Nas's 1996 follow-up to Illmatic is a cohesive, concept-driven album that cemented his status as a premier East Coast MC.
- The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 270,000 copies in its first week. It features prominent production from Trackmasters, along with contributions from Havoc, Q-Tip, and Steve "The Don" Gordon. The album was certified platinum by the RIAA less than two months after its release.
- "The Message" was the album's lead single.
- Nas adopted a more mafioso persona for this album, inspired by films like Scarface and The Godfather.
Nas is a rapper from Queensbridge, New York City, who debuted in the early 1990s. He is best known for his intricate lyricism and storytelling. "It Was Written" was released in 1996, marking Nas's second studio album.
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