Little Brother: "Is Nas 'It Was Written' Better Than 'Illmatic'"? 

It was written- Is to this very day is lyrically THEE most diverse album of mid 90's. NO ONE rapped like that.... PERIOD.

Exactly! His lyrical content is what sets him apart from all the other rappers! What about Stillmatic, The Lost Tapes, God's Son, Life Is Good, and King's Disease? His catalog is second to none!!

I prefer It was written to Illmatic. I think it's a better listen, sick beats and wordplay. However it is by no means as iconic as the first

Dont agree that it got all bad after that. He then gave us Stillmatic, God's son, untitled, life is good, even the 1st disc of streets disciple. All are excellent albums imo

"It Was Written" is my favorite Nas album the rhymes are full and the production is better to me than illmatic

My older brother has always said the It was written album was better than Illmatic. Both classic

Yes. My favorite hip hop album of all time. Illmatic is a masterpiece and so is it was written. I’ve always loved it was written more than illmatic.

Illmatic is the greatest album of all time...no commercial song, no song made specifically for radio, just beats and incredible rhymes. PERIOD

IT WAS WRITTEN BUT NEVER TOLD

I remember getting this and Stakes is High...wow..so glad I was brought up in that era.

Both incredible albums. Illmatic is cemented in time as it was Nas first album. It will forever be the best album of his career. It was written was his Magnum Opus lyrically as it displayed his growth as an MC and solidified his position as arguably THE GOAT!!! To put it all in perspective I listen to Illmatic every once in awhile to get that nostagic feelinf of the golden age of hip hop. I listen to it was written more often because it has a more modern sound and feel and Nas displayed lyrical wizardry on IWW. As well as growth in concepts with songs like I Gave you Power and If I Ruled the World. Take it in Blood and Silent Murder puts Nas on a plateau no other MCs can approach with his display of conscious but poetic discourse. Nas is the Messiah of Hip Hop if there ever was one.

since when is if i ruled the world trash????? this is a crazy convo... and i had no problem listening to the roots and mobb deep i never had to pick a side.

Illmatic is what I call a Mount Rushmore hip hop album. It changed the game. It Was Written while great didn’t have the impact Illmatic did.

If little brother is reading these comments I have all your projects. Great music fellas

I can't call it..I grew up on 'It was written'..it was a perfect album..take it in blood, I gave u power..but illmatic when i put it on I feel like I'm in NY..and i've only been there twice lol

I didn’t know Dilla made the stakes is high beat until yrs later. Dilla was fire!

It Was Written is a MASTERFUL album. No doubt about it. Sonically it was divisive and extraordinary. The themes of lyricism were great; The Message, I Gave You Power, Take It In Blood, Shootouts, Suspect, etc. It was astounding. But Illmatic is still the better album by a milestone. The line-up of producers, his subject matter, the landmark of history that it left. It Was Written is dope but it felt like another mafioso album of the time. It was being done by several other artists and for Nas he stepped down a peg, though I understand why. So I got Illmatic over IWW.

I get were people are feeling IWW more but what gets me is how so many people totally dismiss illmatic like its trash. Nas changed the game with illmatic. Jay was still rapping like the fu schnickens when illmatic came out.

It's funny hearing Big Pooh talking about Nas, because when I first heard The Listening and Minstrel Show, there were a few times when I thought Big Pooh's voice sounded like 2000's era Nas.

Most of the dummies who say It Was Written is better than Illmatic just don't like Illmatic, but are afraid to admit it because they think they will lose credibility for disliking an album that is seen as the greatest of all time. A lot of these people just didn't grow up in that era or aren't from NY, and can't admit they don't understand what made Illmatic so great. They just say "It Was Written is better!" because they think pedestalizing another old Nas album won't lose them credibility. It Was Written was also more commercial and accessible to casual audiences.... It's not better, they just like it more because it has catcher hooks and more modern sounding beats. I'm not saying It Was Written isn't a classic, because it definitely is, but Illmatic is in a league of it's own and can't be compared to anything else.

IWW is not "commercial" anybody who calls it that is a fraud to me. I gave you power Shootouts Suspect Set up Watch dem niggas etc ...street dreams rmx came out after IWW. That how popular nas was. Number 1 for 4 wks without being a "shiny suit" album.

I like discussion like this. Thanks for the content, fellas.

I agree with little brother and i love they're music as well Nas is the GOAT though!!!🔥🔥🔥

Little Brother Trippin' So Every Album By Nas That Came After IWW Was Bad To OK? Big Fan Of These Dudes Group Or Solo But Hell Naw They Are Trippin'.....

No blasphemy or nothing but i think a great analogy would be that Illmatic is the bible and It was written is the Quran. You got millions of people believing in their book and that book only but in the end everybody believes in only one god and that god is Nasir 😊

I love it was written but illmatic to me was more poetic

1. It Was Written 2. Illmatic 3. I Am 4. Hip Hop Is Dead 5. Life Is Good 6. Stillmatic 7. God's Son 8. The Firm 9. The Lost Tapes 10. Street's Disciple I think that's my list... top 3 for sure. Between 4 and 8 rotates depending on mood. 9-10 I'm pretty sure. Hoping King's Disease grows on me, it's cool but I'd put it either 11 or 12th right now.

NOPE...🔥🔥ILLMATIC WILL ALWAYS BE MY #1!!!🔥🔥 SHOUT 2 LITTLE BROTHER THO LOL( COOL BROTHERS IN PERSON)

It Was Written is one of the best hip hop albums, but I look at Illmatic as one of the best MUSIC albums, period. Illmatic to Hip Hop is like Kind Of Blue to jazz, but both of these albums impact transcended their genres respectfully

Stillmatic has ether one mic rewind you're da man poison second child hood etc a masterpiece

Yep I had this tape "It was Written" on a trip back to my hometown in Edmond Oklahoma, I think the other kids thought I had come across some alien shit. We played the fuck out of this tape. It was our soundtrack for an entire summer.

It was written is nas' sign o the Times Prince gets the purple rain "thing" NaS gets the "illmatic" thing But both are prolly better along with other albums in their catalog...

*NaS = G.O.A.T !!!*

Illmatic was better. Raw Nas. It was written was great as well but Illmatic was a classic. I'm old enough to remember when people didn't like It Was Written, they said it was too commercial and I had to defend that album against a lot of dudes.

Maaaaan, I'm with Big Pooh on this one, Nas definitely outdid himself with that one! I can appreciate actual songwriting, so I felt like it was a more polished version of Illmatic. I was 6 when it dropped, so luckily I don't have that clouded, nostalgic feeling for Nas when I discovered IWW in HS. Illmatic is great, but as a Nas fan, it's probably my 4th favorite Nas album to listen to. And I know damn near every word of it.

Getting Dre to produce a song in the middle of east v west was insane for the time and the beat was so good too

Your taste is your taste. I'll chime in that ïll had no holes other than it leaves the listener yearning for more because the listening experience is less than 40 minutes. That set up the demand for IWW. In addition, while IWW was mostly a gem, it also had filler. One could make a debate between IWW and Still but imo the totality of Illmatic is unparalleled in hip-hop. One

I agree illmatic is a classic but it was written to me is my favorite NAS album also

You gave me power nuff said!

It was written had I gave you power on it, nuff said!!

I think so. Because it demonstrates his versatility, and made Nas the artist he is today!

I'm not taking away anything from Illmatic bit I just related to It was written more. That's the album that made me think about life & look at life different & it was really a therapy for me at the time when I was still in the street life & being in & out of jail. This album saved my life fr fr.

It’s funny because a lot of rappers have redone his illmatic album and content. Illmatic is the rap album to many. Greatest of an unknown rapper who changed the game! He has a lot of great albums. Ppl love to pigeonhole Nas to the classics. Evolution

Illmatic may be more iconic and impactful but It Was Written has always been more enjoyable and felt elevated to me

Sunshine was trash how you can compare that to if I ruled the world 😂

Yeah man the first LP i bought was nas it was written. Liked it so mutch a month later I bought Ilmatic.at that age 13 it was written was my favorite LP. That's saying a lot I lived in Cali and pac and dre and biggy where hot at the time but man somthing about nas style and delivery mad his music sound differnt.

The Lost Tape’s is one of my favorite NAS album’s. After It Was Written & illmatic…

The best solo hip hop album ever made. The lyrical GOAT.....

I have few reasons I feel like Illmatic is superior to IWW. IMHO(to speak on a storytelling and techinally standpoint) I believe the three tracks (One Love, Memory Lane and NY State of Mind) are unrivaled compared to the tracks on IWW. Those three track feel in a void that only few MC's can create on an entire album.He gave those tracks life, It's like he meshed so well with the instrumentals and the tracks themselves have more replay value to his other albums. I remember Primo speaking on how it was like a competition for every Producer to deliver on Illmatic. Listen closely for the small details in the instrumentals. It works better for earphone users. You hear every detail. Also take in account on how Nas rapped on Illmatic. If u listen closely, u can hear how the SCRATCHES and certain HALTS on the album that make Nas flow and delivery seem unpredictably. The producers added vast number of loops and beat breaks for Illmatic. Notice how the production either slows down or speeds up for Nas rapping and he follows suite.

Let the record show: It Was Written is better than Illmatic.

Bro. If the source didn't rate illmatic 5 mics then we wouldn't even debate this. The 5 mic rating made us subconsciously feel there was no defeating it at the time. Nas got better after illmatic. Edit to add the reasons The Message Street Dreams (for tha radio) I Gave You Power Take it in Blood (3rd verse maybe best all time) Affirmative Action If I Ruled the World I could argue that The Message, I Gave You Power and Take it in Blood are in the top 25 tracks all time lyrically. And I'm being modest. Plus Nas flow was an instrument in itself. His consonants hit with the drums throughout the album. I'm open minded tho.

I remember meeting you guys in Atlanta at EarthLink live

Illmatic is number one for me, but I gotta give Nas his flowers for actually stepping up his flows, wordplay, and storytelling on IWW.

Yo you got the it was written vinyl!!! 🤯

8:00 brah wtf u talking about "if i ruled the world is a classic hiphop song u suspect for saying otherwise

No Question, Yes

The timing of illmatic was just unprecedented when it dropped...

I agree, Hov made folks think different, Plus I hear you Phonte ' U didn't feel but was a choice I had both LPs and played them both. But was kind if a divide though

Possibly. Classic example of a follow up album living up to the debut. The product on the 2nd was just as quality and potent as the first.

It Was Written is Illmatic with Gloss over it.

Illmatic was a raw album that combined the influences of the previous Era and upped the lyrical standard.....nas and the wu set the tone lyrically for the mid to late 90s after the rakim, Kane, Kool g rap, krs one Era. It was written was made more in line with the times. A mafioso feel album with nas storytelling and lyrical skills. He had to grow and the standard biggie set combining commercial records with the hard-core joints made everyone peep game

IWW to me was a lyrically stronger album however it wasn't as isolated and industry disruptive as Illmatic. IWW also had a more commercial undertone that the purest probably struggled with. It provided a different emotion.

i agree it was written is my favorite

It was written all day and night... he said that it was the last of nas great albums, but don’t sleep on nas “I am “!!

I gave you power is one of the best hip hop songs ever written

The Bars on Sunshine go hard tho

14 fire songs vs 9(illmatic ) Illmatic sounded like the streets on headphones but it was writtten sounded like the hood on headphones if that makes sense

Maybe I am crazy. I think that If I Ruled the World is a Slamming Joint. People have to listen to the lyrics.

if i ruled the world and sunshine are not the same

I've been saying this for years.

Yesssss it wasssss

Every trackkkkkkk is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥it was written

Illmatic for Me

Hard to compare those albums. They're worlds apart. It's almost two different genres of music.

Yes it is and it dont get enough praise

Let's take Illmatic out of the equation because its considered the best hip hop album of all time and compare It Is Written to everyone else's classics and it stands up to all of them in my opinion. That's how great of an MC Nas is.......BTW for me It is Written is my favorite because he solidified himself in the rap game forever !!

If i ruled the world is a fantastic song...top 20 hiphop song at least

And How Ironic In This Skit After Street Dreams You Hear De La Soul "PLUG Tunin" I Bet I Alot Of People Never Payed Attention To That.... This Is Why Nas Is My Favorite Emcee EVER!

YO HABLAR ESPANOL Y DECIR QUE IT WAS WRITTEN DE NAS ES SUPERIOR A ILLMATIC POR AMPLIA VENTAJA, IT WAS WRITTEN ES MUY DOPE BRO

There’s a difference between Sunshine and If I Ruled the World. Sunshine was absolutely TERRIBLE.

Nas was rubbing elbows with Ghost & Rae and Mobb Deep heavy at this time, which helped him elevate. Plus he wanted to outdo Biggie

Sunshine isn’t in the same ballpark as “World”. Stupid take.

Nas is the only artist is history that is battling his own success being that no other artist dead or alive is better

ILLMATIC was more regional It was written reached a wider audience and I bought Stakes is High and It was written the same day.

y'all crazy illmatic is the greatest hip hop album ever made...thats comming from an old school queens native born in 72

I Am is my favorite by Nas...

It Was Written has made fools of all those naysayers. Funny how most really didn’t like the ART OF HIP-HOP they was bias, hateful, flatout fake. The artistic genius that It Was Written is brilliant.

It was written..WAAAY BETTER Than Illmatic

Seems like a lot of people now think IWW is the better album. That’s fine, but Illmatic is the greatest album I ever heard in hip-hop.

It was written was a better complete album.. Illmatic changed the game which gives it more impact

*To say If I Ruled The World is anything less than one of the greatest songs to ever exist, is pure clout chasing.*

Shootouts - mature Nas

The way I see it is the same as Biggie's RTD & Life After Death. one was better lyrically, one was better production wise.

IWW is pop for the casuals. Let's keep it real. Not all the way pop, but more commercial and pop than you might realize. It's straight up less 'hip hop' than Illmatic. How can you tell me you LOVE Illmatic but somehow prefer IWW? One is pure hip hop, the other is pop rap.

5:30 disagree MOS DEF and TALIB KWELI Blackstar album continued the trend of conscious MC or the right way to MC.

It was written like Nas but it came from Quintin Pusha T really spit on that man career it's all well doe 😂😂

I chose “both” sides 😂

Are these fools saying this was nas last good album ?

For me stillmatic is nas best album

His lyrics and flow are better on It Was Written than Illmatic.