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IMDbPro

Nas: Time Is Illmatic

Original title: Time Is Illmatic
  • 20142014
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 1h 14m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
65,403
2,962
Nas in Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)
A documentary film that delves deep into the making of Nas' 1994 debut album, Illmatic, and the social conditions that influenced its creation. Twenty years after its release, Illmatic has become a hip-hop benchmark that encapsulates the socio-political outlook, enduring spirit, and collective angst of a generation of young black men searching for their voice in America.
Play trailer1:41
3 Videos
13 Photos
DocumentaryBiographyHistory
The story behind Nas's groundbreaking debut album 'Illmatic, ' and the early life of one of the most talented rappers of all time. Featuring Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Q-Tip, and Busta ... Read allThe story behind Nas's groundbreaking debut album 'Illmatic, ' and the early life of one of the most talented rappers of all time. Featuring Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Q-Tip, and Busta Rhymes.The story behind Nas's groundbreaking debut album 'Illmatic, ' and the early life of one of the most talented rappers of all time. Featuring Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Q-Tip, and Busta Rhymes.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
65,403
2,962
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • One9
    • Writer
      • Erik Parker
    • Stars
      • Nas
      • Cornel West
      • Pharrell Williams
    Top credits
    • Director
      • One9
    • Writer
      • Erik Parker
    • Stars
      • Nas
      • Cornel West
      • Pharrell Williams
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 8User reviews
    • 33Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:41
    Official Trailer
    Time Is Illmatic
    Trailer 2:23
    Time Is Illmatic
    NAS: TIME IS ILLMATIC - Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:41
    NAS: TIME IS ILLMATIC - Official Trailer

    Photos13

    Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)
    Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)
    Nas at an event for Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)
    Nanette Lepore at an event for Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)
    Nas at an event for Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)
    Busta Rhymes at an event for Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)
    Jenna Lyons at an event for Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)
    La La Anthony at an event for Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)
    One9_ Brooklyn, New York
    Director, Nas: Time is ILLmatic
    Director, Producer
    Director, Time is ILLmatic

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nas
    Nas
    • Self
    Cornel West
    Cornel West
    • Self - Professor and Political Activist
    Pharrell Williams
    Pharrell Williams
    • Self
    Swizz Beatz
    Swizz Beatz
    • Self
    Busta Rhymes
    Busta Rhymes
    • Self
    Alicia Keys
    Alicia Keys
    • Self
    Olu Dara
    • Self - Nas' Father
    Roxanne Shanté
    Roxanne Shanté
    • Self
    Jabari Jones
    • Self - Nas' Brother
    Angela Braconi
    • Self - Nas' Elementary School Teacher
    Marley Marl
    • Self - Music Producer
    Large Professor
    • Self - Hip Hop Rapper and Record Producer
    Wiz
    • Self
    M.C. Serch
    • Self - Hip Hop MC
    Faith Newman
    • Self - Columbia Records
    DJ Premier
    • Self - Music Producer
    Fab 5 Freddy
    Fab 5 Freddy
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Leshan Lewis
    • Self - Music Producer
    • (as L.E.S.)
    • Director
      • One9
    • Writer
      • Erik Parker
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Kristen Stewart/Artie Lange/Jason Aldean (2014)

    User reviews8

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Succinct, satisfying examination of a notable hip hop icon
    STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

    To mark the twentieth anniversary of it's release last year, Nas's Illmatic was re-released for a new generation of hip hop fans to discover. Having recognised Nas as one of my more favoured hip hop performers, I brought a copy myself, and it's not hard to see why it put the musical genre on the map quite as much as it did. He's definitely one of mine, and it would seem many other, people's favourite rap performers, and coinciding with the album, it seems this equally timely and more revealing documentary was also released, delving in to the history of Nas and how his musical influences probably dated back further even than his birth, with his father an accomplished jazz performer, providing him with an inspiration that would propel him away from an almost predestined life of crime to a positive, outspoken role model to millions of fans.

    Although he was another rapper who grew up in 'the projects', surrounded by crime in Queensbridge, New York, we learn that Nas enjoyed a more cultured, educated living environment at home than probably the vast majority of those around him did, with access to literature and poetry books from his teacher mother, to the point where his own father supported him in his decision to drop out of school early, feeling unchallenged and uncared for in the education system. Then an unforeseen tragic event propelled him to put everything in to his ambition as a hip hop artist, and by his late teens, he'd wowed the right people, made the right connections and before he knew it, his titular album was on the shelves. As the driving force of the documentary, we delve in to the social significance and emotional resonance behind each of the tracks, gaining insight in to what made the album such an enduring masterpiece.

    It's all wrapped up nice and smoothly, at just over seventy minutes, cramming a lot of interesting information in to such a short time frame. It's no less a labour of love, a revealing insight in to one of the more articulate, intriguing, hard hitting and distinctive icons of the hip hop genre. ****
    helpful•4
    1
    • wellthatswhatithinkanyway
    • Apr 22, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 3, 2014 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Time Is ill Matic
    • Filming locations
      • Queens, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • Tribeca Film Institute
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $164,540
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $23,200
      • Oct 5, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $164,540
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 14 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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