Nas' "Illmatic" vs. "It Was Written" - Great Debaters (Ep. 12)

[@marby.]

Illmatic is the better album, but Nas was technically a better emcee on IWW. From the lyrics, delivery, stories, concepts, he was just more advanced.

[@rappinandsnackin]

interesting, I actually prefer his style on Illmatic more as well. He was superb on both albums, but yes, he does have more concepts on IWW.

[@miconstruct]

Agree! I think some of the beats on iww is what people have an issue with, but if you listen to the rhymes it pretty much defines what an emcee should be. I mean, I Gave You Power still hasn't been touched.

[@rappinandsnackin]

@@miconstruct I Gave You Power is a great track

[@jamaaldavis2230]

@@miconstruct i.w.w. is better bcuz nas rapping was superior n his artistry grew from street poetry off illmatic the escobar nas spitting mafioso stories n technically lyrically nas was spitting 3 verses on each trck outta 16 joints ....on I.w.w.

[@williemakeit2346]

I agree with Marlon 100 percent.

[@blondon1050]

Take it in blood is my favourite nas song of all time.

[@rappinandsnackin]

it's incredible

[@spliffmaticdgz]

Although “ It was written “ is a great album, ILLMATIC is bible.

[@rappinandsnackin]

hah !! You got a fav track, Spliff?

[@spliffmaticdgz]

Rappin And Snackin life’s a bitch & It ain’t hard to tell

[@thomasbrown7199]

@@spliffmaticdgz it was written was better

[@jamaaldavis2230]

@@thomasbrown7199 agree💯☝️

[@WazzeeTV]

It was written all day. Insane replay value. The production is so dope,you cal listen to it 20 years from now and it will still be dope.

[@rappinandsnackin]

an incredible album indeed, got a fav track from it?

[@WazzeeTV]

@Rappin And Snackin honestly i like all tracks start to finish

[@chitownraygibson2360]

Illmatic might be better but IWW speaks to me more.

[@mikeway2223]

I was 17 when it was written came out. It speaks volumes to me. I love illmatic, but it was written is my late teens. I listened to it constantly.

[@jknumber5138]

I bop my head crazy listening to It Was Written🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. I cry listening to Illmatic 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤

[@Maal7432]

Nas and Pac listened to each other’s music. And Pacs Me And My Girlfriend was inspired by I Gave You Power. Nas Is Coming was FIRE.

[@rappinandsnackin]

salute

[@antdawggdawgg]

I’m with It Was Written bro

[@rappinandsnackin]

word! Got a fav track?

[@SmrtPederima]

@@rappinandsnackin Take it in blood

[@rappinandsnackin]

@@SmrtPederima amazing song

[@natebaker2107]

It was written the most creative album since the great adventures of Slick Rick....Nas have two back to back classic albums...could of been three if Nas would came out with I am....Nastradamas double album but he change the songs which later would become the lost tapes and other songs that still didn't get released. By the way 2pac did take the idea from Nas "I gave you power" he was actually studying that album before he moved on.

[@rappinandsnackin]

most creative album since TGAOSR? Please explain.

[@natebaker2107]

@@rappinandsnackin The art of storytelling....Nas bought that back....Gems like Black girl lost, I gave you power and If i ruled the world was also showing his creative side. The art of story telling battle was at its peak....listen to Big Life After Death...clearly took storytelling seriously and they were clearly competing at that time... Hey young World....the world is yours!!!

[@rosariocarias7906]

Nate Baker I agree

[@davidrichards6059]

Organized Konfusion touched on this concept with Stray Bullet.

[@fairplayterrific147]

@@davidrichards6059 See People Always Get The Two Confused Organized Konfusion Spoke From The Perspective Of A Bullet Nas Spoke From The Perspective Of A Gun In Better Detail....

[@memorylove8369]

It Was Written as time moves forward looms large in his discography, illmatic is Incredible Hip-hop's greatest album but It Was Written is the reason why "he'ssss" the greatest, if you understand. That album was sent from the heavens.

[@rappinandsnackin]

great albums

[@terrickhill7318]

Illmatic better production It was Written better lyrics

[@rappinandsnackin]

gotcha... got a fav song from either?

[@killadawgs456]

It was written is in my CD player right now... but don’t sleep on “I am” as well!

[@rappinandsnackin]

that isn't a top 5 Nas album to me, but it has some joints on it!

[@killadawgs456]

@@rappinandsnackin which one, it was written or I am?

[@rappinandsnackin]

@@killadawgs456 I Am…. my first and second favs are his debut and sophomore

[@aaronconner6562]

Illmatic and that production team on that album premo-LES-Large-Qtip-pete rock 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Illmatic all day

[@rappinandsnackin]

so good

[@DJPreK]

Illmatic is raw but It Was Written is a diamond

[@Cosmic2319.]

I personally love both albums but I guarantee I play it was written more often. I think it makes perfect sense for the second album to be better than the first. Nas improved the second time. The first album was still amazing though

[@rappinandsnackin]

classic albums forsure

[@arielgalura]

I discovered It Was Written before illmatic. Therefore I’m going with It Was Written. And I do like it better. But yes, illmatic is classic and I’m not taking anything from it.

[@rappinandsnackin]

Ahhh... I wonder if nostalgia plays a factor! Do you have a favorite song?

[@backhandthings4942]

Ariel Galura i feel the same. If I ruled the world, take it in blood

[@rappinandsnackin]

dope tracks

[@arielgalura]

Rappin And Snackin Shootouts, The Message, Affirmative Action 👌🏼

[@arielgalura]

Backhand Things Niiiiice 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

[@directornoface390]

Illmatic is the most important hip hop album ever, easily the best rapping performance up to that point. But It Was Written is superstar Nas, he was fully formed as an artist. IWW is his prime

[@jefriefultonii3666]

IWW is my favorite Nas album. I wish Silent Murder would’ve made the cut.

[@rappinandsnackin]

indeed, it only made certain international pressings I believe

[@satishrobertson8771]

Actually Silent Murder was on the cassette version of IWW. I had the tape before I bought the CD. Also the cassette version runs a few of the songs in different order. Silent Murder follows The Set Up and concludes side 1 of the tape. Side 2 opens up with Black Girl Lost then goes into Suspect, then Shootouts, then Nas Is Coming, Affirmative Action, then Live Nigga Rap, and then If I Ruled The World.

[@enzigenes]

@@satishrobertson8771 Bingo.

[@alexmoreno5266]

It Was Written all day for me its the greatest album of all time

[@rappinandsnackin]

so great, fav track?

[@alexmoreno5266]

Rappin And Snackin so many to pick from, either Affirmative Action, I Gave You Power or Take It In Blood... keep up the great job boys love ur videos

[@rappinandsnackin]

@@alexmoreno5266 great picks. Thank you, we are releasing more vids on Unique Access!

[@dwainecoggins2374]

I’m going with illmatic Memory lane that song did it for me thinking back as a kid sitting in the park and then one love and then New York State of mind and then the world is yours Illmatic hands-down

[@rappinandsnackin]

amazing tracks!!

[@GustoTheGamer]

Illmatic is gold!!

[@rappinandsnackin]

facts

[@mackedocious]

Great video in comparing those works of art as Nas is forever my favorite Hip Hop artist! Though determining the better of two albums, Illmatic or It Was Written, is like Diamond Life vs. Promise (Sade) or The Godfather vs. The Godfather Part II (Francis Ford Coppola) or What's the 411? vs. My Life (Mary J. Blige). They're all one of the best freshman and sophomore efforts plus 1, 2 combinations by an artist, writer, and/or director. It Was Written gets the slight edge as If I Ruled the World and New York State of Mind is an eternal battle for top spot. I guess it is art to tell!

[@rappinandsnackin]

thank you for the detailed description... salute bro!

[@theofficialshed3690]

Illmatic definitely wins but It Was Written is definitely slept on by a lot

[@rappinandsnackin]

Indeed... glad we agree!

[@mosaicblue121]

Not really its his beat selling album by a long stretch

[@rappinandsnackin]

factual... largely due to If I Ruled The World

[@TheSorenBaker]

Agreed, KingZues. I also think that "It Was Written" sold a lot, as Ahmed Marrah noted, but that it was purchased by casual fans, not hardcore Nas fans. Thus, I don't think hardcore Nas fans hold it in high regard. Thank you for watching Amir and me on #TheGreatDebaters.

[@rappinandsnackin]

great input, Soren

[@knowledgeishere5072]

IWW was lyrically stronger without a doubt but Illmatic was a more complete and rounded album. Illmatic Hip Hop formula was more 100 proof.

[@rappinandsnackin]

both are so strong! Classics

[@amosuawoyemi6171]

It Was Written is the better album in my opinion. Illmatic whilst is classic just doesn't tick as many boxes as It Was Written. It had lyricism, commercial appeal, more features like Mobb Deep, The Firm and Lauryn Hill, storytelling, and still had songs on there for fans of Nas. It Was Written is better. I barely listen to Illmatic now but I acknowledge its importance to hip hop and why its very important and seen as his greatest album. I Gave You Power is next level and still amazing till this day. There is no song like that on Illmatic. It Was Written showed the growth I wanted to see from Nas.

[@rappinandsnackin]

thanks for the input. Do you see any throwaways on Illmatic or IWW, or are all tracks must haves?

[@prakharm.216]

@@rappinandsnackin personally speaking i don't think there are any throwaways on both and especially it was written as it was a more fully fledged album than illmatic, only little gripe i have with iww is the hooks on street dreams and nas is coming and thats it as nas went in when it comes to lyricism. Plus one more thing i would like to add is the fact that nas became a complete artist on iww so taking this into account I'll pick iww over illmatic. Would love to hear what you think about it.

[@rappinandsnackin]

@@prakharm.216 salute, well, like you stated, "Nas Is Coming" hook is terrible. I also do not like "Watch Dem Niggas". "Illmatic" has no spots where I actually really dislike, although some portions could be improved. Not sure if I would say he was more complete on IWW, although he did have the imaginative "I Gave You Power", which helps that case. He was so bright on both LP's, that it is tough to say he was better on IWW in comparison to Illmatic. I enjoy both thoroughly!

[@ugoa.k.atbonenwaogazi591]

In hard to tell .. New York state of mind. The list just does on the best to ever touch the microphone hands down

[@rappinandsnackin]

Great songs

[@carringtonmangwroi3241]

Me personally my best nas albums are stillmatic and i am followed by destance relatives

[@rappinandsnackin]

thank you for letting me know!

[@boombaptutorials5B]

I bought Nas It was Written this album is nice The message is a good track

[@rappinandsnackin]

great song

[@boombaptutorials5B]

@@rappinandsnackin street dreams and affirmative action are my favorite tracks on this album

[@jknumber5138]

It Was Written is great. Just not perfect to me. Little Blk Girl Lost, the Firm song and Nas Is Coming aren't my favorite songs. I cry listening to Illmatic. It's so perfect and my favorite Hip Hop album of all times Illmatic🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤 OB4CL 🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽 Tribes first 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 The Chronic 🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴 Aquemini ✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽✌🏽

[@rappinandsnackin]

Some amazing albums you listed there !

[@finetrust623]

Ilmatic is great classic .It was written is a classic too . I love it was written more than illmatic though...

[@rappinandsnackin]

classics! Got a fav joint from IWW?

[@finetrust623]

@@rappinandsnackin Have got 3 fav joint : Message, if I rule world ft Lauren hill, I gave you power .

[@scottydogg74]

No contest illmatic is a classic because of the producers as well as his flow and lyrics I think he started using poke and tone (traxmasters) on it was written who I never rated as producers

[@sybergaus]

IT WAS WRITTEN! but never told

[@rappinandsnackin]

got a fav track from it?

[@montbrink4700]

Peep da jewels blqckman its even better than gold

[@sybergaus]

The message I gave you power Suspect The set up Watch dem Nas is coming

[@sybergaus]

mont brink “wisdom is better than silver and gold” it’s in the scriptures and no I’m not religious More of a mystic but lauryn hill drops this 💎 jewel noticeably

[@rubenjames2099]

Illmatic my favorite hands down

[@rappinandsnackin]

classic album

[@MFgabesylar3030]

Keep the content up please! Loving it!!

[@rappinandsnackin]

will do, thank you! Got a preference on the albums?

[@owenwu-pac5418]

Nothing beats ILLMATIC but It Was Written is very close all songs are classic on both albums except that Black Girl Lost song.

[@rappinandsnackin]

OH 06 salute

[@doriandd4648]

@@rappinandsnackin BGL has is an insane demonstration of flow. The only track I'd leave out is NAs is coming just because the chorus is annoying. Both classic albums but I'm going with IWW. It's more timeless. Could come out today and wouldn't sound outdated.

[@angrypizzawwe2966]

I love them both but Illmatic for me.

[@rappinandsnackin]

AngryPizza Productions classics

[@darienreed212]

It Was Written is by far better. It's a more complete body of work. What Illmatic lacks is melody, it has raw lyricism but it doesn't connect outside of the underground or the east coast and midwest. It Was Written has more polished sound and it had to compete with 2Pac,Bone,OutKast,Busta,Fugees, and everything in 1996 which was a tough competitive year.

[@rappinandsnackin]

got a fav track?

[@darienreed212]

@@rappinandsnackin me being a rapper I hear music differently than most people but,my favorites are The Message Take It In Blood Suspect If I Ruled The World I Gave You Power Watch Dem Niggas

Both has pros and cons but both are great

[@rappinandsnackin]

salute

[@Anare30]

Funny, I actually feel the opposite in regards to Nas Is Coming vs Black Girl Lost!

[@rappinandsnackin]

interesting!! I definitely like "Black Girl Lost" more than "Nas Is Coming"... salute!

[@LaGeRcs]

IT WAS WRITTEN

[@rappinandsnackin]

classic, fav track?

[@LaGeRcs]

Rappin And Snackin The Messege

[@thearki-vist6050]

I ordered my US pressing it was written on point more lyrical mature

[@rappinandsnackin]

thanks for the input!

[@thearki-vist6050]

Respect bro

[@rappinandsnackin]

@@thearki-vist6050 respect

[@enzigenes]

It Was Written had a better storyline and feel. Especially for the time and era that it was released.

[@rappinandsnackin]

gotcha, do you have a favorite track off IWW?

[@enzigenes]

@@rappinandsnackin If I had to say favorite I would. say Take it In Blood. Live nigga Rap is also a favorite.

[@rappinandsnackin]

@@enzigenes great songs

[@garyparton7369]

Illmatic straight up classic much better than it was written Nas as never topped illmatic never will in my personal opinion

[@rappinandsnackin]

I also think Illmatic is better, thanks!

[@garyparton7369]

@@rappinandsnackin true that my G

[@antoniolugo4727]

both are great albums

[@rappinandsnackin]

Yup

[@antoniolugo4727]

But I go with it was written

[@nileporter1553]

I like Nas is coming track

[@rappinandsnackin]

nice... which album do you prefer?

[@ugoa.k.atbonenwaogazi591]

I excel and prevail

[@rappinandsnackin]

🔥

[@justhewop]

It Was Written is Nas at his peak. There is no better cohesive hip hop record that truly captures the essence of street poetry.

[@rappinandsnackin]

thanks for the input... it's a great album!!

[@rosariocarias7906]

Juswan I agree

[@jamaaldavis2230]

@@rosariocarias7906 peak nas was i.w.w. technically ..n artistry...by far...my issue wit nas as a whole when folks say he can't pick beats....production on his first 2 back 2 back 5 mic cds...was🔥....why afterwards his prod....lack on soo many cds of his mvn fwd...a smh...moment indeed 💯

[@ant.-k7006]

Illmatic is the Classic. But It was written is the better Album.

[@rappinandsnackin]

interesting, why do you think that is?

[@ant.-k7006]

@@rappinandsnackin ... Basically, Tha Beats. Tha Album is More Radio Friendly.

[@atav220]

yeah that nas is coming song was the monkey wrench

[@rappinandsnackin]

yea, definitely underwhelming

[@IndyWrestlingAces]

It was written is better.

[@rappinandsnackin]

fav track?

[@dianevrules]

This is easy! It Was Written is cohesive af. I love every single song on that album!!!!!!!!!!!!! Classic af!!!!!!!!!! Illmatic only has 4 good songs on it: It Aint Hard To tell Life's a B^%% where AZ easily washed Nas Represent NY State of Mind I do like The World Is Yours Q Tip Remix. But not the bs Pete Rock version on the album. Also, he didnt do NY State of Mind in one take. "So now Im jetting to the building lobby" is a separate take. "Life is parallel to hell but I must maintain" is a separate take. There might be others. but those are apparent

[@lexico8165]

Illmatic greatest hip hop album of all time.Love IWW but I still remember when both came out.Illmatic was praised from day 1.IWW is an album that people have grown to love over the years.People wasn't feeling that album when it first came out!

[@rappinandsnackin]

appreciate the input bro

[@lexico8165]

@@rappinandsnackin Just saying what I remember of the time.IWW was so anticipated at the time & when it came out people's initial critique was that it wasn't Illmatic & hardcore fans didn't like the commercial feel of the album but grew to love it as the years went on!

[@rappinandsnackin]

@@lexico8165 both amazing albums by Nas!

[@rosariocarias7906]

It was written is far superior to illmattic

[@rappinandsnackin]

far superior? Got a fav track?

[@montbrink4700]

Not far....... but its better

[@mosaicblue121]

I hated nas is coming

[@rappinandsnackin]

yea... that was a let down IMO

[@lamarboz7357]

Word

[@rosariocarias7906]

Ahmed Marrah what

[@randymajor6571]

that shit went hard

[@etukemmanuel4149]

Good lyrics

[@princet1863]

Illmatic felt like one long song. It was written has much better beats and movement in that album.

[@rappinandsnackin]

interesting, thank you for your input