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Comprehensive yet brisk, Nas: Time Is Illmatic offers an absorbing look at a hip-hop classic and the life of the artist who made it.
All Critics (38) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (0)
An essential celebration of the New York rapper's groundbreaking 1994 album. Oct 30, 2014 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
An essential celebration of the New York rapper's groundbreaking 1994 album.
Alex King
A strikingly photographed and genuinely revealing exploration of the early influences that formed one of the most distinctive voices in rap. Oct 23, 2014 | Rating: 3/5
A strikingly photographed and genuinely revealing exploration of the early influences that formed one of the most distinctive voices in rap.
Wendy Ide
Flirts with glamorising the rags-to-rap-to-riches story, but in doing so stays true to its subject. Oct 23, 2014 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Flirts with glamorising the rags-to-rap-to-riches story, but in doing so stays true to its subject.
Henry Barnes
A well-made and well-shot companion piece to the album, telling the story of Nas' early life and the circumstances that led to his birth as a hip-hop legend. Oct 10, 2014 | Rating: B | Full Review…
A well-made and well-shot companion piece to the album, telling the story of Nas' early life and the circumstances that led to his birth as a hip-hop legend.
Adam Graham
Time Is Illmatic does a terrific job of weaving hip-hop history into a highly personal story. Oct 10, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
Time Is Illmatic does a terrific job of weaving hip-hop history into a highly personal story.
Dan DeLuca
The movie is inspiring and tragic, and, directed by street artist One9, it's captured in an artful, emotional way that will speak to an audience beyond rap fans. Oct 9, 2014 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
The movie is inspiring and tragic, and, directed by street artist One9, it's captured in an artful, emotional way that will speak to an audience beyond rap fans.
Stephanie Merry
One9 opts for celebration over cultural discourse. It proves a minor shortcoming when you allow yourself to revel in the raw energy of Time Is Illmatic's predictably perfect soundtrack. Apr 3, 2019 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
One9 opts for celebration over cultural discourse. It proves a minor shortcoming when you allow yourself to revel in the raw energy of Time Is Illmatic's predictably perfect soundtrack.
Tom Watson
Just as "Illmatic" brought people from all across the globe a little closer to Queensbridge, Nas: Time is Illmatic draws audiences closer to hip-hop. Sep 1, 2017 | Rating: A- | Full Review…
Just as "Illmatic" brought people from all across the globe a little closer to Queensbridge, Nas: Time is Illmatic draws audiences closer to hip-hop.
Candice Frederick
Brief, informative and direct, the historical details post-Illmatic grow less interesting, yet the film's first half is electric and engaging. Feb 26, 2016 | Rating: B | Full Review…
Brief, informative and direct, the historical details post-Illmatic grow less interesting, yet the film's first half is electric and engaging.
John Fink
The result, directed by graffiti artist and first-time director One9 is less an ordered history of facts than an emotional snapshot of the artist's childhood and thoughts about where he is today. Jan 4, 2015 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
The result, directed by graffiti artist and first-time director One9 is less an ordered history of facts than an emotional snapshot of the artist's childhood and thoughts about where he is today.
Amber Wilkinson
As humbling as hagiographies come. Dec 1, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…
As humbling as hagiographies come.
Simon Miraudo
Paints a vivid portrait of all that Nas the artist and Nasir Jones the person are in a remarkably efficient 75-minute run time. Nov 27, 2014 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
Paints a vivid portrait of all that Nas the artist and Nasir Jones the person are in a remarkably efficient 75-minute run time.
Michael Dequina
An informative and revealing documentary that takes a thrilling look at an artist's life and the many factors that motivated him to create such an extremely influential album regarded ever since its birth as a seminal piece of artistic cry against social oppression.
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