"To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of Illmatic, Get On Down in partnership with Sony's CERTIFIED is proud to present the entire album on six 7-inches with 2 remixes, housed in a custom hardbound casebook that includes a 64-page book of extended liner notes by Sacha Jenkins with full lyrics, photos, and 12-inch singles discography." - Get On Down
Original Lab review:
What can I say about this album? Easily in the top 10 of all time, there is no way to pick favorites on this album. Not even one okay track on here. Everything is amazing. When this came out in 94, it was one of the most anticipated albums of all time, taking about two years to finally release. And it dropped with ten songs, no filler, blowing the lid off everybody. Nas wrote the deepest street poetry, touched inner thoughts and demons and still shot his way out his momma's stomach, went to hell for snuffin Jesus. Got the best producers in New York (Pete Rock, Large Professor, Q-Tip, Trackmasters, Premier) to turn in some of their best work ever for one of the best albums ever. One of the few albums I can just keep flipping over and over and over to this day. Little known fact: the trumpet solo on the end of "Life's a Bitch" is performed by Nas' father, the accomplished jazz man Olu Dara.
- 30th anniversary deluxe 45 boxset edition, includes the entire album plus (2) remixes
- 6x black vinyl 7" pressing
- includes 64 page book w/ extensive liner notes, lyrics, photos + more
- limited edition of 3000
- original release year: 1994
- music label: Columbia / Get On Down 2024
reviewed by the mgmnt 05/2005