Shark N****s (Biters): 14 Album Covers That “Borrowed” From Illmatic [PHOTOS] - Page 4

Nas once famously rapped that “no idea’s original under the sun” and such ideology is golden for Hip-Hop culture. Each generation borrows from the last to create their own classic legacy, and our founding fathers sampled jazz, funk and soul to birth the foundation, musically.

As the 20th anniversary for his storied debut album, Illmatic approaches, a lot has been taking in consideration revolving around the album’s makeup. That includes the mug shot photo ofh him as a seven-year-old used for the front cover.

Said to be inspired by jazz group’s Howard Hanger Trio’s 1974 A Child Is Born, Illmatic has gone to be more than a blueprint for Hip-Hop albums regarding rhyme schemes, producer selection and conceptual outlines. That juvenile photo has been trending along since that April 19th release date.

This was infamously pointed out on Raekwon’s equally classic debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… where he and album’s co-star Ghostface Killah took Bad Boy Records to task for their 1995 “bite” on their Ready To Die cover. Inconspicuously, it too featured a child as its first impression and the Wu-Tang Clan cadre weren’t convinced it was a coincidence.

Nas eventually addressed the situation on 2002’s “Last Real N***a Alive” as he recounted, “Big was ahead of his time/Him and Raekwon my n****s/But dig it, they couldn’t get along/That’s when Ghostface said it on The Purple Tape/Bad Boy biting Nas album cover way/Big told me Rae was stealing my slang/And Rae told me out in Shaolin, Big would do the same thing/But I borrowed from both them n****s…” Like he said, no idea’s original, right?

So on that notion, we brought you an overview of 14 albums that borrowed–blatantly or indirectly–the Illmatic album cover concept. We’ll let you decide it they are an act of homage or swagger jacking.

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Photo: Amazon, WENN

Fashawn – Boy Meets World

Released: 2009

The West Coast reincarnate of Nas is said to have something special brewing with his idol in the works. He also remade Illmatic for a full mixtape in 2010.

Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III

Released: 2008

Young Weezy put a creative spin on his Illmatic teething: turning himself a tattooed-face toddler.

Wale – Attention Deficit

Released: 2009

He may be standing there chillin’ with his back facing us but we see what you did there, Young Wale.

Jill Scott – Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds 2

Released: 2004

Jilly from Philly is a Hip-Hop kid at heart, hence her sophomore effort with the chipped tooth smile.

The Game – Doctor’s Advocate

Released: 2006

Jayceon used his baby boy to bring back that QB spirit to Cali more than a decade later.

Kendrick Lamar – good kid, M.a.a.D city

Released: 2012

An obvious trip down memory lane. Coming out of Compton.

Schoolboy Q – Oxymoron

Released: 2014

Groovy Q’s daughter, Joy is the young shorty doo-wop pictured above.

J Rawls – The Hip-Hop Affect

Released: 2011

The Black Star producer literally took it back to the essence.

Smoke DZA T.H.C. (The Hustler’s Catalog)

Released: 2011

At least he wasn’t aiming guns at his baby pictures.

Drake – Nothing Was The Same

Released: 2013

“You left your mark on me…”

Charles Hamilton – It’s Charles Hamilton

Released: 2009

A Sega Genesis state of mind from one the greatest struggle rappers of all-time.

J. Cole – “Villematic”

Released: 2010

Young Simba didn’t want to be pigeonholed by such a monumental rendition so he opted to keep this one for just a singular song.

The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready To Die

Released: 1994

It is arguable that the Biggie’s monumental debut went on to inspire the Illmatic trend with Hip-Hop, although from the looks of the list, East Coast artists began to trend lightly afterwards. Everybody was impressed except for the ones who were exclusively built for Cuban Linx (see video below).