“I thought Nas was gonna be a great trumpeter.” – Olu Dara, Nas’ father
Nas’ esteemed father couldn’t have been more wrong, as his lyrical genius of a son would craft a classic called Illmatic 20 years ago this year. Last night in New York City at the Beacon Theater, 3,000 plus fans, industry heads and newbs came out to celebrate the anniversary of the seminal album in the form of a film screening and concert by the man himself.
“Time Is Illmatic,” a documentary crafted by Erik Parker and One Nine, is a multi-layered look a the Queensbridge-bred artist, but also examines the plight of youth and families reared in the ‘hood. The flick delves deep. “We see what’s going on–pregnant ladies doing crack,” Nas said of his early development bearing witness to the drug epidemic that swept urban America. The movie also shifts from the death of his dear friend Ill Will, his mother’s passing and the relationship with his father, Olu. Jungle, his brother, is the secret weapon in the documentary and he offers a different, often hilarious perspective. Frankly speaking, this is a must-see music documentary.
The movie kicked off the Tribeca Film Festival and Robert De Niro, Swizz Beatz, Pete Rock and Raekwon were on hand to watch the documentary as well. Once the viewing was over, Alicia Keys took the stage and introduced Nas, who performed Illmatic in its entirety.
Photos: KirillWasHere.com
Peep the pictures below.
