Changing the Game? | Ode to Illmatic x Elmatic

Illmatic is one of the most impactful HipHop albums of all time. Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones penned a classic that continues to inspire emcees the world over. Lately, and most explicitly, it spawned two mixtapes, beginning with Fashawn's "Ode to Illmatic," released in June of 2010. The mixtape, sponsored by XXL magazine and DJ Green Lantern, featured original Illmatic beats, and paid homage to the influence that Illmatic had on Fashawn's state of mind.

Last month, Elzhi followed suit, releasing "Elmatic," paying his respects to Illmatic. The tape features the remaking of the beats featured on Illmatic by Detroit band Will Sessions, and was sponsored by XXL magazine. Like Fashawn, Elzhi stayed true to the lyrical structure and cadence of the original.

The genre of HipHop has always toed the line between biting an original and creating something new. The use of samples in HipHop production immediately comes to mind, with artists whose work has been re-appropriated often catching feelings, and paychecks, over sample clearance. The integrity and intentions of the artists and projects posted is unquestioned--both Fashawn and Elzhi are true lyricists--but such similar mixtapes, in such a short amount of time, sponsored by the same magazine, gave me pause.

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