Nas' 'Illmatic' And Janet Jackson's 'Rhythm Nation 1814' Archived In Library Of Congress

Nas and Janet Jackson, as well as LaBelle, Kool & the Gang, and Louis Armstrong have been added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress.

Albums by Nas and Janet Jackson, as well as songs from LaBelle, Kool & the Gang, and Louis Armstrong have been inducted into the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress.

Nas' seminal debut album Illmatic and Janet's Rhythm Nation 1814 will now be preserved alongside LaBelle's "Lady Marmalade," Kool & the Gang's "Celebration," and Louis Armstrong's "When the Saints Go Marching in."

"The National Recording Registry will preserve our history through these vibrant recordings of music and voices that have reflected our humanity and shaped our culture from the past 143 years," Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress, said. "We received about 900 public nominations this year for recordings to add to the registry, and we welcome the public’s input as the Library of Congress and its partners preserve the diverse sounds of history and culture."

Pete Rock, one of the producers who helped Nas craft Illmatic, recently spoke with Okayplayer about creating the beat for one of the album's most beloved tracks, "The World is Yours."

"I kept repeating this loop with my hand on the SB-1200 over and over. Then I looped it up real quick, just to see what it might sound like without drums. I was in love with it," he said. "Ahmad Jamal is one of my favorite pianists so being able to make something that sampled his music was very special for me. That loop just sparked so much nostalgia, and making the rest of ‘The World Is Yours’ beat wasn’t too hard after that."

Nas recently won his first Grammy at this year's award ceremony, receiving the award for "Best Rap Album" for King's Disease.