The only time I ever remember "ILLmatic" getting some popular culture love was in this movie:
What's interesting is "12 Monkeys" came out 2 yeas after "ILLmatic" and it was about traveling to the Future. Ironically the movie shows a poster of "ILLmatic" in the future as if it was saying it was going to be an iconic/legendary album. Little did the film know how right it was. I don't understand why people are so shocked by "ILLmatic references". The album is 19 years old, it's revolutionary. Throwing Rocks or hating on the album is pointless. It's Classic status isn't even debatable. Don't like the album? Fine but that doesn't change it's historic iconic legendary history.
NaS has literally lived his entire career in the shadow of his debut. Every album but about 2 have all sold more than "ILLmatic" for NaS career yet he doesn't has a single album as critically acclaimed as this album. Books are being written, samples have been used and the influence is undeniable. The album changed Hip Hop on a Lyricism level as well as bringing in Popular Producers to all work on one album. Blah, Blah, It took 7 years to go Platinum. That only proves that more and more people discovered it as it went along. It's not about the destination, it's about the journey. So cool that "Criminal Minded" mentioned the album.