Illmatic, released April 19, 1994, unleashes Nas's seminal debut assault on Queensbridge life through razor-sharp lyricism over timeless beats on iconic tracks like "N.Y. State of Mind," "The World Is Yours," "One Love," and "It Ain't Hard to Tell" recorded at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City.last+1

Secured via MC Serch's intervention with Columbia Records, the album drew elite production from DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself during 1992-1993 sessions capturing raw street narratives from his youth in the projects.wikipedia+1

Debuting at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 with slow-burn sales to gold status yet earning universal 5-mic acclaim from The Source, Illmatic endures as the undisputed blueprint of conscious East Coast hip-hop mastery.nas.fandom+1

Tracklist

• The Genesis

• N.Y. State of Mind

• Life's a Bitch

• The World Is Yours

• Halftime

• Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)

• One Love

• One Mic

• It Ain't Hard to Tell