It Was Written
Studio album by Nas
Released	July 2, 1996 (US)
Recorded	1995-1996
Genre	East Coast hip hop Mafioso rap
Length	58:35
Label	Columbia Records CK-67015
Producer	MC Serch (exec.) Trackmasters DJ Premier Havoc Dr. Dre L.E.S. Live Squad Dave Atkinson Rashad Smith Lo Ground Top General Sounds
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Entertainment Weekly (A-)link NME link Q link Rolling Stone link The Source link ARTISTdirect link sputnikmusic link
Nas chronology
Illmatic (1994) It Was Written (1996) I Am... (1999) --- The Firm: The Album (1997)

It Was Written is the second album by Queensbridge rapper Nas. Primarily produced by Poke and Tone of Trackmasters Entertainment, It Was Written was a departure from the underground flavored Illmatic, towards a more commercial fare. Although critical reaction to it was divided upon its release, the album's standing has improved considerably over time. It remains Nas' best-selling album. This image is the cover of an album or single. ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... Nasir Jones (born September 14, 1973), known simply as Nas and formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... East Coast hip hop is a style of hip hop music that originated in New York City during the early-1970s. ... Mafioso rap is a hip hop sub-genre which flourished in the mid-1990s. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... MC Serch (born Michael Berrin on May 6, 1967) is a Jewish-American hip hop MC and former member of 3rd Bass. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Trackmasters Entertainment is a successful record production company, run by Jean-Claude Poke Olive and Samuel Tone Barnes. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... L.E.S. (born Leshan David Lewis) is a hip hop prodcer commonly associated with Nas. ... Live Squad - A group consisting of the members Stretch, Majesty and K-Lowe, signed to Tommy Boy Records in 1991 they released a double A side record Murderahh!/Heartless in 1992 before getting dropped for being too hardcore in 1993. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... Entertainment Weekly (sometimes abbreviated EW) is a magazine published by Time Inc. ... Not to be confused with the Canadian music magazine Music Express The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a Popular music magazine in the United Kingdom which has been published weekly since March 1952. ... Image File history File links Stars10060. ... Q is a music and entertainment magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Image File history File links 2_stars. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... ARTISTdirect, Inc. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... Sputnikmusic is a website and online community archiving user-submitted compact disc reviews and music-related help articles. ... Image File history File links 3. ... Nasir Jones (born September 14, 1973), known simply as Nas and formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper. ... Illmatic is the debut album by rapper Nas, released on April 19, 1994 through Columbia Records. ... I Am. ... Queensbridge Houses is the largest public housing development in the United States. ... Rapping is one of the elements of hip hop and the distinguishing feature of hip hop music; it is a form of rhyming lyrics spoken rhythmically over musical instruments, with a musical backdrop of sampling, scratching and mixing by DJs. ... Nasir Jones (born September 14, 1973), known simply as Nas and formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper. ... Trackmasters Entertainment is a successful record production company, run by Jean-Claude Poke Olivier and Samuel Tone Barnes. ... Illmatic is the debut album by rapper Nas, released on April 19, 1994 through Columbia Records. ...

Overview

On this album Nas experimented with a theatrical Mafioso concept under the Wu Gambino-inspired alias of "Nas Escobar" (after the Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar). Among the album's stand-out songs included "I Gave You Power", a creative song which depicts a narrative from the perspective of a gun. The album also features the singles "If I Ruled the World" (featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees) and "Street Dreams" (the remix of which features R. Kelly). The two aforementioned songs were among two of the biggest hits of 1996, promoted by big-budget videos directed by Hype Williams. The album also featured guest appearances from Mobb Deep (who went on to become regular collaborators with Nas), Joel "Jo-Jo" Hailey of Jodeci, and the posse cut debut of The Firm, a supergroup which was initially composed of Nas, AZ, Cormega and Foxy Brown. Mafioso rap is a hip hop sub-genre which flourished in the mid-1990s. ... Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is an influential East Coast rap album by rapper Raekwon, released in 1995. ... Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria (December 1, 1949 – December 2, 1993) gained world infamy as a Colombian drug dealer. ... If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) is a 1996 hit hip hop single by NaS featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees. ... Lauryn Noel Hill-Marley (born May 25, 1975) is an eight-time Grammy award winning musician, record producer, and film actress. ... The Fugees are a critically acclaimed music band from the United States, popular during the mid-1990s, whose repertoire includes primarily hip hop, with elements of soul, and Caribbean music (particularly reggae). ... Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Urban R&B singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. ... Harold Hype Williams (born 1970 in Queens, New York) is an American music video and film director of African-American and Honduran descent. ... Jodeci is an American musical group, whose repertoire included R&B, soul music, and new jack swing. ... Posse cut is a popular form of song in hip hop music, that involves successive verses by four or more rappers. ... The Firm included four New York rappers -- Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature -- but was actually the pet project of its producers: Nas Escobar (as he referred to himself at the time), Steve Commissioner Stoute, Dr. Dre, and the Trackmasters. ... Anthony Cruz (born March 9, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York), better known as AZ, is a Grammy nominated East-Coast rapper currently residing in Englewood, New Jersey. ... Cory McKay (April 27, 1973), better known as Cormega, is an American rapper noted for his street topics and style representative of Queensbridge. ... Inga Marchand (born September 6, 1978, in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, New York), better known as Foxy Brown, is an American rapper of Afro-Trinidadian and Indo-Trinidadian descent[1] known for her solo work as well as numerous collaborations and a brief stint as part of hip-hop musicgroup The...

Upon its release, It Was Written was not generally well received by fans, but still proved to be Nas’ best commercial success to date, selling in excess of three million copies worldwide. The album peaked at #1 on The Billboard Top 200 on July 20, 1996 — a position it held for four consecutive weeks. Following Illmatic's disappointing sales figures, It Was Written heralded Nas’ commercial popularity, thus making him a common household name among mainstream music fans. However, Nas' increased commercial success, together with the stylistic changes that accompanied his music, fostered accusations of selling out. Selling out refers to the compromising of ones integrity, morality and principles in exchange for money, success or other personal gain. ...

Singles

Released on May 26, 1996, "If I Ruled the World" was the first single on It Was Written. Featuring a chorus sung by Lauryn Hill and production by Trackmasters, it became a major hit. It reached #8 on the Rhythmic Top 40 chart and #53 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it Nas' most successful song yet. Nas' next single, "Street Dreams," ended up being more successful though. It reached #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned a successful non-album remix with R. Kelly. It contained production from Trackmasters much like the first single, but it's beat was considered to be over-commercialized by some critics. It's chorus was Nas' "street" interpretation of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by The Eurythmics and its beat contains a sample of the same song Tupac Shakur's "All Eyez On Me" samples. Its lyrics were also criticized being stereotypical and flashy. "If I Ruled the World," on the other hand, was considered creative for its concept--Nas ponders what he would do if he ruled the world--but it did not live up to Nas' standards for some critics. It is also important to note that much like "Street Dreams," the first single interpolates a chorus from a soul song ("Walk Right Up to the Sun" by The Delfonics) and uses a similar beat to another rap song ("Friends" by Whodini). In addition, the first two singles have big-budget music videos directed by Hype Williams. This exposure benefited "Street Dreams" more as it was certified gold by RIAA, the highest certification of any Nas single. "The Message" was not an official single, but a music video was made for it. A video for the remix to "Affirmative Action" was also made. is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) is a 1996 hit hip hop single by NaS featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees. ... Lauryn Noel Hill-Marley (born May 25, 1975) is an eight-time Grammy award winning musician, record producer, and film actress. ... Trackmasters Entertainment is a successful record production company, run by Jean-Claude Poke Olive and Samuel Tone Barnes. ... For another definition see rhythmic and CHR Rhythmic Top 40 is a contemporary hit music genre where the music, direction and makeup of the audience differ from the more mainstream Top 40 format. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... Street Dreams is a 1996 single by American rapper Nas. ... The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. ... Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois) is a multiple Grammy Award winning American Urban R&B singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. ... Interpretation, or interpreting, is an activity that consists of establishing, either simultaneously or consecutively, oral or gestural communications between two or more speakers who are not speaking (or signing) the same language. ... Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) is a song recorded by Eurythmics from their album of the same name. ... Eurythmics (often incorrectly referred to as The Eurythmics) are a seminal British synth pop duo consisting of Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart. ... Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac, Makaveli, or simply as Pac, was an American artist renowned for his rap music, movie roles, poetry, and his social activism. ... The Delfonics were a quintessential Philadelphia soul singing group, most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. ... Whodini is a hip hop group formed in the 1980s, made up of Jalil Hutchins, Ecstasy (John Fletcher) and Grandmaster Dee (Drew Carter). ... Harold Hype Williams (born 1970 in Queens, New York) is an American music video and film director of African-American and Honduran descent. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with RIAA certification. ... The RIAA Logo. ...

Critical reception

Despite its sales success, It Was Written was criticized as not being on-par with Illmatic, Nas' landmark debut. As a result, the album became subject to much public scrutiny, and was given mixed ratings from columnists whose expectations of a second Illmatic were not met (an example of the sophomore jinx). Yet in spite of being critically maligned, the album's reputation has recovered considerably with the passage of time and is looked upon with greater affection than its initial reception. In fact, some rap fans contest that it is his finest record, simply overshadowed by Nas' previous release. ^{[citation needed]} Magnum opus (sometimes Opus magnum, plural magna opera), from the Latin meaning great work,[1] refers to the best, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an author, artist, or composer, and most commonly one who has contributed a very large amount of material. ... The sophomore jinx, in sports, refers to the tendency for a player to follow a good season in his rookie year with a disappointing season. ...

Significance

Musicians

Lupe Fiasco regards It Was Written as his favorite album and cites it as his primary source inspiration. For instance, when asked of his influences in an interview with Allhiphop.com, Lupe stated the following: "You know I really tried to go back and recreate [Nas’] It Was Written, you know what I'm saying like that? [I would play] It Was Written and then I would play my album, and it was like, ‘Do we got [this] record, do we got that record?’" [1] Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is an American rapper. ...

In a following interview:

[2]

Reggae artist Matisyahu regards It Was Written as one of his favorite albums [3]. He cites the introduction of It Was Written where slaves rebel against their owner as having a major influence on him. He said that after listening to It Was Written: "I connected with hip-hop, the hardness of it, the driving beat. It’s music with space, that has gaps in every little thing that happens"[4]. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Matisyahu is the Hebrew and stage name of Matthew Paul Miller (born June 30, 1979, West Chester, Pennsylvania), an American Jewish reggae musician. ...

East Coast-West Coast Rivalry

"Nas is Coming" began a brief collaboration between Nas and West Coast hip hop producer Dr. Dre. The alliance also resulted in the formation of The Firm, who make their debut on track number eight, "Affirmative Action." The pairing of the East Coast rapper and the West Coast producer, during the period of the East Coast-West Coast rivalry, brought criticism from both sides. More controversy ensued when, during the recording of The Firm's album, Cormega was fired from the group by Nas' manager, Steve Stoute, and replaced with a young rapper named Nature. Cormega recorded an underground single, "Fuck Nas and Nature," began a rivalry with Nas that has persisted--with brief periods of reconciliation--to the present day. In addition, fellow rapper 2Pac insulted Nas on a song titled "Against All Odds" on 7 Day Theory. It is reported by Tha Outlawz and Snoop Dogg (both close associates of Tupac) that the two rappers ended their brief feud two days prior to Tupac’s fatal shooting. As result of his death, Tupac would not have the opportunity to remove the insults to Nas in "Against All Odds" from his album. In another song performed by 2Pac, "Untouchable," (from his posthumous album Pac's Life), he says "No offense to Nas but this whole fucking world is mine," in reference to Nas' classic single "The World Is Yours." West Coast hip hop, also known as West Coast rap or California hip hop, is a style of hip hop music that originated in California in the early 1980s. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... The Firm included four New York rappers -- Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature -- but was actually the pet project of its producers: Nas Escobar (as he referred to himself at the time), Steve Commissioner Stoute, Dr. Dre, and the Trackmasters. ... Feuds and rivalries have always existed in hip hop, which arose in 1970s United States. ... Steve The Commissioner Stoute is an American record executive, most famous for being rapper Nass off-and-on manager since 1995. ... Nature (born Jermaine Baxter) is an American rapper, best known for his association with fellow Queensbridge associate Nas. ... Hip-hop feuds and rivalries often referred to as beefs, have existed since the 1970s. ... Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac, Makaveli, or simply as Pac, was an American artist renowned for his rap music, movie roles, poetry, and his social activism. ... Tha Outlawz (also know as Tha Outlaw Immortalz) is an American rap group from New York and New Jersey founded by Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after his release from prison. ... Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. ... Years after his death, Tupac Shakur is still considered one of the most influential hip hop artists of all time. ... Pacs Life is the sixth posthumously released studio album from the late hip hop icon Tupac Shakur, commemorating the 10 year anniversary of the death of the late poet, activist, actor, and hip-hop icon. ... The World Is Yours is a single off of Nas album, Illmatic. ...

Track listing

The Detroit Emeralds were an American R&B singing group best known in the early 1970s. ... Soul II Soul is a dance/funk/soul act that emerged at the end of the 80s from London. ...

Album singles

Single cover	Single information
	"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" (featuring Lauryn Hill) Released: May 28, 1996 B-side:
	"Street Dreams" Released: October 22, 1996 B-side: "Affirmative Action (Remix)" & "Affirmative Action"
	"The Message" Released: 1997 B-side:

Image File history File links 192983. ... If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) is a 1996 hit hip hop single by NaS featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees. ... Lauryn Noel Hill-Marley (born May 25, 1975) is an eight-time Grammy award winning musician, record producer, and film actress. ... May 28 is the 148th day of the year (149th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links Sdeams. ... Street Dreams is a 1996 single by American rapper Nas. ... is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

Music videos

"If I Ruled The World" Director: Hype Williams

Nas-themessage.jpg "The Message"

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Harold Hype Williams (born 1970 in Queens, New York) is an American music video and film director of African-American and Honduran descent. ...

Chart positions

Album

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. ... The UK Albums Chart is a chart of the sales positions of albums in the United Kingdom. ...

Singles