The Genesis - Nas

           A great opener to Nas' great opener onto the hip-hop scene. It would become the intro to one of the best hip-hop albums the world has ever seen. With a classic beat from the one and only DJ Grand Wizard Theodore. Has that old school vibe of course. Hearing the sound of the subway trains roll by. Which is one of my favorite qualities in certain music. When they really put you in the world, it really helps someone that is fascinated by something they can't experience. This track does just that, makes you imagine and wonder what is was like. I imagine Nas, AZ, and Jungle to be sitting up in a recording studio in the projects, as the subway comes riding through the city.
          After the train goes by this is played, and Nas' verse from "Live at the BBQ" plays in the background:

Hector: And you are sitting home doing this shit? You should be earning a medal for this

stop fucking around and be a man, there ain't nothing out here for you

Zoro: oh yes there is... this!

This is piece of the film Wild Style, a conversation between Hector and Zoro. Right after that the Grand Wizard beat kicks in. Nas, AZ, and Jungle begin to talk as the beat plays. Right off the bat, Jungle says:

Yo Nas Yo what the fuck is this bullshit on the radio son?

That line is always interesting, just proving Illmatic was ahead of its time. Plus, the stuff we here on the radio is actually bullshit. The music endorsed with the most money, contains the least amount of talent. Just interesting to imagine what exactly was the "bullshit on the radio" 20 years ago. They go in to discuss to keep it real, without a record label. And what always sticks out to me is when AZ says:

Regardless of how I go down, we gonna keep it real

Crazy now, because as a matter of fact AZ has gone the indie route in terms of hip-hop. Yet, Nas and him have kept it real. It is so crazy to think about that, and look at them both now, keeping that promise. Considering so many artists have changed through wealth, thinking that because they are mainstream, they can sit back and make simple music.

         All this and "Subway Theme"; the beat playing by Grand Wizard; really put you into another world. The beat is very catchy. Crazy drums is all you needed back then. That is indeed one of my favorite qualities of old school Hip-Hop. The simple structure really helps you get laid back. I mean trust me I love complex beats, they really mesmerize me. A nice balance of simple and complex is always welcome in my library.

The rest of the story of Illmatic will be painted. While mine isn't as complex as Late Registration, it certainly puts me in a fascinating time period.