Nas has returned to the Queensbridge Projects where he grew up as Illmatic is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
On Sunday (April 7), the rap legend posted a picture on Instagram of himself on a bench outside the housing projects along with the caption: “Humble origins. 30 yrs. Grateful.”
AD LOADING...
The photo appears to be taken in the same location as the images seen in the Illmatic booklet.
Nas’ trip down memory lane was well received by some of his rap peers, with DJ Premier — who contributed to the classic album — commenting: “QB’s Finest!”
AD LOADING...
Busta Rhymes, Ghostface Killah, De La Soul‘s Posdnuos and Esco’s current production partner Hit-Boy also left celebratory emojis.
See the post below.
Nas and his landmark album were recently honored by the New York State Senate.
Senator Jamaal T. Bailey said: “What were you doing when you were 20 years old? Many of us were in college. We were finding who we were. Nasir Jones, poetically known as Nas, was making the greatest Hip Hop album of all time, Illmatic.
AD LOADING...
“Nas has been a Hip Hop griot — the rapid response system for the streets, for lack of a better term. And if you have a top five without Nas in it, you shouldn’t listen to rap music.”
Senator James Sanders Jr. also said: “I would just finish by saying to everyone that there are seven established wonders of the modern world. Let me introduce you to Queens’ eighth.”
Nas was in attendance during the session and stood to take the praise.
Illmatic was released on April 19, 1994, and is considered one of the greatest and most influential Hip Hop albums of all time.
AD LOADING...
The album featured production from the likes of DJ Premier, Q-Tip and Large Professor, along with classic cuts such as “N.Y. State of Mind,” “Life’s a Bitch” and “The World is Yours.”
AD LOADING...
In addition to receiving lofty praise from politicians about his early work, Nas has been looking back at his own past as well.
His recently released video for “I Love This Feeling” alternately features the rapper cruising around Los Angeles in a classic convertible Mercedes-Benz; checking out old versions of himself with the help of an old school projector; and sharing some of the wisdom he’s picked up along the way with school students.
