Tribeca Film is pleased to announce the acquisition of the North American rights to Time Is Illmatic, the film that celebrated its world premiere at the opening night of the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. Directed by multimedia artist, One9, written by Erik Parker, and produced by One9, Parker, and Anthony Saleh, Time is Illmatic follows the trajectory of Nas’ 1994 landmark debut album, Illmatic. Tribeca Film is planning a simultaneous theatrical and VOD release in October together with special performances by Nas in select cities. Additionally, an educational youth screening series will complement the release.

Time Is Illmatic traces Nas’ influences and describes the overwhelming odds he faced in creating the seminal album from hip-hop’s second golden era. The film tracks the musical legacy of the Jones family—passed down to Nas from his jazz musician father, Olu Dara and celebrates the support Nas received from his Queensbridge neighborhood crew and  his younger brother Jabari “Jungle” Jones.

Twenty years after its release, Illmatic is widely recognized as a hip-hop benchmark that encapsulates the sociopolitical outlook, enduring spirit, and collective angst of a generation of young men searching for their voice in America. Time Is Illmatic received support from The Ford Foundation’s Just Films and Tribeca Film Institute’s Tribeca All Access program.

Hip-hop luminary and multi-platinum artist, Nas, released his debut album Illmatic in 1994, and he has gone on to sell over 20 million albums worldwide. The legendary Queens rapper is widely recognized as a visionary and lauded for a groundbreaking body of work that spans a two-decade career.

In declaring his appreciation to Tribeca for the opportunity to make and share this film about his incredible achievements, Nas stated simply:  "I want to thank Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal & the Tribeca Film family for all of the love & support they've given Time Is Illmatic. It is an honor to be in partnership with them. I feel there is a cultural kinship bonded by the city of New York."