Public Enemy rolled with The Bomb Squad, Ultramagnetic MCвЂ™s relied on Ced-Gee, N.W.A was helmed by Dre, and even Wu-Tang, who debuted just months before Nas, were inextricably linked to RZAвЂ™s sound.Дespite these distinct producers, thereвЂ™s a clear sense of collaboration throughout Illmatic. That might not seem like a particularly inspired approach, but at the time, production on hip hop records was usually handled by just one or two producers. Illmatic was unique in that it featured a roster of big-name producers. ItвЂ™s surprising that so much of the track is new, considering the instrumental similarities between the two tracks. Nas interpolates the titular phrase from his 1991 demo, вЂњNas Will Prevail,вЂќ from which he previously sampled elements on вЂњOne Time 4 Your Mind.вЂќ He also adapts a later lyric from the demo, incorporating вЂњ вЂ™cause I be packinвЂ™ like a Rasta in a weed spotвЂќ into the mix. Graffiti pioneer Lee QuiГ±ones serves as the filmвЂ™s protagonist, supported by Sandra вЂLady PinkвЂ™ Fabara, Patti Astor, Fab Five Freddy and BlondieвЂ™s Debbie Harry. Though a narrative feature, it largely functions as a hip hop time capsule, featuring appearances from b-boy outfit Rock Steady Crew, DJs Grandmaster Flash and Grand Mixer DST and emcees The Cold Crush Brothers. вЂњThe GenesisвЂќ features a number of samples taken from a 30-second stretch of the first ever hip hop film, 1983вЂ™s Wild Style. Nas pictured with Large Professor and DJ Premier Every Sample on Illmatic, Track by Track вЂњ The GenesisвЂќ Sit back, tune in and explore the sounds behind one of the greatest albums of all time. In celebration of IllmaticвЂ™s 25th anniversary, weвЂ™re breaking down the all-time great beats from the likes of Preemo, L.E.S., Pete Rock, Large Professor and Q-Tip. If youвЂ™re looking for a breakdown of the sounds, beats, and samples used to furnish the record, youвЂ™ve come to the right place. If youвЂ™re interested in the stories behind the album, check out the in-depth, comprehensive oral history of Illmatic written by our very own Shane Ryu. The making of Illmatic is itself a grand and thrilling tale. It cast the young emcee as a preeminent project philosopher, with lyrics as sharp as his eye for detail. NasвЂ™ rich lyricism is put to use exploring death and incarceration, extolling the power of ambition, musing over the transient nature of life and remembering the friends whoвЂ™ve gone too soon.

It ainвЂ™t hard to tell that, a quarter of a century on, Illmatic still packs a serious punch.

Not only was the young emcee a spiritual successor to Rakim, one of the coldest to ever rock the mic, but he encapsulated вЂњthe attention to detail of Slick Rick, the urban realness of Kool G Rap and the vocal presence of Big Daddy Kane.вЂќ He seemed a realisation of hip hopвЂ™s potential a representation of what the artform could achieve. When the record dropped six months later, The Source ran a two-page spread that christened the Queensbridge emcee as вЂThe Second Coming.вЂ™ It was, in no uncertain terms, a landmark moment for hip hop. ItвЂ™s short, and every single song is incredible.вЂќ вЂ“ Jonathan Schecter I put in my bag, got back on the train to New York and I put in my Walkman and what I hear is probably the greatest hip-hop album of all time. Schwartz rummaged around his cluttered desk and handed Schecter a cassette. вЂњBy the way,вЂќ mentioned Schecter as they wrapped up, вЂњI was wondering if you have any Nas?вЂќ He recalls Schwartz reacting with surprise, as if NasвЂ™ two cuts вЂ“ Main SourceвЂ™s вЂњ Live At The BBQвЂќ and Zebrahead single вЂњ HalftimeвЂќ вЂ“ hadnвЂ™t exactly set the East Coast ablaze. The conversation turns from established artists and business arrangements to the new and exciting, chief amongst which is a teenager from Queensbridge with little more than a track to his name. Jonathan Schecter, co-founder of The Source, is in a meeting with Ruffhouse Records founder and CEO Chris Schwartz. ThatвЂ™s right: there ainвЂ™t no filler here.

WeвЂ™re breaking down the samples throughout the massive album, from killer to killer. Whilst it might not have been the most immediately impactful of the yearвЂ™s debuts, it still stands as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. If 1994 is one of hip hopвЂ™s greatest years, then Illmatic is one of the richest cherries atop the proverbial cake.

Nas New York State Of Mind Acapella