Studio Album · No. 1
Illmatic Songwriting Credits by Nas
Produced by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., Nas
Holds writing credit on 10 of 10 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 10 / 10 documented
Scored across the 10 tracks with documented writers, by whether Nas carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 10 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
Illmatic is built on Nas writing all of his own lyrics, and his dense, autobiographical Queensbridge storytelling is the reason the album is regarded as one of the greatest in hip-hop. The beats come from an all-star producer lineup, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor, Q-Tip, and L.E.S., with Nas co-producing, but the words are entirely his. Ten tracks, no filler, and a level of lyrical craft that set the bar for the genre.
"Illmatic" is the 1994 debut studio album by Nas, released on Columbia Records and widely regarded as one of the greatest East Coast hip-hop records ever made. Built on boom bap and jazz rap production, it brought together DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, and L.E.S., with Nas also handling production. Singles included "Halftime," "It Ain't Hard to Tell," "The World Is Yours," and "One Love," while "Life's a Bitch" featured AZ and trumpet from Nas's father, Olu Dara. The album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified platinum by the RIAA, with around 2 million copies sold in the United States by 2019. It helped revive East Coast hip-hop and was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2021.
Track Listing & Credits 10 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Genesis
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesFred Brathwaite | Faith NewmanNas | Nas (Rap) |
| 2 |
N.Y. State of Mind
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesChristopher Martin | DJ Premier | Nas (Rap) |
| 3 |
Life's a Bitch
|
NasAZ | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesAnthony CruzOlu DaraOliver ScottRonnie Wilson | L.E.S.Nas | AZ |
| 4 |
The World Is Yours
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesPete Phillips | Pete Rock | Nas (Rap) |
| 5 |
Halftime
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesGary ByrdWilliam Paul Mitchell | Large Professor | Nas (Rap) |
| 6 |
Memory Lane (Sittin' in da Park)
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesChristopher MartinPeg BarsellaReuben Wilson | DJ Premier | Nas (Rap) |
| 7 |
One Love
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesJimmy HeathJonathan Davis | Q-Tip | Nas (Rap) |
| 8 |
One Time 4 Your Mind
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesWilliam Paul Mitchell | Large Professor | Nas (Rap) |
| 9 |
Represent
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesChristopher Martin | DJ Premier | Nas (Rap) |
| 10 |
It Ain't Hard to Tell
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesWilliam Paul Mitchell | Large Professor | Nas (Rap) |