10 Reasons To See Nas: Time Is Illmatic Live

Why you need tickets to the Q-B Kid's documentary screening.

Memory Lane - "Sometimes all you got is hip hop," Nas told the audience at the Lincoln Theatre in D.C. last Saturday.He was there MC'ing a special Tribeca Films and Hennessy V.S screening of Nas: Time Is Illmatic, as the face of the cognac's "Never stop. Never settle." campaign. His documentary is an ode to the culture he's helped architect as one of the most acclaimed to ever do it.It opened at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year and features not only the drama that was Queensbridge in the '90s but also appearances from the producers who laid the soundtrack — Large Professor, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Q-Tip and L.E.S. — and special guest appearances from some of the listeners who carry on the tradition, Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, Pharrell Wiliams, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Dr. Cornel West.T...

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Memory Lane - "Sometimes all you got is hip hop," Nas told the audience at the Lincoln Theatre in D.C. last Saturday.He was there MC'ing a special Tribeca Films and Hennessy V.S screening of Nas: Time Is Illmatic, as the face of the cognac's "Never stop. Never settle." campaign. His documentary is an ode to the culture he's helped architect as one of the most acclaimed to ever do it.It opened at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year and features not only the drama that was Queensbridge in the '90s but also appearances from the producers who laid the soundtrack — Large Professor, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Q-Tip and L.E.S. — and special guest appearances from some of the listeners who carry on the tradition, Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, Pharrell Wiliams, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Dr. Cornel West.T...

The Genesis - Three words: Truth. Emotion. Artistry.That's why Nas's debut album still resonates 20 years after it's release, says Time Is Illmatic writer/producer Erik Parker. And the documentary leaves the same impact."I think we always knew that Nas was like a genius in some way, the way that he sees the world and explains it to us, but the most surprising thing that I learned about Nas was how he became the person that he became," Parker told BET.com.(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

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The Genesis - Three words: Truth. Emotion. Artistry.That's why Nas's debut album still resonates 20 years after it's release, says Time Is Illmatic writer/producer Erik Parker. And the documentary leaves the same impact."I think we always knew that Nas was like a genius in some way, the way that he sees the world and explains it to us, but the most surprising thing that I learned about Nas was how he became the person that he became," Parker told BET.com.(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

One Love - Parker and his filmmaking partner, director/producer One9, took a "One Love" approach in making the movie, they said, meaning it's some straight head noddin' hip hop s--t."[The song is] not heavy-handed in the theme," Parker explained. "... [Nas] he’s not very heavy-handed in what he’s talking about, but you walk away with a great sense of empathy and understanding."(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

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One Love - Parker and his filmmaking partner, director/producer One9, took a "One Love" approach in making the movie, they said, meaning it's some straight head noddin' hip hop s--t."[The song is] not heavy-handed in the theme," Parker explained. "... [Nas] he’s not very heavy-handed in what he’s talking about, but you walk away with a great sense of empathy and understanding."(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

It Ain't Hard to Tell - Time Is Illmatic confirms Nas is half-man-half-amazing. The film crew traveled around Queensbridge and to Natchez, Miss., to get to the roots of who he was before he wrote one of hip hop's most referenced albums, showing the development of his relationship with his father, Olu Dara, and the everlasting bond he has with his mother, Ann Jones (shout out to October). (Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

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It Ain't Hard to Tell - Time Is Illmatic confirms Nas is half-man-half-amazing. The film crew traveled around Queensbridge and to Natchez, Miss., to get to the roots of who he was before he wrote one of hip hop's most referenced albums, showing the development of his relationship with his father, Olu Dara, and the everlasting bond he has with his mother, Ann Jones (shout out to October). (Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

Life's A B---h - Once Illmatic dropped, however, there was no denial that Nas's lyrical delivery of his story is raw. With the movie, God's Son somehow becomes even more three-dimensional.The way he reminisces, for example, on how Ill Will passed, casts Nas in a certain vulnerable-yet-strong light that makes you see his music differently (no matter how many times you've heard it).(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

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Life's A B---h - Once Illmatic dropped, however, there was no denial that Nas's lyrical delivery of his story is raw. With the movie, God's Son somehow becomes even more three-dimensional.The way he reminisces, for example, on how Ill Will passed, casts Nas in a certain vulnerable-yet-strong light that makes you see his music differently (no matter how many times you've heard it).(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

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Halftime - Besides the storytelling, the archived footage is reason enough to get up off the couch. Flicks of Nasty Nas in Queens –– during an era when, most times, if you looked to your left, someone may end up in jail; and if you looked to your right, someone may end up dead –– set the tone somewhere in the blended key of Dizzy Gillepsie and Kool G Rap.(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

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Halftime - Besides the storytelling, the archived footage is reason enough to get up off the couch. Flicks of Nasty Nas in Queens –– during an era when, most times, if you looked to your left, someone may end up in jail; and if you looked to your right, someone may end up dead –– set the tone somewhere in the blended key of Dizzy Gillepsie and Kool G Rap.(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

Represent - The best scene of the movie is when cameras followed Nasir Jones as he visited QB today –– millions of albums later –– and he meets a young'n also named Nasir (check the sneak peek here). "For the rest of your life, don't ever think anything else, just know that you're a king," Nas tells him.(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

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Represent - The best scene of the movie is when cameras followed Nasir Jones as he visited QB today –– millions of albums later –– and he meets a young'n also named Nasir (check the sneak peek here). "For the rest of your life, don't ever think anything else, just know that you're a king," Nas tells him.(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

N.Y. State of Mind - One word: Jungle. Nas's brother is almost unanimously credited as stealing the show. He adds depth to the screen with his own accounts of some of those transformative moments in their lives and a sense of humor to Nas's Virgoan mentality. Esco even surprised the D.C. audience with a brotherly love moment live on stage. "He’s very much a family man," said One9. "He spends a lot of time with his son, with his daughter... He’s very guarded, it’s hard to break down those layers, but once you finally get it ... this is someone that understands life."(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

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N.Y. State of Mind - One word: Jungle. Nas's brother is almost unanimously credited as stealing the show. He adds depth to the screen with his own accounts of some of those transformative moments in their lives and a sense of humor to Nas's Virgoan mentality. Esco even surprised the D.C. audience with a brotherly love moment live on stage. "He’s very much a family man," said One9. "He spends a lot of time with his son, with his daughter... He’s very guarded, it’s hard to break down those layers, but once you finally get it ... this is someone that understands life."(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

The World Is Yours - Nothing compares to the soundtrack, however. Even for the filmmakers themselves, Illmatic, a staple in speakers everywhere, became more appreciated with the film."I was a little bit surprised that he was so much more hands on [with his music]," Parker explained. "... [I got] so much more insight with the beats he chose."(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

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The World Is Yours - Nothing compares to the soundtrack, however. Even for the filmmakers themselves, Illmatic, a staple in speakers everywhere, became more appreciated with the film."I was a little bit surprised that he was so much more hands on [with his music]," Parker explained. "... [I got] so much more insight with the beats he chose."(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

One Time 4 Your MInd - Of course you could simply download the documentary (and you should). But this is hip hop. And for those who get a ticket to the live show, it's about seeing Nas perform Illmatic in its entirety, which he does after the screening. Two decades later, he still acts like he's only got one shot.(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

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One Time 4 Your MInd - Of course you could simply download the documentary (and you should). But this is hip hop. And for those who get a ticket to the live show, it's about seeing Nas perform Illmatic in its entirety, which he does after the screening. Two decades later, he still acts like he's only got one shot.(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

The Message - Really though, the best reason to see Time Is Illmatic on tour –– you've got until Oct. 19 –– is because it's not just about Nas, it's about all of us –– a generation of dreamers, believers and achievers."This film is about me, the music, my journey and an American story," he told BET.com. Word is bond.(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)

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The Message - Really though, the best reason to see Time Is Illmatic on tour –– you've got until Oct. 19 –– is because it's not just about Nas, it's about all of us –– a generation of dreamers, believers and achievers."This film is about me, the music, my journey and an American story," he told BET.com. Word is bond.(Photo: Tribeca Film Institute)