Senate Resolution No. 2024

BY: Senator BAILEY

COMMEMORATING the 30th Anniversary of Nas'
"Illmatic" album

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay
just tribute to those musical geniuses whose commitment and creative
talents contribute to the entertainment and cultural enrichment of their
community, the State of New York, and the entire Nation; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Nas' "Illmatic" album; and

WHEREAS, Nas' debut album "Illmatic" is the crown jewel of the
mid-90s classics that still define the genre; unlike other albums
released in its wake, "Illmatic" was the game-changer that forever
transformed the landscape of East Coast hip-hop; and

WHEREAS, Released on April 19, 1994, by Columbia Records, "Illmatic"
raised the stakes for hip-hop production, lyrical technique, content,
and overall artistic ambition; and

WHEREAS, Styled as a hardcore hip-hop album, "Illmatic" features
multi-syllabic internal rhymes and inner-city narratives based on Nas'
experiences growing up in Queens, New York; and

WHEREAS, The album debuted at number 12 on the US Billboard 200
chart, selling 63,000 copies in its first week; and

WHEREAS, Since its initial reception, "Illmatic" has been recognized
by writers and music critics as a landmark album in East Coast hip hop;
its influence on subsequent hip hop artists has been attributed to the
album's production and Nas' lyricism, and contributed to the revival of
the New York City rap scene, introducing a number of stylistic trends to
the region; and

WHEREAS, The album is widely regarded as one of the greatest and
most influential hip hop albums of all time, appearing on numerous best
album lists by critics and publications; Billboard wrote in 2015 that
"Illmatic" is widely seen as the best hip-hop album ever; in 2020, the
album was ranked by Rolling Stone at number 44 on its list of The 500
Greatest Albums of All Time, and in the same year, it was selected by
the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording
Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically
significant"; and

WHEREAS, Over the last 30 years, the taut ten-track meditation on
the universal struggle of a young man growing up in the Queensbridge
Houses has remained resonant and relevant, truly revolutionizing
hip-hop; its precise poetry introduced new terms and phrases that
infiltrated hip-hop's lexicon, making Nas' debut album one of the most
technically masterful rap albums of the half-century; and

WHEREAS, A man of colossal talent, Nas is a brilliant artist and an
inspiration to millions around the world; and

WHEREAS, The arts are the building blocks of civilization, and are
central to human expression; they enlighten us and inspire the
imagination; individuals which further such worthy purposes richly merit
the recognition and appreciation of this Legislative Body and the people
of the State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Nas' "Illmatic" album; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Nas.