For those of us 30 and over, the first thing that hits you when you realize Illmatic came out 20 years ago is how it makes you feel old as shit. There are millions of rap fans around the world who weren’t even born in 1994, and they almost definitely wont be familiar with the Wild Style clips that start the album off.
The second thing that hits you is just how much hip-hop has changed in those 20 years, mostly for the good. It’s a genre still much maligned and misunderstood by the masses, but its also finally now at a point where it is legitimately recognized for its cultural impact and long history. And where there is history, there are always people ready to capture and preserve it. That’s why, in the years since Illmatic dropped, a small but incredible collection of documentary films have been made about hip-hop.
To be clear on our definitions, when we say hip-hop documentary, we aren’t talking about promotional tie-in DVDs like Backstage, or extended video/live flicks like Streets is Watching or Up in Smoke.
We mean well-crafted cinematic productions that get the attention of respected critics and film festival judges. Films like Scratch (Doug Pray, 2002), Michael Rapaport’s Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest (2012), My Vinyl Weighs a Ton: This is Stones Throw Records (Jeff Broadway, 2014), and The Wonder Year and The Hip-Hop Fellow (Kenneth Price, 2011, 2014), both of which document the work of 9th Wonder. Each tells the story of hip-hop culture in a way that not only appeals to the true fan, but also makes the stories accessible to those from outside of the movement.
The latest documentary in this category to hit screens is Time is Illmatic, released to coincide with the album’s 20th anniversary. For those in the know, 1994 was slap-bang in the middle of the 2nd golden era of hip-hop, a time when quality material was being released by a huge selection of artists. But it was also a time when New York was in crisis, at the tail-end of the crack epidemic, and with murder rates among young black males way too high.
Time is Illmatic is less then about the music, and more about the social, economic and political climate of Queensbridge and every other ghetto at the time. It covers at length the break-up of Nas’ parents, and the effect it had on both Nas and his brother (Bravehearts rapper Jungle).
The tragic death of Ill Will is also a main theme. Anyone familiar with Nas’ music since Illmatic knows how frequently Will’s name appears, but here the true impact of his death is finally made clear. There are points where Nas struggles to re-live the pain of the story, and a poignant moment where Jungle questions his mother for not having moved them away from Queensbridge the moment one of her sons best friends was shot dead.
From a cinematic perspective, its a well-written and directed piece of film making, respectful of the culture, while never shying away from it’s many contradictions and problems.
For historians of the music itself, there are some interesting snippets of detail about how the album came together, with interviews from MC Serch, Large Professor, Pete Rock, DJ Premier and Q-Tip. There’s even a section on the infamous Bridge Wars, highlighting how significant the battle was for those who came from Queens and the Bronx.
It makes for a worthy addition to the cannon of other impressive hip-hop documentary films, and does well to capture a moment in history that effected the lives of so many people around the world.
Time is Illmatic is out now. Check the website for screenings.