Thirty years after It Was Written modified the trajectory of Nas’ profession, the controversy over whether or not it surpassed Illmatic continues to be raging. Right here’s why the album stays one among Hip-Hop’s defining masterpieces.
On July 2, 1996, Nas fully silenced any speak of a sophomore stoop with the discharge of his second album, It Was Written. Not solely did it function a worthy follow-up to the groundbreaking Illmatic, it carved out its personal legacy—one which has stood the take a look at of time for 3 many years. Personally, I’d rank It Was Written among the many high three albums in Nas’ catalog.
With It Was Written, Nas took a extra cinematic and bold method, mixing braggadocious rhymes, mafioso storytelling, vivid imagery and layered ideas right into a cohesive physique of labor. Whereas his persona developed, his intricate lyricism by no means wavered. In truth, there’s a robust argument that his writing surpassed even Illmatic by way of technical talent and storytelling. What most distinguishes It Was Written from its predecessor, nevertheless, is its extra polished and expansive manufacturing.
Govt producer Steve Stoute, alongside Trackmasters—who produced seven songs—helped form an album that balanced gritty East Coast avenue data with extra accessible, radio-ready singles. The manufacturing lineup additionally included Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, Havoc, L.E.S., Reside Squad and Trackmasters, giving the mission a various sonic palette that expanded Nas’ viewers with out abandoning his core id.
I keep in mind that, in 1996, some followers had been divided over the album’s business route. The success of singles like “If I Dominated the World (Think about That)” and “Road Desires” led some critics to query whether or not Nas was shifting too removed from the uncooked aesthetic of Illmatic. However one factor was by no means up for debate: his lyricism. From starting to finish, Nas delivered a few of the sharpest writing of his profession.
Paradoxically, these extra accessible data helped make It Was Written the largest business success of Nas’ profession. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was ultimately licensed triple platinum by the RIAA. If Illmaticmade Nas a Hip-Hop legend, It Was Written made him a famous person.
Thirty years later, It Was Written stays a kind of uncommon albums that continues to spark passionate debate. From barber outlets and message boards to podcasts and social media, Hip-Hop followers nonetheless argue over which Nas masterpiece deserves the crown: Illmatic or It Was Written.
For me, whereas I imagine Nas was lyrically sharper and had developed right into a extra full MC on It Was Written, I nonetheless give a slight edge to Illmatic. The unequalled chemistry between Nas’ poetic lyricism and the timeless manufacturing from DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S. and Massive Professor stays almost inconceivable to high. Nonetheless, the truth that this debate continues 30 years later says all the pieces concerning the enduring brilliance of It Was Written.
Wanting again, It Was Written ranks amongst my 5 favourite Hip-Hop albums of 1996, alongside Redman’s Muddy Waters, Jay-Z’s Cheap Doubt, De La Soul’s Stakes Is Excessive and The Roots’ Illadelph Halflife. Extra importantly, it cemented Nas as one among Hip-Hop’s biggest lyricists and proved past any doubt that Illmatic was no fluke.
Three many years later, It Was Written stays a landmark achievement—an album that balanced lyrical excellence, conceptual ambition and business enchantment with out sacrificing authenticity. Few sophomore albums have aged this gracefully, and even fewer proceed to encourage the admiration, dialogue and debate that encompass this one.
That’s the mark of a real traditional.
Joyful thirtieth Anniversary to It Was Written.
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