It Was Written: The Story Behind A Classic

[@Berty4ever_]

I feel like Nas doesn't get enough credit for following up with such an amazing sophomore album both critically and commercially. Great video as always!

[@daseanmordgin5123]

Real Shit!! Imo, this album is *WAY BETTER* than his 1st. Couldn't agree w/ yoU more,fam.

[@sizah185]

It was Written was a critical success when it came it out. It wasseen as him going commercial

[@richardasante4926]

Great album 🎤🎶

[@daseanmordgin5123]

Couldn't agree w/ yoU more,fam *BUT* his 3rd album,MY GOD!! #epic

[@humbledragger6411]

I feel people scared to say it but this album better than illmatic

[@radicalmind5742]

The best song of all time in my opinion "Take it in Blood"". Lyrically Nas snapped on that album. Solidify Nas as the top Mc ever.

[@trifeloco]

You ever heard the mixtape version of it? If not do yourself a favor. But yeah I agree in general.

[@mattlawrence1932]

Take it in Blood is written like no other song!!! The fact that he's talkin & braggin about flossing his $$$ the entire track & you're wondering where he's going with everything he's talking about just so he can use the final line of the song to tie the entire plot together in with the song & it's also the name of it's title is crazy !!!! "I ain't never been robbed , u gon have to literally kill me for it" *NaS*

[@simmsation21]

I agree with you and suspect was great as well. Detail in the first verse and word play in the third verse of that song is amazing

[@michaeljohnson8353]

Definitely my favorite song o the album

[@simmsation21]

@@michaeljohnson8353 which one??

[@josephthomasrivera1820]

One of the best lines from "Street Dreams" = "A thug changes, love changes & best friends become strangers"

[@josephriedstra4024]

Nah, that's the last line from The Message🤭

[@depthbomb94]

that's the message!

[@EscentsDevine]

Blasphemy

[@bruceleeds7988]

The irony is... Nas' second album was an instant success but was not considered a classic by Hip Hop media. My opinion is this, while I consider I AM... to be the best work ever made due to the variety in concepts and sounds while still remaining very cohesive, It Was Written... is one of those albums I refer to as a "No Skipper". EVERYtime I hear that album, I can hear it from start to finish. I can only do that with a few albums: When Disaster Strikes, The War Report, Reasonable Doubt, Doggystyle, Hell On Earth, Cuban LInx, The Reason and Don Cartegena.

[@MonteCarloLS1911]

Man all those are classics.

[@toryherbert2283]

& it's dark and hell is hot 🔥

[@MrCalverino]

I love ''The Set Up'' Havoc killed that beat!!! That's some gritty New York City shit!

[@MonteCarloLS1911]

📠

[@fbicrazymeat3033]

"Niggas thinking shit sweet I carry big heat Wavy hair chipped teeth Up in this bitch deep Queens murder cliques meet" Nas came in that shit hard

[@LOU1982]

There will never be an era of hip hop like 94-96 again. You had to be alive and of age to remember how tense those two years were.

[@JP-rl4bc]

You can add 97 but I agree

[@jmar5127]

Superfacts

[@InappropriateShorts]

meanwhile in chicago, la, houston, atlanta, jacksonville rappers are dropping like autumn leaves. its way more tense now but instead of coast va coast its block vs block

[@JP-rl4bc]

@@InappropriateShorts I agree..its only got worse now than when it originated in the 90s

[@WeFreestyleForever]

94-98 imo Pun and Dmx in 98

[@JUGO1979]

The Message, Take It In Blood, I Gave You Power. C’mon! This album was always a certified street classic!

[@purplehairmagoo3579]

Aye let's go. This was always one his best records in my opinion. He knew how to appeal to everyone but still kept his integrity and foundation as an MC. Dude really is a master of his craft. Even if he's had a couple misses here and there. Literally only a couple lol. Much love as always man. Keep doing ur thang mayne.

[@daseanmordgin5123]

Facts! Couldn't agree w/ yoU more.

[@Grgaforniateezy]

💯

[@amyslash8059]

Great storing telling on individual Tracks pertaining to drugs, jealousy peeping dirty women,homies gives wisdom still going on in american

[@stlyphil]

I remember when I first heard this. I was maybe 19 or so. A coworker much older I was asked me if I had heard It Was Written. I told him nah and the very next day he came to work with a green burnt disc of it. "The Message" blew me out the water right out the gate. The storytelling throughout the entire album was awe-inspiring to me. This was and is still my favorite Nas album. I had lots of debates with my friends over that opinion too!

[@justind3493]

Same here my uncle blessed me with cds

[@shanereynolds4276]

Ya I was 20 and all these great records were coming out. I'll always love this album and ATliens OutKasts record that came out in 96..

[@neilmoore5387]

The message and Shootouts , oh and I gave you power. Nas is a genius. End of.

[@neilmoore5387]

Are the standout tracks I meant to say.

[@Grgaforniateezy]

@@shanereynolds4276 Fugees the score, Jay Reasonable Doubt, Redman muddy waters, ghost face Ironman. 1996 was the greatest year in hip hop

[@MonteCarloLS1911]

I literally listen to this album every week. It was written is a criminally underrated album.

[@fabianperspectv]

Don't let anyone lie to u. We hated on nas for it was written. We were considering it commercial. The 90s had silly standards. But we were hyped bcuz we heard Dr dre was going to be on the album. As time went on iww became the favorite for nas album. Surprisingly.

[@ethanhawkins3391]

IWW stands toe to toe with Illmatic and personally, exceeds its greatness. Every single track is a BANGER, no skips! Super dope hearing about its creation, glad you decided to shine a spotlight on such an underrated classic 💯

[@sendawulakajubi2991]

I was between 4 and 6 when these albums came out but I remember my young uncle blasting them and seeing the music videos on TV. It gave a certain atmosphere to the early 90s. Illmatic is my year round soundtrack because of that time. Late 80s and early 90s was a time like no other. NOSTALGIA

[@WLowry]

Been a fan of Nas since illmatic & It was written came out around the time I was in high school & that album brings back memories. Favorite tracks from that album: The Message, Take it in Blood, affirmative action, Black Girl Lost, Street Dreams, Nas is Coming & I Gave You Power

[@kyleking4028]

1.Affirmative action 2.take it in blood 3.I gave you power 4.Nas is coming 5. The message

[@wc6081]

The Streets loved IWW. The critics and magazines hated on it big time! At that time nobody was lyrically fucking with Nas. 95/96 Nas is God Tier Lyricism.

[@SoulOfTheSouth]

Idk why they hated it. They trippin.

[@wc6081]

@@SoulOfTheSouth Cause it wasn’t Illmatic.

[@Grgaforniateezy]

Album dropped 7.2.96. I was 14 and I remember walking to blockbuster music in Hinesville GA 7.4.96 and buying the cassette. Ironically I hadn’t heard Illmatic at this point but became a fan from his guest verses. When I got home and started listening I realized immediately this was different, once the message kicked in I was like wow. Up to this point I was a huge Wu and Mobb fan but this album instantly pushed Nas to the top of my list. I gave you power is top tier lyricism and creativity that I still don’t think has been matched. Illmatic is what it is but to me this is Nas Magnum Opus. Top tracks: Shootouts, live nigga rap, watch dem niggas, take it in blood, silent murder(I had the cassette), Street Dreams, I gave you power. Actually the only songs I don’t listen to as much are suspects and Nas is coming.

[@Bosanova99]

That’s what’s up, good ol days. S/O to Hinesville, GA I was stationed at Ft. Stewart ‘98-‘01.

[@Grgaforniateezy]

@@Bosanova99 yeah, my aunt stayed down the street from the Walmart. I think there was a spot called doodles over there too. Good ole days

[@Rivalthedon]

Yo I'm from Hinesville too. Salute

[@-lowe5765]

Never understood the hate this received initially. He was in his bag w/ this album

[@jembagz]

One of my fav albums ever. First off Nas is my fav rapper. So anything Nas does in my eyes is just amazing but you had to live it to experience it. Its like living through the jordan era. Another experience you had to live through. I was 15 when this album dropped. And i remember all the older cats in my area bumpin it was written in their whips. Remember it dropped in the summer of 96. That summer was on smash!!! And it was all due to that album

[@IDoubleJ]

Nas It Was Written was the first album I ever listened to in my life beginning to end. I was 12 when I listened to it. Very special album for me.

[@elwinsmith1209]

Me too age 12

[@dosemulero6128]

It Was Written is my favorite Nas album and album of all time, great video young bro, keep going!!!

[@AntLive-lu5qx]

I became a Nas fan because of It Was Written, I went back to Illmatic years later!

[@Goldenera95]

Great Choice for a Video bro.... This Album went damn near 3 Times Platinum. It showed Nas going from The hood Life (Illmatic) to Balling Out with It Was Written. 1996 was Such a great time in Hip Hop. This Album is absolutely 🔥🔥. In my young life I felt like Illmatic was his best offering Ever, But now It Was Written is clearly his best Album. It has growth in It. And to top it off who doesn't like to see an Underdog make it to the Top Of The Rap Game 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

[@grayeighty8974]

Yes, next level steet shit. Elite.

[@123theprodigy5]

It’s kind of funny that this album came out exactly one week after reasonable doubt did. because Jay Z and Nas have been known to release music close to each other.

[@thechalkfieldstcf3126]

When “It was Written” was leading up to its release, the anticipation was exploding. People were thirsting for it because of the influence of the first album. And like many sophomore albums that flop, NAS’ second album did not disappoint. It was loaded with hits. This was an amazing time in Hip-Hop. If I could relive it I would. Peace.

[@fettywapsmissingeye]

YO! Let’s go man! I love this album. You always hear about illmatic but never about it was written. Masterpiece of an album and I’m sure this is about to be a masterpiece of a video! Tuning in from Ireland

[@fettywapsmissingeye]

My top 5 are Watch Dem ******, Nas is coming, if I ruled the world, the message and street dreams! Hard to pick a favourite but that’s a great thing

[@cloutcancun]

Thank you I really appreciate the love and support! This is exactly why I did the video. Everybody talks about Illmatic which is rightfully so but It Was Written has an interesting story as well and is also a phenomenal album.

[@123theprodigy5]

@@cloutcancun I agree, the reason why it was mainstream is because he was broke, and he needed money. he couldn’t even buy clothes to wear to the source awards.

[@123theprodigy5]

Here’s a fun fact about this album, it was released exactly one week after reasonable doubt.

[@fettywapsmissingeye]

@@123theprodigy5 Damn! From the world is yours to dead presidents, to those albums only being released a week apart, to them having beef! Like Mobb deep “temperatures rising”

[@Fanatic_gamergod]

Lyrically speaking.. Nas was at the top of all those NY cats

[@dirtboy896]

I like Stillmatic a lot too. Bought that CD new in 02

[@shawtyeatemup1352]

Don't forget God Son and Lost Tape!!!! If it wasn't for that "zone out" song that album would've been perfect

[@TheShellybaybee]

Thank you. I love 90s /2000s hip hop. I was a teen but it was a great time to be alive.. The industry isn’t the same these days. I will play 90s/2000s music before todays music

[@MrCalverino]

2:20 I'm loved that slowed down beat in the background... greetings from Houston, Tx! home of screwed music!

[@jay07261986]

The message, I gave you power, take it in blood, suspect, silent murder....it was written made Nas a household name...it was written actually blew up illmatic in hindsight.

[@djtimspaceking8306]

It's funny people don't talk about silent murder only the real hip hop person who had this on cassette tape know about this song I was riding my bike listen to this album I was five and six years old it changed my world when I listen to this album

[@jay07261986]

@@djtimspaceking8306 the cassette was better than the CD...even the way the tracklist was put together...i thought it had a better flow to it. But classic album regardless...

[@ezekwu]

@@jay07261986 what was the tracklist of the cassette???

[@jay07261986]

@@ezekwu the cassette had silent murder on side a...n Nas is coming and affirmative action right b4 live nigga rap....

[@djtimspaceking8306]

It was written as my favorite album of all time my number one take it in blood is my favorite record that I go to all the time affirming actions I love them the Italian strings and everything that beat is so beautiful in the intro the slavery you're not my master man I remember I heard this cassette tape I took it from my brother's room and had my Walkman and ride my bike and listen to the whole album Non-Stop I was five or six years old when this album came out so it means a lot to me that's why I like this album more

[@mikeal-lateef_5138]

I never brag how well I keep it cuz it's the best secret, I rock a vest prestigious, Cuban linked flooded Jesus, in a lex watching Kathy Lee and Regis, my actions are 1 wit the seasons. 🔥

[@djtimspaceking8306]

@@mikeal-lateef_5138 that's my number one record man he was going hard

[@mikeal-lateef_5138]

@@djtimspaceking8306 facts!!! Nas mafioso flow was damn near untouchable

[@Red5ive]

Same bro, favorite album of all time and my favorite jawn is Take It In Blood.

[@guyprieto1593]

Same take it in blood beat is amazing and Nas did it perfect. Literally one of the most lyrical imagery I have ever heard

[@camronshean1758]

24:35 The freestyle is called The Foulness Pt 3, it's from DJ Clue??'s mixtape The 4, 5, 6 goin' for broke. The song Watch Dem Niggas is also a freestyle by Nas & Nature called The Foulness Pt. 4 The Final Chapter from D.J. Clue's mixtape Fall PT. One

[@guyprieto1593]

Take it in blood is the best track on there with all due respect to my favorite nas album and probably my second favorite record of all time. Bro the sample the lyrics the imagery. It truly is next level. Proves why he is one of the best to ever rap.

[@DavidAndTheDummies]

I never brag how real I keep it coz it's the best secret. I rock a vest prestigious cuban link flooded Jesus. In a lex watching Kathy Lee and Regis. My actions are one with the seasons, a tec squeezin exucutioner... yeah I love that track too

[@sadetwizelve]

I've always liked It Was Written more than illmatic

[@dramahawkpromotions9621]

Me too

[@elohim77]

Same here

[@asapsyx1507]

hell yeah

[@callumLB05]

It was written was a pop version of Illmatic and Nas dumbed himself down on alot of the tracks. However, it's still my second favourite Nas album.

[@sadetwizelve]

@@callumLB05 no the fuck it wasn't lol I Gave You Power was pop? Shootouts was pop? The Setup? Take It In Blood? Live Nigga Rap? Those were pop and dumbed down? You're either lying or have never heard the album. So sampling michael jackson on It Ain't Hard To Tell wasn't pop?

[@CoryD21]

My senior year.. We rocked the album everyday in 96 for months.. was the sound track to a lot of house parties and bumped in everyone’s car. Great times… classic album. The message, I gave you power, affirmative action, take it in blood, if I ruled the world, live N!?$@ rap, shootouts….. 🔥🔥🔥🔥 can’t touch the 90s.. good video bro

[@almadstrokes2738]

I remember when this album came out. A lot of people wasn’t really feeling it because it was compared to illmatic. I thought this album was/is 🔥. My favorite track is “I gave you power” I never heard anyone spit as if they were a gun telling a story. Nas at the time was gunning for that King of NY title.

[@boxchevyrollin]

@Aaron9 people definitely was saying they wasn’t feeling it like that

[@jkbzz]

Nas was already the King when he dropped Illmatic (in my view the best HipHop album ever made), not just the King "they" wanted but the King nonetheless.

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

I was almost 16 when this album dropped and man they went crazy running the videos for it. If I Ruled the World... God I can't even think back to summer 1996 without picturing that video in my head. MTV/BET played that Street Dreams video out too.

[@Raydensheraj]

Same in Germany...

[@iamthewalruscuckookachoo1372]

It's great to see this as I've been listening to both Illlmatic and As it was written alot recently. Great work man.

[@scinnyc]

😌My best friend let me borrow this album in high school back in '97. It really changed how I viewed hip hip. Although as a rapper/dj myself I was personally far more inspired by Illmatic, but It Was Written was still a phenomenal album

[@dramahawkpromotions9621]

It was written is my favorite Nas album

[@sbrooks729]

This album made me a Nas fan!

[@JayR2482]

Yooo when this jawn dropped I was 6th grade jus came off the porch too this was my everyday go cdbunless playing the first tape yes tape no cd they were too pricey back then for a young G. Keep doing ya thing we here in Harrisburg Pennsylvania loving ya work

[@krazyk9466]

Great time in hip hop. Hearing him for the first time, you knew instantly that he was elite. Mind you, his buzz was created as a teenager.

[@RealEddieG84]

Great content young man! 👏🏽 I love seeing the younger generation vibe with what I grew up to. I was 11 yrs old when this dropped and in my Pac bag at the time. I saw the music video for “If I Ruled the World” and the rest is history. I been a huge Nas fan since. “I Gave You Power” is probably one of the best story raps ever. “Shootouts” is still a banger. I’m about to play this whole album now! 😂

[@MoMilly96]

I love Nas and he’s my favorite rapper of all time and as a true Nas fan I believe this was way better than Illmatic and was Nas best album. I’ve been saying this for years. It Was Written just was crazy from beginning to end and you got different stories on each track but they also stayed similar where I felt Illmatic was mostly the same story throughout. Also the the thing I love most about It Was Written is that Nas crossed over but still kept things closed to the streets and his life experiences. Great video on the album which happens to be my favorite Nas album and it dropped the same year I was born

[@hectorg1752]

Great breakdown, new sub. It Was Written is such an underrated classic.

[@SneakyJay630]

My top five tracks are 1. The Message 2.Street Dreams (both original and remix) 3. Black Girl Lost 4. If I Ruled The World 5. Affirmative Action Also this is one of my favorite hip hop albums of all time, Illmatic is a classic but to me It Was Written put Nas in the mainstream spotlight.

[@Andy-bf8os]

Shootouts is also dope

[@Andy-bf8os]

Shootouts is also dope

[@eddienash2095]

The Message is my favorite Nas song and It was written is my favorite album by him

[@loyallfc7239]

IWW will always be my favourite Nas album, I think this album lyrically is his best.

[@Raydensheraj]

Illmatic was a poetic storytelling about New York...as soon as the intro hits...your in 1990ies New York. It was written was darker, more grown up. Both absolutely incredible...both classics in their own way...

[@camronshean1758]

D’angelo & Method Man were supposed to be on the album. Guest appearances from Lauryn Hill, D’angelo & Method Man are promoted in the outro from the Nas Is Coming cassette sampler kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4jOiaF8r9SkpZo (At 8:00 mark) Also DJ Mike Nice said “the Meth session in 96 never took place, Meth was to be on it was written but missed the studio session” and “D’angelo missed his session with Nas as well.”

[@bolder2009]

I've always wanted a Nas and D'Angelo collab. Oh well.

[@camronshean1758]

@@bolder2009 Too bad Method Man missed his session for the album

[@donb.loneleo770]

W vid as usual, It Was Written is an amazing album imo a worhy follow-up to Illmatic. A interesting story that I'm surprised wasn't brought up is, if I'm not mistaken, that 2Pac was supposed to appear in the Street Dreams music video. Most know that they squashed their beef at an award show before Pacs death and since Nas was going to shoot the music video for Street Dreams at Las Vegas (if I'm not mistaken) they planned on shooting it when Pac was there too, unfortunately that's around the time Pac passed away (R.I.P.). Idk how true this is but it's an interesting story nonetheless. I pretty much like all songs but my top 5 from this album rn are: Take It In Blood Watch Dem N's If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) Live N Rap Shootouts Other 5 songs I really enjoy that are also in my top 5 depending on the day: Affirmative Action Nas Is Coming I Gave You Power The Message The Set Up

[@natelewis79]

When this shit came out- me and my boys had The Message on repeat. Those mandola strings and bassline, along with my Boston Acoustic 10” had us zoned the fuck out for hours passin’ blunts. As Ive gotten older, and more burned out Illmatic -It Was Written has personally had a lot more replay value.

[@facksvillain2296]

Not going to lie, I'm happy he gave Track Masterz a shot!

[@meech6848]

“IT WAS WRITTEN TOO” all of Nas’s sequels on one album! I’d die bro!!!

[@andred4473]

One of my favorite hip hop albums and definitely my favorite Nas album. I grew up in the 2000s so when I went back to explore his discography I couldn’t understand why IWW wasn’t praised as much as it should be, but that’s the gift and curse of Illmatic’s greatness

[@KronosGenesisMusic]

Ya kno, depending on who you ask like myself, I prefer It Was Written over illMatic

[@camronshean1758]

27:54 As Tone said "But we were still looking for someone to sing If I Ruled The World. We had to find that person that had hip-hop credibility. Do we get a pop singer? No, that’s not going to work. We had a get a singer that was suitable on the hip-hop side of the arena. The only other person that could have sung that was R. Kelly, but at the time we didn’t start working with him yet. But Killing Me Softly had just popped. It started catching on and Lauryn Hill was the one." Poke said “Nas did a couple of those verses over because it just didn’t work in the concept of the record. Some of the lines didn’t work with some of the records that we were doing, across the board. But sometimes it was just magic and everything worked."

[@camronshean1758]

13:04 & 13:36 Nas only disses The Notorious B.I.G. in the song The Message. 2Pac started dissing Nas because he thought the line "Fake thug, no love, you get the slug, CB4 Gusto, your luck low, I didn't know 'til I was drunk though" was about him. Nas said "2Pac thought it was about him, but it was really towards Biggie…From the first lines all the way to ‘One life, one love, there can only be one king.’, that was specifically going in that direction. The whole fucking song, really. 2Pac was not even on my radar for going at him."

[@snipe-won]

Very informative and well researched. Great work man! Thank you for this contribution 💪🏽

[@ninowaves4061]

This my favorite nas album straight classic..I remember being locked up in early 2000 and still talking about this album & affirmative action with my ppls.

[@mylordmygod123]

Props for this video. Take it in blood my fave simply because I was a huge ultramgnetic mc’s fan. When I heard Kool Kieth in the hook, I dang near lost my mind!! I Gave You a Power was the epitome of rap storytelling, unparalleled. The whole album’s production is the best compilation of rap legendary producers. Thanks for the nostalgia!

[@SaaayUNCLE]

Marley Marl is underrated. His catalog is filled with Hip Hop classics.

[@paschalvfx]

Great video. Nas is an icon. If he was on a different genre, he would've been revered much more.

[@dckjnsn]

when IWW dropped, there was LOTS of rewinding & rhyme scheme breakdowns. was a Glorious time…

[@mainframe2931]

I’m surprised that the “Silent Murder” wasn’t mentioned. Originally, added to the cassette versions of the album. Great video.

[@tonytilahun8352]

Nas the dopest lyricist dead & alive

[@steve-ie6ju]

13:29 The line is inspired by Jay-Z as Nas said "I saw Jay Z driving a Lexus with the TVs in it. I got rid of my Lexus at that point and I was looking for the next best thing. So that line “Lex with TV sets, the minimum” wasn’t a shot at Jay but he inspired that line." Tone from Trackmasters said differently "There was some little jabs at other rappers in that record. [Laughs.] The Lex line was directed at Jay Z. Jay was fronting hard with the Lexus, at the time, in his videos and there was a little rivalry brewing. It hadn’t really started yet, but it was brewing. l can say that since they’re friends now."

[@123theprodigy5]

It’s funny, you say that, because it was written was released exactly one week after reasonable doubt.

[@hoodasabbah1878]

Thank you for putting this video together on who in my view is the best rapper of all time. I remember when this album dropped, I was 13 years old and I will say that this is the album that made me fall in love with hip hop. I remember the cassette and it cost me £8.99 in HMV on oxford street (I'm from London). The story telling was like something I'd never heard in music, it's like we were there with Nas in Queensbridge. I'll tell you my view is that this album really translated for many of us living in inner city neighbourhoods, and London in the 1990s was probably not so different to NYC and I feel that's probably why the relatability was so strong for many of us also. So to let you know this album was major even outside of the USA and still is for all us ultra Nas fans! Pure genius

[@ljc7935]

'Black clouds over the hood, I'm on the corner with the thugs,'..Street dreams remix was a proper remix insane flow, this album is exceptional, specially silent murder version

[@Rctm13]

Thanks for the breakdown this album is so underrated. My top 5 songs are The Message it has amazing storytelling and lyricism 🔥 Take it in Blood is incredible!! Top 3 Nas song 🔥 Shootouts again the storytelling!! It’s really like watching a movie 🔥 I gave you Power is ridiculous If I Ruled the World is just like elite lyricism 🔥 Nas is so good on here

[@aliaswizard6963]

TAKE IT IN BLOOD I believe on that song he was letting it be known that he was the illest in the game at that time. The beat everything the flow was immaculate.

[@garretindall2820]

Love when you do these videos. G.T. from LA 💪🏽🙏🏽🔥

[@Broyale26]

I'm glad It Was Written is getting the respect it deserves. Illmatic is a classic through and through, but its story has been rinsed to death. I'm more interested in the stories behind Nas's sophomore record.

[@camronshean1758]

20:07 Don't Stop feat. 2Pac is on the compilation album Death Row Presents Tha Dogg Pound 2002 and the Dont Stop, Keep Goin' (original unreleased version featuring Nas) is on Tha Dogg Pound's 2004 compilation album The Last Of Tha Pound

[@JJ-xo3er]

It was written as one of the best follow up albums ever people sleep on it, because the phrase Illmatic play it was written is freaking awesome

[@sirajrashid7341]

Nas is the G.O.A.T regardless as his body of work is the history of rap-period!

[@Ari-ww9sp]

Love your videos! Can we please get commentary on one of Redman’s first three albums (Whut thee album, Dare iz a darkside and Muddy Waters) such a prolific rapper who I feel doesn’t get his flowers enough‼️

[@castolano]

It was 96 summer time the Ken Griffeys had just dropped The blue jawns . It was extremely dangerous out ,but in no way shape or form was it a time to sound stupid. It was so much creativity around nobody sounded the same NOBODY!! 1st time I heard it , it was so refreshing I couldn’t believe it. Black Girl Lost . His word play on this album was outta this world. “ I got no game it’s just some bit*hes understand my story “

[@nuggetz9380]

Nas is the GOAT he announced kd3 2 days ago 🔥🔥🐐

[@williamwolfxrivera9929]

This was The Pinkerton of Hip-Hop: Both were the second albums have legendary artists that came out in 96 initially considered a flop, Hated on and was A supposed Sophomore slump album from them, but years passed by and became beloved by fans and critics alike and was now considered a classic

[@SoulOfTheSouth]

Shit it was great when it came out. It sold 3 million.

[@williamwolfxrivera9929]

@@SoulOfTheSouth doesn't change the fact that it gotten so much flack for it's different sound Illmatic was the total Opposite, it had a lot of praise but it didn't sell well at it's time of released and it took awhile for it to even reach Gold status

[@SoulOfTheSouth]

@@williamwolfxrivera9929 I guess. It didn’t sound like the Bad Boy sound. It was mixed with sounds. It was boom bap mixed with a lil commercial. That wasn’t bad. People didn’t want Nas to grow. They wanted him to stay working with boom bap producers and stay in the hood, which he was still living in the hood when Illmatic was out. Nas even said he loved It Was Written. What the hell people aspect him to do?

[@williamwolfxrivera9929]

@@SoulOfTheSouth no they expected to be another Illmatic (a Gritty Underground sound with storytelling about his neighborhood and bad things seeing from a spectator/Resident eyes) but it was Mafiaso sound that was all the rage back there, Nas was portraying a gangsta/Persona which most of the Hip Hop purists really dislike Don't get me wrong I like It Was Written and at that time it didn't have a good reception now it has been vindicated by History and it's considered his second best Album

[@ivanmendoza8457]

Nas was in the tapedeck smoking blunts in the winter with the homies 5 deep doing graffiti on midnight missions man it's the soundtrack to vandalism of my teenage years

[@illmaticnj1991]

I’ll never forget when I first saw the street dreams video. That video made me watch Casino. I was 11 or 12 years old.

[@etzahi16]

I love your content brother! Thank you for being a voice and historian of this great art!

[@camronshean1758]

14:17 Nas originally wanted Denise Williams for the Street Dreams Remix. Nas said "When I got the track, I wanted Denise Williams, who is one of my favorite singers, to sing on it. I reached out to her and I was trying to write the song first. I saw R. Kelly becoming more of a hip-hop singer and when I called him, he told me he just did ‘I’m Fucking You Tonight’ [sic] with Biggie. I was like, ‘Damn, I wanted to be the first rap dude with an R. Kelly hook.’ “Biggie beat me to it but Biggie’s song didn’t come out yet so I beat Biggie to it because my song actually came out first. It didn’t stop nothing. Biggie’s record was the better record but I still was just happy to see Robert."

[@actionjacksonIV]

Do the story behind of BE or Finding Forever by Common & I'm from Chicago

[@cacikeel1349]

I remember this summer . This and fugees were bumping out of every car

[@757_Al]

I was 16 when Illmatic came out. Was 19 when it was written came out. I was young ninja when it was written came out getting to the bag, pushing the whip. Reasonable doubt, heltah skeltah, nocturnal, It was written all came out around the same time. Was banging all those albums. Va 757 7 cities Norfolk va.

[@hoodfellah]

‘Ppreciate this doc. It was written was and still my favorite album of all times, i remember being 14 at the time and i bought the bootleg cus i couldnt afford 15 dollars for the cd, but man, i popped that shit in my walkman and never stopped listening to it, that album has a special place in my heart. Love nas ever since, my favorite MC of all times

[@Righteousone18]

Nas didn’t suffer from the Sophomore blues. His second album was just as good as the first

[@NicoEl119]

I remember trying to do the Math on Foxxy verse on Affirmative Action..😂😂😂....

[@tabeebAsim]

I remember when this dropped I was like 10. I remember it was big because of the lead single. The tension between east west made the release even more cinematic

[@otmthewave]

Mann.. The Message, I gave you power, If i ruled the world, Street Dreams

[@steveo9977]

That was a Great Drop.... Im a Big Nas fan and there's a lot of info you put in there that I didn't know

[@SimonHillKeepsItTrill]

Thank you for constantly doing docs on classic albums

[@SHOTGUN_SHOGUNATE]

I was 20... the AIR was totally different, coming out of an era of hardcore crack dealing on the blocks hiphop, to Scarface Escobar bricks of white raps. Jay-Z was on his way, Rae and Ghost, Mobb Deep had the East on lock. Mic Geronimo, Royal Flush and a few others had a "Nas" type sound but if you weren't holdin' heat pushin' ill whips and wearing gold jewelry and medallions you were invisible. Club nights was hot. MOET and Hennessey sippin' blowing herb.... it was a wild and dangerous time. Shit was real

[@shoryuken3305]

Yo this was the first cd I ever bought I was 11 years old and I had to sneak around my parents because it had that warning sticker on the cover! I was hooked and to this day still a big Nas fan, THE GOAT

[@KingBranBDM]

When it was written came out in '96 everybody thought Nas was going at Pac with the message. If I ruled the world was fire. You heard it everywhere. It was Esco. This album came out during the East Coast West Coast shit. Nas held his own. NYC King of New York was a back end contest between Nas & Big. But in 1996 that was the year that Tupac Shakur was ready for war.

[@anarky305]

I remember clearly when this dropped. I was working at Target and had a crew of guys working the overnight stock. One Friday, when unloading the truck, they discovered the It Was Written promotion display. To put it mildly, it was "sold out" before going on sale lol. We were all bumping and bootlegging it that weekend. It caused security to go into open investigation into the stores losses. Classic times.

[@Reevesbeatz1]

I loved this episode but I wished you would’ve delved into the cassette only bonus track “Silent Murder”. That was one of my favorite songs on the album. One of my favorite Nas songs til this day!!