What is Illmatic?
{{Infobox album | name = Illmatic | type = studio | artist = [[Nas]] | cover = | alt = | released = April 19, 1994 | recorded = 1992–93 | venue = | studio = Battery Studios, [[Unique Recording Studios|Unique Studios]], [[Chung King Studios]] and [[D&D Studios|D&D Recording]] in New York | genre = {{hlist|[[East Coast hip hop]]|[[hardcore hip hop]]|[[jazz rap]]}} | length = 39:51 | label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] | producer = {{hlist|Faith N. <small> (also [[Executive Producer|exec.]])</small>|[[MC Serch]] <small>([[Executive Producer|exec.]])</small>|[[DJ Premier]]|[[L.E.S. (producer)|L.E.S.]]|[[Pete Rock]]|[[Large Professor]]|[[Q-Tip (rapper)|Q-Tip]]}} | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = [[It Was Written]] | next_year = 1996 | misc = {{Singles | name = Illmatic | type = studio | single1 = [[Halftime (song)|Halftime]] | single1date = October 13, 1992 | single2 = [[It Ain't Hard to Tell]] | single2date = January 18, 1994 | single3 = [[Life's a Bitch (song)|Life's a Bitch]] | single3date = April 19, 1994 | single4 = [[The World Is Yours (Nas song)|The World Is Yours]] | single4date = May 31, 1994 | single5 = [[One Love (Nas song)|One Love]] | single5date = October 25, 1994 }} }} '''''Illmatic''''' is the first [[studio album]] of American rapper [[Nas]]. It was released on April 19, 1994 by [[Columbia Records]]. Nas recorded the album during 1992 and 1993 in [[New York City]]. The producers were Nas, [[Large Professor]], [[Pete Rock]], [[Q-Tip (rapper)|Q-Tip]], [[L.E.S. (producer)|L.E.S.]], and [[DJ Premier]]. Nas raps about his life in [[Queensbridge, Queens|Queensbridge, New York]]. Nas's lyricism features multi-syllabic [[internal rhyme]] [[rhyme scheme|patterns]]. ''Illmatic'' received very good reviews from most [[music critic]]s upon its release. It earnt praise for its lyrical content, production, and Nas's lyricism. Over time, music critics have recognized it as one of the greatest