Illmatic is only nine actual songs (not counting opener “The Genesis'), and while it was reportedly released in haste to combat the rampant bootlegging of an early version, it’s no less heavy a listen. As the critical rap universe would assure him, the world belonged to Nas himself-a New York rap prodigy hailing from the talent-rich Queensbridge housing projects whose 10-track debut realized the promise he’d shown as a guest MC on Main Source’s “Live at the Barbeque.” And while the album was immediately recognized as a gem by those in the know, its impact on hip-hop at large would only fully be appreciated in the years following. And if he didn’t know it going into the release of Illmatic, he knew almost immediately after. Four tracks into his debut album, he told listeners, “The world is yours,” but he was wrong.
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