Nas - It Was Written (Gold/Black Marbled Vinyl 2LP | EU Reissue | 2023)

Nas – It Was Written is the second studio album by New York rapper Nas, released on July 2, 1996 on Columbia. It was recorded in 1995 and 1996 at studios in New York, Woodstock and Los Angeles; most of it was produced by Trackmasters (Poke & Tone), with contributions from DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, L.E.S., Havoc and Live Squad. Guests include Lauryn Hill, Dr. Dre, Mobb Deep and The Firm. With singles such as “If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)” and “Street Dreams”, the album went triple platinum in the US. This copy is the 2023 reissue as a double LP on gold/black marbled vinyl.

Pressing details

• Label: Columbia
• Format: Vinyl 2LP, Album, Gold/Black Marbled Vinyl
• Pressing: EU reissue
• Country: Worldwide
• Year of this pressing: 2023 (original: 1996)
• Genre: Hip Hop & Rap, Limited & coloured vinyl, New vinyl, Boom Bap

Condition

• Condition: New & factory sealed

The images are our own scans of the actual copy for sale.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Album Intro
2. The Message
3. Street Dreams
4. I Gave You Power

Side B

1. Watch Dem Niggas (feat. Foxy Brown)
2. Take It In Blood
3. The Set Up (feat. Havoc)

Side C

1. Black Girl Lost (feat. JoJo)
2. Suspect
3. Shootouts
4. Nas Is Coming (feat. Dr. Dre)

Side D

1. Affirmative Action (feat. AZ, Cormega & Foxy Brown)
2. Live Nigga Rap (feat. Mobb Deep)
3. If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) (feat. Lauryn Hill)
4. Silent Murder

Personnel

Nas (rap). Production: Trackmasters (Poke & Tone), DJ Premier (“I Gave You Power”), Dr. Dre (“Nas Is Coming”), L.E.S., Havoc, Live Squad, Kirk Goddy, Rashad Smith. Guests: Lauryn Hill, Dr. Dre, Foxy Brown, AZ, Cormega, Havoc, Prodigy (Mobb Deep), JoJo.

FAQ

Is this the original pressing?
No. The original was released in 1996. This double LP is a 2023 reissue on coloured gold/black marbled vinyl.

What is “Silent Murder”?
A track that was only included as a bonus on the 1996 cassette edition. On this vinyl edition it closes side D.

What does “New & factory sealed” mean?
The record is unplayed and still in the manufacturer’s original shrink wrap. We do not open it, so there is no separate grading of record and sleeve. Our grading system for used records is explained on our Vinyl Grading page.

Do you have more Nas records?
Yes, for example Nas – Illmatic (clear vinyl, EU reissue 2021), Nas – Illmatic XX (2LP) and Nas – God's Son (2LP, EU original 2002). More titles are in our Hip Hop & Rap collection.