Nas - Illmatic [Clear] (LP) Vinyl

Illmatic was Nas's debut album, released on 19 April 1994 by Columbia Records. Ten tracks across two sides, it drew production from DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Large Professor and L.E.S., and it established the Queensbridge rapper as one of the central voices in New York hip hop.

The Album

Recording and mixing took place at D&D Recording, Unique Recording, Chung King Studios and Battery Studios in New York, with Faith Newman and MC Serch as executive producers. Nas co-produced "Life's A Bitch" alongside L.E.S.; the track carries a guest verse from AZ and a trumpet part from Olu Dara.

DJ Premier produced "N.Y. State Of Mind", "Memory Lane (Sittin' In Da Park)" and "Represent". Large Professor handled "Halftime", "One Time 4 Your Mind" and "It Ain't Hard To Tell", while Pete Rock produced "The World Is Yours" and Q-Tip produced "One Love". Sleeve photography is by Danny Clinch, with art direction by Josephine DiDonato and design by Aimée Macauley.

This Pressing

This is the European Clear Classics edition, released on 12 March 2021 under Columbia catalogue number 19439843111. The album is pressed on a single clear transparent vinyl LP by Optimal Media in the EU, and the sleeve carries the original 1994 artwork. A printed inner sleeve and a download card are included.

Tracklist

40 Side North

1. The Genesis
2. N.Y. State Of Mind
3. Life's A Bitch
4. The World Is Yours
5. Halftime

41st Side South

1. Memory Lane (Sittin' In Da Park)
2. One Love
3. One Time 4 Your Mind
4. Represent
5. It Ain't Hard To Tell