Studio Album · No. 2
It Was Written Songwriting Credits by Nas
Produced by Trackmasters, DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, Havoc, L.E.S., Live Squad
Holds writing credit on 14 of 14 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 14 / 14 documented
Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether Nas carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
It Was Written is Nas's commercial breakthrough, a polished mafioso-rap turn built mostly by the Trackmasters, and he writes every rhyme himself. The sound is deliberately sleeker and more radio-ready than Illmatic, a calculated bid for crossover success that paid off with a No. 1 debut. His lyrical authorship stays complete even as the production reaches for the charts.
"It Was Written" is the 1996 second studio album by Nas and the record that marked his mainstream breakthrough in East Coast hip-hop and mafioso rap. Produced largely by Trackmasters along with DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, and Havoc, it leaned toward a more polished, commercial sound than its predecessor. The lead single "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" featured Lauryn Hill, and other key tracks included "Street Dreams," "I Gave You Power," and "Affirmative Action" with his group The Firm. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and held that spot for four consecutive weeks, selling 270,000 copies in its first week and going on to triple platinum certification from the RIAA. It remains Nas's best-selling album and helped drive the rise of mafioso rap in the mid-1990s.
Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Album Intro
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones | TrackmastersNas | Nas (Rap) |
| 2 |
The Message
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesSamuel Barnes | Trackmasters | Nas (Rap) |
| 3 |
Street Dreams
#27
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesSamuel BarnesAnnie LennoxDavid Stewart | Trackmasters | Nas (Rap) |
| 4 |
I Gave You Power
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesChristopher Martin | DJ Premier | Nas (Rap) |
| 5 |
Watch Dem Niggas
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesSamuel Barnes | Trackmasters | Foxy Brown |
| 6 |
Take It in Blood
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesRandy WalkerCleveland HorneJoseph PruittJames Epps Jr.Wallace Childs | Live Squad | Nas (Rap) |
| 7 |
Nas Is Coming
|
NasDr. Dre | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesAndre Young | Dr. Dre | Dr. Dre |
| 8 |
Affirmative Action
|
NasAZCormegaFoxy Brown | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesAnthony CruzCory McKayInga MarchandJean-Claude OlivierSamuel Barnes | Trackmasters | AZCormegaFoxy Brown |
| 9 |
The Set Up
|
NasHavoc | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesKejuan Muchita | Havoc | Havoc |
| 10 |
Black Girl Lost
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesLeShan LewisJames MtumeReggie Lucas | L.E.S.Trackmasters | Joel 'JoJo' Hailey |
| 11 |
Suspect
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesLeShan Lewis | L.E.S. | Nas (Rap) |
| 12 |
Shootouts
|
Nas | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesJean-Claude OlivierRichard Pimente | Trackmasters | Nas (Rap) |
| 13 |
Live Nigga Rap
|
NasHavoc | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesKejuan Muchita | Havoc | HavocProdigy |
| 14 |
If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)
#53
|
NasLauryn Hill | Nasir bin Olu Dara JonesJean-Claude OlivierKurtis Walker | TrackmastersRashad Smith | Lauryn Hill |