Illmatic is the debut
studio album by American rapper
Nas, released on April 19, 1994, by
Columbia Records. After signing with the label with the help of
MC Serch, Nas recorded the album in 1992–1993 at
Chung King Studios,
D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and
Unique Recording Studios in New York City. Its production was handled by Nas,
Large Professor,
Pete Rock,
Q-Tip,
L.E.S., and
DJ Premier. Styled as a
hardcore hip hop album,
Illmatic features multi-syllabic
internal rhymes and inner-city narratives based on Nas's experiences in
Queensbridge, New York.