After a successful run opening up the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, the documentary Time is Illmatic had its U.S. distribution rights picked up by Tribeca Film and will come to theaters and on-demand this October.
The film—directed by One9, written by Erik Parker, and produced by, One9, Parker, and Anthony Saleh—traces the influence of Illmatic, Nas’ debut album from 1994. Widely regarded as one of the most influential albums from this generation of hip-hop artists, Illmatic will (amazingly) be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
A statement from Nas said:
“I want to thank Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal & the Tribeca Film family for all of the love & support they've given Time Is Illmatic. It is an honor to be in partnership with them. I feel there is a cultural kinship bonded by the city of New York.”
Here is a brief synopsis of the movie from the Tribeca Film press release:
Time Is Illmatic traces Nas’s influences and the insurmountable odds he faced in creating the greatest work of music from hip-hop’s second golden era. The film tracks the musical legacy of the Jones family -- handed down to Nas from his jazz musician father, Olu Dara, the support of his Queensbridge neighborhood crew, and the loyalty of his younger brother Jabari “Jungle” Jones. Twenty years after its release, Illmatic is widely recognized as a hip-hop benchmark that encapsulates the sociopolitical outlook, enduring spirit, and collective angst of a generation of young men searching for their voice in America.
