at 16, been making classics longer than Nas and will make more, not that he hasn't already.

[@dyr234]

90s should have never came to an end Thats all i got to say.

[@ProlificPops]

Agreed. I was born in the late 90's so I didn't get to live any of it. I missed out.

[@blah9664]

+King Pops it was the best man..it seemed like the 90s lasted 20 yrs being a youngin ..it seemed like it would never end. i was born in 84 so i was blessed to be introduced and appreciate the great music my parents grew up on. being around to watch the golden era of rap take place was incredible. its the reason i cant take most rappers of todays time seriously. im stuck in the 90s..it was the best time of my life and always will be. one love.

[@blah9664]

Mr.Howard word up

[@obaid9499]

+Tracy McGoat You're right Born too fucking late #LifesABitch

[@neal4859]

+james myers Hell yea bruh. Got to see it all. Hard to respect many of the new artists after living through this era.

[@Symphonia30]

Nas is not just a hip-hop rapper, he’s a storyteller

[@8cee]

It's crazy how far Q-Tip's Production was when you only check the quality

[@realone7524]

#FACTS!!! Q-Tip Touches all Classics, him, Dilla, Preemo, and Pete are always somewhere

[@ibrudy69]

@@realone7524 ^ more #FACTS

[@balmain-i3e]

@@realone7524 dont forget Madlib and RZA

[@WhoseIAm7]

Jay Dee first, though.

[@wandererkenshin7557]

@@realone7524 Q Tip, Large Professor,DJ Premier,Rza,Buckwild,Pete Rock,Beatnuts,Diamond D Lord Finesse,Tony D,Showbiz,Prince Paul,Godfather Don,Havoc and Nick Wiz were untouchable back in the 90's.

[@petertong4033]

Nas is the Malcom X of rap, so ahead of his time

[@santonino7741]

Nas Is a Storyteller and a Poet

[@ToneKeys]

Nas is the greatest emcee ever. His longevity in the game is unmatched. Bro wordplay is on another level.

[@JaemanEdwards]

Neither statement is correct. Biggie is the undisputed king. Even Nas himself would say so. And there are many MCs who have longer longevity.

[@ActLikeABitch]

​@@JaemanEdwards biggie ? 2 album ? You capping so much bullsh*t

[@hornyconvict]

​@JaemanEdwards love Nas but Big is my favorite

[@ActLikeABitch]

​@@JaemanEdwards fuck biggie😂. Not even close

[@HezekiahCrocker]

I'm just now getting into Nas. I never had a chance to listen to him growing up, but man. Now that I'm working my way through his stuff, I feel like I've missed out on a whole other world. Thank God for Nas

[@JayJohnson-jz7pp]

That's "Real Hip Hop," young man.... :-)

[@QGTM868]

Same except the songs I heard I was not feeling like one mic etc the newer style had to grow on me . My first nas album was I Am then illmatic and lastly It Was Written. It was Written really made me appreciate him. People hate on I Am but if it wasn't for that album I wouldn't have gotten deep into nas. It had some great tracks imo.

[@katjaaminoff9331]

Thank nas for god*

[@jeffreymoran6234]

You know that whole song is about real people this isn't no made up non fictional song,Nas is a hundred times realer then Jay z

[@MrMGR1986]

The GOAT

[@AmirAli-qq6oy]

His third verse is beyond perfection. It alone was better than the majority of rappers careers

[@drummerboy]

Amir Ali whts is it

[@cheffervdb4736]

No his first

[@G9Classified9]

Mannnnnn

[@sonofmann]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX6UdGychN-cfNEsi=gCTtGSoKMmJSbJ2w

[@brandstanddownunder6724]

"Then I rose, wiping the blunt's ash from my clothes Then froze only to blow the herb smoke through my nose" Ooooh weee

[@tiagotv7697]

Brandstand Downunder and that's how you paint a picture

[@remo4248]

so so so sick. this line gets me EVERY time

[@paulmata-htxlive4232]

dang thats the scene from Belly, I never knew he wrote that in a song

[@melvynarmstead7394]

Best verse in Rap in my opinion

[@MrMerk31]

Bruh that whole last verse 🙌🏿🎤🎵🎶🎙

[@doughnutzaj]

This is the most crazy wordplay, bars, and flow in the history of hip hop

[@NotoriousNastyNas]

Memory lane better wordplay

[@NotoriousNastyNas]

It ain’t hard to tell Better flow

[@NotoriousNastyNas]

N.Y. State of Mind has better Bars

[@doughnutzaj]

@@NotoriousNastyNas they're all part of the same album dipshit

[@thagomizers6329]

Brings a tear to my eye to see hip hop devolve. This was definitely the height of hip hop in its truest forms. Nothing afterwards can't even compare to this beautiful masterpiece

[@lucasphillips2177]

kendrick revived it gkmc and tpab are arguably better than this album

[@xanderdom]

​@@lucasphillips2177 Illmatic is untouchable

[@robertnzuki7286]

Jay z is a sell out to the white man

[@seanholmes5173]

@@robertnzuki7286 Frl😭😭

[@xavieryeater1990]

I got you, apathy. If you don't like him follow his call signs. You'll find at least one thing you like. With love and maybe immortal technique.

[@johnmiles6147]

This guy and Shakur are the greatest to do it imo

[@wannabang7053]

lil killah no lol pac is way better than nas sorry

[@fettymode7701]

Buck50Santana they both the GOATS

[@onlee643]

Santana Nas is dope, but you can find plenty of lyricists close enough. There will never be another artist with the aura of Pac.

[@STEINYY]

man hes way to overrated!! compared to nas hes nothing.

[@STEINYY]

but one love.

[@shalamarsmallwood5254]

At a young age, Nas was wise before his time. This was actually a real letter that he wrote and he lyrically killed it.

[@GabeHelma]

A letter to Cormega

[@ericwade6186]

The way Q-Tip made this beat is crazy ... respect to the old school.

[@Dudja]

Classic Nas right here

[@ocstunna]

This has to be the most underrated rap song in history. His story telling is unbelievable

[@RDoubt96]

One Love is not even close to being underrated. It's one of the most critically acclaimed and recognized songs on an album that's lauded by many in the hip hop community as the greatest hip hop album of all time.

[@traviscarter1023]

@RDoubt96 It was underrated in 1994 this album didn't blow up are did good because it got destroyed at that time.

[@oklol7799]

@@RDoubt96i feel like when Illmatic comes up in rap conversations One Love doesn’t get enough flowers while a song like It Ain’t Hard to Tell will get praise endlessly, and I think One Love is definitely the better track

[@1c0nic_player]

@@oklol7799i have one love at least top 3, maybe even above life’s a bitch

[@alexjohnson8217]

30 years of timeless hip hop

[@markjackman1712]

Is it normal for a 48 year old man to wake up with lyrics from One Love and Halftime in his head? Constantly going round and round? What a genius this guy is, and was at such a young age

[@wowoshell]

100% “normal.” (Whatever normal is) 😂😂 Nas was, is, and will forever be my favorite hip hop rapper/MC/ lyricist/poet/rapper. I’ll be listening to NAS in the damn nursing home if I live that long!’ 😂 (and I’m in my 50’s!! ) #foreveryoung #nastynas

[@markjackman1712]

@@wowoshell Haha great comment my man so long as im not deaf by then ill be doing the same, what a legend

[@CaapriceTube1]

THE BEAT!!!!!!!!!!!! Q-Tip and Large Professor aswell as Pete Rock are legends for Ilmmatic! Tip killed the track!

[@JohnIsYoDaddy]

DJ Premiere man

[@cayuwoki]

***** L.ES MAN

[@AFMS999]

***** Q tip produced this track

[@b2dary890]

Primo!

[@desireddecisived6394]

UNACCEPTED DUE DUE DO IS DO IS UNKNOWN KNOW KNOWN DO ALL

[@FuzzyFruits]

Song slept on, the best story teller when it comes to hip-hop/rap.

[@blackstevejobs1928]

The best? Slick Rick don't exist no more?

[@FuzzyFruits]

Black Steve Jobs the best in my opinion.

[@reallitycheckk]

Black Steve Jobs he been surpassed rick

[@blackstevejobs1928]

FuzzyFruits I can respect that

[@blackstevejobs1928]

M Davis I don't really think so. Nas is definitely a superb MC but i think Rick is still top storyteller. Rick just has the uniqueness about his music that no other MC has been able to touch.

[@HatianHurricane]

If you've never been locked up you just would not understand how the world forgets you when you're incarcerated. This song is a special kind of truth!!!!

[@tayeeinthacut9661]

It’s just something about the beat and that background as the camera goes across New York at night fall shit a vibe 🌊🌊

[@mariemontano5547]

NaS one of the best storytellers.

[@pyrotoast8009]

marie montano behind Slick Rick

[@maxputil]

Kool G Rap has some good story telling too

[@arduhyp]

THE best storyteller

[@mk_jdilla]

Maxputil In the demo version of Illmatic you can hear Nas influenced by Kool G Rap

[@bp8300]

marie montano But The Best Still Slick Rick.

[@juliustheman]

Nas is hip hop's Shakespeare... A great story teller!

[@samarthjain5015]

Aesop Rock.

[@westcoastadventurers8504]

actually Shakespeare was a hoax, a fake name used by another individual whom we don't actually know who he/she actually was. there was NEVER anyone by the actual name of William Shakespeare. thats all lies. NAS is REAL.

[@bhka6423]

Pretty much every oldschool rapper was like that.

[@digitalrepaer]

litterally the greatest song ever made

[@narz7573]

*****​ Nas rap style is More complex style of beauty like Kendricks but legendary if you pay attention to detail of lyrics and put the story together Eminem is good but he can't touch Nas on a lyrical level he's not naturally or lyrically mature enough to be at Nas' level Eminem's style is simple immature but effective so its easy to get into its kinda easy to get into.however Eminem verse on Jay-z's renegade was the only point I thought his lyrics was good but also at level with Nas as well as his verse on forever but apart from that he hasn't impressed me

[@warrenrod7549]

***** SHUT THE FUCK UP STAN YOU FUCKING EMINEM FANS ARE CRAZY LOSE YOUR SELF ISNT NO WHERE NEAR THIS SONG ONE LOVE NAS IS BETTER THAN EMINEM PERIOD....

[@Baccanaso]

Narhang Ingnam forever sucked and em is definitely a great rapper despite the humor and all the stans. But you just showed me you havent listened to much em if you came up with forever as one of his serious songs. Anyways this is my fave joint along wit the world is yours off illmatic.

[@osiregbemhe1286]

using words to draw a perfect picture that fits even till this day... NAS is a masterpiece

[@abdelm4lek]

This is PEAK storytelling. Period.

[@gotflava1]

Arguably one of Nas's most underrated song. Still a classic. Back when NYC, all boroughs were deadly. Gun fire on a lot of nights.

[@amir1295]

best nas song by far my favourite hip hop song

[@StayFrost224]

The storytelling in this song is on point. Q-Tip produced a gem with this one.

[@mikewilson2951]

tha best to ever do it nasty nas all time greatest lyricist 💯

[@eirielarchived]

This beat is legitimately insane

[@notasnitchtough]

3rd verse = best verse ever in hip-hop.

[@ap0610]

I thought I was the only one who thought this

[@andyreynoso4454]

C if you notice Nas every 3rd verse kills it

[@melvynarmstead7394]

Absolutely...no Question

[@sonofmann]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX6UdGychN-cfNEsi=gCTtGSoKMmJSbJ2w

[@nellyluscious]

Summer 94!!! My shit right here!!! Miss the 90s I swear!!

[@nellyluscious]

***** The freaknik! You took it back!! I was a young girl on the basketball courts running with my friends!

[@ransomreacts]

+NellyBelle oh lord!!!!! ik u 2 didn't say freaknik that was my shit 😂😂😂

[@Jason900Anderson]

check my song Gang Related out its the same feels as this 90s vibes story telling you won't be disappointed I swear

[@Jason900Anderson]

+NellyBelle you won't be disappointed if you check out my song Gang Related it's the same 90s vibes with the story telling if you don't like it comments and let me know

[@nellyluscious]

Jay Anderson OK I'll give it a check!!

[@kehindeoyegunle8920]

Klassik. In EVERY sense of the word. G.O.A T .

[@cedenoanthony45]

The best hiphop album of all time.

[@jordanb3120]

Debatable

[@raymondjackson435]

This is undeniably the best hip hop album ever

[@jordanb3120]

@@raymondjackson435 Not undeniably. Albums like All eyez on me, Me against the world, Ready to die, and Ready to die are a competition

[@bighomie6909]

Facts

[@RJMacReady1]

@@jordanb3120 You can debate it. But youll lose that debate.

[@victorhampton3452]

The golden child

[@FunkyTechnology]

For me, this is one of the greatest beats of all time.

[@blackbeard6451]

FunkyTechnology I fuck wit it too but idk

[@jibsmokestack1]

@@stephenheath8465 Sorry to be extra but it's a marimba being sampled not a vibraphone!

[@carlosmeekmill2595]

✍✍✍🖒🖒🖒

[@NuWaveEnt]

Even 30 years later that scene at 5:15 is so haunting with the sound of that beat playing. Just so grim

[@j-iconamiconic1044]

Nas was ahead of his time ⏲️. 🔥 🐐

[@polmulet8522]

It deserves at least 200 M views...

[@SlitherTheSnake]

I never even knew the song had a video.. I'd just found it

[@jeancadet5862]

Yes sirr

[@keshangovender5896]

Nope I don't agree... If Gucci gang and trollz making 1b views... This should hit 5b views. The poetry is insane!!!

[@akraft1630]

the 3rd Verse alone wins againts anything that's out today. nas singlehandledly explains a lot of the problems affecting young black people even today and gives the most important timeless advice: rise above and watch out for the cops

[@sonofmann]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX6UdGychN-cfNEsi=gCTtGSoKMmJSbJ2w

[@souls24]

Bought the whole album twice. One in vinyl, and one in Compact Disc. Never regretted it. Best album ever.

[@souls24]

The best 40 bucks I have ever spent.

[@jonathangary5118]

Nas with the greatest debut rap album ever.The poet Nas killed every track.Takes you back to that time.

[@noneofyourbusiness1114]

The greatest rap of all TIME. ILLMATIC IS THE HIP HOP BIBLE!!!!

[@noobmaster-zq9su]

Now this is rapping! So many rappers now only say gibberish and call it bars. Those fake ones are just reading lines. I have a lot of respect for the rappers that rap as a passion and an art rather than just to make yourself look "cool". I love my black culture. It's beautiful and revolutionary

[@ladydontekno]

I didn't even know there was a video for this song. Until just now, of course.

[@shuriwitwicky6646]

reeves. reeves reading that shows that you’re slow

[@terrionharris348]

ladydontekno facts

[@besiprimitif9513]

I just know this video in November 2019. :(

[@DicnballzBitch]

Me too

[@3looy]

@@besiprimitif9513 i just know this video from yesterday :(

[@Yuvyhiphop1309]

Goated storytelling, production and Nas flow is straight heat one of the best rapper who blessed the mic.

[@Mindonicon]

Eh he is barely top 50 theres too many rappers out there mane

[@alext.62]

gotta love the 90's where the words carried the songs and the beats were just supportive

[@madskillz1997223]

amen

[@LilBoom]

now its vice versa 😭

[@kingNcaged]

GOAT doing goat things

[@ScoutmanTC]

This still gives me goosebumps man. I remember vividly when I first listened to illmatic in like ‘08. My whole life and love for hip hop changed. Crazy it came out in ‘94 same year I was born. Fucking classic! One Love.

[@focuz4899]

Q-Tip's production is fire 🔥.

[@dondoe4477]

27 years ago , one of the greatest albums of all time was dropped !

[@froey198033]

Crazy that 27yrs has gone by so fast. Look at rap now besides a few hip hop has lost its roots. No story telling, no individuality, beats all the same. It's a shame man. Glad I grew up in the greatest era of hip hop.

[@traviscarter1023]

@@froey198033 Was in elementary school when this album dropped going into the summer of 1994 had to be around 8 or 9 years old remember hearing old these songs. At the time I was to young to understand what it meant but as I got older in the 90s it was different. But 1999 I was all the way in on who nas was and what he meant to NYC. By 1999 things were different I was about 13 years old and was all the way in on the I Am album.

[@hennylo68]

One of the best story tellers ever. The last verse with shorty was a scene in belly. That's the mark of a great story teller.

[@nickdirla1602]

21 year old from suburbia, never had any accurate representation of black culture. nas is truly one of the best to ever do it, his ability to paint a picture of society which does not have regard for the black community has truly impacted my view on race relations. God bless nas

[@aharonaxelrod5943]

Salute to you

[@cedriclewis1736]

This song is so dope and so deep 💯

[@maddiishousze5855]

Nas & 2pac are the Kings of rap

[@fitzgeraldcheek8963]

100% agree only lyrics in music rap that brothers and sisters goosebumps for real

[@mcm-inc]

It's hard to listen to this song because it makes you want to go back to that time and enjoy that moment again.

[@ReshonBryant]

Feels like a precursor to Phone Tap. Same boom bap vibe with a different two-step💪🏽

[@MCJackLight]

Nas is still my top 3 of all time. Such a legend

[@Sani_umash]

Greatest albums ever ❤️🤌

[@mikesosa3029]

He told the story so good he didn’t even need to make a video 💯

[@kawachisupk6651]

Best beat ever

[@willieclark2735]

One of the most Smoothest Beats in Hip hop History...

[@wendellsloan8200]

Nas bro this song is timeless

[@therealkaminator]

This song only has Q-Tip for only 30 seconds, but he still puts his heart into this song.

[@MarvelousPhilly]

Q Tip and his perfect beats. My favorite song on the album.

[@Amari19_]

Favorite Rapper of all time🐐

[@shaxiuniversity]

The genius lyricist of all time

[@stacks74026]

That last verse is my favorite from him. The imagery n flow is incredible when he's talking to the kid from the block. I always rewind that part

[@davicetaylor1568]

He right tho whenever they start shooting it’s always an innocent bystander never the target he was dropping knowledge on the kid, my fav verse too

[@fartgangtv9143]

At the end of belly he pretty much acts out that verse when he pulls up on youngin in the projects

[@cedriccarron3283]

Hip Hop 90's forever !!!

[@Hassan786Don]

The first time you listen to this album, you know that it's the one of the greatest if not the greatest albums ever made. Nas= True Legend and one of the best Mc's of all time.

[@fetardoka9413]

I can't listen to nas this shit way to nice for me legendary

[@json2684]

One of the best story tellers of our time...one love.

[@sslowmusic4277]

All props to the artist and whoever did this R.i.P MF doom check this version out😎kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXScaGSvrtOng8k

[@josephnelson3287]

Grammy Award Winning Nasir #Salute 👑 King

[@jibbefrik]

Dear "Vevo". Everybody hates you, there is no point in censoring "bad" language, it only ruins the song and and exposes the youth of half the truth. Plus, at parties when you sing along it is really awkward when you sing the wrong lyrics...

[@Moebetter222]

If it wasn't for the clean version, I wouldn't have been able to stream this onto my radio show. I had at least 3 people call the station asking me the name of the song, so this being clean exposed it to more ppl

[@buddhamedia7306]

Moebetter222 yeah but that's radio, people dont know what will come on, so u have to have a radio edit, but on youtube, fuck censoring.

[@KevinContreras2013]

VEVO does not censor the videos. They just distribute the videos sent from the record labels. Columbia authorized VEVO to distribute the TV version of the music video, but not the uncensored version yet. So yeah, don't blame VEVO something they have no control over.

[@cresheer310]

There are other videos with the explicit songs, but it's true that censoring is annoying

[@FadeingRevolt]

It’s not vevo fault . Back then to play music on TV you had to censor your music

[@BiGGCaiN24]

It still blows my mind that a person his age wrote this. That last verse is pure gold! Whole damn song is GOLD! As a 41 year old I’m thankful to have live through the 90’s

[@goldxstar9960]

“Then I rose, wipin the blunts ash from my clothes, then froze only to blow the herb smoke through my nose”👃😤😮‍💨

[@sonofmann]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX6UdGychN-cfNEsi=gCTtGSoKMmJSbJ2w

[@ArnoldPalmer725]

This song took me to a place. Like… almost put me in a trance and I felt like I gotta front row seat to the story he’s telling. Captivating, from lyrics, to the beat, to Q-Tip saying one love, his rhyme scheme, his cadence. This song alone is a true masterpiece. Couldn’t imagine hearing this when it first came out

[@tyronefowler7314]

The third verse >>

[@kekesmooth5618]

Tyrone Fowler entire song is 🔥 but yes that third verse was incredible.

[@user-tk7rl6hw6c]

Watch Belly

[@shaun2timez655]

Real long and important

[@DANNY10MADRID]

where does the 3rd verse start and end?

[@CH-oh9ot]

I couldn't appreciate this when I first heard it as a child, but this song is very special. It walks a fine line between showing love, and respect to brothers in jail while not glorifying crime and violence. Actually shows how they're victims of it too despite their role in it, but doesn't judge. Brilliant, nuanced chronicle of black life in the city, no other rapper has even gotten close.