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To commemorate the 20th anniversary of his debut album, Illmatic, Nas has announced plans to release a special edition of his classic set, titled Illmatic XX, which will include a collection of unreleased material.
Fans will have a chance to check out rare remixes, vintage freestyles and never-heard-before demos when the two-disc album hits stores on April 15 via Sony Legacy. CD and vinyl copies of Illmatic XX are available for pre-order via Amazon.com now.
“With Illmatic, I didn’t think about it. I just did it. I believe everybody has good instincts,” Nas said in a statement. “Now I’m a man from that past and I’m supremely grateful. There’s a Nigerian proverb ‘What is past is prologue.’ I’m here today because of Illmatic.”
The rapper also announced that he will soon embark on a North American tour during which he will perform Illmatic in its entirety. While dates have yet to be revealed, the trek will makes stops this spring at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., as well as this year’s Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.
In conjunction with the anniversary, the rapper is also gearing up to release a feature length documentary film titled Time Is Illmatic, which will examine how the album came together and the social conditions surrounding the recording process. Directed by first-time filmmakers One9 and Erik Parker, the movie will be released later this year. For more information go to TimeIsIllmatic.com.
Here’s the track listing for Illmatic XX :
Disc 1: Remastered original album
“The Genesis “
“N.Y. State of Mind “
“Life’s A Bitch”
“The World Is Yours”
“Halftime”
“Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park)”
“One Love“
“One Time 4 Your Mind”
“Represent”
“It Ain’t Hard To Tell”
Disc 2: Demos, Remixes & Live Radio
“I’m a Villain” (Previously Unreleased)
“The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show on WKCR October 28, 1993″ (Previously Unreleased Freestyle)
“Halftime” (Butcher Remix)
“It Ain’t Hard to Tell” (Remix)(promo single)
“One Love” (LG Main Mix)
“Life’s a Bitch” (Arsenal Mix)(promo single)
“One Love” (One L Main Mix)
“The World Is Yours “(Tip Mix)
“It Ain’t Hard to Tell” (The Stink Mix)(UK single)
“It Ain’t Hard to Tell” (The Laidback Remix)(UK single)
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio
20th album anniversary debut edition illmatic readies special
