{"product_id":"nass-illmatic-9780826429070","title":"Nas's Illmatic","description":"\u003cp\u003eNas was playing a role on \u003ci\u003eIllmatic\u003c\/i\u003e, even if it was himself. By constructing this persona, Nas not only laid out his own career for the next decade plus, but the careers of dozens of other rappers who were able to use their considerable skills to develop similar personas. His brazen ambition has become a road map for every rapper who hopes to reach an artistic peak. It seems right that Nas would make \u003ci\u003eIllmatic \u003c\/i\u003eat the age when maturity begins to turn boys into men. This was, in many regards, the first album of the rest of hip hop's life. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA decade and a half ago, \u003ci\u003eIllmatic \u003c\/i\u003elaunched one of the most storied careers in hip hop, and cemented New York's place as the genre's epicenter. With this in-depth look at the record, Matthew Gasteier explores the competing themes that run through Nas's masterpiece and finds a compelling journey into adulthood. Combining a history of Nas's early years with interviews from many of the most important people associated with the album, this book provides new information and context for what many consider to be the greatest hip hop record ever made.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Continuum\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/01\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780826429070\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 128\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.30lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 6.40h x 4.70w x 0.50d","brand":"Matthew Gasteier","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42917056020661,"sku":"9780826429070","price":12.71,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_e553f570-7e2b-41a1-92de-ecea0ee221aa.jpg?v=1687276446","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/nass-illmatic-9780826429070","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}