Is Nas on the cover of Illmatic?
Beginning with the Queens MC’s 1994 classic debut Illmatic, Twitter user @JayTheCudiStan also turned Nas’ frowns upside down for the cover of his 1996 sophomore effort It Was Written, 1999’s i am…, 2001’s Stillmatic and 2002’s God’s Son.
Who is the boy on the cover of Illmatic?
Keithroy Yearwood, then 18, said “it’s a big deal to me” to be a footnote on hip-hop history, and revealed he was paid $150 to be the cover star, because of his “giant afro”. Like Nas’ ‘Illmatic’, its message about innocence was potent.
Who made the Illmatic album cover?
Nas — Illmatic (1994), Designed by Aimee Macauley This album cover features an image of Nas at age seven superimposed over an image of a street block in New York City and uses a mix of blackletter and sans serif typefaces. The album art is considered one of the most iconic in the hip-hop genre.
Who copied Nas album cover?
The accepted cover, designed by Aimee Macauley, features a photo of Nas as a child superimposed over a backdrop of a city block, taken by Danny Clinch. In a 1994 interview, Nas discussed the concept behind the photo of him at age 7, stating “That was the year I started to acknowledge everything [around me].
Did Illmatic get nominated for a Grammy?
With his 14th nomination, Nas ― who has long been listed as one of the most skilled hip-hop emcees of all time since his 1994 debut album, “Illmatic” ― finally received his due. Fans were quick to celebrate the victory on Twitter, though some argued that Nas should have won a Grammy years ago.
When did Nas released Illmatic?
April 19, 1994
Illmatic/Release date
How old was Jay Z when he dropped his first album?
Jay Z – There are many reasons that Jay Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, is viewed as a classic. Included among them is the fact that Hov had a wealth life experience to draw from, since he dropped the disc at the age of 26.
Why do rappers use baby pictures?
A baby photo acts as a permanent time mark, a base template of who we are and what we can become. The baby photo is a universal link to the past that all of humanity can confide in. As for rappers, they seem to love adorning their album covers with baby photos.
How long did Nas work on Illmatic?
Nas Reveals ‘Illmatic’ Took Him At Least Four Years to Create. “Writing the first album, you’ve been writing it all your life until that point.” Migos might only spend 45 minutes to create a record from scratch, but once upon a time, rappers would take weeks, if not months to carefully assemble their rhymes.
Is Illmatic in the Library of Congress?
After winning his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Album for his 2020 album, King’s Disease, earlier this month, the Queens rapper’s first studio album, Illmatic, has been inducted into the Library of Congress.
Who won the Grammy over Illmatic?
“Nas dropping Illmatic, It Was Written, Stillmatic and The Lost Tapes and being snubbed of a Grammy his entire career, then finally winning one with a mature album at 47 years old is a beautiful story arch…” tweeted All Love Hip Hop following the announcement.
When did nas release his first album Illmatic?
About “Illmatic”. Following his show-stealing debut in 1991 on Main Source’s track “Live at the Barbeque,” Nas delivered his debut album Illmatic to high praise in 1994.
Who are the producers of the album Illmatic?
The album’s production was handled by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S. and Nas himself. Styled as a hardcore hip hop album, Illmatic features multi-syllabic internal rhymes and inner-city narratives based on Nas’ experiences in the Queensbridge Houses in Queens, New York City .
How did the song Illmatic get its name?
The song also features Brooklyn -based rapper AZ. In an early promotional interview, Nas claimed that the name “Illmatic” (meaning “beyond ill” or “the ultimate”) was a reference to his incarcerated friend, Illmatic Ice. Nas later described the title name as “supreme ill. It’s as ill as ill gets.
How many copies of Illmatic have been sold?
On January 17, 1996, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, and on December 11, 2001, it earned a platinum certification after shipping 1,000,000 copies in the United States. As of February 6, 2019, the album had sold 2 million copies in the United States.