Adrunk's review: "Don't wait for, or expect, Nas to make another LP which is anything like 'Illmatic', because he won't. No one will." Rated 5/5.

Sloppy Joe's review: "Do not go and buy this album, please don't. If you're a fan of Nas you might just loose a little respect for him if you have never heard this album."

Rated 4 stars: "Illmatic will probably be Broadway's album of the year, not for the real life behind its dedication to 13 dead homies but for the work on the CD."