Twenty-Five years ago today, Nas dropped ‘It Was Written.’
Nas celebrates 25th anniversary of sophomore album
‘It Was Written’ today
New York Rap Legend Nas is showing just how fast time flies by. The hip-hop veteran went online today to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of his unforgettable It Was Written album.
Nas took to Instagram on Friday (July 2), to express his gratitude to everyone who worked on the album as well as his fans and supporters. He shared a black-and-white throwback photo of himself seating behind a desk while looking at the laptop on the desk. He specially thanked Steve Stoute, Dr Dre, Trackmasters, LES, Premier, and the late Stretch. He wrote:
Young and determined. 25 years ago with a lap top. No examples to follow but myself. I knew that “It Was Written”. Thank you @stevestoute for helping me strategize, for pushing me and for helping me make my second album. Thank you Trackmasters & L.E.S, STRETCH (RIP) ,Premier and Dr. Dre for producing it and every artist on this album WE DID IT. .. and to everyone for the love today. Thank you. #ITWASWRITTEN
Originally released July 2, 1996 on Columbia Records, It Was Written, Nas’ second studio album, signalled a paradigm shift in the world of hip-hop, redefining the game for generations to come. Adding radical new narrative and musical dimensions to the raw underground hardcore ethos Nas had established with Illmatic, his 1994 studio debut (recorded June 1992 – February 1993 in NYC), It Was Written was both a landmark album and a flashpoint event in East Coast hip-hop history. An immediate commercial success, It Was Written debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling more than a quarter-million copies its first week in stores. The album’s hit singles included “If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)” and “Street Dreams,” each becoming an enduring hip-hop anthem. Newly certified RIAA triple-platinum, It Was Written is the top-selling album of Nas’ career.
Stream Nas' "It Was Written" Album Today.