The debut album Illmatic by Nas turned 30 today, marking its gold certification by the RIAA on January 17, 1996.

Illmatic was released in 1994 through Columbia Records and was laid down across several New York studios, including Chung King, D&D Recording, Battery, and Unique Recording Studios.

Across its production, Illmatic features work from top-tier producers like DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself, strengthening its status as a hip hop cornerstone.

The album would later reach platinum status in 2001 after shipping one million copies in the United States.

Lyrically, Illmatic is celebrated for Nas’s street-centered verses, influencing 1990s hip hop and earning wide critical recognition as one of the greatest LPs.

Illmatic opened with 60,000 copies sold in its first week, debuting at number 12 on the US Billboard 200.