Nas’s 1994 debut album, widely regarded as a hip-hop classic, is titled Illmatic.
Released on April 19, 1994, by Columbia Records, Illmatic introduced Nasir Jones as a major voice in New York rap. Its songs portray life, ambition, danger, and street culture in Queensbridge, the New York housing project where Nas grew up.
The album’s production came from several prominent producers, including DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, and L.E.S. Its best-known tracks include “N.Y. State of Mind,” “The World Is Yours,” “It Ain’t Hard to Tell,” and “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park).”
Illmatic is sometimes confused with Nas’s 1996 follow-up, It Was Written, which became his first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. Illmatic instead became famous for its concise nine-track structure and lasting critical influence.