Reissue & Documentary Planned For 20th Anniversary Of Nas' Illmatic

One of the most lauded hip hop records of all time is celebrating 20 years of existence in 2014, and fans of Nas' Illmatic – which should really be just about any hip hop fan alive – will get some exciting new insights to the record later on in the year.

A new edition of the record, entitled Illmatic XX, will be released to celebrate the anniversary and will feature the original album remastered as well as a second disc featuring demos, rarities and live radio performances.

That's just the beginning, a feature length documentary is also set for release at some stage in the next few months, Time Is Illmatic taking a look at the making of the record, the social conditions that inspired it and looks back to the influence that Nas' father Olu Dara had on his son's musical career. Keep your eye on the film's website for more info.

Here's a mini-documentary about the record made many, mahy years ago.

Nas will be touring the US performing the record in full, but there is no word on an Australian tour as yet. He was due to appear in Australia as the headliner and co-curator of the ill-fated Movement Festival last year, but did not end up making the trip after its cancellation.  

Illmatic XX will be released through Sony Legacy on Friday 18 April.