The illmatic is not just the greatest hip hop album but the greatest musc album. I know thriller sold 30 Million copies and illmatic only went gold after two years but it's lyricism and impact surpasses thriller on a scale of of 7/3. It is easily the perfect album for all ages, from childhood to adult hood and fits into any life situation. It's power can make one survive poverty , overcome depression and gives hope of freedom from incaceration. That's why I always view Nas as the Thomas Hobbes of our time and illmatic as the Leviathan.