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Illmatic is a hip-hop album by Nas, released on April 19, 1994 (see 1994 in music) on Columbia Records. Illmatic is considered by hip-hop purists as the defining album of East Coast hip-hop, during a

Illmatic is a hip-hop album by Nas, released on April 19, 1994 (see 1994 in music) on Columbia Records. Illmatic is considered by hip-hop purists as the defining album of East Coast hip-hop, during a period in which West Coast G-funk maintained a virtual monopoly on the mainstream hip-hop scene. With producers like DJ Premier and Pete Rock, Illmatic began its career with advance buzz on the streets. Upon its release, Illmatic received notable praise; publications from the The Source to Pitchfork have since recognized it as one of the quintessential hip-hop recordings of the 1990s. It was among the first rap albums to be given the 5 mics (out of 5) rating from The Source magazine, a prestigious achievement given the magazine’s influence within the hip-hop community at the time.

With its intricate rhyme patterns, clever wordplay, and vocabulary, Illmatic inspired mainstream rappers to re-evaluate their rhyme schemes, and brought a focus on lyricism to hip-hop during the funk-induced and beat-orientated G-Funk period. The album's release also inspired a revival of the Queensbridge rap scene, which had previously been considered one of the cornerstones of hip-hop during the 1980s, but was otherwise inactive during the early 1990s. Furthermore, the album is credited with launching the career of the critically acclaimed rapper, AZ, who gained instant exposure and underground credibility due to his appearance on "Life's A Bitch".