When director One9 and writer/producer Erik Parker set out to create Time Is Illmatic back in 2004 — the ten year anniversary of of Illmatic — they did so with the belief that it could be made within one year. Ten years later, they stand in front of a populous crowd at Brooklyn’s BAM Cinematek before the exclusive screening of their final product for the SOURCE360 Film Festival.

Time is Illmatic delves deep into Nas’ history, chronicling everything from his peppered upbringing in Queesnbridge housing projects, to the creation of what is considered by most the greatest rap album of all time. This is not the polished VH1 “Behind the Music” you’ve seen before; Times is Illmatic takes you into Queensbridge projects to explore the set pieces that culminated into Nas leaving the streets behind and becoming one of the most revered rappers in history.

Members of Nas’ immediate family — his brother Jabari, and father Olu Dara — as well as many Hip Hop heavyweights like Pete Rock, Q-Tip, DJ Premier, MC Serch, and many more carry along the narrative with Nas taking the reigns, providing an autobiographical look at his rise to Hip Hop royalty.


Whether you’re a fan of Illmatic, Nas, or a fan of Hip Hop culture in general, be sure to check out Times Is Illmatic when it releases next month.

You can find Khari Clarke on Twitter (@KINGCLARKEIII). Also, be sure to join Source Magazine all weekend for #SOURCE360 in Brooklyn. For more information and tickets click here.