@UpNorthTrips x @NahRight - #Illmatic20

Mixed by @UnitedCrates

Nas Interlude

10 - B.I.C. - It Aint Hard To Tell

07 - Troy Ave - One Love

03 - Timeless Truth - Life's A Bitch

@NahRight & @UpNorthTrips Present: The #Illmatic20 Tribute Mixtape

Twenty years ago today, a 20 year-old kid from the Queensbridge projects released what now stands as one of the most important albums in Hip-Hop history. An instant classic, Illmatic would be studied and celebrated over the next two decades, held aloft as the standard for everything Rap music was and had the potential to be. It's one of the most flawless bodies of work ever recorded, in any genre, and it is widely recognized as the defining work of an entire era of Rap. The impact of this 10 track masterpiece is almost immeasurable, yet you can still hear it bleeding through in the bars of artists the world over to this very day. 

And so we wanted to pay tribute to this remarkable record in a manner befitting a piece of art that has meant so much to all of us and to so many others for so long. We reached out to the new generation of New York MCs and asked them to join us in paying homage to Nas and his magnum opus over the same timeless tracks that underscored his historic bars back in 1994. Needless to say, if you were born or raised in the boroughs, Nas' music has touched you in one way or another, and an amazingly talented array of artists stepped up to honor Esco. 

Featuring contributions from Al-Doe, Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire, Troy Ave, Bodega Bamz, YC The Cynic, Denzil Porter, Smoke DZA, Doley Bernays, Timeless Truth, Euro League, Pete from Bitches Is Crazy, The Incomparable Shakespeare and SHIRT, this project is as much a showcase of the homegrown talent that has been reinvigorating the NY Rap scene over the last couple of years as it is a thank you letter to Nasir Jones. And really, what higher praise is there than that which comes from a generation of artists that cite you as a direct influence? So settle in and join us as we salute Nas on 20 years in the game, here's to 20 more! 

Mixed by @UnitedCrates

06 - Doley Bernays - Memory Lane

Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... is the second studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released on February 16, 1993, by Interscope Records and TNT Recordings and distributed by Atlantic Records. N.I.G.G.A. in the title is punctuated to refer to 2Pac's backronym "Never Ignorant in Getting Goals Accomplished". The album features guest appearances from the group Live Squad, 2Pac's stepbrother the Wycked (later known as "Mopreme", later a member of 2Pac's groups Thug Life and the Outlawz), Ice-T, Ice Cube, Treach, Apache, Poppi, Deadly Threat, R&B singer Dave Hollister and Digital Underground.

Similar to his debut, 2Pacalypse Now, the album contains many tracks emphasizing 2Pac's political and social views. The original album was going to be named "Troublesome 21" and released in September 1992, but it was scrapped due to being rejected by Time Warner. Many of these tracks still remained unreleased while "Keep Ya Head Up", "I Get Around", "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.", "The Streetz R Deathrow" and "Souljah's Revenge" were utilized for the new track listing.

Debuting at number 24 on the Billboard 200, this album saw more commercial success than its predecessor, and there are many noticeable differences in production. While 2Pac's first effort included a more underground or indie rap-oriented sound, this album was considered his breakout. It spawned the hits "Keep Ya Head Up" and "I Get Around". As of 2011, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... had sold 1,639,584 units in the United States. In commemoration of its twenty-fifth anniversary, it was released on 180 gram double vinyl on February 16, 2018.

1. Holler If Ya Hear Me - 2Pac
2. Pac's Theme (Interlude) - 2Pac
3. Point The Finga - 2Pac
4. Something 2 Die 4 (Interlude) - 2Pac
5. Last Wordz - 2Pac
6. Souljah's Revenge - 2Pac
7. Peep Game - 2Pac
8. Strugglin' - 2Pac
9. Guess Who's Back - 2Pac
10. Representin' 93 - 2Pac
11. Keep Ya Head Up - 2Pac
12. Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z... - 2Pac
13. The Streetz R Deathrow - 2Pac
14. I Get Around - 2Pac
15. Papa'z Song - 2Pac
16. 5 Deadly Venomz - 2Pac

10 - B.I.C. - It Aint Hard To Tell

upnorthtrips

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