NaS - Illmatic, 20 Years old. Illmatic XX (2014) releasing next week.

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Ninja Dom

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On April 19, 1994 Nas released his debut album, Illmatic. It's nearly 20 years ago and this album is considered by many to be probably the greatest hip-hop album ever made.

To celebrate Nas is releasing Illmatic XX - a remastered version of the original with a second disc featuring unreleased tracks and remixes from 1994 and the Illmatic sessions.
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Tracklisting said:
Disc 1: Remastered original album

1. The Genesis

2. N.Y. State Of Mind

3. Life’s A Bitch

4. The World Is Yours

5. Halftime

6. Memory Lane (Sittin’ In Da Park)

7. One Love

8. One Time 4 Your Mind

9. Represent

10. It Ain’t Hard To Tell

Disc 2: Demos, Remixes & Live Radio

1. I’m A Villain (previously unreleased)

2. The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show on WKCR October 28, 1993 (previously unreleased freestyle)

3. Halftime (Butcher Remix)

4. It Ain’t Hard To Tell (Remix)(promo single)

5. One Love (LG Main Mix)

6. Life’s A Bitch (Arsenal Mix)(promo single)

7. One Love (One L Main Mix)

8. The World Is Yours (Tip Mix)

9. It Ain’t Hard To Tell (The Stink Mix)(UK single)

10. It Ain’t Hard To Tell (The Laidback Remix)(UK single)
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Now my personal experience of Nas was first hearing him on the Main Source album, Breaking Atoms. I bought that album on vinyl and the best song on there was the "posse cut", Live From The BBQ. Nas's verse blew my mind.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mppf1xhSh6E

After that I heard him on an MC Serch track called Back to the Grill again and the fever set in. I had to have Illmatic as soon as I could. I was always into Kool G Rap & Big Daddy Kane and Nas was just as good, if not, BETTER than them.

This then started my love affair with the NY rap scene - Shaolin & Queensbridge. I was crazy for it all.
 
But who's doing the remastering?

Could sound like hot doo doo for all we know.
 
Honestly the 10th anniversary is a great remastering. It's my go to when I listen. Not sure what they're going to do for this one.
 
SephCast said:
Honestly the 10th anniversary is a great remastering. It's my go to when I listen. Not sure what they're going to do for this one.
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It's the definitive version of the album for sure. That's why I'm wondering who thought this was necessary (or if they even really remastered it and are just pushing out the same shit with a new cover).
 
wenis said:
It's the definitive version of the album for sure. That's why I'm wondering who thought this was necessary (or if they even really remastered it and are just pushing out the same shit with a new cover).
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Fine with me. The second disc of unreleased stuff is the real point of the album anyways.
 
Gonna have to get this - would be my first music purchase in who-knows-when thanks to just streaming music for the last set of years. And I'm someone who personally and combined with my dad has albums and records by the booklet cases and crates.
 
He released a remastered version in 2004 too. Ah whatever, it's my favorite album of all time. I'll buy it a third time.
 
Just preordered the vinyl as it comes with the MP3. I don't own a car anymore, so no need for CDs!
 
His performance on Fallon was great, especially One Love. Loved the conversational way he did it with Q-Tip.

Illmatic is a perfect album, definitely going to get the vinyl.
 
Oh and I made this post a while back, a bunch of unreleased and demo tapes from Nas in 1991-1994 that someone put together as an album

Guevara said:
There's a lot of confusion about this record. While some of it is undoubtedly from 1991, much of it is actually from '92-93 and even from the recording sessions that would produce Illmatic. Still I think the album overall holds together, sounds like an album, and is the (second) best thing to come from Nas. While it is rougher than Illmatic and his later albums, it just has an immediacy and urgency that no other rap album can match. It is also one of the bleakest portrayals of early 90's New York in any medium.

Someone (not me) went to a lot of trouble to put all of this album on YouTube. Click the links below to hear the majesty. If you only want to try one track, I recommend "Life Is Like A Dice Game".

Tracklisting:
1. Understanding (feat. AZ & Biz Markie)
2. Life Is Like A Dice Game
3. Just Another Day In The Projects
4. Déjà Vu
5. Live At The BBQ (Main Source feat. Nas, Fatal & Akinyele)
6. Back To The Grill (MC Serch feat. Chubb Rock, Nas, & Red Hot Lover Tone)
7. Everything Is Real
8. I’m A Villain
9. Number One With A Bullet (feat. Kool G. Rap & Whiteboy)
10. Represent ‘93
11. Nas Will Prevail (a.k.a. It Ain’t Hard To Tell)

Also, if you want to hear about these early days from Nas himself I recommend "Surviving the Times".
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SephCast said:
Honestly the 10th anniversary is a great remastering. It's my go to when I listen. Not sure what they're going to do for this one.
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I bought it several years ago and remember hearing an annoying, subtle clipping in parts. Later made a waveform comparison after ordering the regular CD version and the volume on all the tracks was raised. Was happy with the original version, so I ended up returning it.
 
I HAVE to pick this up! I remember "borrowing" this CD many times from my older brother, way back when it was originally released...

...Man I feel old...
 
apocalidiot said:
Where do you hear clipped audio?
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Some remasters are know to boost levels of the audio for no god damn reason causing clipping at times. The Nirvana remaster had this shit.Haven't heard this Nas Remaster, just begin a illmatic hater. Gaf-Hop knows why I don't put that album up there.
 
ShinobiFist said:
Some remasters are know to boost levels of the audio for no god damn reason causing clipping at times. The Nirvana remaster had this shit.Haven't heard this Nas Remaster, just begin a illmatic hater. Gaf-Hop knows why I don't put that album up there.
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Remasters typically use things called limiters when they're compressing the shit out of it too. It would surprise mea great deal if this Illmatic remaster has clipped audio in it. That being said it is unnecessary to remaster Illmatic, but that can be said for most remasters.

Will be cool to check out the unreleased/extra bullshit
 
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