Nasty Nas the Esco: ILLMATIC the Work – IILMATIC the Tour

Image Credit: consequenceofsound.net

It’s Illmatic Year! To celebrate the 20 year anniversary Nas first released the deluxe reissue of one of, if not the greatest contributions of art to our culture – the album Illmatic. Besides some small tweaks, it’s a typical re-release excluding the addition of the track “I’m a Villain." He also took off on a world tour to follow.

Although he’s been touring most of the year, this next stream of shows will mainly support the release of the albums’ behind the scenes documentary also titled Nas: Time is Illmatic. Which will first air October 1st at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival. 

The project which is vividly painted by words – full of some painful and some hopeful stories, still has a life of its own 20 years later. A quote from the trailer – “I gave you what the streets felt like, sounded like, tasted like” – Nas.

Image Credit: consequenceofsound.net

The tour kicks off this Thursday October 2nd at the Main Street Armory in Rochester, NY. The show will include the viewing of the documentary of course which features interviews with Nas' 'Illmatic' producers (Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and DJ Premier) and musical peers (including Pharerell Williams and Alicia Keys. 

Salute to the God, Nasty Nas! We’ll be keeping up with him and the rest of Time is Illmatic journey.

Tina Louise 

Twitter: @TinaLouiseMe

Edited by: Dana Pellotta; Owner/E.I.C.

Nas Announces Illmatic Tour Featuring Documentary Screenings, Album Performed in Full

image credit: pitchfork.com 

"Time Is Illmatic" is a documentary about one of the greatest hip hop lyricists of all time, none other then Queensbridges own, Nas. 

On April 16th, Nas premiered his documentary for the first time, as he opened up the TriBeCa Film Fesitval at the Beacon Theatre, in New York City. I happened to be there for this SOLD OUT show, and it was an absoulte STAR STUDDED event! Legendary producers and artists were in attendance for this event such as DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, 50 Cent, Fabolous, and much much more! Robert DeNiro & Jane Rosenthal opened up the TriBeCa Film Festival, prasing Nas on his album, and introducing the documentary. The documentary was about an hour, followed by Alicia Keys introducing Nas to the stage, playing the piano melody of "New York State Of Mind." Nas then went on to perform the ENTIRE Illmatic album! 

Earlier this year, Nas announced he would commemorate the 20th anniversary of Illmatic, with a few different activities including a tour, and a documentary about the making of his "Illmatic" album.

The tour is set to start on October 2nd, in Rochester New York. However, the documentary "Time Is Illmatic" will be released on October 1st, and will be released on iTunes and on demand, on October 3rd.

Here is a list of the tour dates. If you are a true hip hop fan, I would definitely recommend checking this out, and it was a GREAT show!

09-07 Boston, MA - Boston Calling 
09-13 Atlanta, GA - One Music Fest
10-02 Rochester, NY - Main Street Armory
10-03 Albany, NY - Palace Theatre *
10-04 Washington, DC - Lincoln Theatre *
10-05 Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre *
10-08 Toronto, Ontario - Queen Elizabeth Theatre *
10-09 Detroit, MI - The Fillmore Detroit *
10-10 Hammond, IN - Horseshoe *
10-11 Lincoln, NE - Bourbon Theatre
10-12 Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre *
10-15 Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre *
10-16 Vancouver, British Columbia - Vogue Theatre *
10-17 Las Vegas, NV - The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
10-18 Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre *
10-19 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater *
11-08 Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Festival

* with screening of Nas: Time is Illmatic

by: Dana Pelotta

Blog Owner/Editor In Chief

Twitter: @princessdanaox