--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nas' Illmatic blew my mind when I first…" description: "\"Nas' Illmatic blew my mind when I first heard it. The poetry was done on such a high level that in a way, it validated our existence, our culture. He u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/erik-parker-41220_art_nas-illmatic-blew-my-mind-when-i-first-h_705040.jpg" --- # Nas' Illmatic blew my mind when I first heard it. The… ![“Nas' Illmatic blew my mind when I first heard it. The poetry was done on such a high level that in a way, it validated our existence, our culture. He used the language of the street at the time and made it art. Art tends to be validating.” quote by Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/erik-parker-41220_art_nas-illmatic-blew-my-mind-when-i-first-h_705040.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/erik-parker-41220_art_nas-illmatic-blew-my-mind-when-i-first-h_705040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/erik-parker-41220_art_nas-illmatic-blew-my-mind-when-i-first-h_705040.jpg) > “Nas' Illmatic blew my mind when I first heard it. The poetry was done on such a high level that in a way, it validated our existence, our culture. He used the language of the street at the time and made it art. Art tends to be validating.” [Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nas' Illmatic elevated street language to high art, affirming cultural identity and existence. **In simple terms:** Nas turned street language into respected art. Key Takeaway Recognize and value artistic expressions from marginalized voices. Themes culture music identity validation Mood celebratory thoughtful Type cultural inspirational When to use this quote - music education - media representation - community storytelling - artist mentorship Key Concepts hip‑hop as literature cultural affirmation Questions to Reflect On - How does art validate community identity? - What role does language play in cultural pride? A Different Perspective Commercial pressures may dilute authentic voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) ## Related quotes > [The things Nas' Illmatic was saying were sometimes hard realities but it was done on such a high level, I felt I could point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/the-things-nas-illmatic-was-saying-were-sometimes-hard-realities-but/) [Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) > [I by no means rank poetry high in the scale of intelligence -this may look like affectation but it is my real opinion. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/i-by-no-means-rank-poetry-high-in-the-scale-of-intelligence-this-may/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [I began to write poetry in high school, and would ride miles over sandy roads in the fine hills around Cedar Rapids, repeating the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-engle/i-began-to-write-poetry-in-high-school-and-would-ride-miles-over/) [Paul Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-engle/) > [“As Sandy and his wife warmed to the tale, one tripping up another in their eagerness to tell everything, it gradually developed as distinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-oliphant/as-sandy-and-his-wife-warmed-to-the-tale-one-tripping-up-another-in/) [Margaret Oliphant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-oliphant/) > [I had read a Tale of Two Cities and found it up to my standards as a romantic novel. She opened the first page…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-had-read-a-tale-of-two-cities-and-found-it-up-to-my-standards-as-a/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I think the first time I really heard poetry was in the schoolyard. Just the little limericks that kids say when they're jumping rope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-scott/i-think-the-first-time-i-really-heard-poetry-was-in-the-schoolyard/) [Jill Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-scott/) > [I'm Ready to Die without a Reasonable Doubt Smoke Chronic and hit it Doggystyle before I go out. Until they sign my Death Certificate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayceon-terrell-taylor/i-m-ready-to-die-without-a-reasonable-doubt-smoke-chronic-and-hit-it/) [Jayceon Terrell Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayceon-terrell-taylor/) > [When I made Illmatic, I was trying to make the perfect album. It comes from the days of Wild Style. I was trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/when-i-made-illmatic-i-was-trying-to-make-the-perfect-album-it-comes/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [It used to be when a good record was about to drop you heard it out of every car and every kid with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mic-geronimo/it-used-to-be-when-a-good-record-was-about-to-drop-you-heard-it-out/) [Mic Geronimo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mic-geronimo/) > [Maybe I should've know who she was Cause she had me at A Once Upon a time And all at once she blew my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-mccartney/maybe-i-should-ve-know-who-she-was-cause-she-had-me-at-a-once-upon-a/) [Jesse McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-mccartney/) > [Fela Kuti blew my mind. His playing is very unorthodox, but I learned how to appreciate that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamasi-washington/fela-kuti-blew-my-mind-his-playing-is-very-unorthodox-but-i-learned/) [Kamasi Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamasi-washington/) > [A woman called me interesting once, and it kind of blew my mind. She said, 'You're one of the most interesting people I've ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-efron/a-woman-called-me-interesting-once-and-it-kind-of-blew-my-mind-she/) [Zac Efron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-efron/) > [ Someone handed me Mexico City Blues in St. Paul \[Minnesota\] in 1959 and it blew my mind. It was the first poetry that spoke… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/someone-handed-me-mexico-city-blues-in-st-paul-minnesota-in-1959-and/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The first Latin music that blew my mind was bumba, which was a Puerto Rican beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-johansen/the-first-latin-music-that-blew-my-mind-was-bumba-which-was-a-puerto/) [David Johansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-johansen/) > [Joe Henderson, who I maybe, to me, if I had to pick one improviser in my life that I saw live that blew my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/joe-henderson-who-i-maybe-to-me-if-i-had-to-pick-one-improviser-in-my/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) ## More by Erik Parker > [Hip hop is still strong. As an art form, music helps people express themselves, find meaning in their own lives and connect with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/hip-hop-is-still-strong-as-an-art-form-music-helps-people-express/) [Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) > [Older generations can sometimes look down on today's hip hop but I refuse that mindset. I remember how hurt I was when older people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/older-generations-can-sometimes-look-down-on-today-s-hip-hop-but-i/) [Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) > [All the songs are pieces to the puzzle. They each represent something different. So it's really difficult to say one song represents the album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/all-the-songs-are-pieces-to-the-puzzle-they-each-represent-something/) [Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) > [There are songs and artists now who are trying to do the same thing: be honest to their experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/there-are-songs-and-artists-now-who-are-trying-to-do-the-same-thing/) [Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) > [Hip hop has evolved, thankfully. Kids are making music that is important to their lives and outlooks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/hip-hop-has-evolved-thankfully-kids-are-making-music-that-is/) [Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) > [We need to do stuff we've always done, even though you might not like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/we-need-to-do-stuff-we-ve-always-done-even-though-you-might-not-like/) [Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) > [If you see yourself reflected in art, you feel validated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/if-you-see-yourself-reflected-in-art-you-feel-validated/) [Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) > [The things Nas' Illmatic was saying were sometimes hard realities but it was done on such a high level, I felt I could point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/the-things-nas-illmatic-was-saying-were-sometimes-hard-realities-but/) [Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) > [Every piece of music is not for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/every-piece-of-music-is-not-for-everybody/) [Erik Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) [Explore all 10 Erik Parker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nas' Illmatic blew my mind when I first heard it. The poetry was done on such a high level that in a way, it validated our existence, our culture. He used the language of the street at the time and made it art. Art tends to be validating.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erik Parker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/nas-illmatic-blew-my-mind-when-i-first-heard-it-the-poetry-was-done/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/nas-illmatic-blew-my-mind-when-i-first-heard-it-the-poetry-was-done/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/erik-parker-41220_art_nas-illmatic-blew-my-mind-when-i-first-h_705040.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/erik-parker-41220_art_nas-illmatic-blew-my-mind-when-i-first-h_705040.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/efc/erik-parker-41220_art_nas-illmatic-blew-my-mind-when-i-first-h_705040.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Nas' Illmatic blew my mind when I first heard it. The poetry was done on such a high level that in a way, it…” — Erik Parker", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erik Parker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-parker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Nas' Illmatic blew my mind when...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/nas-illmatic-blew-my-mind-when-i-first-heard-it-the-poetry-was-done/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-parker/nas-illmatic-blew-my-mind-when-i-first-heard-it-the-poetry-was-done/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```