“It’s like the game ain’t the same, got younger niggas pulling the triggers

bringing fame to their name

And claim some corners, crews without guns are goners

In broad daylight, stickup kids, they run up on us”

- N.Y. State of Mind

Nas’ debut album Illmatic was released by Columbia Records on April 19, 1994. At the age of 20, he wasn’t yet old enough to legally buy the Henrock made infamous on The Genesis, but was already a veteran of the streets. Having dropped out of school in the 8th grade, Nas’ classroom became the concrete jungle in and around Queensbridge. Through this body of work, he revitalized the New York rap scene and captured the experiences of a generation that needed a voice.

The War on Drugs

On June 18th, 1971, President Nixon identified drug abuse as the United States’ public enemy number one. That same year the Department of Defense reported 28% of troops in Vietnam using hard drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Nixon declared, “in order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new all out offensive”. The government’s new legislation, Controlled Substances Act, would become effective and started an era coined as the ‘War on Drugs’, the main impetus behind mass incarceration. At the time in 1970, the entire United States prison population was 197,000, which exploded to over million in 1990 comprised of mostly Black and Latino males. The government’s offensive would only compliment the ongoing warfare already taking place in the streets of every major city throughout the country.

In an effort to clean up the communities, Black liberation groups utilized violence to kill and extort drug dealers, while rival drug organizations waged war against each other to maintain their interests in the trade. Time would only change consumer preference in drugs, as the public became aware of AIDS and the risks associated with sharing needles. Crack cocaine found mainstream popularity by the 1980s. The Crack form of cocaine is so cheap, addictive and accessible, the world became divided between tremendous loss and gain.

On the side experiencing losses, stood those trapped in addiction, an exploding foster care system removing children who were unable to be cared for by their parent(s), a growing number of “crack babies” born with disabilities, an increase in infant mortality rates due to fetal exposure to cocaine, the family members with stolen household goods, the victims of muggings/robberies/burglaries by addicts supporting a habit, an unprecedented amount of female users becoming prostitutes, young males facing mandatory minimums for selling the drug, life loss due to drug violence and the longstanding destruction of families particularly Black. Each loss is intergenerational.

On the other side experiencing gains, stood young ambitious dealers making an effort to quickly escape poverty, the businesses happy to accept their illicit money, women happy to be courted by the dealers, pawn shops accepting stolen goods/jewelry for less, the jack-boys who preyed on dealers who couldn’t rely on police, key stakeholders of the prison industrial complex, rural towns experiencing economic stimulus by the introduction of new prisons, the birth of Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) in 1983 and GEO Group in 1984 privatizing prisons, police agencies receiving more funding for drug initiatives, corrupt police officers on the take, horror stories that kept news publications interesting, a subject matter that made low hanging fruit for politicians to make promises on, the opponents of the civil rights movement realizing the withering leadership, and anyone who wanted an excuse to dehumanize Black people.

The Streets of New York

In 1986, The New York Times reported 500,000 heroin addicts in the United States with 200,000 being located in New York City, making the city a longstanding focal point of the trade. The Crack epidemic further exasperated social issues. Between 1986 and 1989, New York State’s foster care population increased by 98%. In the five years preceding 1994 were some of the city’s most violent with an average of over 1,800 murders mostly due to gun violence. Due to racism, discrimination, failing schools, lack of opportunity and poverty, young Black males often turned to an illegal means of income as a way of breaking the cycle of poverty. Assuming a role in a criminal enterprise may be more accessible than even a modest position in a Fortune 500. Users were also trying to escape the grim reality they were trapped in as well. It’s unnecessary to include this much detail an in effort to celebrate Illmatic. However, it’s important to highlight the environment that created Illmatic. Rappers often sensationalize the ongoings of the streets but Nas’ work is more stoic and accepting of the reality. He would write a letter to his incarcerated friend in ‘One Love’ and barely escape a shooting in ‘N.Y. State of Mind’. Street life was also was humanized with activities to enjoy, “bag bitches in John Jay and hit a matinee“.

Climate of Street Music

As street crews were making a name for themselves throughout the boroughs, Hip-Hop crews and collectives kept the East Coast street music bussing.

Naughty by Nature’s 1991 self titled sophomore album had both positive critical reception and commercial success realizing platinum sales. “Uptown Anthem”, produced by DJ Kay Gee, became the lead single on the classic soundtrack of iconic 1992 film, Juice. Their followup “19 Naughty III” album, featured ‘Hip-Hop Hooray’ and also achieved platinum sales. Other members of the Flavor Unit found success during this era as well. In 93, Queen Latifah dropped the Black Reign album, which featured U.N.I.T.Y. a single that won a Grammy in 1995.

In 1991, Jam Master Jay met Onyx during a chance encounter and signed them to his label after receiving their solicited demo. Two years later, in May 1993 JMJ records and Rush Associated Labels (Def Jam) released Onyx’s debut album Bacdafucup.

On November 9th, 1993, Loud Records released Wu-Tang Clan’s classic debut album Enter the 36 Chambers. This album immediately garnered critical acclaim making the collective superstars and became certified platinum in 1995.

1993 was a breakout year for many legendary crews and artists. Brand Nubian and Run DMC dropped. KRS-ONE and Redman dropped. However, there was a void to be filled. As great as each artist is, the game was eager to realize a street MC making a solo effort worthy of the crown.

Nas’ Upbringing

Nasir Jones was born to Fannie Ann and Olu Dara Jones, a USPS worker and jazz musician respectively. ‘Poppa Was A Playa’, Olu Dara was constantly on the rode and struggled to balance his life as a musician and a family man.

Ill Will

Willie ‘Ill Will’ Graham was a close friend of Nas, living directly above his family’s apartment on the 6th floor. He started rapping prior to Nas and they were involved in the streets together. He was murdered on May 23rd, 1992 in a shooting that almost claimed the life of Jabari ‘Jungle’ Jones as well. Jungle was wounded in the leg, but the shooter ran out of ammo. In an interview on the Apt 5B podcast, Ill Will’s cousin Vegas said his death turned a lot of people around and made it a priority to escape the streets. In the case of Vegas, he finished college. Vegas also stated that Ill Will was the inspiration behind the title for the album.

Production

In this day and age, we’ve grown accustomed to listening experiences with multiple super-producers on an album. Illmatic is owed some credit for that. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, it was typical for Hip-Hop crews to rely on a select few in-house producers. The Juice Crew was entirely produced by Marly Marl while Ced-Gee, the great late DJ Scott La Rock and KRS-One produced BDP Productions. Only 5 months preceding Illmatic’s release, the Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the 36 Chambers was entirely produced by RZA with contributions by crew members Method Man and ODB. It was an unwritten rule that was made tradition since the origin of Hip-Hop, making collaboration unorthodox. Illmatic‘s legendary producer lineup included Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Large Professor and DJ Premiere.

The album was critically acclaimed by The Source Magazine earning a rare 5 mics review, which was uncommon for a debut. At first, the sales weren’t impressive but the content enabled. However, after a decades of change in Black America and a void in New York hip hop, Nas has arrived as a much needed voice in the culture.

#muralmondays: Queensmatic