{"product_id":"nas-it-was-written-reissue-repress-gatefold-140g-vinyl-2lp","title":"It Was Written","description":"\u003cp\u003eFollowing one of the most celebrated debut albums in hip-hop history was never going to be easy, but with 1996's \u003cem\u003eIt Was Written\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eNas\u003c\/strong\u003e took a dramatically different path from \u003cem\u003eIllmatic\u003c\/em\u003e and created another enormously influential record — as well as the most commercially successful album of his career.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere \u003cem\u003eIllmatic\u003c\/em\u003e captured the stark street-level reality of New York, \u003cem\u003eIt Was Written\u003c\/em\u003e expanded Nas' world into something more cinematic. Drawing heavily on the emerging \u003cstrong\u003emafioso rap\u003c\/strong\u003e aesthetic, Nas constructs intricate narratives of organised crime, gang warfare, drug deals, ambition and survival while retaining the remarkable storytelling and lyrical detail that had established his reputation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album assembled an exceptional production team, including \u003cstrong\u003eTrackmasters, Dr. Dre, L.E.S., Havoc of Mobb Deep and DJ Premier\u003c\/strong\u003e. Their polished but atmospheric production incorporates samples and influences from artists including Sam Cooke, Etta James, The Isley Brothers and Chuck Mangione, giving the record a richer and more expansive sound than its predecessor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong its defining moments is \u003cstrong\u003eIf I Ruled The World (Imagine That)\u003c\/strong\u003e featuring \u003cstrong\u003eLauryn Hill\u003c\/strong\u003e, which became one of Nas' signature songs and helped propel the album to a much wider audience. \u003cstrong\u003eStreet Dreams\u003c\/strong\u003e became another major single, while tracks such as \u003cstrong\u003eThe Message, I Gave You Power\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eTake It In Blood\u003c\/strong\u003e demonstrate Nas' extraordinary ability to move between vivid street reportage, character-driven storytelling and conceptual lyricism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt Was Written\u003c\/em\u003e also introduced \u003cstrong\u003eThe Firm\u003c\/strong\u003e, Nas' short-lived supergroup with \u003cstrong\u003eAZ, Foxy Brown and Cormega\u003c\/strong\u003e, on \u003cstrong\u003eAffirmative Action\u003c\/strong\u003e. The collaboration would lead to The Firm's own album the following year and remains one of the record's most celebrated posse cuts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInitially viewed by some listeners as a surprising departure from the stripped-back sound of \u003cem\u003eIllmatic\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eIt Was Written\u003c\/em\u003e has grown in stature to become recognised as a cornerstone of 1990s East Coast hip-hop and a hugely influential chapter in Nas' catalogue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis edition presents the classic album as a \u003cstrong\u003e140g Vinyl 2LP repress housed in a gatefold sleeve\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nas","offers":[{"title":"Black","offer_id":53389123387759,"sku":"199584146812","price":80.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0898\/7089\/3423\/files\/NAS-ItWasWrittenReissue_Repress_Gatefold_140gVinyl2LP.jpg?v=1787728181","url":"https:\/\/www.thevinylstore.com.au\/products\/nas-it-was-written-reissue-repress-gatefold-140g-vinyl-2lp","provider":"The Vinyl Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}