Nas Reflects On It Was Written
December 28, 2011 @ 4:38 PM EST
News
Esco’s It Was Written turned 15 years old back in July. And in a recent interview with XXL, he reflects on his sophomore album.
What was your inspiration for
It Was Written was better than Illmatic,
^
not the 1st time i heard that
It was written is such an underrated album..I enjoyed it just as much as I did illmatic
NaS was able to move millions while Big and Pac were alive. Jay-Z had to wait until they died, hmm.
Either way, IWW is a solid album (4 mics or better). This is why I never understand when biased sites say NaS released a string of bad albums before “Stillmatic”. Really? FOH.
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I need to revisit this album….
Nas Still Around.?
@Uh oh. Co-sign
I don’t know what it is about Nas but he just seems to have such a creative gift/talent unlike any other. I think that is why the haters tend to go all out to disrespect his music because they see his gift as a threat…even those who are not his musical peers tend to show negative bias toward Nas. But through it all Nas remains humble and blessed…a sign of a true warrior!
I got that cd. It Was Written was a freaking classic.
@Uh oh
Yeah is crazy how people criticize nas music, he only had one flop and that was Nastradomas. He bounce back with stillmatic, street disciple, God son, etc…
I don’t care what nobody says, this album is at least as good as Illmatic, and IMO, better. It’s flawless, production, lyrics, features, concepts, everything nigga, one of the greatest albums of all time.
And to think, back then, having ONE song with Lauryn Hill no less, at the end of the shit was considered selling out and commercial. Wonder what those critics think of the music now…
“Silent Murder” was also an included bonus track on the import version of ‘It Was Written’
was just bumping this last week.. at the time critics hated on it but it really stood the test of time.. the first 8 songs are incredible.. great album but not a classic
stretch, thats pacs friend too right?
@Sway-Z
But if you think about it, back then when rappers got together with R&B singers, it was for one song and it was a huge hit. I.E. meth/mary j, 2pac/KC&Jojo, biggie/R.Kelly. It was an epic moment and It wasn’t consider selling out, cause their album won’t be like the song.
His best album & my favorite album ever! I think the only GOAT candidate that has an album on the level or similiar to IWW is Biggie’s LAD…IWW shits on any Jay Z album though
I have always enjoyed it was written more than illmatic don’t know why people say it was a disappointment and “I Gave You Power” is still one of fav songs ever
Everyone Talking About illmatic Like They Had Sex With It Or Something…
This site is one of the biased sites Im referring too lol. Props to XXL for the NaS article.
GOAT
Its crazy how long it took people to catch up to It Was Written. That album is the definition of coming before your time.
I just replaced It Was Written cd last thursday because I couldn’t find my original copy thats fucking crazy… I’m one of Nas biggest fans and I listen to Illmatic & It Was Written very close, I have to say It Was Written was the better album. I think people just say Illmatic better cuz its critical acclaim. It Was Written is nothing less of flawless, Black Girl Lost, Street Dreams, and The Firm came correct. This also features the best ever in any genre of music “If I Ruled The World”.
It was written not better then reasonable doubt, dope ass album tho..
^ But Reasonable Doubt sample Nas tho.
Iww is good, not better than Illmatic. No fucking way, thats just the cool thing to say.
Live Nigga Rap had one of his greatest verses of all time
haha keep the casette alive sounds so funny to hear that now that the cd isn’t alvie either
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I got the cassette too. Sealed!
@Sarcastic A$$hole
That was the main criticism tho, that it was too commercial because he was working with Trackmasters (who went all the way in, by the way) and doing a track with Lauryn.
Illmatic is more “hiphop” sounding maybe, with that type of subject matter, but lyrically, production wise, just everything about IWW is better to me. That first verse on ‘Watch Dem Niggas’ and last verse on ‘Take it in Blood’ stands up to anything he’s ever done, period.
And the message was just killing careers with those 1st 12 bars
dope video I found
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNfQjbcGQKc?hd=1&w=1280&h=720%5D
Nas is still that dude.