What Rap Album Did the Songs Ruth Listened to in Ozark Come From?
Ruth Langmore, a pivotal character in Ozark, listened to various tracks from Nas' iconic album, Illmatic. While no single specific song is identified as the rap song Ruth listened to, every piece of music featured in the relevant episode was exclusively a track from this seminal album.
Nas' Illmatic: The Soundtrack to Ruth's World
In the Ozark episode highlighting Ruth's musical preferences, the creative team deliberately chose to feature only songs from Nas' 1994 debut album, Illmatic. This album is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential hip-hop albums ever released, known for its intricate lyricism, vivid storytelling, and gritty portrayal of life in New York City. Its continued relevance speaks to its timeless impact on music and culture.
The show even paid a direct homage to the album, with the episode's title, "Cousin of Death," being a direct reference to a lyric from Nas' track "N.Y. State of Mind," further cementing Illmatic's central role in the episode's atmosphere and Ruth's character portrayal. This integration of music deepens the audience's understanding of Ruth's background and emotional landscape.
