Baltimore, MD – In an extraordinary one-night-only event, GRAMMY® Award-winning hip-hop legend Nas will perform his groundbreaking debut album Illmatic alongside the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 7:30 pm at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

NAS: Illmatic Live with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a genre-defying concert event that combines the legendary lyricism of Nas with the sweeping talents of the BSO musicians. This performance uniquely bridges hip-hop and classical music, offering audiences a cultural touchstone reimagined with orchestral grandeur.

Marking three decades since the acclaimed release of Illmatic, Nas and the BSO will bring the album’s iconic tracks to life with full orchestral arrangements. Widely celebrated as one of hip-hop’s greatest albums, Illmatic features timeless hits such as “N.Y. State of Mind,” “The World Is Yours,” “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in Da Park),” and “It Ain’t Hard to Tell.”

Since the release of Illmatic in 1994, Nas has cemented his status as a pioneering artist, poet, and cultural icon. His expansive career includes 14 critically acclaimed albums, among them multi-platinum classics like Nastradamus, Stillmatic, God’s Son, and Street’s Disciple. With 16 GRAMMY® nominations and a GRAMMY® win for Best Rap Album in 2020 for King’s Disease, Nas continues to shape the hip-hop landscape through recent collaborations with Hit-Boy on albums such as King’s Disease III and Magic 3.

“Welcoming Nas to perform alongside the BSO will be a highlight of the year,” said Mark Hanson, President and CEO of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. “This collaboration speaks to our commitment to breaking boundaries and creating a space where all audiences feel connected to the power of live orchestral music. It is an honor to bring this iconic album to life in a new way and shine a spotlight on our musicians’ incredible range and talent.”

Tickets are $75 – $299 and are available now via the BSO website or at the Meyerhoff box office.

EVENT DETAILS:
Nas Illmatic Live with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall | 1212 Cathedral St. Baltimore, MD 21201
Wednesday, July 23, 2025, | 7:30 PM
Steven Reineke, conductor
Nas, featured guest artist