As the world reflects on the greatness of Nas’ stellar standard-setting debut, Illmatic, the ones who know him most intimately are no different than the fans across the world. They all love him and want to salute him today. Raekwon The Chef -- who Nas rapped along with for two of his most cherished rap cameos, Mobb Deep’s “Eye For An Eye” and The Chef’s own “Verbal Intercourse”— says Illmatic is one of the best ever.

“My n***s Nas is one of my favorite friends,” the Chef proclaimed. “You know. A lot of history. We walked the same different blocks. You came to Shaolin, I came to Queens. Real strong bond right there. 25 years later, I wanna say keep moving. Keep moving forward. Stay sucker free. You are one of the best. I remember he said something like this, ‘I didn’t ask to be top of raps elite./ I’m just  a ghetto child trying to learn the ways of the street.’ I love you my n***a. You’re one of the best New York city ever had.”  

Meanwhile, Rae’s Wu-Tang brother Ghostface Killah told LiveXLive of getting a hold of several songs from Illmatic before the entire project was released. Of course Ghost had to share with the Chef. 

“‘One Love’ was on it, ‘New York State of Mind’ was on it. I knew that shit before it came out,” Ghost said of the cassette he lifted from two female friends from France at the time. “When me and Rae was listening to it, the n***a [Rae] start laughing because the n***as [Nas] was a straight golden child.  He had bars. Shit like ‘how the f**k did this n***a say that?’ [He said] ‘more kicks than a baby in a mother’s stomach.’ He had lines.”

Of course both Rae and Ghost have their own anniversaries to cherish, as well. Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The 36 Chambers turned 25 at the end of last year, Rae’s Ghostface assisted Only Built For Cuban Linx turns 25 next year and Ghost’s Supreme Clientele turns 20 in 2020.