I'm always confused at how Illmatic has reached such a godly status amongst many rap listeners. Sure the rhymes/lyrics are great, but there are still MUCH better rhymes/lyrics on other albums. Not to mention the lackluster production. I've grown to like the album more over time, but I still don't have any illusions that the beats sound anything but dated.
Lackluster production? Premo, Q-Tip, Large Pro and Pete Rock were the best producers around at the time. Illmatic is an album that you never understand on the first try. You really have to listen to it a few HUNDRED times before everything sinks in. Its a masterpiece song so song.



So good Michael Eric Dyson has just released a 265+ book on on the album.