Nas' Illmatic (33 1/3 series) [Paperback]

Matthew Gasteier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2009

Contradiction, the yin and the yang, the simultaneous existence of two competing realities, and the larger than life persona that depicts populist realism are at the core of Nas's debut album, Illmatic. Yet Nas's identity -as an inner-city youth, a child of hip-hop, and a Black American - predicts those philosophical quandaries as much as it does its brazen ambition. Partly because of that recklessly broad scope, the artistic impact of Illmatic was massive. The record finds its place in the greatest transition in hip hop up to that point, the spot where the streets and the charts collided.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The album in question, Illmatic, is an inarguable choice...from the cover art (the portrait of the artist as a very youngman), to the future-forward evolution of the music form it led, to thetimeless high quality multi-syllabic rhyming, weaving complicatedrhythms around those still-borrowed-from beats — author MatthewGasteier hit it square."
-KEXP, Seattle


"The on-the-ground reportage is way more compelling than the awkward. abstract discussion of Nas' lyrics." The Wire (Derek Walmsley )

"The on-the-ground reportage is way more compelling than the awkward. abstract discussion of Nas' lyrics." The Wire (, )

About the Author

Matthew Gasteier covers hip-hop for the Boston Phoenix and several other publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic; 1 edition (April 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826429076
• ISBN-13: 978-0826429070
• Product Dimensions: 4.8 x 0.5 x 6.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #222,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Musical Genres > Rap

More About the Author

Matthew Gasteier is the creator of the popular blog, fupenguin.com, which is the basis for this book. He lives in Watertown, Massachusetts. Some of his best friends are penguins.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Look at Illmatic's Origins May 11, 2009

By A. Covert

Format:Paperback

Though this book looks at each track of Illmatic on a musical level, this book shines when it comes to retelling the circumstances under which the album was created. Back stories--how Nas got on the infamous "Live at the BBQ", or deconstructions of how numerous contradictions, such as life and death, affected Nas growing up and how they manifest themselves in Illmatic--are at the heart of this book, providing a fresh angle to this oft-discussed album.

Gasteier is pretty well versed in Nas' body of work, as well the hip-hop of that era, able to identify not just Nas' influences, but also how this album would go on to affect the rest of his output.

While academic in tone, the book avoids getting too heavy handed with sociological jargon, but avoids overly sensationalizing/romanticizing Nas' mythology in the Queensbridge projects. Overall, it's a really interesting read, and a good hip hop contribution to the 33 1/3 series that should spark interest all music fans and not just hip hop heads.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The History of a Classic May 12, 2009

By M. Krolak

Format:Paperback

It's no secret that Illmatic is one of the most revered hip-hop records of all time, but what makes this book so fascinating is the way it explains its genesis to put the record into context -- both of its own time, and today. Gasteier details how this album affected hip-hop, and how hip-hop's evolving landscape (especially as it pertains to race in America) affected the album.

The backstories surrounding the creation of the tracks, as well as Nas' career are a great peek at stuff most listeners never get to see...such as songs forming like Voltron from demos, tracks being re-laid and remixed at the last minute. A must read for fans of the record and/or hip-hop.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely effort, great intentions, but needed to be proofread. February 10, 2010

By Fanon C. Wilkins

Format:Paperback

Just picked this book up and I loved the effort. The author appears to be sincere and passionate about Illmatic. The opening chapter on his whiteness and outsider status was a bit of a yawn, but his analysis of some of the albums material was very insightful. I also love how he gets at explaining the duality, paradox and contradiction of Nas's work and how this sits at the heart of great art--particularly Illmatic. However, the author makes a few mistakes that are worth noting, although they do not detract from the main arguments in the book. On page 3 he footnotes Kalefah Sanneh as writing Why White Kids Love Hip-Hop and that book was actually written by Bakari Kitwana. On page 46 he consistently refers to Selwyn Seyfu Hinds as a her, when he is a man--only the former Editor and Chief of the Source magazine and author of a couple of books on Hip-Hop. That said, this book belongs to be read alongside Born To Use Mics. Peace,
Fanon Che Wilkins
Kyoto, Japan