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Alex F.'s avatar

the haiti / newark double anchor reframes the whole album, and that line about revelry in the existential terror of encroaching end times is the carnival tradition in one sentence. clef leaning operatic, lauryn pulling it grim, that's the emotional architecture right there. been doing the same album retrospective format over at WID, illmatic was the first one. this is the bar.

Backspin Hip-Hop's avatar

That’s what’s up! Illmatic is a great starting point for a retrospective series.

Eric Butler's avatar

Album still in rotation

Jay Connor's avatar

This was my shit!