Illmatic XX [20th Anniversary Edition]
by Nas
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Apr 15, 2014
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 293 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 265 out of 293
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 293
  3. Negative: 26 out of 293
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  1. FizzyFrenzy
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    Debatably the best album of all time. Nas brings an approach to lyrics that almost nobody had done before and very little have attempted after. I am just in love with this entire project, and if I had to make a criticism it would be that it's too short, especially since we haven't gotten another project like this from Nas. Incredible album, for the average listener, and the hardcore fans,Debatably the best album of all time. Nas brings an approach to lyrics that almost nobody had done before and very little have attempted after. I am just in love with this entire project, and if I had to make a criticism it would be that it's too short, especially since we haven't gotten another project like this from Nas. Incredible album, for the average listener, and the hardcore fans, can't recommend this album enough.

    Easy 10/10.    … Expand
  2. mckenniegoat
    Nov 22, 2022
    9
    amazing, aged like fine wine------------------------------------------------
  3. ETF
    Sep 10, 2022
    10
    the best rap album ever created. the fact nas can be as technical as he was lyrically and still tell as story, is the stuff even the highest of legends dream of.
  4. Artemii
    Jun 13, 2022
    10
    Each and every song on this album is perfect filled with lyricism,storytelling delivered by Nas's crazy flow.
  5. hungeryuh
    Oct 19, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. NAS knew that he took advantage of the moment when he could only appear in one place. More than a decade later, NAS said hip-hop was dead, but the world belonging to him began to disappear on illmatic, but we can still call it from the first rumble of the train… Expand
  6. Lilstanek
    Aug 31, 2021
    10
    definitely one of the best and most important album for entire hip hop genre
  7. AlmightyBigC
    Aug 19, 2021
    10
    Best Hip Hop album in the 90s and top five albums of all time. The way he painted his childhood experiences from the street life into poetry is like no other.
  8. HIPHOPREVIEWS
    Apr 21, 2021
    10
    In general, Illmatic is a Hip-Hop masterpiece and arguably the greatest of all time. Nas's beats were produced by the famous Dj Premiere, who was well-known after the release of the album. What also makes this special, is the fact that it's all solo with a 45 minutes of smart lines colourful rhyme schemes and perfect delivery. The 20th anniversary edition that make it better but we allIn general, Illmatic is a Hip-Hop masterpiece and arguably the greatest of all time. Nas's beats were produced by the famous Dj Premiere, who was well-known after the release of the album. What also makes this special, is the fact that it's all solo with a 45 minutes of smart lines colourful rhyme schemes and perfect delivery. The 20th anniversary edition that make it better but we all know that the extra tracks were only so his adience won't say that they listen to it, but it is still a Perfect Album.… Expand
  9. Hendo250
    Apr 6, 2021
    8
    this album is a 8 this album is a 8 this album is a 8 this album is a 8 this album is a 8
  10. chickensusu
    Feb 24, 2021
    10
    Best hip hop album of all time 10/10
    Best hip hop album of all time 10/10
    Best hip hop album of all time 10/10
  11. sambartlett2004
    Feb 2, 2021
    9
    This is my review for the original illmatic which isn’t on metacritic for some reason. This album has a very gritty style that fits Nas’s rapping super well. The strongest part of this album is definitely the lyricism. Nas portrays a side of New York that most other media up to that point has ignored. He does this through his gritty production and genius writing. Overall a great album andThis is my review for the original illmatic which isn’t on metacritic for some reason. This album has a very gritty style that fits Nas’s rapping super well. The strongest part of this album is definitely the lyricism. Nas portrays a side of New York that most other media up to that point has ignored. He does this through his gritty production and genius writing. Overall a great album and excellent introduction Nas.… Expand
  12. Mikehunt97
    Dec 21, 2020
    10
    Illmatic is the greatest rap album of all time!!!!! If you haven' t heard it than listen to it asap and I promise you will be amazed. Words cannot express how outstanding this album is. I easily give it an 11/10.
  13. trefnijrk
    Nov 28, 2020
    10
    ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
  14. LogosKal
    Aug 28, 2020
    10
    Straight up the top 5 greatest rap albums of all time. Heavily incaptivating, skipping a single track from this album is a treason to hiphop.
  15. raygao
    Mar 21, 2020
    10
    Original illmatic, the great **** album of all time!! Every trap is unskippable, stands out on its own
  16. BigApple3AM
    Jan 25, 2020
    10
    Forget about what edition this is. Illmatic is a staple of hip-hop and it’s still an easy argument to make that it is the greatest LP ever recorded. It’s beyond review at this point. You shouldn’t need anyone to convince you to listen if you haven’t already. You’ll never hear someone bring up a contender for greatest album of all time without it battling Nas’ 1994 masterpiece of NewForget about what edition this is. Illmatic is a staple of hip-hop and it’s still an easy argument to make that it is the greatest LP ever recorded. It’s beyond review at this point. You shouldn’t need anyone to convince you to listen if you haven’t already. You’ll never hear someone bring up a contender for greatest album of all time without it battling Nas’ 1994 masterpiece of New York boom bap.… Expand
  17. Gods
    Jan 22, 2020
    10
    I mean it's a rap staple arguably the second greatest rap album of all time, this deserves way higher
  18. Gabercritic
    Oct 10, 2019
    10
    The best hip hop album in history
    Hip hop will never see something great like that album
  19. Ryanmo55
    Sep 14, 2019
    10
    This album is amazing i love it , i didn’t listen to this album completely until 2015 and i believe this album is top 2 with only paid in full by rakim . Nas is amazing this album is timeless i love this mans work, he was only 17-19 when working on illmatic this man is incredible this was an instant classic Back then i can tell
  20. Connorcox1997
    Mar 16, 2019
    10
    Back in the year, 1994 a new rapper named Nas released his debut studio album called album Illmatic and since the album release, it became one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Nas Flow and rhymes are fantastic. And in this album, he's a great storyteller. Like in the songs "Lifes a ***** ft AZ" and the song "One Love" produced by the great Q-Tip. But my absolute favorite songBack in the year, 1994 a new rapper named Nas released his debut studio album called album Illmatic and since the album release, it became one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Nas Flow and rhymes are fantastic. And in this album, he's a great storyteller. Like in the songs "Lifes a ***** ft AZ" and the song "One Love" produced by the great Q-Tip. But my absolute favorite song from the album is "The World is Yours." The song became popular back then, and it still is in today's Hip Hop. Nas's Illmatic is an instant classic, and if you haven't heard this album, I highly recommend it. 10/10… Expand
  21. harshsb
    Mar 2, 2019
    10
    It's not difficult to see why "Illmatic" by Nas is often quoted as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, a pure testimony to the way hip-hop can be curated and used as a tool of wordcraft, to send a message over beautiful sounds and sharp detailing in every crevasse. Nas displays true lyrical genius, sending home every bar with perfect execution, whilst remaining fresh in everyIt's not difficult to see why "Illmatic" by Nas is often quoted as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, a pure testimony to the way hip-hop can be curated and used as a tool of wordcraft, to send a message over beautiful sounds and sharp detailing in every crevasse. Nas displays true lyrical genius, sending home every bar with perfect execution, whilst remaining fresh in every way. Illmatic is a work of art, which exceeds the expectations and sets the bar as a masterpiece; true, utter, poetry.… Expand
  22. minimumhatred
    Jun 16, 2018
    10
    When I say there is not a single bad track on this album I mean it, there are a lot of albums which I say were the best of a certain decade or timespan but overall this is not just the best rap album of the 90s it is the best of all time. Highlight tracks really are all of them but if you want the best of the best, NY State Of Mind, Lifes A **** One Love & The World Is Yours
  23. OGHipHopCritic
    Jun 11, 2018
    10
    (This review is just based on the original Illmatic, which was released in 1994 and the remixes on Illmatic XX will not be considered). 100 which is a 10. This is by far the greatest rap album of all time. There is no doubt that this album is perfect in every way. The production which included some DJ Premier works, was on point and perfect. The lyrics was amazing and once again perfect.(This review is just based on the original Illmatic, which was released in 1994 and the remixes on Illmatic XX will not be considered). 100 which is a 10. This is by far the greatest rap album of all time. There is no doubt that this album is perfect in every way. The production which included some DJ Premier works, was on point and perfect. The lyrics was amazing and once again perfect. There was not a single second of this album that could be fixed. In his track it Ain't Hard to Tell, he samples Michael Jackson's Human Nature and makes bodies the track. Songs such as Represent and NY State of Mind are just some of the craziest beats that the human ear could hear. Life's a b*tch with AZ, was a lyrically genius track. If you thought AZ's verse was GOAT, listen to the Nas verse that follows. I could listen to this album all day, everyday and never get enough of this album. Only problem was that the bar that Nas set on Illmatic was way too high for him to reach in any of his later albums which is probably why we think all his other albums weren't too good. Strewth.… Expand
  24. JoeBennet14
    Nov 28, 2017
    10
    Simply put, this is (a re-release of) the best hip-hop record of all time. Incredible lyrics, incredible verses, incredible songs. The rating says 10, but it should be 11. Without a doubt my favourite album.
  25. FruitJuice
    Jul 18, 2017
    10
    Original illmatic rating here.....................................................................................................................................................
  26. henrikeferrero
    May 31, 2017
    10
    Illmatic is the the best hip hop album ever, the samples are awesome, the poetry and the way that Nas write make you feel the things that he lived to write this masterpiece of human culture
  27. Jensen67
    May 25, 2017
    10
    Treating this review as Illmatic not Illmatic XX so I'm not speaking on any of the remixes or anything but this is arguably the best hip hop album of all time. There just isn't anything wrong with it.

    Best songs: N.Y. State of MInd / It Ain't Hard To Tell / The World Is Yours
  28. bdurmaz
    Apr 29, 2017
    9
    Although the remixes don't contribute anything, the album itself is and will be a classic. It defined a generation and hopefully will continue defining future generations.
  29. Mesmerize
    Aug 9, 2016
    10
    10.0
    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
  30. mc_ryn
    Nov 28, 2015
    10
    The living bible of hip-hop. The original is more raw, but this is basically the same experience of the living testament of hip-hop. Lyrically and production wise, this is the pinnacle of perfection.
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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Universal acclaim - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Nov 6, 2014
    78
    The Demos, Remixes & Live Radio half of Illmatic XX, the 20th-anniversary celebration of the Queensbridge rapper's seminal debut, deviates the right direction from its 10-year predecessor.
    Read full review
  2. The Wire
    Jul 21, 2014
    70
    No album in hiphop history has been less in need of a padding. [Jun 2014, p.63]
  3. NOW Magazine
    May 22, 2014
    100
    Illmatic is timeless because of Nas’s introspective, hyper-detailed approach to his daily life--even to moments that don’t seem particularly notable.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »