Illmatic Closing

           Perhaps the greatest hip-hop album of all time, that is most certainly debatable. However, it is no doubt an incredible work of art. Made by what I think the greatest rapper of all time. Everything about the album is so real and so well done. Including some of the realest depictions of QB street life, the rawest beats, and no doubt some of the best raps I have heard in my life. However I can't forget that it has that nostalgia feel at this point in time. Considering I haven't actually had it since it came out, I have had it for less than a year. And because it is so old it sort of takes you back and imagine all sorts of things. That is why Illmatic isn't just an amazing album, it is personally an untouchable project, because of that old-school mystique. The new stuff can't have that quality yet that would be impossible. Yet, in 30 years the years between his albums will come together, and all blend to make something you can't decipher. But for now that is why Illmatic is Nas' best album. The realest album of his. Although don't get me wrong, all his stuff is very real, that is what makes Nas my choice for best rapper. He has an amazing flow, rhymes, and has perhaps the longest consistency of any MC ever. About 20 years rapping and he hasn't sold out or changed his style(not that changing styles is bad, see Kanye West).

This album will be timeless. When you have Nas on the tracks, and production from Premo, Large Professor, L.E.S., Q-Tip, and Pete Rock it is supposed to be timeless.

Now we can only hope that Nas can release something like Illmatic again. However, like I said it has that older feel to it. And in fact almost with all his albums you can ask, "but is it as good as Illmatic?". Maybe that Illmatic was sort of a curse. Think about it, with a legendary debut it is hard to out do it, although it is common for the 1st album to be people's favorite. Yet we can always hope to see Nas come back, although he is still keeping it real, despite his success, making great music. Again time will tell!

Hopefully you enjoyed this review as much as I did, I hope you found a similarity of interests in the tracks covered.

It Ain't Hard to Tell- Nas

           A nice finisher to Illmatic. Nas drops some illmatic lyrics explaining his raps and the kind of quality they are, a typical message of rappers. Not that I like the boastful part of rapping, but if it is high-quality then of course I won't mind, because they are bragging the right way. Ha, if that sounds right. Anyways, a great rhythm with one of the catchiest drums I ever heard. Not only having that boom bip feel, I think that shall be a new hip-hop term! But the beat basically goes....
           CRAZY! Produced by Large Professor, the drums really run the show with the beautifully altered vocals being played at the same time. And that bassline is killer to! Also the "AH!" thrown in there you will probably here something very similar to it in a lot of hip-hop songs. Interesting whether just similar, or the sample is used I don't know, regardless that yelling can be found in a few Common sounds, as well as others I am sure. The drums just go like this!

ba-boom boom bip boom boom bip! I know, really complicated! But seriously, something about it just gets you jumping.

The LIST of samples:

• "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson 
• "N.T." by Kool & the Gang
• "Long Red" by Mountain
• "Why Can't People Be Colors Too?" by Whatnauts
• "Slow Dance" by Stanley Clarke
• "What Do You Want from Me Woman" by The Blue Jays
• "Sorcerer of Isis" by Power of Zeus

The beat is absolutely terrific. With the synths; sampled from "Human Nature" jamming in the background with Nas and the drums and bassline go on. During the chorus you get the vocals and that jazzy feel. "Long Red" is the sample that contains the "AH!" and the killer beat from the drums. Drums also from "Slow Dance" & "N.T.", with I believe the brass you here from "Why Can't People Be Colors Too?". A lot of samples going on and I am having quite the time to break them all down I will try my best. "Slow Dance" was used for some of the bassline from what I can tell. Last but not least, "Sorcerer of Isis" was used for more drums. I am guessing that leaves "Human Nature" with the vocals, I am not entirely sure. What Do You Want From Me Woman" is used for the brass you here. Man difficult to decipher. However, certainly a lot of sampling went into this piece really taking you everywhere in music. 

Definitely a great way to go out on this album. But I'll sum up my thoughts with the now-traditional closing. 

One Time 4 Your Mind - Nas

            The beat just sounds evil from the start. Not a whole lot to say about this one, just some illmatic rhymes, and a fantastic flow. Nothing special, but still a killer track. A lot of the song is just about him chillin'. Really just what Nas does in his leisure. The beat is really something to chill to. Also some cool punchlines, and he really does well to throw out some lines to boast how he works hard, and succeeds in his rap. Large Professor and Nas have a nice call and response chorus. Large Professor also produced the track.
           The many lines he throws out are all genius. Whether he is chilling out:

I grab the buddha, get my crew to buy beers
And watch a flick, illin and root for the villian, huh
Plus every morning, I go out and love it sort of chilly
Then I send a shorty from my block to the store for Phillies
After being blessed by the herb's essence
I'm back to my rest, ten minutes some odd seconds
That's where I got the honey at, spends the night for sexing
Cheap lubrication, Lifestyle protection

Or maybe he is working hard as an MC, to chill for later:

Think I'll dim the lights then inhale, it stimulates
Floating like I'm on the North 95 Interstate
Never plan to stop, when I write my hand is hot
And expand alot from the Wiz to Camelot
The parlayer, I'll make ya heads bop Pah
I shine a light on perpetrators like a cop's car
From day to night, I play the mic and you'll thank God
I wreck shit so much, the microphone'll need a paint job

Here you see he likes to chill a lot, but when he starts rapping his hand is hot. Implying his lyrics are hot, or in this case Illmatic.

            Definitely a laid back tune. Produced by Large Professor, with a very deep bass line. A track to lay back and just start nodding your head to. Sampling Gary Burton's "Walter L". "One Time 4 Your Mind" samples the melody.  Really the chorus brings out the intensity and sinister feel from the song.

Definitely a killer, listen one time for your mind!

Hafltime - Nas

           This song proved that Nas could destroy a track no matter how simple, and he could flow with any beat. Hafltime is the showcase of that to this day, except even thought the beat was simple, production was still tight. Some of my favorite lines actually came from this song. A lot of clever rhymes, and some of his famous ones are in this. With the classic opening, "Nasty Nas in your area, about to cause mass hysteria". Damn a clever line, that wasn't even part of the verse.
            He did start some mass hysteria with this track that is for sure. Every verse is just fluid, and sounds hot as hell. He also puts a little story in their, but for the most part he is just spitting rhymes that are Illmatic. Some of the best of those are:

King poetic, too much flavor, I'm major
Atlanta ain't Brave-r, I'll pull a number like a pager
Cause I'm am ace when I face the bass
40-side is the place that is giving me grace
Now wait, another dose and you might be dead
And I'm a Nike head, I wear chains that excite the feds
And ain't a damn thing gonna change
I'ma performer (?) show the mic warmer was born to gain

I'm max like cassettes, I flex like sex
in your stereo sets, Nas will catch wreck
I used to hustle, now all I do is relax and strive
When I was young, I was a fan of the Jackson 5
I drop jewels, wear jewels, hope to never run it
With more kicks than a baby in a mother's stomach

I got to have it, I miss Mr. Magic
Versatile, my style switches like a faggot
But not bisexual, I'm an intellectual

n my place wit the bass and format
Explore rap, and tell me Nas ain't all that
And next time I rhyme, I be foul
Whenever I freestyle I see trial niggaz say I'm wow

And in the darkness, I'm heartless like when the NARCs hit
Word to Marcus Garvey I hardly sparked it
Cause when I blast the herb, that's my word
I be slayin them fast, doing this that and the third
But chill, past to Andre, and let's slay
I bag bitches up at John Jay, and hit a matinee

I could've just quoted the whole song, but these were my favorite parts. Like my goodness he puts a lot of words into each rhymes and makes every rhymes clever. This is clearly a song focusing on the rhymes.

            That isn't to say the beat isn't great to. The drums are top, really cool bass line as well. A Large Professor beat, and the whole Illmatic production team really put it together. So Halftime doesn't feel out of place, has the old-school feel. No electronics, just a simple beat to bob your head with. 

Samples:

Dead End- by Japanese Hair Cast, really shows Large Professors talent in filtering the drums. Ridiculous.

Soul Travelin'- Gary Byrd- samples the horns that you will hear in the chorus of Halftime. 

School Boy Crush- Average White Band- sampled in a lot of other hip-hop songs too! The vocals near the end of the sample are in the chorus of Halftime!

Wasn't too much to say for this post, but there is a lot to appreciate in this song. Hey! Maybe I didn't analyze something that you noticed! The beauty of music right there, everyone gets their own experience from each song.