Now before we get into it I just wanna preface that both of these albums are phenomenal, and in my opinion, there's no wrong answer. We are all aware of the accolades Illmatic has received over the years and all that s***, but for the purpose of this thread ignore it. Speak specifically about the music within both albums. Which do you personally believe is better?

If you haven't listened to either album...for whatever reason, check them out and give your thoughts. And if this is your first time listening to either your input would be greatly appreciated because if you are a fan of hip-hop I'm interested in knowing what took you so long to listen?

Illmatic has the legacy for sure, but Doe or Die is criminally underrated too.

Honestly gonna have to go with Illmatic. But NOT that far ahead. Songs like Rather Unique on DoD really show that both Az and Nas were on top of their s*** in the mid 90's. AZ is such an underrated artist it's unbelievable.

Illmatic but Doe Or Die is muah

Ho Happy Jackie

pete rock killed his s*** too

Doe or Die by an inch

AZ bar for bar just as good as any rapper doing it in the 90s

AZ was special but Illmatic is genre defining

Yep and it makes no sense people don't ever put him in a top 5/10 every when talking about greatest lyricists

What? Nigga did you read?

Nas. Do or Die is good though

feel like this thread is just tryna convince ppl to listen to doe or die

but i hope it works fr

sheeeesh

Doe or Die II coming so soon

nah i can't. issa tie

Illmatic, Doe or Die got some serious classics on it though.

he didn't make many quality albums after Doe or Die. couple singles produced by premo here and there but some of those weren't until the 00s...he didn't do the best job of putting himself on the map

Pieces of a Man is great

He didn't stay relevant that much and there's been a big surge of spitters of NYC and Philly creating a buzz for themselves in the late 90's/early 00's who wounded up overshadowing him.

I'll go with Illmatic but Doe or Die's a classic as well with amazing lyricism and, ironically, a bigger hit than any song on Illmatic.

illmatic

i like doe or die but the answer is illmatic easily. doe or die only got like 3 songs that are as good as the average illmatic song

AZ a better rapper, Illmatic is the better album