Movies Like Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014)

Nas: Time Is Illmatic is a 2014 documentary, music film from One9 with a MovieMagicScore of 7.0/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with 8 Mile and Tupac: Resurrection.

Documentary Music

8 Mile

2002

For Jimmy Smith, Jr., life is a daily fight just to keep hope alive. Feeding his dreams in Detroit's vibrant music scene, Jimmy wages an extraordinary personal struggle to find his own voice - and earn a place in a world where rhymes rule, legends are born and every moment… is another chance.

7.1

MagicScore

Tupac: Resurrection

2003

Home movies, photographs, and recited poetry illustrate the life of Tupac Shakur, one of the most beloved, revolutionary, and volatile hip-hop MCs of all time.

7.9

MagicScore

Beastie Boys Story

2020

Here's a little story they're about to tell... Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz share the story of their band and 40 years of friendship in a live documentary experience directed by friend, collaborator, and their former grandfather, Spike Jonze.

7.5

MagicScore

Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest

2011

Having forged a 20-year run as one of the most innovative and influential hip hop bands of all time, the Queens NY collective known as 'A Tribe Called Quest' have kept a generation hungry for more of their groundbreaking music since their much publicized breakup in 1998. Michael Rapaport documents the inner workings and behind the scenes drama that follows the band to this day. He explores what's next for, what many claim, are the pioneers of alternative rap.

7.1

MagicScore

Biggie & Tupac

2002

In 1997, rap superstars Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace (aka Biggie Smalls, The Notorious B.I.G.) were gunned down in separate incidents, the apparent victims of hip hop's infamous east-west rivalry. Nick Broomfield's film introduces Russell Poole, an ex-cop with damning evidence that suggests the LAPD deliberately fumbled the case to conceal connections between the police, LA gangs and Death Row Records, the label run by feared rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight.

6.3

MagicScore

Straight Outta Compton

2015

In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how these cultural rebels—armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent—stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world’s most dangerous group, N.W.A. And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today.

7.8

MagicScore

Numero Zero: The Roots of Italian Rap

2015

In the eighties comes from overseas powerful, unstoppable, the wave of hip hop. Few years later the rap music begins to take roots in Italy with the firts album in 1990. Thus began a golden age that from the undergrowth of the counterculture reaches a diverse audience, passing through the masterpiece of Sangue Misto, the evergreen Kaos and Colle Der Fomento, until the commercial success of Neffa, Frankie Hi-Nrg, Sottotono, Articolo 31 and the debut of a young Fabri Fibra. Then, suddenly, the dark at the dawn of the new millenium. Why? An epic, unique season of musical creativity narrated by its big players and accompanied by the voice of a talented and renowed freestyler grown up with those great musicians: Ensi. - Written by Bisi, Enrico

7.7

MagicScore

Bodied

2018

A progressive graduate student finds success and sparks outrage when his interest in battle rap as a thesis subject becomes a competitive obsession.

7.3

MagicScore

Hustle & Flow

2005

With help from his friends, a Memphis pimp in a mid-life crisis attempts to become a successful hip-hop emcee.

7.1

MagicScore

#10

Beat Street

1984

An aspiring DJ, from the South Bronx, and his best friend, a promoter, try to get into show business by exposing people to hip-hop music and culture.

6.9

MagicScore

#11

Breakin'

1984

A struggling young dancer joins forces with two breakdancers and together they become a street sensation.

6.6

MagicScore

#12

World's Best

2023

Twelve-year-old mathematics genius Prem discovers his recently deceased father was a famous rapper and immediately sets out to learn more about his father’s life and passions. Empowered by imaginative hip-hop music-fueled fantasies, Prem is determined to find out if hip-hop truly is in his DNA.

6.2

MagicScore

#13

CB4

1993

A "rockumentary", covering the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson, and Dead Mike: members of the rap group "CB4". We soon learn that these three are not what they seem and don't appear to know as much about rap music as they claim... but a lack of musical ability in an artist never hurts sales, does it? You've just got to play the part of a rap star...

6.0

MagicScore

#14

Love Beats Rhymes

2017

A young woman dreams of making it big in the world of hip hop, but her parents demand that she finish her university degree. She dutifully agrees to complete her education, but her spoken word proves to have a powerful impact in the classroom.

5.6

MagicScore

#15

Dance Flick

2009

Street dancer, Thomas Uncles is from the wrong side of the tracks, but his bond with the beautiful Megan White might help the duo realize their dreams as they enter in the mother of all dance battles.

4.9

MagicScore

#16

Juice

1992

Four Harlem friends -- Bishop, Q, Steel and Raheem -- dabble in petty crime, but they decide to go big by knocking off a convenience store. Bishop, the magnetic leader of the group, has the gun. But Q has different aspirations. He wants to be a DJ and happens to have a gig the night of the robbery. Unfortunately for him, Bishop isn't willing to take no for answer in a game where everything's for keeps.

7.2

MagicScore

#17

Zora la vampira

2000

Count Dracula trades Transylvania for Italy in search of fresh blood and Western standards of living, but finds instead his ancient love Zora, reincarnated as a young graffiti artist from the Roman hip-hop scene.

5.7

MagicScore

#18

Snake Outta Compton

2018

A rap group on the verge of signing their first record deal is the city's only hope in a battle with a giant mutating snake monster.

3.1

MagicScore

#19

Style Wars

1984

Tony Silver and Henry Chalfant's PBS documentary tracks the rise and fall of subway graffiti in New York in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

7.4

MagicScore

#20

The Forty-Year-Old Version

2020

Desperate for a breakthrough as she nears the big 4-0, struggling New York City playwright Radha finds inspiration by reinventing herself as a rapper.

6.7

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Nas: Time Is Illmatic?

The top films similar to Nas: Time Is Illmatic by MovieMagicScore are 8 Mile (7.1), Tupac: Resurrection (7.9), Beastie Boys Story (7.5). Each shares documentary/music themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Nas: Time Is Illmatic worth watching?

Nas: Time Is Illmatic holds a MovieMagicScore of 7.0/10 from 68 viewer ratings, putting it among the better-reviewed titles in its genre.

What kind of movie is Nas: Time Is Illmatic?

Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014) is a documentary, music film directed by One9, starring Nas, Alicia Keys, Busta Rhymes.

Where can I find more recommendations like Nas: Time Is Illmatic?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more documentary recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like 8 Mile Movies like Tupac: Resurrection Movies like Beastie Boys Story Movies like Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest Movies like Biggie & Tupac Movies like Straight Outta Compton

About movies like Nas: Time Is Illmatic

This ranked list pairs Nas: Time Is Illmatic (2014), a documentary and music film from One9, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Nas take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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