NAS: Time is Illmatic, 2014
Directed by One9
SYNOPSIS:
Time Is Illmatic is a feature length documentary film that delves deep into the making of Nas’ 1994 debut album, Illmatic, and the social conditions that influenced its creation.
Celebrating the twentieth anniversary of seminal hip hop album Illmatic, NAS: Time is Illmatic is a look back at a record that changed the face of a genre by delving into its beginnings, where the lyrics came from and the impact it had on music. Directed with love by artist One9, Time is Illmatic is a good, but not great, documentary that works on more levels than just being a retrospect.
NAS: Time is Illmatic doesn’t stray too far from documentary standards and that’s not a criticism. It opens by looking at NAS’ life growing up with a brief history of The Projects and the rise of crack among young Americans, before looking at the face of hip hop at the time and how NAS’ work fit into it. With lots of archival footage of his early days, mixed with current live performances, you get real appreciation for where NAS came from and where he ended up. Quite rightly, the film does not sugar coat any of NAS’ childhood or what it was like to live as a young, working class black man in an impoverished and crime-ridden area. In one of the tougher moments to sit through, NAS and his brother Jungle walk you through a shooting right on their doorstep which resulted in the death of their good friend Ill Will. Perhaps one its strongest sections is NAS walking you through the images from the liner notes of the album, pointing out where these former children are, be it prison or the grave. It’s at times like this where Time is Illmatic steps above being just your average BBC4 documentary, but these moments only come so often.
It can be said that NAS: Time is Illmatic will only be enjoyed by those who have listened to or are fans of the album itself. There is an argument to the made, but One9 makes sure to keep the documentary on the right track, examining what certain songs meant at the time and how they are perceived now. He also does a good job of establishing the impact the album has had on music so that those new to the subject matter understand the relevance. NAS himself is a very well-spoken interview and gives great insight into the creation of his music, as well as his past which really helps push the message that One9 is aiming for.
NAS: Time is Illmatic is not a documentary you should rush out to see, unless you are a huge fan of NAS and his body of work. If you do fall into that category however, then this is a superb and detailed look at one of the most important records of the last twenty years. Non-fans will get some enjoyment out it, thanks in part to the brisk 74 minute runtime, and it’s certainly one of the better music documentaries of 2014 next to Keep on Keepin’ On.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Luke Owen is the Deputy Editor of Flickering Myth and the host of the Flickering Myth Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @LukeWritesStuff.
Originally published October 6, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
