,
24 tweets,
9 min read
Read on Twitter
Alright, let's do this THREAD for NaS' IT WAS WRITTEN . I've got nothing else going on right now. 
Illmatic was a critical darling but not a commercial smash. Now double-platinum, it sold slowly and didn’t make a big impact outside NY. At the Source Awards in August '95, Biggie’s Ready to Die cleaned up, inspiring NaS to go in a different direction.
This is the “Man” album in NaS’ tetralogy. Is he more mature? Compare photos of him here with those from Illmatic. The way he dresses; his jewelry; the way he sneers at the camera. His lyrical abilities advanced; he’s singing now; but his subject matter disappointed some.
Nasty NaS to NaS Escobar. Illmatic is a memoir; It Was Written is like a Scorsese movie, more ambitious and aware of the outside world. He’s unapproachable, harder, and unfriendly in a way he isn’t on Illmatic. You might wonder who this young man is; he has changed a lot.
Instead of Illmatic’s “classic” producers, NaS heavily relied on the Trackmasters. Heads hated that decision but their production is not “pop” despite fans’ complaints. It’s less gritty but it’s rarely soft.
More songs were targeted for radio and it worked. This is one of NaS’ most popular albums. If I Ruled the World; Street Dreams and its remix. It rode the Mafioso rap wave. See, e.g. Street Dreams’ “Casino” music video. 'Pac attacked NaS for switching up on Don Killuminati.
It Was Written has been reappraised over the past 23 years and is better regarded now than it used to be. Some prefer it to Illmatic. I don’t but I respect that opinion. Let’s get into this:
Album Intro. A Change is Gonna Come transitions to a cringe-worthy scene with NaS playing a slave who wants to escape the plantation then goes into a more traditional Illmatic-like intro with AZ. I could’ve used more of that violin beat at the end.
The Message. Nice Sting sample Great way to open the album. More polished than shit on Illmatic but no sellout; still NaS at his best. 2Pac thought it dissed him “CB4 Gusto”; NaS claims it was about Biggie, not ‘Pac. NaS is more extroverted, more confident here than before.
More commercial influence; Eurythmics interpolation. NaS sings unconvincingly. Beat similar to Tupac’s All Eyez On Me; a coincidence. I prefer the Remix with R. Kelly. NaS is NaS but he could rap this song in his sleep. Decent radio song but nothing to write home about.
I Gave You Power. Back to Nasty NaS. Anthropomorphic. Inspired Tupac’s Me and My Girlfriend. DARK Primo beat. Interesting concept; clever ending. NaS is a gun who jams in his owner’s hand so he can get a new owner who won’t misuse him. All-time great NaS song. Incredible.
Watch Those. Esco at his most nonchalant. Bit more sexual, emphasized by Foxy’s presence. Is it convincing? NaS was not a sex symbol and didn’t excel at club hits. This is dope because of the effortless rhyming. Like butter. Beat lets NaS do his thing; doesn’t get in his way.
Take It in Blood. Top-notch beat by Stretch, Tupac’s old friend. Impeccable rhyming. Gangsta / Esco style on the highest level. Lacks Illmatic's grime but no matter. Glamorous but dangerous thug. Street Dreams done better, in other words. CLASSIC
NaS is Coming comes out of left field. Beat is typical of early Aftermath shit; like something off Enter The Dragon sdtk. Hook is awful. Bars recycled from DPG's Don’t Stop, later used by ‘Pac to browbeat BIG. NaS goes after imitators; Dre brings up East / West. Meh
Affirmative Action. More mafia shit, but well done. Like seeing Scarface way too many times. Hard to take seriously. Dope beat. AZ / Foxy rip shit. Remix worth checking out. Good intro to the disappointing Firm album, before Cormega got thrown out over some bullshit.
The Set Up. Havoc on the hook. No Prodigy. Stories of gunplay and drug deals gone wrong. More of that big time Esco / Firm / tough talk. I’m starting to feel the lack of personal introspection by this point. Beat is cool but not much more.
Black Girl Lost. Intro unnecessary. Why not let JoJo take lead on the hook, NaS? Subject matter reminds me of Pac's Wonda Why They Call U Bytch. NaS judges young groupies. Something new for him… writing about women. Not entirely unsatisfying but not earth shattering.
Suspect. NaS on that gangster shit; better than The Set Up. NaS can’t hide his talent, he's a rhyme wizard, but doesn’t move me. Heavy beat. NaS is unrecognizable here when compared to Illmatic. Who is this guy? Hard to say.
Shootouts. Never one of my favorite NaS joints. Coming after Suspect, Black Girl Lost, and Set Up, the album is starting to wear out its welcome. Production is competent. Lyrically, its more interesting; NaS spinning a vivid yarn but I’m losing interest a little. Hook is anemic
Live Nigga Rap. Mobb Deep break up the monotony of NaS' kingpin stories; they open before NaS does what you expect. Beat is alright but there’s been too many alright ones in a row . Listening to IWW so soon after Illmatic, I get it. I can remember why people were disappointed
If I Ruled the World. Samples a rap classic. Ends the album, apart from the cassette bonus track, in superb fashion. It’s commercial yet there’s something to it; it’s not just bullshit. Lauryn makes a good song a classic. The video with them in Times Square was iconic.
Silent Murder. Sadly this Stretch-track (prod. the night he was killed) was not included on the US CD. Many don’t know it for that reason. Caribbean steel drum beat. Cinematic, moody, atmospheric. Grandiose. I like it, but Ruled the World will always end the album in my mind.
Summing up, this is a great album, a near classic that gets a little tired toward the end despite NaS’ undeniable microphone mastery. I’d give it 4.5 mics on the old Source scale (it actually got 4). One of the best albums in a great year for rap music
Bryant Park, Sept. 4, 1996
