It Was Written
It Was Written — Nas
The Crown After the Classic
Following Illmatic, Nas stood at a crossroads. He had already delivered one of the greatest hip-hop albums ever made—raw, cinematic, and street-bound. The question was not whether he could rap. The question was: what comes after perfection?
It Was Written is that answer.
Released in 1996, the album marks a deliberate shift—from street reportage to street mythology, from observer to kingpin narrator. Nas doesn’t abandon reality; he elevates it, wraps it in mafioso imagery, and presents it as epic.
This is not a retreat from authenticity.
It is an expansion of it.
From Queensbridge to CinemaScope
Where Illmatic felt like a documentary, It Was Written feels like a film.
The production—handled by Trackmasters, Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, Havoc, and L.E.S.—leans into polish. Strings, glossy drums, and layered instrumentation replace the stripped-down grit of the debut.
This shift was controversial at the time. But it was intentional.
Nas was not trying to recreate Illmatic.
He was building a larger world.
The Message — Opening with Authority
The album opens with precision and menace.
“Fake thug, no love, you get the slug, CB4 gusto…”
From the first line, Nas establishes dominance. There is no easing in—only assertion. The beat is sparse but ominous, giving his voice space to command attention.
“I never brag, how real I keep it, ’cause it’s the best secret…”
Here, Nas redefines authenticity. It’s not about performance—it’s about quiet certainty. He doesn’t need validation. The streets already know.
Street Dreams — Aspirations and Illusions
Built around a hypnotic groove, this track explores the tension between ambition and reality.
“Street dreams are made of these…”
The phrase feels aspirational, but Nas complicates it.
“Pushin’ beamers, hundred-dollar billas…”
Luxury is presented as the goal—but also as the trap. The dream is seductive, but it comes with consequences.
There’s a duality here: desire and awareness coexisting.
I Gave You Power — The Gun Speaks
One of the most inventive tracks in hip-hop history, Nas raps from the perspective of a gun.
“I gave you power, I made you buck-wild…”
The metaphor is extended with precision. The gun is both tool and narrator, observing the destruction it enables.
“Always I’m in some shit, my abdomen is the clip…”
The writing is technical, but never mechanical. Every line reinforces the concept without losing emotional weight.
This is storytelling at its highest level—creative, controlled, and deeply unsettling.
The Set Up — Paranoia and Betrayal
Here, Nas leans into narrative tension.
“They plan was to knock me off…”
The track unfolds like a crime scene. Trust is fragile, alliances are temporary, and danger is constant.
The production mirrors this unease—dark, creeping, and unpredictable.
Black Girl Lost — Social Commentary and Reflection
This track shifts the lens outward, addressing systemic issues and personal responsibility.
“She was lost in the world, caught up in the scene…”
Nas paints a portrait that is both specific and universal. It’s not judgment—it’s observation layered with empathy.
The song expands the album’s scope, reminding us that beneath the mafioso imagery lies real-world consequence.
If I Ruled the World — Vision and Possibility
Featuring Lauryn Hill, this is the album’s most iconic moment.
“Imagine smoking weed in the streets without cops harassin’…”
The line is simple, but revolutionary. Nas imagines a world free from systemic oppression.
“Still niggas…”
Even in utopia, identity remains complex. The dream is not naive—it is grounded in reality.
Lauryn Hill’s chorus elevates the track into something timeless, blending hope with melancholy.
Affirmative Action — Power in Collaboration
Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown, and Cormega come together in a display of lyrical dominance.
Each verse is sharp, competitive, and precise.
This is not just collaboration—it is hierarchy being negotiated in real time.
Nas Is Coming — The Arrival of a Persona
Produced by Dr. Dre, this track introduces a larger-than-life version of Nas.
“Nas is coming…”
The repetition feels like prophecy. Not just a rapper—but a force.
The West Coast influence is clear, but Nas adapts to it effortlessly, proving his versatility.
Take It in Blood — Lyrical Excellence
This is Nas at his most technically sharp.
“My thoughts alone get remixed like a song…”
The line encapsulates his artistry—constant evolution, constant reinterpretation.
The beat is smooth, almost luxurious, allowing the lyrics to shine.
Production — Polish as Strategy
The criticism of It Was Written often centers on its polished sound.
But that polish is strategic.
It reflects the album’s themes: power, ambition, transformation. The music sounds bigger because the vision is bigger.
Trackmasters bring commercial appeal. DJ Premier adds grit. Dr. Dre injects West Coast precision. Together, they create a balanced, expansive soundscape.
Cultural Impact — Redefining Success
It Was Written debuted at number one and achieved multi-platinum success.
But its impact goes beyond sales.
It helped popularize the mafioso rap aesthetic, influencing artists like Jay-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. It also demonstrated that lyrical excellence and commercial success could coexist.
Nas did not compromise.
He adapted.
The Debate — Illmatic vs It Was Written
The comparison is inevitable.
Illmatic is purity.
It Was Written is expansion.
One is a snapshot. The other is a panorama.
Neither is lesser—they are different expressions of the same artist at different moments.
Final Reflection — Evolution as Legacy
It Was Written is often misunderstood because it refuses to stay in one lane.
It is street reportage and cinematic fiction. It is introspection and ambition. It is vulnerability and power.
Most importantly, it is growth.
Nas did not repeat himself.
He evolved.
And in doing so, he proved that greatness is not just about where you start—but how far you’re willing to go.
