However, “The Chronic” is just ethereal with its production. “Illmatic” has arguably the best overall production from any Nas album, even to this day. This is almost unfair, “Illmatic” features dark, gritty instrumentals and verses paint a picture with Nas’s lyrics to make listeners see his home of Queensbridge, New York. For Nas however, the lyrics were first and foremost. “The Chronic” does not lack lyrical quality but features from R&B artists Warren G and Nate Dogg give the album more of a diverse feel than just a rap album. AZ’s feature on “Life’s a B*tch” is often regarded as one of the greatest verses in the history of rap. State of Mind” track is a lyrical masterpiece. His metaphors, such as “I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death” has become one of the most legendary line of lyrics in the history of rap, and the entire “N.Y. However, Nas is on an entirely different level with his wordplay. Not to say Dre doesn’t have standout verses, his performance on “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” may be his strongest lyrical offering ever, and Snoop Dogg’s flow and lyrics on this album was a launchpad for what has become one of the most successful rap careers ever. Dre’s strengths have always lied in the production side of rap rather than the lyrics. This category, in my opinion, is a win for “Illmatic.” This is expected though. The album that edges out most of the categories wins. These two albums will be graded upon lyrics, production, influence and sales. They are not the only albums from either coast that have been considered or have made that claim, but their content and what they represent for New York and Los Angeles, respectively, do make them comparable in symbolism if nothing else. The reason behind picking these two albums is because both have been considered by some the greatest rap albums of all time. Dre’s “The Chronic,” one of the most influential albums of all time and launched the West Coast g-funk craze of the ‘90s, and Nas’s “Illmatic,” the gritty, lyrical, ten-track debut from one of the greatest rappers New York has ever produced. Instead, two marquee albums from both coasts will be put head-to-head to decide which coast (at least in this case) wins the faceoff.
To do a full comparison of rap music from both coasts, it would take a lot more, regardless there will be no concrete answer over which coast has the better rap music. Tupac feud of the ‘90s that has continued to be a heated debate amongst rap fans ever since their passing. Infamously, this debate was one factor of the personal Biggie vs. This debate has been raging in the rap world for decades, now there is no concrete winner between the two.