XXL Freshman Fashawn is currently gearing up to release his Ode to Illmatic project—a mixtape that finds the Fresno, California artist rhyming over all of the instrumentals from Nas’s classic debut album, Illmatic.
During the Freshman 10 for ‘10 cover shoot XXLMag.com spoke to the 20-year old MC about the concept behind the disc. “The idea was birthed out of my album, [Boy Meets World],” he explained. “My album was getting a lot of comparison’s to Nas’s first album… So I threw the idea out there, like what if I redid Illmatic …will people still say I sound like Nasir…or will they just trash the whole [notion]?” [Watch below]
Fash’ said that it didn’t take long to record the disc. “What took Nas 20 years to make took me like a week,” he said. “No bragging or nothing like that, but I’m a student of [Illmatic] ’cause that’s one of the albums you could use for an example of perfection. Those 10 songs were dope, dude. And that’s what birthed the whole idea.”
Yesterday XXLMag.com premiered Fash’s rendition of “Life’s A Bitch” with Talib Kweli, and in late April/early May, we will be presenting the mixtape for free download. Ode to Illmatic will be hosted by DJ Green Lantern and features only one guest appearance by Kweli.
In related news a bonus edition of Boy Meets World will be hitting store on April 20. The special edition of the disc will also include a DVD. —Jesse Gissen
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March 26th, 2010
at 12:53 pm
Fashawn Talks ‘Ode To Illmatic’ | HipHop-N-More says:
[...] talks to XXL about his latest project where he will be rapping over beats from Nas’ Illmatic album. The [...]
Reply
March 26th, 2010
at 1:20 pm
SCOOTIE McB says:
THATS GONE BE HARD… CAN’T WAIT TILL THAT DROP…
Reply
March 26th, 2010
at 1:30 pm
illwill757 says:
what a dumbass concept…illmatic is untouchable..i can care less if u nice or not..
Reply
March 26th, 2010
at 1:39 pm
Fashawn x XXL (Video) | 2dopeboyz says:
[...] During the Freshman 10 for ‘10 cover shoot XXLMag.com spoke to the 20-year old MC about the concept behind the disc. “The idea was birthed out of my [...]
Reply
March 26th, 2010
at 1:49 pm
INTERNET BULLY says:
GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE HE’S GONNA DO WHAT NAS DID IN 20 YEARS… STUDENTS DONT KILL THE TEACHER U DUMB FUCK PLUS ITS ONLY 9 SONGS ON ILLMATIC. SHUT THE FUCK UP WITH ALL THAT STUDENT SHIT U A NUT HUGGING BUTT LOVING FAGGOT. WHO THE FUCK ARE U? NIGGA IF U READ THIS GO KILL YASELF ON THAT ONE.
Reply
June 15th, 2010
at 11:41 am
Youngn says:
Shut the fuck up.
Reply
March 26th, 2010
at 1:59 pm
The Young Kingz Daily 2.0 » Blog Archive » Fashawn Talks ‘Ode To Illmatic’ [Video] says:
[...] In case you missed it, you can check out the first offering off the project here. Heads up Nav via XXL. Share & [...]
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March 26th, 2010
at 2:24 pm
Fashawn Talks Ode To Illmatic Mixtape | OnSMASH says:
[...] sat down with XXL to break down how his upcoming Ode To Illmatic mixtape came about and the reason behind the whole [...]
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March 26th, 2010
at 2:29 pm
AZ40 says:
Fash is dope and I can’t wait to hear this…he’s not saying it’s going to be better or close to better than illmatic, it’s an ode to one of his favorite albums, he’s going to record over the tracks from an album that really inspired him there’s nothing wrong wit that
Reply
March 26th, 2010
at 4:34 pm
Anonymous says:
Lupe PLZ drop lasers
Dear Mister-I’m-Too-Good-To-Release-My-Album-Or-Write-My-Fans,
this’ll be the last message I ever send your ass
It’s been six months and still no word – I don’t deserve it?
You know I brought the last two Albums;
You wrote the lyrics on ‘em perfect
So this is my message I’m sending you, I hope you see it
I’m in the car right now, I’m doing 90 on the freeway
Hey Lu, I drank a fifth of vodka, you dare me to drive?
You know the song by Phil Collins, “In the Air of the Night”
about that guy who coulda saved that other guy from drowning
but didn’t, then Phil saw it all, then at a show he found him?
That’s kinda how this is, you coulda rescued me from drowning
Now it’s too late – I’m on a 1000 downers now, I’m drowsy
and all I wanted was a lousy single or a tape
I hope you know I almost ripped ALL of your pictures off the wall
I love you Lu, we coulda been together, think about it
You ruined it now, I hope you can’t sleep and you dream about it
And when you dream I hope you can’t sleep and you SCREAM about it
I hope your conscience EATS AT YOU and you can’t BREATHE without me
See Lu; {*screaming*
Shut up bitch! I’m trying to talk!
Hey Lu, that’s my girlfriend screamin in the trunk
but I didn’t slit her throat, I just tied her up, see I ain’t like you
cause if she suffocates she’ll suffer more, and then she’ll die too
Well, gotta go, I’m almost at the bridge now
Oh shit, I forgot, how am I supposed to tweet this shit out?
Reply
March 29th, 2010
at 12:55 am
Dante says:
Please go off yourself.
Corniest shit i ever read.
Reply
March 26th, 2010
at 4:36 pm
STAN says:
Lupe we need lasers
Dear Mister-I’m-Too-Good-To-Release-My-Album-Or-Write-My-Fans,
this’ll be the last message I ever send your ass
It’s been six months and still no word – I don’t deserve it?
You know I got the last two Albums;
You wrote the lyrics on ‘em perfect
So this is my message I’m sending you, I hope you see it
I’m in the car right now, I’m doing 90 on the freeway
Hey Lu, I drank a fifth of vodka, you dare me to drive?
You know the song by Phil Collins, “In the Air of the Night”
about that guy who coulda saved that other guy from drowning
but didn’t, then Phil saw it all, then at a show he found him?
That’s kinda how this is, you coulda rescued me from drowning
Now it’s too late – I’m on a 1000 downers now, I’m drowsy
and all I wanted was a lousy single or a tape
I hope you know I ripped ALL of your pictures off the wall
I love you Lu, we coulda been together, think about it
You ruined it now, I hope you can’t sleep and you dream about it
And when you dream I hope you can’t sleep and you SCREAM about it
I hope your conscience EATS AT YOU and you can’t BREATHE without me
See Lu; {*screaming*
Shut up bitch! I’m trying to talk!
Hey Lu, that’s my girlfriend screamin in the trunk
but I didn’t slit her throat, I just tied her up, see I ain’t like you
cause if she suffocates she’ll suffer more, and then she’ll die too
Well, gotta go, I’m almost at the bridge now
Oh shit, I forgot, how am I supposed to tweet this shit out?
Reply
March 26th, 2010
at 5:58 pm
what? says:
This dude failed already!
Reply
March 27th, 2010
at 3:10 am
joe says:
fashawn is dope…! real student of the game. his real raps are fresh air, hip-hop needs him. you like to listen to this fuck pop-rap ship that is running hip-hop. boy meets world was an underground classic, with his talent, it aint hard to tell, he is the future!!!!!
Reply
March 27th, 2010
at 10:53 am
juarez cartel middle man says:
i fuck with his music cuz he’s half mexican..his dad is locked up in pelican bay..his dad is from BullDogs gang..his mom is black..but i respect dude for not hiding his background..that gets ya a whole different fanbase..and i might add, a HUGE ass fanbase..
Reply
March 27th, 2010
at 10:34 pm
Video: Fashawn’s New Mixtape An Ode To Illmatic | The NoeLife says:
[...] Props: XXL [...]
Reply
March 29th, 2010
at 4:26 am
rich a says:
get the fuck outta here talkin bout what took nas 20 years to make u did in 9 months bitch u had a blueprint rookie
Reply
March 29th, 2010
at 4:34 am
rich a says:
get the fuck outta here talkin bout what took nas 20 years to make u did in a week bitch u a blueprint rookie
Reply
March 29th, 2010
at 11:44 am
HHC Digital » All The Hip-Hop News That’s Fit To Link… says:
[...] a lot less light-hearted between 9th and his former Little Brother bandmates. Fashawn spoke on his ‘Illmatic’ tribute record, while in good old Blighty, Phife Dawg selected his favourite verse from his own back catalogue. [...]
Reply
April 12th, 2010
at 10:05 am
Mixpak Records » The Beat Goes On: Blacc’s Dollar, Mixtapes, Badu’s Booty, “Mack” Lessons says:
[...] will remixed Nas’ classic 1994 debut album Illmatic. The Fresno, Calif. emcee is bringing his west-coast perspective to such tracks as “Memory Lane” and “Life’s a Bitch” (featuring Talib [...]
Reply
May 26th, 2010
at 2:40 pm
XXLmag.com - » Fashawn Presents “Ode to Illmatic” Remix Contest, Mixtape Coming June 9 says:
[...] As XXLMag.com previously reported, Fash’s tape finds the Fresno, California artist rhyming over all of the instrumentals from Nas’ timeless debut. [...]
Reply
June 9th, 2010
at 2:00 pm
XXLmag.com - » Fashawn’s “Ode to Illmatic” Pushed Back, Artwork & Track List Revealed says:
[...] As previously reported, the tape finds the 2010 Freshman remaking Nas’s classic debut album, Illmatic, spitting over the entire LP’s instrumentals. [...]
Reply