“Multimedia artist One9’s documentary follows the trajectory of Nas’ 1994 landmark debut album, Illmatic, one of the most important and revolutionary albums in hip hop. Even 20 years after its release, Illmatic is widely recognized as a hip-hop benchmark that captured the sociopolitical outlook, enduring spirit and collective angst of a generation of young artists searching for their voice in America. Tracing Nas’s influences from the music of his jazz musician father, Olu Dara, to the burgeoning hip-hop scene in his native Queensbridge, Time is Illmatic describes the almost insurmountable obstacles he faced in creating his opus, providing an authentic and passionate account of Nas’s personal journey from a young street poet to a visionary MC.”
The film features interviews with Nas’ Illmatic producers including Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, and DJ Premier, as well as Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, and Busta Rhymes.
Directed and produced by One9. Written and produced by Erik Parker. Cinematography by Frank Larson. Music Score by Brian Satz. Released October 1st, 2014 in select theaters and on demand October 3rd.
