Review of Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014) by Nelson P — 06 Oct 2014

In many ways, illmatic is still one of the most influential and prismatic albums illustrating an urban lifestyle, born from the experience and disillusioned vision of one of rap's most endearing artist, Nas (Nasir Jones). From his childhood beginnings in music, his upbringing with his parents, to his crumbling relation with the educational system, we are taken on a gritty journey that paints a portrait of a man, a society that had to survive in a concrete jungle and attempt to reach out to escape the environment that could have, at any moment, cost him his life.

The documentary itself takes excerpts from the people that came together to bring the Nas into the spotlight and how his hip hop masterpiece, illmatic, reinvigorated the genre of rap and became a corner stone to which all aspiring rappers would soon have to turn. One of the most inspiring and haunting moments in the film, juxtaposes Nas' brother pointing out, in a photo taken for the illmatic album, who was still alive, incarcerated, and who had died; cut scene to scene with Nas' silent stare at the photgraph, culminating in a near tear jerk reaction in which you can almost feel the anger and regret, and the gratification he feels emitting from the screen as he realizes how truly fortunate he was to have music as his outlet.

Throughout the documentary, we visit his home, experience his trials and tribulation, growing up in a house hold that would become divided and the rise of the crack epidemic in the early 1990s. We experience the pain of losing one of his close friends, and the process in which he would build towards Illmatic. We are introduced to the wisdom of his father and the teachings he bestowed upon him before leaving for a portion of his life. Ultimately, we reach the creation of the album and the symbolism and influence behind each and every track, every verse on the record. Being a fan of the artist for many years, this was a great film to experience and it gives great insight into the working mind of the then, 20 year artist, trapped in his own mind and fighting to give Queens (and himself) a chance to escape the trappings of an urban dystopia.

At a quick 75 minute run time, Time is illmatic is a great documentary to jump into, that will give you something to think about, whether you are a fan of the genre or not.