In the history of Hip Hop there is a before and after to "Illmatic", Nas' debut album, released in 1994. The rapper took the writing of lyrics and the raw portrayal of suburban life on the west coast of the USA to another level. Nas: Time Is Illmatic was released on the twentieth anniversary of the album and features Nas himself and his brother, who return to the neighbourhood they grew up in to describe their journey of critical ascent and liberation from poverty through music. The film also features musicians such as Pharrell Williams, Alicia Keys, Q-Tip and Busta Rhymes.