Nas Vinyl Records – Illmatic, It Was Written & Essential Albums on Vinyl

Nas — Nasir Jones — is one of the greatest lyricists in hip-hop history. Born in Brooklyn in 1973, raised in the Queensbridge houses in Long Island City, he arrived in 1994 with Illmatic, an album that is routinely cited as the finest hip-hop record ever made. His catalogue since has been inconsistent — brilliant at its peaks, patchy at its worst — but he has remained central to the conversation for over three decades.

The late-career reinvention with producer Hit-Boy — the King's Disease trilogy and the Magic trilogy, released rapidly between 2020 and 2023 — has been extraordinary, producing the most consistent run of albums Nas has released since his debut. Nas on vinyl is a particular pleasure — the jazz-based sample palette of DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock and (later) Hit-Boy all benefit from the format. The Columbia and Mass Appeal reissues on 180g are consistently excellent.

Best Nas Albums on Vinyl

Illmatic (1994)
One of the greatest albums ever made. N.Y. State of Mind, The World Is Yours, Life's a Bitch, Represent, One Love — ten tracks, forty minutes, and not a wasted moment. Produced by DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, Large Professor and L.E.S. The definitive East Coast hip-hop record.

It Was Written (1996)
The commercial follow-up, produced by the Trackmasters. If I Ruled the World (with Lauryn Hill), The Message, Street Dreams — a more polished sound than Illmatic and genuinely great in its own right. Often undervalued by purists.

Stillmatic (2001)
The return-to-form record that reignited his career and kickstarted the Jay-Z feud with Ether. Got Ur Self A..., One Mic, You're Da Man — Nas sharpening his writing after the wilderness years of Nastradamus. Essential.

King's Disease (2020)
The Hit-Boy era begins. 27 Summers, Ultra Black, Car #85, Spicy, The Cure — a record that reminded everyone why Nas still matters, and won him a Grammy for Best Rap Album. The whole trilogy (II and III) continues the quality.

Life Is Good (2012)
The mid-career autobiographical masterpiece. Daughters, Accident Murderers, Stay, Bye Baby — recorded in the wake of his divorce from Kelis, and one of his most emotionally complete records. The cover features his ex-wife's wedding dress.

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