Album rankings always spark debate. First of all, this is part of the fun of ranking. When Billboard decided to release the 100 greatest hip-hop albums of all time, they caused controversy (as all chart media does). However, their selection as first place is undeniable. Billboard named Illmatic the greatest album in the genre’s history, and fans unanimously agree that Nas’ 1994 debut is a near-perfect album.
On July 12, Nas reposted the No. 1 ranking on his Instagram. “Thank you @billboard,” he wrote. Of course, the rapper also took time to thank the generations of fans who have grown up with Ilmatic. “N people,” he added. “We’ve got #1 Ilmatic here.” Nas also peaked at No. 57 on the Billboard charts with his 1996 album “It Was Written.” The rapper has had a fascinating relationship with his debut over the years. There was a time when he felt it was a heavy burden that affected the way people listened to the rest of his music.
Nas’ relationship with Ilmatic has changed over time
Over time, however, Nas has embraced Ilmatic’s legacy. In many ways, it exists outside of his catalog. Catalogs have actually gotten better over the past decade. Nas talks about the gift and curse of dropping his classic debut in 2014. . “They called it the Big Two Curse at the time,” Nurse recalled. “A lot of artists never get beyond their first album… It’s so crazy that I had to take it seriously.”
As far as the rapper is concerned, Illmatic has gone from dead weight to crown jewel. Nas released a deluxe edition of the album in 2014 to celebrate the album’s 20th anniversary. In April, in honor of the album’s 30th anniversary, Nas took to Instagram to praise his collaborators. “Although this album leaked months before its release date,” he wrote in the caption. “We’re still a part of music history.”
About the author
Elias is the music writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined the site in 2024 and covers a wide range of topics including pop culture, movies, sports, and, of course, hip-hop. You can find him publishing for HNHH from Monday to Friday, especially coverage of new albums and singles. His favorite artists are Andre 3000, MF Doom, pre-808 Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator. He likes L.A. hip-hop, but not L.A. sports teams. The first album he bought was Will Smith’s “Big Willie Style,” which he thinks still sounds great.
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