Illmatic at 30: how Nas invented epistolary rap – and changed the hyper-masculine world of hip hop forever

• At the time, these lines were seen as just another gem in a long line of highly sophisticated, literary Nas lyrics.
• In many ways a verbal successor to Nas, Lamar controversially won an actual Pulitzer prize for music.
• Like Lamar, Nas is as highly esteemed in the street as he is in academic circles.

One Love breaks new ground

• The Illmatic track One Love (1994) introduced the “epistolary narrative”, or written letter technique, to the rap genre.
• As journalist, educator and author Dax-Devlon Ross explains, One Love contains “a series of prison letters set to song”, which “effectively began the epistolary sub-genre” of rap.
• Notable advocates of the technique include one-time rival of Nas, Tupac Shakur, releasing Dear Mama a year after One Love.

Illmatic’s legacy

• Released two years after One Love, Xzibit utilised rap’s newly established epistolary sub-genre to pen an emotive open letter to his young son.
• The Foundation addresses themes prevalent in the male African American experience, such as lineage, loyalty, masculinity and the paternal bond.

Nas today

• In recent years, Nas has reached a purple patch of creativity, and released a flourish of well received albums, including both the King’s Disease (2020) and the Magic series.
• When brought into the running of “top five dead or alive” rap debates, Nas is often quick to deflect from comparison, stating that there “ain’t no best”.
• As Nas said himself in 2022: “I probably don’t need a therapist because I have music.” It’s hard to think of another rapper of his generation who has opened up so many doors for the artform.

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Paul Stephen Adey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.