Nas - Illmatic XX (20th Anniversary Special Edition) (2014) CD1: Remastered original album 01. State Of Mind 03. Life's A Bitch feat. Stillmatic is the fifth studio album by American rapper Nas, released December 18, 2001 on Columbia Records in the United States. In contrast to his previous work's gangsta rap themes, it contains socially conscious and philosophical themes similar to those of his debut album, Illmatic (1994).
I thought it was quite bold that Charlotte rapper Lute decided to copy the Illmatic cover for his West1996 mixtape. It’s like me turning in my articles in a leather-bound book that smells of rich mahogany with “Holy Bible” etched in gold on the front. Lute set a rather high bar for himself with his choice of album artwork, and as a Nas disciple, I was going to instantly grade this harder than I might have if he had used Master P’s Ghetto D album cover for inspiration instead.
But put down your torches and pitchforks, my fellow disciples, for West1996 is gospel! The production is Illmatic inspired – soul and jazz samples and that classic New York boom-bap – without going out of its way to sound like Illmatic, like sampling the same songs, using the same beats, etc. It’s rugged street-hop with a thinking-man’s approach. While I hesitate to nominate anybody as the second coming of Nas (thanks for nothing, Jay Electronica!), his influence is clear. West1996 is scripture that does its cover artwork proud.
Download: Lute – West1996 [Direct Link]
Illmatic Zip Zippyshare Meaning
Illmatic Zip Zippyshare Album
02 G Funk Intro
03 Gin And Juice (feat. Dat Nigga Daz)
04 Interlude 1
05 Tha Shiznit
06 Interlude 2
07 Lodi Dodi (feat. Nancy Fletcher)
08 Murder Was The Case (feat. Dat Nigga Daz)
09 Serial Killa (feat. D.O.C. RBX & Tha Dogg Pound)
10 Who Am I (What's My Name)
11 For All My Niggaz & Bitches (feat. Tha Dogg Pound & The Lady Of Rage)
12 Ain't No Fun (If The Homies Can't Have None) (feat. Nate Dogg, Warren G & Kurupt)
13 Interlude 3
14 Doggy Dogg World (feat. Tha Dogg Pound & The Dramatics)
15 Interlude 4
16 Gz And Hustlas (feat. Nancy Fletcher)
17 Interlude 5
18 Pump Pump (feat. Lil Malik)