Nas’ renowned debut album, “Illmatic” turns 21 today. If you’re a fan of the art form, and you’re not familiar (or you just want a reminder of how ground breaking this album was) have a listen to one of the greatest hip-hop tracks of all time.
From Wikipedia:
Best of D&D Studios, Vol. 1. Steve ‘Flash’ Juon of RapReviews.com states:
| “ | “[Illmatic] was to be an album steeped in the rich traditions of hip-hop history, mixed with the most advanced verbal styles and fat beats that could be put on wax. And if it couldn’t be set off any more right already, the DJ Premier produced “N.Y. State of Mind” was designed to knock you right off your feet. Primo’s knack for finding the illest piano loops and matching them to pounding beats was perfected in this track, and paired with a Rakim sample on the chorus that provided the mental link for an analogy most rap heads had already made by now: Nas was the NEW Rakim on the block.[9] |
Robert H Myers 
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