Track Listing

1. Intro
2. Message
3. Street Dreams
4. I Gave You Power
5. Watch Dem Niggas
6. Take It In Blood
7. Nas Is Coming
8. Affirmative Action
9. Set Up
10. Black Girl Lost
11. Suspect
12. Shootouts
13. Live Nigga Rap
14. If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20764 in Music
• Released on: 1999-08-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics

CD Description
Nas' 1994 debut album, ILLMATIC, has been called one of thebest rap albums of all time, and this followup documents the main reason why: Nas is the supreme lyricist in hip-hop. On the surface he is a gangsta rapper dispensing richly detailed street stories. But Nas speaks in metaphors not easily interpreted, and his songs constantly challenge the listener to see into his innermost thoughts. He dwells neither on what he could be or wants to be, but rather, simply, on what heis. He's one of the few rappers who can fairly be labeled apoet.
IT WAS WRITTEN utilises the musical talents of street-oriented producers to enhance Nas' feel for reality. Among those producers are Dr. Dre, who collaborates on "Nas Is Coming" in a joint attempt to squash the East Coast/West Coast war.

Customer Reviews

Buy for The Message alone
This is a very good album, but as the follow up to Illmatic it would allways receive critisism.
The album starts off with an intro which is actually worth listening to! unlike many rap albums' intros. Next is the song the Message. In my opinion this is one of the best Nas songs ever, and a personal favorite of mine. Infact I'd recommend buying this album just for that song. That's not to say the rest of the album is no good, on the contary This is certainly one of Nas' best albums. Other highlights include the singles: If I ruled the world (with Lauren Hill) and Nas is Coming, but also affirmative action.
This is not an album for non rap people, there are no Pop type songs but any fans of Nas should buy this and any Rap fans.

fat album
this was one of Nas best albums, every song shows depth his story telling skills a strong here, the beats are good, people keep talking about illmatic, any rappers and lower their vocal range and increase syabllic pattern its just nas was the first, and anyway he needs to grow from Stillmatic what makes him any better than Jay Z, the Stillmatic album was all hype I advise people to buy this album not for putting
dirt on peoples names but the narration and skill displayed

Nas- It Was Written
Every hip-hop fan, has to own this. Nas takes hip-hop to the next level , he explodes the start of the album with "the message", hardhitting anthem bout life in quensbridge. Just by listening to it you can tell why he is one of the best MCs around and not to be messed with.In every track Nas gives his all,you can tell hours and hours of work have gone into the production side of this album. "Nas is coming" is one of the sttrongest songs on the album,the fatest flavs lie with that song.NAS is queens finest mos def !!!