It Was Written   by NAS

It Was Written, released in 1996, was the moment when Nas decided to shed the "underground hero" handcuffs and claim the throne of the global hip-hop scene. After the raw and urban Illmatic, the "Prophet of Queensbridge" returned with a more glossy, cinematic sound filled with the glitz (and the darkness) of mafia aesthetics. The album marked the transition from boom-bap to "polished" beats, adopting the Mafioso rap style that was prevailing on the East Coast at the time. Nas introduced his alter ego, Nas Escobar, mixing street reality with fantasies of international criminal life.

The change in Nas's sound is largely attributed to the Trackmasters, who brought a more radio-friendly vibe. The iconic collaboration with Lauryn Hill on If I Ruled the World (Imagine That) stands out. Besides the Trackmasters, legends like Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, and Havoc from Mobb Deep were also in the studio. The recording process (1995-1996) was an expensive production shared between New York and Los Angeles. Both If I Ruled The World and Street Dreams became massive hits, with Hype Williams' lavish videos dominating MTV.

It Was Written catapulted Nas commercially, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 with 270,000 sales in the first week. The album has gone triple platinum, remaining his most commercial to date. Although initially accused by some as a "sellout," it is now considered an undisputed classic. It laid the foundation for how a lyrical rapper can marry the depth of lyrics with commercial success, influencing generations of artists like Kendrick Lamar.