Logic Last
New member
Initial reaction
[hide] Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [4]
Chicago Tribune [25]
Entertainment Weekly (A-)[13]
Los Angeles Times [26]
The New York Times (mixed)[6]
NME (6/10)[27]
Rolling Stone 1996[10]
Rolling Stone 2004[28]
The Source [29]
Vibe (favorable)[12]
Despite its early sales success and charting, It Was Written received generally mixed to positive reviews from most critics, viewing it as not on-par with Nas's debut album Illmatic, and served as an example of the sophomore jinx.[1] Its release also followed the commercial success of other mafiaso-themed rap albums with similar subject matter, including Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995), Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt (1996) and AZ's Doe or Die (1995).[30] Most of the album's negative criticism was directed at its mainstream, R&B and pop-leaning sound, as well as the enlistment of a top production unit and popular guest artists.[1][30] A columnist for Spin magazine called the album's production "stupid" and described the songs' choruses as "grainy, pop-savvy".[31] Rolling Stone's Mark Coleman wrote negatively of Nas's themes and called it "the latest blatant example of trashy tough-guy talk", writing "Certainly he strikes a note of creepy realism in his stories of heavyweight dealing and literally cutthroat competition. 'The Set Up', 'Shootouts' and 'Affirmative Action' (which preaches a different kind of equal opportunity) are chilling in their how-many-grams-to-a-kilo detail and utter amorality. On 'Watch Dem Niggas', Nas cites as inspirations both the boxing coach Cus D'Amato and the murderous drug lord Pablo Escobar. What is this guy thinking?".[10]
The lyrical concept and themes of It Was Written were poorly received and heavily dismissed as an attempt by Nas to follow with the popularity of gangsta and mafiaso rap.[1][30] Jon Pareles of The New York Times gave the album a mixed review and criticized Nas for an inconsistent thematic style, writing that he "continually shifts perspective."[6] Pareles described it as "late-stage gangsta rap, starting to buckle under its own contradictions."[6] A columnist for NME magazine gave the album a 6/10 rating, and stated "Nas' neat, considered lyrics treat the violence that surrounds him with a mixture of remorse, resignation and ebullience."[27] The Source gave it 4 out of 5 mics and more favorable criticism of Nas's lyrics, calling the album an "audio anthology of ghetto stories told by one of hip-hop's most prolific writers."[29] Vibe magazine's Krisex criticized the album's "consistently aggressive attempts at pop music", but also wrote that Nas "shines through".[12] Despite calling the album "adequate" and commending Nas for his lyricism and flow, Krisex concluded that It was Written "isn't nearly as satisfying as his first one."[12] The Village Voice's Robert Christgau gave the album a "neither" () rating,[32] indicating "may impress once or twice with consistent craft or an arresting track or two. Then it won't."[33]
In contrast, Christopher John Farley of Time magazine gave the album a generally positive review and wrote that "The lyrics in It Was Written could be sharper, but the music, energetic and engaging on many tracks, helps drive his message home."[34] Q magazine gave it 4 out of 5 stars and favored its production, while calling Nas's performance "angry, lean and full of drive."[35] Both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times were favorable of the album's sound and gave the album 3½ out of 4 stars.[36][25] Los Angeles Times writer Cheo Coker gave it 3½ out of 4 stars and called the album "poetic", writing that it "demonstrates a continuing lyrical maturity that makes his already potent beats and rhymes all the more compelling".[26] The album was ranked number 41 in NME's critics' poll of 1996,[37] and Jim Farber of the New York Daily News named it the sixth best album of 1996.[38] German-based magazine Spex ranked it number four on its "End of Year" list, while the UK-based magazine The Face named it the twenty-fourth best album of 1996.[39] "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" was ranked number 29 on NME's Singles of the Year list,[40] and number 20 on The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll.[41] It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1997.[42]
[hide] Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [4]
Chicago Tribune [25]
Entertainment Weekly (A-)[13]
Los Angeles Times [26]
The New York Times (mixed)[6]
NME (6/10)[27]
Rolling Stone 1996[10]
Rolling Stone 2004[28]
The Source [29]
Vibe (favorable)[12]
Despite its early sales success and charting, It Was Written received generally mixed to positive reviews from most critics, viewing it as not on-par with Nas's debut album Illmatic, and served as an example of the sophomore jinx.[1] Its release also followed the commercial success of other mafiaso-themed rap albums with similar subject matter, including Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995), Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt (1996) and AZ's Doe or Die (1995).[30] Most of the album's negative criticism was directed at its mainstream, R&B and pop-leaning sound, as well as the enlistment of a top production unit and popular guest artists.[1][30] A columnist for Spin magazine called the album's production "stupid" and described the songs' choruses as "grainy, pop-savvy".[31] Rolling Stone's Mark Coleman wrote negatively of Nas's themes and called it "the latest blatant example of trashy tough-guy talk", writing "Certainly he strikes a note of creepy realism in his stories of heavyweight dealing and literally cutthroat competition. 'The Set Up', 'Shootouts' and 'Affirmative Action' (which preaches a different kind of equal opportunity) are chilling in their how-many-grams-to-a-kilo detail and utter amorality. On 'Watch Dem Niggas', Nas cites as inspirations both the boxing coach Cus D'Amato and the murderous drug lord Pablo Escobar. What is this guy thinking?".[10]
The lyrical concept and themes of It Was Written were poorly received and heavily dismissed as an attempt by Nas to follow with the popularity of gangsta and mafiaso rap.[1][30] Jon Pareles of The New York Times gave the album a mixed review and criticized Nas for an inconsistent thematic style, writing that he "continually shifts perspective."[6] Pareles described it as "late-stage gangsta rap, starting to buckle under its own contradictions."[6] A columnist for NME magazine gave the album a 6/10 rating, and stated "Nas' neat, considered lyrics treat the violence that surrounds him with a mixture of remorse, resignation and ebullience."[27] The Source gave it 4 out of 5 mics and more favorable criticism of Nas's lyrics, calling the album an "audio anthology of ghetto stories told by one of hip-hop's most prolific writers."[29] Vibe magazine's Krisex criticized the album's "consistently aggressive attempts at pop music", but also wrote that Nas "shines through".[12] Despite calling the album "adequate" and commending Nas for his lyricism and flow, Krisex concluded that It was Written "isn't nearly as satisfying as his first one."[12] The Village Voice's Robert Christgau gave the album a "neither" () rating,[32] indicating "may impress once or twice with consistent craft or an arresting track or two. Then it won't."[33]
In contrast, Christopher John Farley of Time magazine gave the album a generally positive review and wrote that "The lyrics in It Was Written could be sharper, but the music, energetic and engaging on many tracks, helps drive his message home."[34] Q magazine gave it 4 out of 5 stars and favored its production, while calling Nas's performance "angry, lean and full of drive."[35] Both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times were favorable of the album's sound and gave the album 3½ out of 4 stars.[36][25] Los Angeles Times writer Cheo Coker gave it 3½ out of 4 stars and called the album "poetic", writing that it "demonstrates a continuing lyrical maturity that makes his already potent beats and rhymes all the more compelling".[26] The album was ranked number 41 in NME's critics' poll of 1996,[37] and Jim Farber of the New York Daily News named it the sixth best album of 1996.[38] German-based magazine Spex ranked it number four on its "End of Year" list, while the UK-based magazine The Face named it the twenty-fourth best album of 1996.[39] "If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" was ranked number 29 on NME's Singles of the Year list,[40] and number 20 on The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll.[41] It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1997.[42]
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