OG East Coast rapper Nas celebrated the 30th anniversary of Illmatic (his 1994 album that was a cultural reset, to say the least) this weekend with a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
For the 30th birthday of his album, the rapper linked up with cult British designer Nicholas Daley and Umbro for a limited-edition football jersey that celebrates the NYC rapper’s legacy over the three decades.
The limited-edition design merges Nicholas Daley’s subculture and heritage-inspired styles and Umbro’s deep-rooted legacy in sportswear to pay homage to Nas’ NYC origins and the impact of Illmatic, using the album’s typeface and iconography for this gritty fusion of British football aesthetics and NYC streetwear.
“Illmatic is one of my favourite albums of all time and the impact it has had both musically and culturally is so evident today,” said designer Nicholas Daley. “The collaboration is a celebration of hip-hop and the legacy of Illmatic, while incorporating the heritage of Umbro,” resulting in a design that’s both very ‘90s and very current at the same time.
The exclusive jersey is limited to 150 pieces that were sold at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday and on the Nicholas Daley website. The shirt’s flying off, so go grab the final pieces at nicholasdaley.net before they’re out.
Featured images Nicholas Daley/Umbro©
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