What is the title of Nas's acclaimed 1994 debut studio album?

Nas’s acclaimed 1994 debut studio album is Illmatic. Released by Columbia Records on April 19, 1994, the album introduced Nasir Jones as a major voice in East Coast hip-hop and became a landmark of 1990s rap.

Nas recorded Illmatic mainly in New York during 1992 and 1993. Its songs draw heavily on his experiences growing up in the Queensbridge Houses in Queens, giving the album detailed narratives about street life, ambition, violence, friendship, and survival. The production came from a celebrated group of collaborators, including DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, and L.E.S., with Nas also receiving production credit.

The album initially sold modestly by blockbuster standards, partly because extensive bootlegging hurt its release. Its reputation grew steadily, and Illmatic was later certified platinum. It is often praised for its compact nine-track structure, intricate internal rhymes, and vivid storytelling. A common mix-up is choosing Stillmatic or It Was Written, both of which are later Nas albums.