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THREAD: With The Lost Tapes 2 coming on July 19th, I thought I would go through NaS' album catalogue with you. Feel free to reply with any thoughts you have about my opinions or the albums themselves.
The first and arguably best NaS album is Illmatic (1994). I'll begin with some general thoughts. This is the "Boy" chapter in NaS tetralogy and that makes sense given his youth, the iconic album cover, and the cliche that you spend your whole life writing your first album 
This is probably Hip Hop's most sacred cow. It's often declared the GOAT rap album, which I disagree with (there is no objective greatest album), and woe to anyone who says they find it boring or overrated. There's a reason for its status.
This is an absolutely incredible album, one of, if not the, greatest debuts in rap music history, and it's still a bench mark more than 25 years after it arrived in record stores. NaS gives one of the greatest strings of performances ever recorded and the production is top-notch
It could have been titled The Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man and it's a bit boyish in subject matter, as mature as he is for his age. Despite his often arrogant bars, he does not project a mature sense of confidence and there's a noticeable absence of women / sexuality.
That is not a criticism, for although NaS is often a passive observer, he is also an extremely thoughtful and intelligent one. He's just a teenager but is extremely insightful about himself and the world around him.
That's one of the things that makes Illmatic so interesting. It is an introspective album, but it's also worldly, in so far as the Queensbridge Housing Projects can constitute one's entire world.
Illmatic proves that "dated" is not always a criticism. When I hear it, I know where and when it came from. That's part of its appeal. NaS and his producers captured New York in the early 1990s on Illmatic. This album is a time machine.
And it's easily one of my favorite albums. It was one of my two favorite albums of all time for at least a decade, thought its brevity has curtailed my fascination with it somewhat. I still love it, I just don't think of albums in terms of top 5 or top 10 lists anymore.
Illmatic is a brief album for its era, making it more accessible to younger listeners who are accustomed to today's EP-like projects. That's enough general observations. Let's start the album:
The Genesis. One of the more memorable non-song intros in rap history. It sets the mood for what's to come, although I might have preferred another song given the album's short running time.
NY State of Mind. Atmospheric is how I would describe this. Premier's piano is spare enough to allow NaS to shine, which he does. His verses create a detailed portrait of what life might have been like in NY housing projects circa 1993. One of rap's greatest treasures
Life's a Bitch. The Gap Band sample is the perfect foundation for NaS and AZ (whose celebrated verse practically made his career). As amazing as AZ is, NaS is achingly beautiful, too, a snapshot of his life at that moment. Introspective. Another milestone song. S/O Olu Dara
The World Is Yours. NaS at his most poetic; through his stream of consciousness lyricism, you get a sense of what he must have been like as a kid. It has one of the album's catchiest hooks (not one of Illmatic's strengths). The end of one of the greatest three song runs ever
Halftime, the lead single, comes a bit early (fourth of nine songs) but it does feel like a break. NaS is more laid-back, more casual. I don't think it's as great as what came before, but it would be a highlight in most artists' catalogues.
Memory Lane. Once my favorite Illmatic song, I'm not sure I'd put it there now, but it's another masterpiece . Nostalgic Premier production with lyrics to match, this is the most soulful song on NaS' debut. He never slips lyrically; there are no mediocre verses on Illmatic
One Love. A superb example of NaS' storytelling gifts and maturity beyond his years. Q-Tip's production is simple and beautiful, though I think the hook was improved on LG's excellent remix. This song introduced listeners to Cormega, a talented emcee in his own right.
One Time 4 Your Mind. I've never loved this, though I've come to respect it a bit. This is Illmatic's weakest link. I don't like the plodding beat or hook and NaS' verses aren't interesting enough to save the song for me. Given how superb the rest is, I can forgive that.
Represent. NaS and Premier put Illmatic back on track with this braggadocios, energetic, and head-bobbing song. This one grew on me over the years, but I wouldn't put it in my top 5 Illmatic tracks. "Somehow the rap game reminds me of the crack game"
It Ain't Hard to Tell. One of rap's all-time great album closers. Classic "Human Nature" sample; poetic rhyme acrobatics by NaS. It's not particularly deep or emotionally resonant but it IS proof that NaS is one of the greatest rap artists who has ever lived.
Last thing: the 10th and 20th anniv. editions are both worth checking out. Each has a second disc. The 10th has new remixes of classic tracks and two previously unreleased songs. The 20th is more historical and focuses on remixes/artifacts from the time of Illmatic's release.
Here’s my favorite remix done for the 10th anniversary in 2004
