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.

Today we celebrate arguably the greatest hip-hop album ever made. Without exaggeration, Nas’ Illmatic is that supreme. Released on April 19 1994, Illmatic is not just a magnum opus, calling it a ‘classic’ is almost a criminal underrating. Illmatic isn’t a just life changer, it didn’t just change the climate, The King from Queensbridge shifted culture and set a new standard for excellence. That standard and precedent the album set is so high, there are just a few albums since its release that deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as Illmatic. 
 
Last night, Nas celebrated his silver anniversary a day early, with a Pop Up shop at Sony Square in New York. The shop served as a museum and shrine to not just the album Illmatic, but to the inspirations that birthed it. Enclosed in glass cases where such collectables as Ron G mixtape cassettes as well as VHS tapes of Sylvester Stallone’s “Cobra,” “Shining,” “Wild Style,” “Scarface,” “Cooley High” and “The Mack.”  Also on display were cement Jordan 3s, beat up Timberland boots, and bottles of E&J and Hennessy; both empty.  All serving as fuel for Nas’ iconic lyrics. Also on the walls, hung three mural paintings of the Illmatic cover as well as pictures from a photoshoot in Queensbridge.  
 
Nas walked in amazement, taking pictures of all the memorabilia.
 
“I’m happy. I’m happy. That’s it,” he told LiveXLive exclusively, standing in his own shrine, humbled by his milestone and the love he’s getting for it. “A quarter century is nothing to sneeze at. That’s all. I’m grateful.” 
 
With the DJ playing “New York State of Mind,” oh so appropriately, Nas called his friend and only other person to spit a rap verse on Illmatic, AZ.
 
“He’s the architect because I figure I was a piece of shit at the time. But he saw something in me that I didn’t hear in myself,” said AZ, who immediately cemented himself as one of the hottest MCs in the culture after people heard him on “Life’s A Bitch.” “He told me ‘hop on the joint.’ I said ‘man you playing.’ Because he’s critically acclaimed [at the time]. I’m like ‘no way.’ But I got on. He coached me through it and is what it what it is. 25 years later. That’s a good look man.”
 
‘94 was such a beautiful year in music. A plethora of new artists coming to the forefront. Nas, Snoop Dogg, Notorious B.I.G. and Method Man all were vying for the King of Rap crown with outstanding opuses. Just like Michael Jordan will never stake claim to being the GOAT of basketball, Nas is too humble to say he is rap’s Greatest of All Time.  However, AZ didn’t have any problem proclaiming it for his Firm teammate.
 
“He established the flow content to the game,” AZ asserted. “Switched the whole sonics of the game and had everybody following behind him. Dropping that pure poetry and reality, reality rap hit the game at that time and he was the King of it.” 

“I mean, you know what it is,” Nas added. “We’re here to raise up the consciousness trough hip-hop. That’s what we’re here to do. That’s all we can be grateful for. That someone out there might have heard something we said in the music that takes us to another level. I learned from music. I learned from everybody’s stuff. I’m having a good time. 25 years, I’m  grateful. Thanks to everybody out here who ever heard this record before. We thank you to AZ, thank you Jungle, Dave East, [King] Shooter, J Rosay. May you have a 25 year anniversary. That shit’s alright.” 
 
Nas and AZ also got up on stage, in the area was a replica of the front of the Queensbridge Housing projects replete with the “Welcome To The Queensbridge Sign,” a phone booth with a phone (when you picked up the phone you could hear excerpts of previous Nas interviews) photo booth that let you replicate the iconic Illmatic album cover  and an artist painting the Ilmatic album cover live and bar with Henny was on deck.
 
AZ said a toast.” To see this album grow into the colossal that it is, it’s crazy to me. You still look 25,” The Visualizer proclaimed on the mic. “You changed the course of hip-hop and the way MCs was flowing.  Your footprint is forever in the game. Thank you, I love  you from the bottom of my heart man. He’s the true GOAT of the game, Greatest of All Time. Make noise for Esco. My brother.”
 
“First of all, my brother AZ, my brother AZ is here,” Nas said on the mic in front of the crowd right after the toast. “This brother has the verbal, lyrical capability of everything inside of hip-hop wrapped into one; Grandmaster Caz to early [LL] Cool J, to Kool G. Rap, to Rakim. This is all embodied by the god AZ. He was the personification of MCing. Thank you my brother being here and I wouldn’t want anybody on this album but you. 
 
“This is amazing,” God’s Son added. “We have 25 years in hip-hop still, cause our forefathers, they put down more years than us. Some of them are not celebrated enough but this is for the love of hip-hop. This is bigger than me, bigger than my brother AZ. This is bigger than all of us. Unified with a voice from the inner city, to explain the truth to the world like no other. 25 years in an incredible experience because we’re still alive to be here. To the young rappers coming up, I wish you guys a happy 25 years too. I wish the new generation 25 years. The generation after them 25 years. We gotta keep this thing going because hip-hop equals the truth.” 
 
You will get to hear songs from Illmatic live soon. Nas and Mary J. Blige have both signed to go for the joint headlining “Royalty Tour” kicking off this Summer.

Click here for an exclusive playlist dedicated to Escobar on Slacker Radio.

If you’re going to be the youngest headliner ever at Coachella, you damn sure better bring it. Ariana Grande did just that last night trying to go down as the best to ever do it. Just look to the hashtags of #AriChella bubbling on social for proof.

Opening her set with “God Is A Woman,” Grande delivered a night of smash hits, featuring platinum-level guests throughout.

Nicki Minaj came out for a double dose, with “Side To Side” and “Bang Bang.” The two  dominated the stage, making an impact despite some audio issues.

Grande’s next trick was a big one, persuading the legendary *NSYNC to reunite… for the most part. Sure, Justin Timberlake was wrapping his “Man of the Woods” tour elsewhere, but Grande filled his spot admirably. She’s had plenty of prep time. “All her muthaf**kin life” to be exact.

JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick, and Lance Bass sang “Tearin Up My Heart.” This came on the heels of Grande’s “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored,” which incorporates a sample of the boy band’s “It Makes Me Ill.”

*NSYC wasn’t the only legendary collective to join Grande. Diddy and Mase came to bring the house down with  “Mo Money, Mo Problems,” featuring Ariana crooning the chorus.

And if Ariana owned the pop event of the evening, Y.G. brought the hip hop fire.

He showed his own major guest-pull, too, parading out 2 Chainz and Big Sean for “Big Bank.” Elsewhere, Tyga came out for “Taste” as well as the posse track “Bitches Ain’t Shit,” which of course has verses from YG and Nipsey Hussle.

Mid-set, Y.G. honored his fallen friend, who graduated from hood-hero to worldwide-legend.

“I been trying to get to ‘BoaChella’ for muthaf**kin years,” Y.G. Said. “It took me years and years to get to this muthaf**kin stage. Me and my n***a Nipsey Hussle used to talk about doing ‘BoaChella’ my n***a. He [would] call it ‘Coachella.’ But I’mma call it ‘BoaChella.’ We would have conversations about doing this shit. And it’s 2019 and I’m finally doing this shit. Thank you BoaChella for having me up in this muthaf**ka ... We just lost one of our greats, one of our homies. One of our big brothers. A muthaf**kin legend. Black muthaf**kin Jesus. Yeah I said it, Black Muthaf**kin Jesus.”

Y.G. also announced that his new LP is dropping May 3rd. The project was delayed from early April in order to pay proper respect to Nipsey in the aftermath of his March 31 murder.

Other highlights from Day 3 included Bad Bunny bringing out J. Balvin for “I Liked It Like That.” And Zedd was not to be outdone, bringing Katy Perry on stage for “365.” Meanwhile, Khalid was vying to steal the night with help from Normani, Billie Eilish, Halsey, Benny Blanco and Marshmello during his Coachella debut.

Overall, it was another epic event from Coachella Valley. We can’t wait to see what Weekend 2 brings.

#TBT came early this week. Yesterday, Tiger Woods topped the golf world once again by winning the Masters, and today Jay-Z announced that he’s headlining a show at Webster Hall. We don’t know about you, but we welcome this type of throwback with open arms.

For those who don’t know, Webster Hall is a popular night spot that rose to hip hop prominence in the early 90s as a core NYC venue to see your favorite MCs. Nas, Black Moon, Rakim, Busta Rhymes and Meek Mill don’t even begin to scratch the surface of all the talent that has graced this stage over the past two decades plus. Despite such a storied history, the Hall was closed down in 2017 for renovations.

This morning, Roc Nation took to social media with a simple video zooming in on the iconic Webster Hall marquee, with the following message: “Jay-Z, Friday April 26, Opening Night.” The video ends with a cover graphic announcing “Jay-Z B-Sides 2.”

The accompanying captions reads: “#JAYZ is opening Webster Hall with ‘B-Sides 2’ on Friday, April 26 for Day 1 fans. AMEX Card Members can get tickets on 4/18 at 10am ET before the public on sale on 4/19 at 11am ET.”

BSE Global, the Bowery Presents and AEG Presents have taken over the reins of Webster Hall and are clearly thrilled to have Hov christening the revamped spot with this initial performance.

“The Bowery Presents formed in 2004 when we booked Sonic Youth at Webster Hall,” John Moore, founder and partner at The Bowery Presents, said in a statement today. “We are thrilled to return to our roots, New York City’s oldest music venue, to begin this storied new chapter for artists and fans alike."

“When we were thinking about who would be the right choice to open this legendary venue, we knew it had to be a world-famous New York City icon,” CEO of BSE Global Brett Yormark, also said in a statement. “No one fits that description better than Jay-Z, who will join an unparalleled list of celebrated performers who have played Webster Hall.”

Yormark has a long relationship with Jay-Z and Roc Nation. His company also operates NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum and Barclays Center.

After a historic run with his wife Beyoncé last summer, Jigga is back on his solo grind. Aside from this Webster Hall concert, he’s also been tapped to be a headliner at the upcoming “Woodstock 50.” Jay’s last solo run was in 2017 with his “4:44” tour. Among the other acts set to play Webster Hall after Jay reopens it back up include MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Patti Smith, Dillon Francis, Rosalia and Sharon Van Etten, Chromeo and Pink Sweat$.

Coachella is on full tilt now, baby! Two weeks of chaos that happens every year just started in Indio, CA with Yellow Days having the opportunity to hit lead off for the whole damn thing. Three stages of star power. Jaden Smith is one big name that hits the stage late evening on Friday. That same night, Ella Mai will bring her loving R&B vibes. Janelle Monáe — who is definitely catching eyes on Instagram thanks to posing in a see-through shirt and pasties on the cover of “them.” magazine — gets a heavy hitter position later in the night, along with Diplo. Night one headliners are Childish Gambino, Kayzo and DJ Snake.

On Saturday, Kid Cudi, Little Simz and Bassnectar close the nights on three separate stages, while Wiz Khalifa, Parcels and Juice WRLD bring fire power earlier in day. Undoubtedly, Billie Ellish is red hot as she hits the Coachella stage thanks to her single “Bad Guy” debuting on the Billboard charts top 100 at number 7. J. Balvin hits the main stage right as the sun goes down.

Sunday will be emotional, no doubt about that. Y.G. performs, and you know he’ll have some personal words about his friend, California born and bred legend Nipsey Hussle. Word is YG is planning a special show for the audience, so let’s see what happens there. Ariana Grande, NGHTMRE and CHVRCHES are the grand finale of the last night. Pusha T, Bad Bunny, Emily King and Blood Orange are some notable acts earlier in the day.

A late addition to the festivities was spearheaded are the heirs to the Bad Boy throne, Christian and Justin Combs. The darling sons and their mogul dad “Sean “Diddy” Combs have their special plans for a music extravaganza. The following week LivexLive will be on hand for Kanye West’s “Sunday Service” concert with exclusive access. Stay tuned.