VINYL FORMAT. Please note, this LP is an official Sony release, but does not include artwork. Often cited as one of the best hip-hop albums of the '90s, Illmatic is the undisputed classic upon which Nas' reputation rests. It helped spearhead the artistic renaissance of New York hip-hop in the post-Chronic era, leading a return to street aesthetics. Yet even if Illmatic marks the beginning of a shift away from Native Tongues-inspired alternative rap, it's strongly rooted in that sensibility. Fo   [ read more ]

2xLP $22.99

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Often cited as one of the best hip-hop albums of the '90s, Illmatic is the undisputed classic upon which Nas' reputation rests. It helped spearhead the artistic renaissance of New York hip-hop in the post-Chronic era, leading a return to street aesthetics. Yet even if Illmatic marks the beginning of a shift away from Native Tongues-inspired alternative rap, it's strongly rooted in that sensibility. For one, Nas employs some of the most sophisticated jazz-rap producers around: {   [ read more ]

CD $7.59

VINYL FORMAT. I don't like to compare past and present works of artists, because contexts and times change, but that combination of lyrical inspiration and consistent production hasn't happened since Illmatic. His insight in dealing with black identity and race relations is staggering, and he never once sounds pretentious or preachy. He addresses the issues from a mature, intellectual, and rational point of view. Though he expresses his anger, he never resorts to what he refers to on "N.I.G.G.E.R." a   [ read more ]

2xLP $13.99

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N.W.A.  Straight Outta Compton, Beastie Boys  The Mix-Up, Amy Winehouse  Back to Black

VINYL FORMAT. Throughout his storied career, which began with 1994's classic Illmatic and has spanned the last decade with over 12 million albums sold, Nas has been more than just the genre's foremost lyricist and thinker. He has become a statesman, some would argue hip-hop's "conscience." Now, with the release of his long-awaited Def Jam debut--the aptly-titled Hip-Hop Is Dead--Nas returns to his role as mentor and teacher, his legendary mic skills as sharp as ever, and takes today's young ra   [ read more ]

LP $13.99

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Joy Division  Closer (reissue) , Pere Ubu  Art of Walking, My Bloody Valentine  Isn't Anything

Throughout his storied career, which began with 1994's classic Illmatic and has spanned the last decade with over 12 million albums sold, Nas has been more than just the genre's foremost lyricist and thinker. He has become a statesman, some would argue hip-hop's "conscience." Now, with the release of his long-awaited Def Jam debut--the aptly-titled Hip-Hop Is Dead--Nas returns to his role as mentor and teacher, his legendary mic skills as sharp as ever, and takes today's young rappers back to    [ read more ]

CD $15.99

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Andrew Bird  The Mysterious Production Of Eggs, Lil Wayne  The Carter 2, Ghostface Killah  Fishscale

I don't like to compare past and present works of artists, because contexts and times change, but that combination of lyrical inspiration and consistent production hasn't happened since Illmatic. His insight in dealing with black identity and race relations is staggering, and he never once sounds pretentious or preachy. He addresses the issues from a mature, intellectual, and rational point of view. Though he expresses his anger, he never resorts to what he refers to on "N.I.G.G.E.R." as "reverse rac   [ read more ]

CD $15.99

Other people also bought:

Beanie Sigel  The Solution, Roctober  Issue #14, Roctober  Issue #15

God's Son is an emotional album, imbued with recent experiences in Nas' personal life, particularly his bout with Jay-Z and the unfortunate death of his mother, Ann Jones. These experiences had challenged the self-reappointed King of New York, attacking both his street status and his heart, and he in turn looked within, embracing both his craft and his spirit. Brazenly declaring himself God's Son, in tribute partly to his mother's legacy as well as his own increasingly Jesus-like one, Nas eme   [ read more ]

CD $7.59

Already considered one of hip-hop's great MCs, a claim made even more believable by the fact that he's able to continue to release relevant, often controversial, material -- material that, while perhaps not as great as what was on his debut, Illmatic, is still interesting and intelligent and generally pretty decent -- Nas has been due for a true greatest-hits collection for a while now. The aptly titled Greatest Hits does just that, tracing his career chronologically, from the aforementioned <   [ read more ]

CD $17.99

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For his second album, It Was Written, Nas hired a bunch of hip-hop's biggest producers -- including Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, Stretch, and Trackmasters -- to help him create the musical bed for his daring, groundbreaking rhymes. Although that rhyme style isn't as startling on It Was Written as it was on his debut, Illmatic, Nas has deepened his talents, creating a complex series of rhymes that not only flow, but manage to tell coherent stories as well. Furthermore, Nas often conc   [ read more ]

CD $7.59

Often cited as one of the best hip-hop albums of the '90s, Illmatic is the undisputed classic upon which Nas' reputation rests. It helped spearhead the artistic renaissance of New York hip-hop in the post-Chronic era, leading a return to street aesthetics. Yet even if Illmatic marks the beginning of a shift away from Native Tongues-inspired alternative rap, it's strongly rooted in that sensibility. For one, Nas employs some of the most sophisticated jazz-rap producers around: {   [ read more ]

CD $7.59

CD Single $2.83

Often cited as one of the best hip-hop albums of the '90s, Illmatic is the undisputed classic upon which Nas' reputation rests. It helped spearhead the artistic renaissance of New York hip-hop in the post-Chronic era, leading a return to street aesthetics. Yet even if Illmatic marks the beginning of a shift away from Native Tongues-inspired alternative rap, it's strongly rooted in that sensibility. For one, Nas employs some of the most sophisticated jazz-rap producers around: {   [ read more ]

CD $7.59