'Illmatic' at 20: Nas Reflects on His Landmark Debut (1)

FUSE TV - 'Illmatic' at 20: Nas Reflects on His Landmark Debut (1)

The 'Illmatic' Origins

Though officially released on April 19th, 1994, Illmatic's own genesis can be traced back to almost three years earlier. It was the summer of 1991 and Queens-based hip hop trio Main Source released its acclaimed debut LP, Breaking Atoms. Buoyed by the dual talents of the group's emcee and in-house production wizard Large Professor, Breaking Atoms' penultimate track was "Live at the Barbeque" – a propulsive posse cut featuring one of the Professor's young protégés, a raw, 17-year-old then-unknown calling himself Nasty Nas. His obscurity would be short-lived.

When I heard 'Live at the Barbeque' I and I heard the way Nas spit I was just so blown away. No one was saying the crazy stuff that he was sayin' - DJ Premier

Imbued with indelibly nihilistic imagery, Nas' verse was delivered with a command and effortlessness that belied his newcomer status. His was the voice of a new rap generation for whom disaffection with any and all traditional social institutions fueled memorably outrageous boasts. But he was also savvy enough to avoid the novelty of mere shock value and acknowledge the currency of creativity.

Gabriel Iglesias Dishes On His "Second Favorites"

1m

Gabriel Iglesias Dishes On His "Second Favorites"

Smoothini Meets Waka Flocka Flame At His Home

1m

Smoothini Meets Waka Flocka Flame At His Home

Martin Moreno Faces His One-Handed Woes

2m

Martin Moreno Faces His One-Handed Woes

Clark Should Have An S On His Chest

2m

Clark Should Have An S On His Chest

Nick Cannon Talks His Personal Opinion on Marriage

1m

Nick Cannon Talks His Personal Opinion on Marriage

1000 On How Resilience & Consistency Launched His Rap Career

9m

1000 On How Resilience & Consistency Launched His Rap Career

Rene Casamalhuapa aka Doc on Following His "Untraditional" Path

7m

Rene Casamalhuapa aka Doc on Following His "Untraditional" Path

Christophe Roberts Shares His World of Sneaker Box Sculptures (Part 1)

5m

Christophe Roberts Shares His World of Sneaker Box Sculptures (Part 1)

Dikembe Mutombo on Adidas at Sneaker Con

5m

Dikembe Mutombo on Adidas at Sneaker Con

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep 1

3m

Unboxing with T-Pain at ComplexCon - Ep 1

Blue Devils' Lead Trumpet Player Toots His Own Horn at Harrelson Trumpet Shop

1m

Blue Devils' Lead Trumpet Player Toots His Own Horn at Harrelson Trumpet Shop

Free The Robots Reveals Where He Found One of His Rarest Records

1m

Free The Robots Reveals Where He Found One of His Rarest Records

Fluffy At Home Ep. 2: Gabriel Iglesias Shows Off His Vintage VW Bus Collection

2m

Fluffy At Home Ep. 2: Gabriel Iglesias Shows Off His Vintage VW Bus Collection

Fluffy At Home Ep. 1: So Fresh and So Clean

2m

Fluffy At Home Ep. 1: So Fresh and So Clean

Roddy Ricch & His Grandmother Reminisce While Cooking His Favorite Meal

2m

Roddy Ricch & His Grandmother Reminisce While Cooking His Favorite Meal

On Set At The Transcendent Season 2 Promo Shoot

1m

On Set At The Transcendent Season 2 Promo Shoot

That Hi-Octane Ish

20m

That Hi-Octane Ish

T-Pain Talks Developing His Unique Style While Cooking With His Mom

12m

T-Pain Talks Developing His Unique Style While Cooking With His Mom

Danny Trejo & His Son Discuss his Prison Past while Making Trejo’s Tacos

2m

Danny Trejo & His Son Discuss his Prison Past while Making Trejo’s Tacos

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Buchie Shares How His Passion Turned Into His Clothing Brand

14m

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Buchie Shares How His Passion Turned Into His Clothing Brand

Recap: Season 1, Episode 1

47s

Recap: Season 1, Episode 1

Recap: Season 1, Episode 1

1m

Recap: Season 1, Episode 1

Rogelio Dances His Way Around Philly

1m

Rogelio Dances His Way Around Philly

Gabriel Iglesias Runs His Ass Off

1m

Gabriel Iglesias Runs His Ass Off

King Bach Crashes Into His Ex

2m

King Bach Crashes Into His Ex

Mario Lopez: One On One

Mario Lopez: One On One

Ate Mile

8m

Ate Mile

Pusha T Breaks Down His ADIDAS Partnership

2m

Pusha T Breaks Down His ADIDAS Partnership

Carlos Niño Shares His All-Time Favorite Record

2m

Carlos Niño Shares His All-Time Favorite Record

I Played One on TV

46m

I Played One on TV

Gabriel Iglesias Reveals His Ideal Wrestling Name: Ask Fluffy

3m

Gabriel Iglesias Reveals His Ideal Wrestling Name: Ask Fluffy

Lauv Gets a Magic Trick Before His Firefly Set

2m

Lauv Gets a Magic Trick Before His Firefly Set

Alfred Robles Reveals His Top 3 No-Gym Workouts

1m

Alfred Robles Reveals His Top 3 No-Gym Workouts

Rogelio Shows His Acting Prowess In 'The Dark Military'

55s

Rogelio Shows His Acting Prowess In 'The Dark Military'

Sake One

10m

Sake One

Game On!

20m

Game On!

T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

1m

T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

Love at First Sight

24m

Love at First Sight

Bionka Performs At Beaux

1m

Bionka Performs At Beaux

Live at Home, Loser?

24m

Live at Home, Loser?

I Rank Velvet #1

21m

I Rank Velvet #1

American Obsessions Pt.1

20m

American Obsessions Pt.1

Best of Part 1

22m

Best of Part 1

Steve Aoki Meets His Puppet: Hollywood Puppet Shitshow First Date

1m

Steve Aoki Meets His Puppet: Hollywood Puppet Shitshow First Date

Hollywood Puppet Shitshow First Date: Wilmer Valderrama Meets His Puppet

56s

Hollywood Puppet Shitshow First Date: Wilmer Valderrama Meets His Puppet

Hollywood Puppet Shitshow First Date: Terry Crews Meets His Puppet

1m

Hollywood Puppet Shitshow First Date: Terry Crews Meets His Puppet

One Take Jake

20m

One Take Jake

On Call Miami

44m

On Call Miami

On Call LA

43m

On Call LA

Who's On Top?

1h 13m

Who's On Top?

One Busy Queen

21m

One Busy Queen

Stevie Nicks: Wild at Heart

3644s

Stevie Nicks: Wild at Heart

Chew On This

44m

Chew On This

On Call NYC

44m

On Call NYC

Leaning On Lena

20m

Leaning On Lena

Christophe Roberts Shares His World of Sneaker Box Sculptures (Part 2)

4m

Christophe Roberts Shares His World of Sneaker Box Sculptures (Part 2)

Hollywood Puppet Shitshow First Date: Damon Wayans Jr. Meets His Puppet

1m

Hollywood Puppet Shitshow First Date: Damon Wayans Jr. Meets His Puppet

Preview: Season 1, Episode 6

41s

Preview: Season 1, Episode 6

Season 2, Episode 1: Recap

55s

Season 2, Episode 1: Recap

Season 1, Episode 3: Recap

2m

Season 1, Episode 3: Recap

Season 1, Episode 3: Teaser

44s

Season 1, Episode 3: Teaser

1 Night in San Diego

1h 23m

1 Night in San Diego

Teaser: Season 1, Episode 4

42s

Teaser: Season 1, Episode 4

Recap: Season 1, Episode 2

47s

Recap: Season 1, Episode 2

Preview: Season 1, Episode 5

21s

Preview: Season 1, Episode 5

Recap: Season 1, Episode 4

58s

Recap: Season 1, Episode 4

Recap: Season 1, Episode 3

44s

Recap: Season 1, Episode 3

Rock the Runway - Pt 1

44m

Rock the Runway - Pt 1

Rapper Rich Quick Performs "Nice Guy" On 'Dancin' On Air'

3m

Rapper Rich Quick Performs "Nice Guy" On 'Dancin' On Air'

Ian Sings His Heart Out in "Starts With You Baby" Music Video

3m

Ian Sings His Heart Out in "Starts With You Baby" Music Video

Get A Taste of G Fella's Style with His Gangster Music Video

4m

Get A Taste of G Fella's Style with His Gangster Music Video

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

2m

Is Tossing Your Man's Salad The Way To His Heart: Dear Bambiana

Is Everything Love At The Carters?

39s

Is Everything Love At The Carters?

Superduper Kyle's Stay At Home Staycation

20m

Superduper Kyle's Stay At Home Staycation

Freaky On The Floor

22m

Freaky On The Floor

Eyes On The Prize

22m

Eyes On The Prize

Fire On The Floor

22m

Fire On The Floor

Putting It On Wax

23m

Putting It On Wax

Clean Up Aisle One

46m

Clean Up Aisle One

Bougie On A Budget

2m

Bougie On A Budget

Is Everyone on Drugs?

20m

Is Everyone on Drugs?

Freedia's Twerk On Washington

21m

Freedia's Twerk On Washington

Eye On The Prize

44m

Eye On The Prize

Gym Shorts on Runway

41m

Gym Shorts on Runway

Battle on the Catwalk

45m

Battle on the Catwalk

Recap: "Transcendent" Season 1, Episode 5

51s

Recap: "Transcendent" Season 1, Episode 5

Curvy Girls - Season 1 Fuse+ Trailer

55s

Curvy Girls - Season 1 Fuse+ Trailer

Season 1's Best Food Moments

1m

Season 1's Best Food Moments

Episode 1 Preview: Saturday Morning Fever

1m

Episode 1 Preview: Saturday Morning Fever

Fluffy Breaks Even Season 1 Finale

2m

Fluffy Breaks Even Season 1 Finale

Season 1, Episode 3: First Look

44s

Season 1, Episode 3: First Look

1 Night in San Diego - Trailer

1m

1 Night in San Diego - Trailer

Success at the Tattoo Parlor: G-Thing

2m

Success at the Tattoo Parlor: G-Thing

At the Buffet, There Are No Rules

21m

At the Buffet, There Are No Rules

Nya and Bambiana Bond At Cat Cafe

1m

Nya and Bambiana Bond At Cat Cafe

Knuckles at the Tattoo Parlor: G-Thing

2m

Knuckles at the Tattoo Parlor: G-Thing

History of the Reebok Pump Part 1

5m

History of the Reebok Pump Part 1

LA's Emotional Favorite Moment From Season 1

1m

LA's Emotional Favorite Moment From Season 1

Transcendent Season 1, Episode 4: First Look

43s

Transcendent Season 1, Episode 4: First Look

Fluffy Breaks Even Season 1, Episode 5

1m

Fluffy Breaks Even Season 1, Episode 5