Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)

Time Is Illmatic is a feature length documentary film that delves deep into the making of Nas' 1994 debut album, Illmatic, and the social conditions that influenced its creation. Twenty ... See full summary »

Director:

One9

Writer:

Erik Parker

Stars:

Nas, Cornel West, Pharrell Williams

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nas	...	Himself
Cornel West	...	Himself - Professor and Political Activist
Pharrell Williams	...	Himself
Swizz Beatz	...	Himself
Busta Rhymes	...	Himself
Alicia Keys	...	Herself
Olu Dara	...	Himself - Nas' Father
Roxanne Shanté	...	Herself
Jabari Jones	...	Himself - Nas' Brother
Angela Braconi	...	Herself - Nas' Elementary School Teacher
Marley Marl	...	Himself - Music Producer
Large Professor	...	Himself - Hip Hop Rapper and Record Producer
Wiz	...	Himself
M.C. Serch	...	Himself - Hip Hop MC
Faith Newman	...	Herself - Columbia Records

Storyline

Time Is Illmatic is a feature length 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.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | History | Music

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 October 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nas: Time Is Illmatic

Filming Locations:

Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$23,200, 5 October 2014

Gross USA:

$164,540

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$164,540

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tribeca Film Institute

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

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

User Reviews

Not the greatest documentary but certainly worth a watch if Hip Hop is your scene.

When the album Illmatic is brought up in conversation it is often described as one of the greatest Hip Hop Albums of all time. If you are a fan of Hip Hop then there is an extremely good chance that you see Illmatic as a standout album.

This documentary is not just about that album specifically. It is the focal point but it does often branch off from this and takes you back into the childhood of Nas and explains how he got into Music. The majority of the story is told by Nas's father, his brother & Nas himself through various interviews. We are shown clips from concerts, old and new, interviews producers, hip hop artists & old friends of Nas. Nas - time is Illmatic is an entertaining watch and offers a glimpse into Nas's childhood and early music career but that is all this documentary offers. If this is your genre then it is certainly worth a watch but as a documentary it isn't that impressive.

Illmatic is a fantastic album and this documentary supports the album very well, 20 years on it is still, in my eyes at least, one of the best Hip Hop albums ever created.

8/10