Main Source - Live At The Barbeque (ft. Nas)

“Breaking Atoms” was likely one of the first LP’s I ever picked up. Around the same time I was getting into punk rock, it was pretty tough to deny the power of hip hop. Being an 11 year old skate kid in 1992, I banked what little cash I had and bought this album (honestly, because I liked the cover art) and Supertouch’s “The Earth Is Flat” (on the recomendation of a friend’s older brother). I’d be lying if I said it didn’t take me a few listens to truly appreciate the Supertouch record, which went on to become one of my favorite all time releases… but when it came to Toronto’s Main Source, I was hooked immediately.

A lot of time passed and I no longer own either of those albums in physical form but the tracks still hold as much weight as they ever did. The track above in particular, featuring a 16 year old Nas on his first legit studio recording. Going back and listening to it now, it was definitely a sign of things to come… even as a kid, that Queensbridge cat was puttin’ down lines that I still have a tough time wrapping my head around. You can almost hear the “Ohhh!” of an early 90’s stoop posse after each line as Nas lyrically destroys just about anything on the airwaves in 1991.

“Slammin MC’s on cement. Cause verbally, I’m iller than a AIDS patient!”

Do you really need any further proof?