GEARED UP 10

Now then Leeds, I'm DJ Wax On AKA the Wakefield Wonder, bringing you some knowledge and insight into the world of DJing and funky beats. Today I'm assuming the role of the Richard Keyes, and looking at a classic album of hip hop's "Golden Era"

Question: What's the worst thing Queensbridge veteran MC Nas has done in his career?
Answer: Debuted with an album like Illmatic.

At the tender age of 18, Nas was already well aquainted with MC Serch of 3rd Bass and legendary Queens hip hop producer Large Professor, and had recorded a verse for Live at the Barbeque on Main Source (Large Pro's group) album Breaking Atoms. He had also released his debut single Halftime for MC Serch's Zebrahead film soundtrack. At this early time in his career, Serch saw the talent he possessed and laboured vigorously to get him a record deal, and so Illmatic was born…

Released in 1994, Illmatic was near the end of hip hop's Golden Era, where New York had successfully fought back against the dominance of the West Coast G-Funk and Gangsta Rap, with a number of successful albums from acts like A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr and Wu-Tang Clan to name a few. And Serch's role as executive producer helped spread the word of Nas to heavyweight producers such as DJ Premier, Q-tip, and Pete Rock, who all wanted in.

The main thing about this album which sets it apart from any other hip hop album produced by multiple producers is the fluency and continuity of the sound. It's often apparent when an album has tracks by a variety of producers, and how ever good the tracks, it tends to be a collection of good songs rather than a good album. But Illmatic flows like any other good album you'll hear.

The superb word play and flow create images of life hustling on the streets of New York, but told by someone with a wisdom and hindsight far beyond that of his meagre 18 years. The storytelling equals, if not surpasses that of legends such as Kool G Rap, and when combined with the production, creates songs with the coldness of an arctic winter, and others with the warmth of a summer park jam.

And so to expand on my original question and answer, I can't think of many hip hop albums which could challenge this as the best ever, and it would be up with the best albums I've heard irrespective of genre. Unfortunately for Nas, it's never going to be easy to do anything as good as this for the rest of your career, no matter how hard you try.


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