The pac, biggie, nas, snoop, dre, dmx, cube era will always be the golden age of hip hop and aside from maybe the early 2000s, no other era comes close. Even the early outkast, eminem, and jay z era can be put in there as well ngl
The problem with what you're saying, and by all accounts you are correct, but the problem is that hip hop is not set in stone. There is no orthodox way to rap, since we all believe the 90s had better rap music, which it did. But there are no laws governing how to make music. You can be a mumble rapper and illicit millions of screaming fans, because what was true back then is not true for today, and what is true today is not true for back then. Its like a river. Its always flowing, and its not frozen.
I feel you homie... I'm just a hardcore hip-hop die-hard. There's definitely a certain craft that goes into making these different types of hip-hop(trap, mumble, hyphee etc) but skill, wordplay, flow, story telling, DISTINCT STYLES, is what appeals to me. Time changes all things and hip-hop is no exception to the rule. I respect your opinion yo. VERY TRUE WHAT U SAID. Respect.
@@AlertAllTheTime No apologies or clarifications needed on what you said, dun. Quality speaks for itself, bullshit needs a bunch of other mofos to speak for it.
That Leviathan reference is deep as fuck!!!! I remember in high school when I read Thomas Hobbs I believe, the author of Leviathan. Also it’s easily a reference to the Leviathan from the Bible. Deep, deep, verse!!!
@@xaviermccloud4586 Have you read this book Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, commonly referred to as Leviathan, is a book written by Thomas Hobbes and published in 1651? Its name derives from the biblical Leviathan yes, that’s in the the Bible like I said. Now that you know it is a book written centuries back I think you’ll see how truly deep that line is not only because it was written way back, but because the context of the book itself 😉
You tell no lies. On some trivia shit, I recall having read, somewhere, that there was a university that was utilizing Nas lyrics/poetry in their curriculum. Like, as examples of deep and complex rymes and imagery and stuff. He's an impressive artist by any measure.
he never wrote lyrics like this ever again, his mind was working at its most at young age rappers can reach their prime in old ages and even young ages.
Fun fact: Mike Jack only allowed this sample if nas promised not to curse in his lyrics. And this great poet accomplished this and made an instant classic. Salute Nasir Jones 🫡💯📝
There's something special about hip hop and music videos back in these days. Nas almost is like a mythical creature. He's just so fucking cool in this video. He had the bars but the image in the swag was just on another level
I didn't know that. I'm not surprised. Michael Jackson was the closest thing to Jesus christ. The man was a Saint. It's sad how they tried defamed his legacy. He was a talented soul in a cruel world
you could offer Nas $100 billion dollars to pour his heart and soul into trying to top this song with a new banger and i bet you every dollar he wouldn't be able to do it..
It is incredible that this was 27 years ago. This looks and sounds encapsulated. This could literally be released today! This is truly what it means to be CLASSIC!
If it got released today, it'll slide under the radar. Nobody would appreciate this art. He would just be a dope MC with a little bit of views and a bunch of "underrated" comments.
Raised in the largest, most dangerous projects in the late 70s. Dropped out of school in the 8th grade. Yet his character and intelligence is uncanny for the average 18 year old.
***** Why are you so ignorant? Going from video to video on Nas's videos and saying how great Eminem is. How about you use the English language. Learn about periods at the end of a sentence, capitalization, spacing, etc. You must of or are not doing good in English class. So, One time 4 your mind? LOL!
@@gxbbs_4Yea, I was born in '86 so i was still a kid even at the end of the 90's but man it was just a much better era than this garbage era were in now. Hip hop has lost it's soul, shows/movies aren't as good, people are addicted to social media and clout, etc. Tragic man.
As much credit as we give to Nas, we must always give the same to Large Professor. I mean, how do you take a pop record like "Human Nature" and turn it into one of the hardest street records ever? 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
No rapper is better than Nas point blank period. Everytime I hear a Nas track I feel this crazy rush of feelings, the real reminiscence of that 90s NY.
Nas, yes. Ppl get so hung up on illmatic they forget his other works which were great in their own right, for instance It was Written, The Lost Tapes, God's Son and other mixtapes and albums. Everything Nas has put out in my opinion is great.
I’m a 42 white guy from SJ. Have wife and 2 children. I was 15 when this came out and my life back then was school, sports, girls and hip hop. Hearing this and Halftime the year before I just knew Nas was a generational artist. Yes he’s had his disappointing moments but he is truly a genius/legend of music period. Listening to hip hop from this era actually keeps me grounded and provides with inner peace.
Decades later and this track is still the purest and realest form of hip hop I've ever heard because it combines the (in my opinion) most important characteristics of the the genre: -sick beat -unbeatable flow -unique lyrics -street vibes -instantly head bob
This is the epitome of East Coast Hip-Hop in its Golden Age. There is no way to dispute it. It's Large Professor on top of his game and Nas in his prime.
Happy 30th Anniversary to this life changing, amazing album. My favorite rapper Nas is still out here making amazing music. Kings Disease and Magic was like Nas tapping into Illmatic and you can hear the hunger. Thank you Nas ♾️🐐💪🏾🗽
Can't stop playing this. I'm a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but this is my childhood anthem. I appreciate great music & this is definitely ONE👌🏿👌🏿. Thanks NAS
You think this brother nice ? You should check out is partner AZ. Thank you freestyle. What? That joint will have you pressing rewind over and over again. Oh and also Oil money by AZ
@@noramenandrew5689 frrr especially his doe or die album w tracks like rather unique , ho happy Jackie, n gimmie yours tha guy is also lyrically gofter
Young rappers take not this art of MCs right here. This young Nas in 1994 at age 20 hell of a song we didn't know what we had at this time it was so underrated because we had Biggie.
Samples used in this song: Stanley Clarke - Slow Dance (Drums) Michael Jackson - Human Nature Mountain - Long Red Live. (Vocals) 0:01 Kool & the Gang - N.T. (Saxophone) 0:13
I was 14 and my cousin was 16 when this first came out... My cousin got his license that summer and all we did is ride around and listen to this over and over again...Good times summer of 1994-1995.
Yeah bra I was in elementary school at the time. Hip hop in 1994 was crazy the summer of 1994 was insane everyone was dropping I still remember it to this day. Going into the 95 was implacable also 2pac Me Against the World.
@@Ny2dasouff my cousin had a 94/95 lime green Geo Prizm they look ridiculous now but back then they were the s*** and we were having fun. We were just happy to able to drive around. The summer prior we were riding bikes or walking everywhere
@@kareemsupremet.v.5189 that’s when NY was NY Ioved every minute every second. But now everyone left bro. Don’t know if you seen the ball drop in time square shit was empty. I love my city but it ain’t the same no more. I’m in Florida now at 42. I am meeting more New Yorkers in Florida now than ever before. Since that last lock down New Yorkers can’t deal and they forcing you to take that shot NYC ain’t free living no more. The city ain’t the same the vibe ain’t the same. But I am happy I got to live in the 90s care free all love all hate it was home base.
Nas is a lyrical beast, prolific and very talented. How was he able to release one of the best albums of hip hop at such a young age? He has always been the greatest ❤❤❤❤
I keep hearing the hype about how this album is the GOAT for years now so I finally purchased it on iTunes.. this album changed my life.. this album left me speechless
I was born in '95 and I love Nas. I remember when I first discovered him when I was like 14. Best lyrical treasure I ever found as a young lady with an old soul.
@@davidkelly694 My being born in 1978 let me ask you something I know you was in the middle of this era. What does the year 1994 mean to you in hip hop.
Team 95!!! I remember hearing this way back in the days from my older siblings so I knew a lot of nas from a early age but this is by far my favorite track by nas!!!
ditto! born in 95. been exploring old school rap thanks to RUclips and I love it. its unmatchable. a lot of the songs are familiar as i have an older brother who would play these songs as a teenager. old soul :)
@@wixkedwill7011 Do you even listen to modern music? MF DOOM and Kendrick Lamar are on the same level and, from what I've listened of them, DOOM's production is even better than Nas - which is truly a sight to behold.
@@rayres1074 Nas doesn't say random shit just to make every word rhyme.Nas has multiple dimensions that Kendrick hasn't even tapped into yet.Kendrick does not have a single song that can compete with the songs on illmatic.I am a huge fan of both but Nas is the king.
Decades later this opening leaves me speechless. It ain't hard to tell. I excel then prevail. The mic is contracted, I attract clientele. My mic check is life or death breathing a sniper's breath I exhale the yellow smoke of buddha through righteous steps. The first time I heard this I hit rewind at least 20 times. Unbelievable.
+mrm64 Preach!!! It makes me so angry when people let MJ's personal life affect their opinion of his music. I saw one person say that his music was rubbish. You should have seen the way that MJ's fans, including me, cussed him out. He was such a great influence and it makes me so angry to see how people treated him. I miss him too...
The beat,lyricism and Charisma is out of this world...I have always put this song on repeat mode ever since I first listened to it as a teenager.Much love from Kenya
I was a senior in high school when this came out, and this song literally had us feeling on top of the world! Nas is # 1 in my book. Nobody had lyrics like his back then, and now too!
@Jose Garcia did u watch her movie on Netflix??? smh Nas was a young dude when Shante was already in the game, told Nas too get serious about rapping , Nas confirmed it was true
It aint hard to tell NAS makin rap well He ring the awesome rap bell His soul is not 4 sell High level poetry-Fell Message is so damn swell Wonderful words smell If u feel me YELL!
SITE EMPD - Da Joint AZ - The Format Jay Z - Dead Presidents Jay Z - Renegade Pete Rock & CL Smooth - TROY Gang Starr - Mass Appeal Mobb Deep - Survival of the Fittest Mob Deep - Shook Ones Joey Badass - Christ Conscious Outkast - Atliens Nas - NY State of Mind
Harvard and all Ivy League Schools - you can't teach culture - you live it. You can't teach a lifetime, you walk it. Going to school is overrated. HELLA overrated.
What Nas was spitting on back then U couldn't get these new cats to even use a correct sentence or say a complete sentence with substance, He's by far the Greatest to ever touch the Mic in my opinion, Love this sample of Human Nature by MJ it never gets old. Cleaning my house right now listening to this Nas just put u in that chill move relax take a load off and think about Life itself, Love what this brother stands for as a King and Knowledge to his people! ✊🎤🎤🎤🎤
*Your whole statement was wrong lol. It's alot of new school rappers spitting knowledge in their music. Kendrick Lamar/J. Cole/Wale/Big K. R. I. T. /JoeyBadass/ etc. I love 90"s Hip Hop. But stop using what they play on the radio thinking that new school (lyricist) don't spit knowledge)*
Nah ain't nobody saying rap is bullshit, she's saying certain rappers/rap music is bullshit 💯 like this watered down shit they play on the radio today💯
@u_72 r_77 That's exactly what people twice our age think about the entire genre. Everyone is biased towards what they heard at a young age. Also, there was plenty of trash back in the day too, thing is, nobody remembers it. Trash rappers, artists in general, get lost in time, the cream rises to the top. The only reason I think that there's more trash rappers now is because hip hop is more popular than ever before. So there's more artists to choose from
No cursing and it’s straight 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
literally just seen a short saying how Michael Jackson only let him sample his song for free if he did so without cussing😂
I am 56 years old and this song still gets me hyped up like it did when it first came out! Nas made a masterpiece!
56 Gang!
44 xD
His metaphors and wordplay and poetry was somthing new and different
Dam i was in high school , how old were you? 40?
DAMN
No matter how hip hop sounds today, this is how it'll sound in my head forever.
The pac, biggie, nas, snoop, dre, dmx, cube era will always be the golden age of hip hop and aside from maybe the early 2000s, no other era comes close. Even the early outkast, eminem, and jay z era can be put in there as well ngl
@@Amir-qz4bn Nas poetic beauty
@@Amir-qz4bn Kanye too, College Droput, Late registration, Graduation were all classics.
This was his first single from illmatic. When I first heard this I blew me away. The metaphors. The poetry.
@@-xnnybimb-9398came out in 2007
No babbling. No mumbling. No screaming. No bs.
Just bars.
Biggest old head comment
The problem with what you're saying, and by all accounts you are correct, but the problem is that hip hop is not set in stone. There is no orthodox way to rap, since we all believe the 90s had better rap music, which it did. But there are no laws governing how to make music. You can be a mumble rapper and illicit millions of screaming fans, because what was true back then is not true for today, and what is true today is not true for back then. Its like a river. Its always flowing, and its not frozen.
I feel you homie... I'm just a hardcore hip-hop die-hard. There's definitely a certain craft that goes into making these different types of hip-hop(trap, mumble, hyphee etc) but skill, wordplay, flow, story telling, DISTINCT STYLES, is what appeals to me. Time changes all things and hip-hop is no exception to the rule. I respect your opinion yo. VERY TRUE WHAT U SAID. Respect.
@@AlertAllTheTime No apologies or clarifications needed on what you said, dun. Quality speaks for itself, bullshit needs a bunch of other mofos to speak for it.
@@chinasingleteary7028 tell that to em fans
Perfect Beat
Perfect Flow
Perfect Lyrics
Real Hip-Hop
Perfect rapper ✊🏻
Real talk.
Half Man ,Half amazing ^^
Perfect Nas
Facts
Nas was molded, shaped, put through the fire, then dropped from out of heaven.
I like Nas but this is crazy glaze 😭
@@JBW1121 lol Cherish God’s Son, you won’t see it again. Outside of that, you hear the song complete 🔥
Well said…
@@JBW1121Yeah,the glaze ain't hard to tell
@@FranciscoJosé-i6x you mad lol
Nas is one of the greatest It Ain't Hard To Tell.
agree
For me, Nas is the greatest. Actually I put him on number #1 above 2Pac, but I still listen to 2Pac and respect both of em.
nas is my number 3 behind black thought at 1 and kool g rap at 2
Um... He is the greatest bruh
nah,,, nas hasnt hasnt been as consistant and as long lived as black thought. Black thought is the goat. period
Michael Jackson cleared this sample on one condition, Nas couldn’t curse on the track. And Nas bodied it!
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Same sample to SWV for free
Mj giving free samples rights 😎
These are true hip hop facts folks..and NAS definitely showed that his rap didn't need cursing. He's a real poet! Nasty Nas, the ILLMATIC 1!!
Wasn't he in the video also?@@deas3016
The beat change when Nas spits his last verse.... speechless ILLMATIC TOP 5 albums this is a Gift for the Human ear
Large professor is a beast.
That Leviathan reference is deep as fuck!!!! I remember in high school when I read Thomas Hobbs I believe, the author of Leviathan. Also it’s easily a reference to the Leviathan from the Bible. Deep, deep, verse!!!
@@iargueta1220 Leviathan is actually FROM the Bible. Very deep indeed.
@@xaviermccloud4586 Have you read this book Leviathan or The Matter, Forme and Power of a Commonwealth Ecclesiasticall and Civil, commonly referred to as Leviathan, is a book written by Thomas Hobbes and published in 1651? Its name derives from the biblical Leviathan yes, that’s in the the Bible like I said. Now that you know it is a book written centuries back I think you’ll see how truly deep that line is not only because it was written way back, but because the context of the book itself 😉
You tell no lies. On some trivia shit, I recall having read, somewhere, that there was a university that was utilizing Nas lyrics/poetry in their curriculum. Like, as examples of deep and complex rymes and imagery and stuff. He's an impressive artist by any measure.
It's crazy how he dropped one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all-time at 19/20 years old..
Jared Banks what's even crazier is that he wrote his debut verse from Live At The Barbeque when he was only 16... yes you heard that right.... 16
Machoman Beast That's crazy.
Jared Banks Crazy how he looks the same age today.
Jared Banks Yeah I like Nas my 4 favorite albums from him are Illmatic, It Was Written, I Am & Stillmatic.
Nas is just a lyrical genius. No rapper has yet to touch him in his prime.
He wrote this at 17 geez . Nas is so talented 🔥
Genius strikes when least expected
Bruh. His brain was working over time to produce these dope lyrics. He really is the greatest rapper I’ve ever heard
he never wrote lyrics like this ever again, his mind was working at its most at young age
rappers can reach their prime in old ages and even young ages.
God's son
when you're that guy you always been nice
Fun fact: Mike Jack only allowed this sample if nas promised not to curse in his lyrics. And this great poet accomplished this and made an instant classic. Salute Nasir Jones 🫡💯📝
Like he supposs3d to a real artist
How the hell you know that?
@@mr.majesty1920 nas said it. Do ya research on nas speaking to the king of pop.
He said niggas
1 of the greatest hip hop songs of all time....
yessir I totally agree my dude.
definitely , young nas real sharp lyricist
100 percent correct
Or the greatest song of all time
agreed
There's something special about hip hop and music videos back in these days. Nas almost is like a mythical creature. He's just so fucking cool in this video. He had the bars but the image in the swag was just on another level
Always thought the same lol 😂
Photography is olde skool new
That's the unique traits of a virgo
Mythical Creature.. Lol deep af
Same lol I sound so kiddy but I think this is one of the coolest videos I've seen in a while
Human nature sample is crazy 🔥
MJ let him have that sample for free if he didn't curse on that track. 🙏
Cool lil back story to this. It’s said that MJ told Nas he can use this sample as long as he didn’t curse and Nas knocked it out the park!!! ✊🏽
Lol I just saw this in someone's IG story
@@fatherbewithme Me too!
I didn't know that. I'm not surprised. Michael Jackson was the closest thing to Jesus christ. The man was a Saint. It's sad how they tried defamed his legacy. He was a talented soul in a cruel world
@@KrishnaSingh-ow1ieokay that's mad glazing now
@@cjamesdraw6m
This is probably the greatest rap song ever
🛑
Honestly I feel like there’s better songs in Illmatic alone, NY State of Mind, Life is a Bitch and Represent are masterpieces
@@owkrikki how you can you not mention The World Is Yours or One Love ???
@@petethegreek8933 bc the world is yours and one love aren’t better than it ain’t hard to tell
@@petethegreek8933 the world is yours is pretty close though, they’re all almost equal imo
The way I feel when this beat drops every time is unexplainable
Shit is liberating ain't it 😤
Oh yeah give you winter of 94 vibe in New York city. This beat is crazy my first time experience to this beat I had it on repeat.
you could offer Nas $100 billion dollars to pour his heart and soul into trying to top this song with a new banger and i bet you every dollar he wouldn't be able to do it..
imagine Hip-Hop without this song..
It is incredible that this was 27 years ago. This looks and sounds encapsulated. This could literally be released today! This is truly what it means to be CLASSIC!
this was 27 years ago
@@dlm_0562 I stand corrected! Still looks damn good to be 27 years old
Kids wouldn’t like it if it was released today, it’s too good for’em.
@@joseocciano1939 facts!
If it got released today, it'll slide under the radar. Nobody would appreciate this art. He would just be a dope MC with a little bit of views and a bunch of "underrated" comments.
This was dope 💯❤️🔥🔥... 87 baby here
The reason I love Nas so much!! He told you the message with intellect!! Love the MJ sample on this beat!! NY where yall at!!
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
hmm... do u listen to Logic?
Kataj DeLouth
no i haven't
+NellyBelle interesting... ive seen your profile somewhere
Kataj DeLouth
I heard the name Logic before...Then you seen me on various videos commenting.
This is why Illmatic is the greatest rap album of all time
Absolutely. Theres only 1 good song, everything else is amazing
Yeah but I still like It was Written more tho
@@hiiipoweriii2211 yeah it’s a good album but I personally feel like Illmatic is more iconic and groundbreaking
@@hiiipoweriii2211 but yeah everything Nas touches turns to gold so, can’t debate that
Madvilliany very close
Illmatic is the best rap album of all time
I hear u for real
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Nas🎉🎉🎉
September 14th 1973 🎉 Happy 51st 🎂 birthday !!
Raised in the largest, most dangerous projects in the late 70s. Dropped out of school in the 8th grade. Yet his character and intelligence is uncanny for the average 18 year old.
marjoken246 tells you how necessary schooling is for some people
his mom was a teacher
most dangerous in NYC maybe not the Chi though. Cabrini Green and Robert Taylor Homes.
Well compared to 18 years old today
his dad was a jazz musician.
Nas is the greatest it ain't hard to tell.
Greatest of all time!!!!
*****
Good luck for your career
***** Why are you so ignorant? Going from video to video on Nas's videos and saying how great Eminem is. How about you use the English language. Learn about periods at the end of a sentence, capitalization, spacing, etc. You must of or are not doing good in English class. So, One time 4 your mind? LOL!
andre jamena thats right
you spelled 2pac wrong
CHECK ME OUT BRO
NAS is the king and illmatic sits at number 1. Idgaf what yall say
today illmatic is 30 years old
"My poetry's deep I never fell.Nas's rap should be locked in a cell it aint hard to tell"
The older this song gets the more iconic it becomes 💯
Facts.
IKR, one of my favorites
Sounds like a record, incredible song. Comic book science.
Agreed
The repaly value of this song and of the whole album is just insane, I can't get bored of this album..
Most underrated bars ever.
Who’s still listening in 2024 to this gem?!
NaS for life since. Never gets old, true classic!
yeahhh sonnn
Me. Nas been the truth
🙋🏿♂️🔥
Me
The Greatest Nas song. The sample, the beat, the flow, the witty lyrics, and just the overall feel make it utterly flawless.
Flawless...no Doubt my Brotha!💯🔥💪🏿✌🏾
@@TheBlackRam68 Nas is the greatest to touch a mic. A shame so many bad artists get more recognition than him.
@@TheBlackRam68 🔥🔥🔥
It was alright
@stsddsod not with Us they don't!...Nas was the 2nd coming of Rakim/Cool G "FUBU" One!✌🏾✔️
the fact that he wrote these verses around the age of 16-17 yrs old makes him a fuking G.O.A.T.
The goat rapper
The damn BEAAAAAATTTT!!!!
Sample from Human Nature from Michael Jackson Thiller album
Large Professor is so underrated
The flow and beat goes hard. 90's hip hop is unbeatable! 🔥🔥🔥
I agree 💯
"Nas is like an Afrocentric Asian, half man half amazing"
🔥
Tydrick Gay sorry, but what’s up with your last name?
Enlighten me this
Only 2 can claim that name 🙌🏽
Worst hip-hop boast of all time. At the time he wrote this, Nas was all man, and all amazing.
30 years and counting 🎊🎂
This is one of the most iconic songs ever made, man i miss the 90s such a great time
@John obi Mikel Arteta unfortunately yeah, i wish i was from the 90s that would be so nice
The 90's were amazing man, if i had a time machine and could go back i would.
@@orlanzo2621 Samee even im not born in the 90s i rather live in 90s than i live now in this time
@@gxbbs_4Yea, I was born in '86 so i was still a kid even at the end of the 90's but man it was just a much better era than this garbage era were in now. Hip hop has lost it's soul, shows/movies aren't as good, people are addicted to social media and clout, etc. Tragic man.
@@orlanzo2621 You ain’t lying about that.
Nas is simply the greatest of all time, this song is a pure classic!!
FACTS!
I fucking love "early" days of hip hop, it has a certain underground feeling
As much credit as we give to Nas, we must always give the same to Large Professor. I mean, how do you take a pop record like "Human Nature" and turn it into one of the hardest street records ever? 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
No question Large Pro flip this MJ hit into another banger Yo!
No rapper is better than Nas point blank period. Everytime I hear a Nas track I feel this crazy rush of feelings, the real reminiscence of that 90s NY.
This needed to be said.
Mel K. L Jay Electronica is the only man I think is better than Nas.
Nas, yes. Ppl get so hung up on illmatic they forget his other works which were great in their own right, for instance It was Written, The Lost Tapes, God's Son and other mixtapes and albums. Everything Nas has put out in my opinion is great.
he dropped this at 19/20 but wrote some of them at 17/18. truly a prodigy of the art form.
Spike Spiegel Also had great teachers in Rakim and Kool G. Rap
Nad the mc tha great
@@lifestraight also large professor taught him how to rhyme effectively
I’m a 42 white guy from SJ. Have wife and 2 children. I was 15 when this came out and my life back then was school, sports, girls and hip hop. Hearing this and Halftime the year before I just knew Nas was a generational artist. Yes he’s had his disappointing moments but he is truly a genius/legend of music period. Listening to hip hop from this era actually keeps me grounded and provides with inner peace.
I agree good for the soul
Nas has never disappointed me.
@mont5702 what disappointments ?
Nas is a living legend never disappoints 😂😂😂
Some of his albums have been subpar imo-Nastradamus for ex
same age. same vibe. peace!
“Inhale from the L school a fool well you feelin like braille it ain’t hard to tell” my favorite line nas has ever said ⛽️⛽️
Decades later and this track is still the purest and realest form of hip hop I've ever heard because it combines the (in my opinion) most important characteristics of the the genre:
-sick beat
-unbeatable flow
-unique lyrics
-street vibes
-instantly head bob
Best comment ever about how a rap should be.
NO DOUBT!!
The whole Illmatic album is pure genius.
💯💯💯💯💯💯
When Hip Hop was real...
AMEN
J. Jermane u got dat shit rite now it is just (dont have no words to describe how terrible it is)
J. Jermane Exactly. now we have these fake ass rappers like 2 Chainz & Nicki Minaj rapping about bullshit.
Nicki Minaj true but 2 Chainz actually raps like he's retarded on purpose to be funny. 2 Chainz is a "comedy rapper."
Doodle Bob just listen to non mainstream rappers ..they good
"JAM LIKE A TEC with correct TEChnique" yall don't get triple entendre in this 1 line.. GENIUS 🔥🔥🔥
Yea that shit was hard !
💯💯💯
This is the epitome of East Coast Hip-Hop in its Golden Age. There is no way to dispute it. It's Large Professor on top of his game and Nas in his prime.
It Ain't Hard To Tell the crap they play today could never be as good as this.
Happy 30th Anniversary to this life changing, amazing album. My favorite rapper Nas is still out here making amazing music. Kings Disease and Magic was like Nas tapping into Illmatic and you can hear the hunger. Thank you Nas ♾️🐐💪🏾🗽
He was 19 spitting like this, come on nu generation yall tripping.
17
Tripping? Na the done fell down a couple flights of steps
Millenials that think anyone from the last 12 years is GOAT are just flat wrong. We knoooow they couldn't have even got a record contract in the 90s.
And he wrote it before 19... like 17
We don't do anything and ppl still find a way to hate on us. lmao
It blows my mind how a rap song can be this poetic and how a rapper can be this lyrically gifted. One word, Genius.
Can't stop playing this. I'm a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but this is my childhood anthem. I appreciate great music & this is definitely ONE👌🏿👌🏿. Thanks NAS
relatable
You think this brother nice ? You should check out is partner AZ. Thank you freestyle. What? That joint will have you pressing rewind over and over again. Oh and also Oil money by AZ
@@noramenandrew5689 frrr especially his doe or die album w tracks like rather unique , ho happy Jackie, n gimmie yours tha guy is also lyrically gofter
I shalt not judgeth but.....you need to step down
Young rappers take not this art of MCs right here. This young Nas in 1994 at age 20 hell of a song we didn't know what we had at this time it was so underrated because we had Biggie.
I love the ‘human nature’ in it. One of his best songs is this♥️
Me Too!!
@@lonelyenchantress2172 u guys r the real deal here ....love MJ
Right … same 💯
❤❤❤
Yuss love MJ💜
Samples used in this song:
Stanley Clarke - Slow Dance (Drums)
Michael Jackson - Human Nature
Mountain - Long Red Live. (Vocals) 0:01
Kool & the Gang - N.T. (Saxophone) 0:13
Human nature is on point
@@temirlanabdykaiypov8429
PERIOD
As an old white guy that grew up on rock and got heavy R&B lessons in my 30s, NAS is King. GOAT. The passion and the message rings true.
That Michael Jackson sample . That’s a sample done RIGHT . 😍
Yep. That's why I had to steal it and do *my own version* of it...!!!👍🏾🎤🎧💿🎶🔥
Sample flipped so well I agree !!
Queen LeLe 69th like
tell them sis
@@kinngemz loll Left A Froze Like Heroin in ya 👃
Best track on the album.
That last verse..... too insane..
I had to play it 3x
+livin lavish I did 2
Atom catmyminyeyescopsicoyldtometocallbankegetupyessaletobehappytiformeseanuesgetmonyetobeaskseesonyczipcode
"My poetry's deep, I never fell
Nas' raps should be locked in a cell; it ain't hard to tell ".... Word !
I was 14 and my cousin was 16 when this first came out... My cousin got his license that summer and all we did is ride around and listen to this over and over again...Good times summer of 1994-1995.
Yeah bra I was in elementary school at the time. Hip hop in 1994 was crazy the summer of 1994 was insane everyone was dropping I still remember it to this day. Going into the 95 was implacable also 2pac Me Against the World.
I was there homie Gold 94 Acura legend coupe on 17s driving through them Brooklyn streets.
@@Ny2dasouff my cousin had a 94/95 lime green Geo Prizm they look ridiculous now but back then they were the s*** and we were having fun. We were just happy to able to drive around. The summer prior we were riding bikes or walking everywhere
@@kareemsupremet.v.5189 that’s when NY was NY Ioved every minute every second. But now everyone left bro. Don’t know if you seen the ball drop in time square shit was empty. I love my city but it ain’t the same no more. I’m in Florida now at 42. I am meeting more New Yorkers in Florida now than ever before. Since that last lock down New Yorkers can’t deal and they forcing you to take that shot NYC ain’t free living no more. The city ain’t the same the vibe ain’t the same. But I am happy I got to live in the 90s care free all love all hate it was home base.
777
Nas is a lyrical beast, prolific and very talented. How was he able to release one of the best albums of hip hop at such a young age? He has always been the greatest ❤❤❤❤
I keep hearing the hype about how this album is the GOAT for years now so I finally purchased it on iTunes.. this album changed my life.. this album left me speechless
Better late than never goat album
Welcome 🙏🏿
I'm glad you felt the experience whenever I get on a new music engine this album is the first thing I download since day one.
His new song on magic is speechless
GOOD😆👍
I appreciate his lyricism... dope.
Me too!
Ppl my age will never understand how fuckin amazing this dude is with his craft
Vic r he’s the best !!!!! A legend ! I got to see him again in Aspen and it was reminiscing my middle school years
stfu kid you're not special for listening to nas
K M and you‘re special listening to lil pump or what?
I'm 18 and I feel you
Our generation listens to that mumble rap which is sad cuz they don't know the real hip hop
I do us virgos some talented mfs 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Nas the god! 🐐
I was born in '95 and I love Nas. I remember when I first discovered him when I was like 14. Best lyrical treasure I ever found as a young lady with an old soul.
I was born in 78 and I love this song lol.
@@davidkelly694 My being born in 1978 let me ask you something I know you was in the middle of this era. What does the year 1994 mean to you in hip hop.
Team 95!!! I remember hearing this way back in the days from my older siblings so I knew a lot of nas from a early age but this is by far my favorite track by nas!!!
you only listened to him in 2009? geez thats sad being a born in 95'
ditto! born in 95. been exploring old school rap thanks to RUclips and I love it. its unmatchable. a lot of the songs are familiar as i have an older brother who would play these songs as a teenager. old soul :)
2021,still no one has been able to surpass Nas lyrically. The best MC alive.
Sadly the way music is now no one will probably ever pass Nas now
Bruh MF EOOM is lyrically better bruh
@@wixkedwill7011 bruh nah Kendrick Lamar is better bruh
@@wixkedwill7011 Do you even listen to modern music? MF DOOM and Kendrick Lamar are on the same level and, from what I've listened of them, DOOM's production is even better than Nas - which is truly a sight to behold.
@@rayres1074 Nas doesn't say random shit just to make every word rhyme.Nas has multiple dimensions that Kendrick hasn't even tapped into yet.Kendrick does not have a single song that can compete with the songs on illmatic.I am a huge fan of both but Nas is the king.
Decades later this opening leaves me speechless.
It ain't hard to tell.
I excel
then prevail.
The mic is contracted,
I attract clientele.
My mic check is life or death
breathing a sniper's breath
I exhale the yellow smoke of buddha through righteous steps.
The first time I heard this I hit rewind at least 20 times. Unbelievable.
Hip hop will never be this authentic again
Atleast we have playboi carti and lil usi vert who is carrying the genre and Are keeping its legacy alive.
@@MindoniconYou're joking right? 😂😂😂
@@THEIllestVillainmate how am i joking when they Are biggest names in hiphop rn my friend? The Numbers speak for themselves my brother.
GOAT. PERIOD
I second that!
I third that!
I Fourth that!
Well I'll make it Five Then!
2Faded247 Or Sixth even?
I'm African 51 yrs. At 19, I could not have thought this because even at 51, I can't even think all this words out. You are GENIUS
One of the most iconic tracks in rap of all time.
Should have way more than 8 million views.
Happy 30th Anniversary to Illmatic!
*Best. Michael Jackson. Sample. Ever. Period.* 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Even Nas sampled one of Michael Jackson's songs. That just goes to show you how much influence MJ had on many rappers.
+muvdafukupouttahere Real talk! MJ had his influence on all peoples, all colors, all nationalities, almost all the genres....miss him so much...
+mrm64 Preach!!! It makes me so angry when people let MJ's personal life affect their opinion of his music. I saw one person say that his music was rubbish. You should have seen the way that MJ's fans, including me, cussed him out. He was such a great influence and it makes me so angry to see how people treated him. I miss him too...
... gtfo
+muvdafukupouttahere hi please check out my videos and subscribe I would love some feedback . vice verse
What about Quincy Jones. The dude who made the original beat
The beat,lyricism and Charisma is out of this world...I have always put this song on repeat mode ever since I first listened to it as a teenager.Much love from Kenya
I was a senior in high school when this came out, and this song literally had us feeling on top of the world! Nas is # 1 in my book. Nobody had lyrics like his back then, and now too!
The Message never gets Old, It's all in his DNA! 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤
Carlos ThaRealest Literally.
Carlos ThaRealest cheaaa !!
the message is a good song
Carlos ThaRealest true dat
Carlos ThaRealest dam he took that from mike human nature yo nas is more ill than a sickness.Brooklyn 4eva
Half man half amazing is a legendary line. Roxanne Shante told this man to get his rhymes together, thus a legend was born.
@Jose Garcia did u watch her movie on Netflix??? smh Nas was a young dude when Shante was already in the game, told Nas too get serious about rapping , Nas confirmed it was true
@Jose Garcia nah it's TRUE. He even confirmed it.
@Jose Garcia she was from qb..... and also young when she did her thing and she is a legend too....
It aint hard to tell
NAS makin rap well
He ring the awesome rap bell
His soul is not 4 sell
High level poetry-Fell
Message is so damn swell
Wonderful words smell
If u feel me YELL!
It ain't hard to tell that NAS is the GOAT...
In my opinion one of the greatest beats of all time, if not the greatest.
One if the greatest. Greatest... there are still some beats ahead of this.
+Gosu ?
+Azeus XIV which beats do you think are one of the greatest
SITE
EMPD - Da Joint
AZ - The Format
Jay Z - Dead Presidents
Jay Z - Renegade
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - TROY
Gang Starr - Mass Appeal
Mobb Deep - Survival of the Fittest
Mob Deep - Shook Ones
Joey Badass - Christ Conscious
Outkast - Atliens
Nas - NY State of Mind
Azeus XIV
thank you dude
This song is the definition of True Hip Hop💯
Halftime is better, should go in the time capsule representing rap music.
you know you've reached iconic status when harvard makes a class dedicated to dissecting your lyrics to this song.
Especially considering he spent about a 1/3 of time in school than those students have
...or could be Harvard doesn't have anymore the same excellence from the past... But NAS is amazing!
@@corujapolitica252 get out of here with that passive aggressive bs.
Living in the difficulties can't be teach at school, they can only study it.
Harvard and all Ivy League Schools - you can't teach culture - you live it. You can't teach a lifetime, you walk it. Going to school is overrated. HELLA overrated.
pure rap
Man this brings back memories. I miss the 90s, and growing up in NY...
*If you miss that 90s sound then ✔ out my tracks...I specialize in making old school rap/hip hop...!!!👍🏾🎤🎧📀🎶💣🔥*
damn.. i wish i as alive around that time
this Hip Hop should have never died!
DJ Rod B in my eyes it never will
Isaiah Dolphy ifkr ❤❤❤
DJ Rod B yup
Look up Soulbrotha
Yes!
What Nas was spitting on back then U couldn't get these new cats to even use a correct sentence or say a complete sentence with substance, He's by far the Greatest to ever touch the Mic in my opinion, Love this sample of Human Nature by MJ it never gets old. Cleaning my house right now listening to this Nas just put u in that chill move relax take a load off and think about Life itself, Love what this brother stands for as a King and Knowledge to his people! ✊🎤🎤🎤🎤
I never realised the Michael Jackson sample until I read your comment
Jay-Z...
Carlos ThaRealest nas is more ill than a sickness
Because i think , that sample is from Ahmad Jamal Human Nature album Love Songs, not MJ!
*Your whole statement was wrong lol. It's alot of new school rappers spitting knowledge in their music. Kendrick Lamar/J. Cole/Wale/Big K. R. I. T. /JoeyBadass/ etc. I love 90"s Hip Hop. But stop using what they play on the radio thinking that new school (lyricist) don't spit knowledge)*
Shout out to the producer for delivering this heat 🔥🔥🔥
Nas is sick , so glad I grew up on this and not today's bullshit
Keep in mind people older than you consider rap bullshit too. You're just aging.
@@edwinbeta2806 thx omg 🙄🙄 you can like something without criticising 🙄🤦🏾♀️
Nah ain't nobody saying rap is bullshit, she's saying certain rappers/rap music is bullshit 💯 like this watered down shit they play on the radio today💯
@u_72 r_77 That's exactly what people twice our age think about the entire genre. Everyone is biased towards what they heard at a young age. Also, there was plenty of trash back in the day too, thing is, nobody remembers it. Trash rappers, artists in general, get lost in time, the cream rises to the top. The only reason I think that there's more trash rappers now is because hip hop is more popular than ever before. So there's more artists to choose from
I was born in 2007, this shit is better alot of rappers today can't even rap
CLASSIC...Man hip-hop was the best when I was a kid in the 90s...what happened?
Money Money and more money.
The industry happened
Every legend either died or sold out. Then came money, bitches, drugs.
the sellouts took over
+Gino Florencia what exactly is selling out?
When rap was poetry
Not a single gun shown yet he destroyed them straight fiyyaaaaa❤
Nas is such a 🐐🐐🐐🐐
Nas is Legend, and it's hard to top a track like this.
The Green Army Fatigue Jacket is a Signature. Am glad to live this musical Era
Jay75Euro you need to go back to school
There's no topping it. Sampling Mike Jack?