Elmatic is better than Illmatic

The live instrumentation, the updated sound quality, Elzhi's superior voice and flow. This shit is incredible. It's crazy fire. I think it's two times better than Illmatic.

It's WAY better. Listen to it.

Is he using the same beats and titles as Illmatic? Or is this something completely different?

I tried listening to this guy before and he bored my fucking eyelashes off almost.

Yes. It's live instrumentation.

Elzhi is the best rapper right now. Period

Kev, what Elzhi have you heard? If it was like 2005 or before Elzhi, I agree. He really reinvented his style and has more charisma these days.

I really like this CD and honestly do dig it more than illmatic, but that's just me.

Give it a listen before you criticize

eLmatic is very very dope, but nah... not better than iLLmatic at all, not imo.

Shaun wrote:

Give it a listen before you criticize

I will, but I don't see my opinion changing being that Illmatic is my GOAT and I think Nas is superior to Elzhi. That coupled with the fact that neither SRP nor Linker are Illmatic fans makes me not take this thread seriously at all.

You don't have to take this thread seriously, or even post if the though offends your sensibilities.

I don't expect anyone but me and maybe Elzhi's mom to like this more than Illmatic, but I do. I think the beats and his rhymes have more energy and sound fresher.

The only stupid thing about this thread is the fact that another person's opinion is so inconceivable to you that you feel the need to insult others.

Yeah, I don't expect you to like this more than Illmatic. You really should check it out, though. Fresh production and dope lyrics throughout

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

You don't have to take this thread seriously, or even post if the though offends your sensibilities.

I don't expect anyone but me and maybe Elzhi's mom to like this more than Illmatic, but I do. I think the beats and his rhymes have more energy and sound fresher.

The only stupid thing about this thread is the fact that another person's opinion is so inconceivable to you that you feel the need to insult others.

Haha! I would have pulled out the Powers Boothe quote from Deadwood for that. "Y'all can help your delicate sensibilities, by turning the fuck away!"

Highsmith wrote:

My sentiments exactly

No. This could possibly be the best hip-hop album ever made. And it's free!!!!

Nas as a lyricist is better than Elzhi, but that's it but not flow-wise. As an overall MC Elzhi is better than Biggie, Rakim, 2Pac, Chuck D, Scarface all them. He is a grade A rapper.

The funny thing is this album is exactly the type of shit these guys would love...lol...

"As an overall MC Elzhi is better than Biggie, Rakim, 2Pac, Chuck D, Scarface all them. He is a grade A rapper."

Sure Linker and my name was Jason Bourne in a previous life....GTFOH

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

The funny thing is this album is exactly the type of shit these guys would love...lol...

I'll check it out at some point. But comparing it to Illmatic just makes me say "GTFOH with that bullshit". To me, that's like comparing one of today's R&B albums and saying that it's better than Thriller or Songs In The Key Of Life, I just ain't seeing it.

Not to mention that this is a mixtape, and while I've enjoyed many mixtapes over the years, I don't generally hold them in as high regard as albums. I liked The Preface so I'm sure I'll like this, but even that album wasn't 5 stars so I doubt this is either. All that being said, I'll give it an honest listen.

How the hell is it a mixtape? It's a remake of a specific album...

parker lewis wrote:

How the hell is it a mixtape? It's a remake of a specific album...

It's free, therefore it's a mixtape.

KJ Styles wrote:

parker lewis wrote:

How the hell is it a mixtape? It's a remake of a specific album...

It's free, therefore it's a mixtape.

Error. A mixtape is a hodge-podge of random shit, or an in-n-out collabo. This is a free album.

no remake interests me really...

Strictly Leakage from Atmosphere was free, and it was an album.

Back on topic, though, I think I'm liking this more than The Preface (which I have around 4.75 stars)

parker lewis wrote:

KJ Styles wrote:

parker lewis wrote:

How the hell is it a mixtape? It's a remake of a specific album...

It's free, therefore it's a mixtape.

Error. A mixtape is a hodge-podge of random shit, or an in-n-out collabo. This is a free album.

Elzhi's Wiki page also lists it as a mixtape.

Elzhi's Wiki page is a Wiki page...

"Elzhi's Wiki page also lists it as a mixtape."

I hope somebody in your life gets to slap the shit out of you. How else could they cope?

Yep, just because it is free does not make it a mixtape - it is a free remake of an album and is an ALBUM.

Just like that Mistah FAB is an album!

Furthermore, how can you get upset at comparisons to ILLMATIC when it is a REMAKE of ILLMATIC! IT WILL NATURALLY BE COMPARED TO THAT WHICH IT IS REMAKING!

I listened to a couple tracks last night and a couple just now. I haven't listened to Illmatic in many, many years and don't remember it that well, so this is all pretty fresh listening to me. If the title wasn't a play off of it and you guys hadn't told me it was a remake, I wouldn't have been able to tell.

I could tell by sound quality alone.

Justin Linker wrote:

I could tell by sound quality alone.

So all the beats are the same, just updated. I mean, I could go do the research myself, I do have Illmatic, this just seems easier to ask you.

They just replayed. On Illmatic, they were sampled. On here the guy used live instrumentation to reproduce those sample sequences.

Ya, Ya I got that it was live, I just didn't know if what they were doing is note for note basically. Thanks JL, I should just listen to both track for track to see for myself what the Holyfield is.

Oh yeah, I just listened to both ...State Of Minds, Elzhi's is much cleaner, sounds a lot better.

NY State of Mind >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Detroit State of Mind

They beat on eLZhi's version is like nails on a chalk board to me. Nas' version is very potentially my GOAT hip-hop song.

thelundquist wrote:

NY State of Mind >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Detroit State of Mind

They beat on eLZhi's version is like nails on a chalk board to me. Nas' version is very potentially my GOAT hip-hop song.

Your favorite hip hop song came out when you were in kindergarten Lundquist? You truely are a renaissance man. Please accept my humble apologies for dropping a deuce on NY State Of Mind in your presence.

Lol it's straight. And yes it did. Is that odd? Granted I didn't hear it until I was 15, but yeah it very well may be my favorite.

It seems odd to me, but what do I know. I suppose it's no different then a lot of my favorite Reggae being released in the 70's.

That's seems like a fair comparison to me. A very large majority of my favorite hip-hop came out pre-2000s. ...and really most of the music I like I was unaware of when it was actually released...

TicNitty706 wrote:

I tried listening to this guy before and he bored my fucking eyelashes off almost.

Thats how I felt too with the Preface. Errbody else seemed to think it was the bees knees. I'll check this out though because the live instrument remake sounds very appealing to this wannabe producer.

Wow...I'm def diggin this shit...listenin to One Love...holy shit, the breakdown...woooooweeeee!

I can see how Linker or any of the younger generation could think this is better than Illmatic. It just sounds clean and crisp. You guys know me, I have always thought that Hip Hop just keeps getting better, so I think its natural that a spitter today should sound better than a spitter from 92, all other things being equal. That being said, tho, this is not better than Illmatic. Nas had so much soul on Illmatic he makes you feel like you're standing out on the corner with him holdin the blunt down while he spits stories...classic shit.

Pete Rock Shout>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You can't duplicate soul.

I love how y'all think I was serious about Elmatic being better than Illmatic. Hell, I haven't even heard Elmatic yet.

Wanduras wrote:

Wow...I'm def diggin this shit...listenin to One Love...holy shit, the breakdown...woooooweeeee!

I can see how Linker or any of the younger generation could think this is better than Illmatic. It just sounds clean and crisp. You guys know me, I have always thought that Hip Hop just keeps getting better, so I think its natural that a spitter today should sound better than a spitter from 92, all other things being equal. That being said, tho, this is not better than Illmatic. Nas had so much soul on Illmatic he makes you feel like you're standing out on the corner with him holdin the blunt down while he spits stories...classic shit.

To me Nas is the one with no soul on illmatic.. I just don't see or hear any soul in his rhymes or that album...I think people really into "wordplay" love that CD, but Nas flow and delivery are pretty straightforward and soulless to me on there.

Everytime you comment on a Nas related subject, I automatically hear Jay's "Hate" playing in the background...lol.

I automatically hear Beanie Sigels "The Truth"

lol