What is notable about Queensbridge?

It is among the largest public housing projects in North America

Illmatic Quiz: Nas, Queensbridge and a Hip-Hop Classic

This Illmatic quiz walks through Queensbridge with the young Nas, whose first album is often called hip-hop's finest. Play 10 interactive questions on the Queensbridge Houses, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor and Q-Tip, N.Y. State of Mind, The World Is Yours, It Ain't Hard to Tell, his father's cornet and the album's legacy.

Start Illmatic Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Artist
Who released Illmatic?
Year
When was Illmatic released?
Home
Which housing project did Nas grow up in?
Size
What is notable about Queensbridge?
Producers
Which famous producer worked on N.Y. State of Mind?
World
Which Pete Rock-produced track says the world is yours?
Sample
Which Michael Jackson song is sampled on It Ain't Hard to Tell?
Father
Who plays cornet on Life's a Bitch?
Length
How many tracks does the original Illmatic have?
Legacy
How is Illmatic often ranked?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Who released Illmatic?
Answer: Nas
His real name is Nasir Jones.
Q2: When was Illmatic released?
Answer: 1994
It was his debut album.
Q3: Which housing project did Nas grow up in?
Answer: Queensbridge Houses
It is in Queens, New York.
Q4: What is notable about Queensbridge?
Answer: It is among the largest public housing projects in North America
Thousands of families live there.
Q5: Which famous producer worked on N.Y. State of Mind?
Answer: DJ Premier
Other producers included Pete Rock.
Q6: Which Pete Rock-produced track says the world is yours?
Answer: The World Is Yours
It borrows from Scarface.
Q7: Which Michael Jackson song is sampled on It Ain't Hard to Tell?
Answer: Human Nature
Large Professor produced it.
Q8: Who plays cornet on Life's a Bitch?
Answer: Nas's father, Olu Dara
AZ also raps on the track.
Q9: How many tracks does the original Illmatic have?
Answer: Ten
It runs under 40 minutes.
Q10: How is Illmatic often ranked?
Answer: Among the greatest hip-hop albums
It was later added to the National Recording Registry.

Illmatic Quiz – Nas, Queensbridge and a Hip-Hop Classic

Nas grew up in the Queensbridge Houses in Queens, one of the largest public housing projects in North America. In 1994, at age 20, he released his debut album Illmatic.

The album brought together top producers, including DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor and Q-Tip. Songs like N.Y. State of Mind, The World Is Yours and It Ain't Hard to Tell paint detailed pictures of Queensbridge life.

Nas's father, jazz musician Olu Dara, plays cornet on Life's a Bitch. With just ten tracks, Illmatic is often ranked among the greatest hip-hop albums and was added to the National Recording Registry.

What This Quiz Teaches

Hip-hop fans will enjoy these questions.

Who made the album
Where Nas grew up
Who produced it
Which songs stand out
Why it is celebrated

Did You Know?

The cover shows Nas as a child over a city street.
One Love is written as letters to a friend in prison.
Memory Lane recalls his early days.
Nas later won a Grammy in 2021.
Harvard created a fellowship in his name.