It Was Written (studio album) by Nas

It Was Written by Nas
Year: 1996
Overall rank: 2,634th   Overall chart historyOverall chart history
Average Rating: 
78/100 (from 228 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution   Average rating historyAverage rating history
Accolades:
Award Top albums of 1996 (52nd)
Award Top albums of the 1990s (466th)
Award Best albums of all time (2,634th)
Product Details
Availability

eBay
eBay
Nas It Was Written Cassette Columbia Records 1996
Condition: Very Good


eBay
eBay
*OG 1996 W/ HYPE STICKER* It Was Written - Nas Vinyl | DJ Premier First Press VG
Condition: Used


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eBay
NAS Tape Lot: It Ain't Hard To Tell (Illmatic) Street Dreams (It Was Written)
Condition: Very Good


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Nas bestography

It Was Written is ranked 2nd best out of 21 albums by Nas on BestEverAlbums.com.

The best album by Nas is Illmatic which is ranked number 65 in the list of all-time albums with a total rank score of 17,884.

Nas album bestography « Higher ranked (65th) This album (2,634th) Lower ranked (4,127th) »
IllmaticIt Was WrittenStillmatic

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It Was Written track list

  Track ratingsTrack ratings The tracks on this album have an average rating of 82 out of 100 (all tracks have been rated).

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It Was Written rankings

It Was Written collection

It Was Written ratings

Average Rating: 
78/100 (from 228 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.

Showing latest 5 ratings for this album. | Show all 228 ratings for this album.

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RatingDate updatedMemberAlbum ratingsAvg. album rating
 
90/100
 Report rating
11/06/2024 12:09 Jameth  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 3,40368/100
 
80/100
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09/27/2024 20:25 bcc  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 85267/100
 
90/100
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08/14/2024 16:43 teague  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 4,14378/100
 
85/100
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03/06/2024 09:49 Siromynian  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1,42479/100
 
75/100
 Report rating
02/22/2024 18:31 Jakor  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 4,50870/100

Rating metrics: Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some albums can have several thousand ratings)

This album is rated in the top 3% of all albums on BestEverAlbums.com. This album has a Bayesian average rating of 77.5/100, a mean average of 76.0/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 77.7/100. The standard deviation for this album is 16.5.

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It Was Written comments

Showing all 6 comments |
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Rating:  
85/100
From 07/28/2021 11:54
Best tracks: The Message, If I Ruled the World, Affirmative Action, I Gave You Power, & Take it in Blood

Worst tracks: Nas is Coming, Watch dem N*** & Live N*** Rap
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 07/28/2021 02:36
Criminally underrated.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 07/08/2016 22:43
Can't say this isn't enjoyable. Nice production. Nice rapping. But the cynical switch in subject matter and drop in lyric quality from the debut grates. Straight head nodder though even with the misgivings. Better judgement says I'm wrong but i can't help but enjoy it.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (3 helpful | 1 unhelpful)
From 08/27/2015 17:10
When you have to follow-up one of the best albums ever made, you can only hope to do this well. I'd be a contrarian, and a lying one at that, to tell you this is better than Illmatic, but it's a powerful project that demands your attention.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 03/04/2012 21:51
If 4 or 5 weak tracks were omitted, we might have an Illmatic pt. 2 here. Still a great album just from the power of the first 8 tracks and the final big single. "I Gave You Power" is some potent writing that never ceases to give the chills. The beat on "The Message" and "Take it in Blood" are also phenomenal and construct the albums eerie atmosphere.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +5 votes (5 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 11/24/2009 19:15
The first half is incredible!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (1 helpful | 1 unhelpful)

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Best Albums of 1996
1. If You're Feeling Sinister by Belle And Sebastian
2. Pinkerton by Weezer
3. Endtroducing..... by DJ Shadow
4. Ænima by Tool
5. Odelay by Beck
6. Long Season by フィッシュマンズ [Fishmans]
7. Soundtracks For The Blind by Swans
8. ATLiens by OutKast
9. Tigermilk by Belle And Sebastian
10. Everything Must Go by Manic Street Preachers
11. The Score by Fugees
12. Richard D. James Album by Aphex Twin
13. Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z
14. Murder Ballads by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
15. Sublime by Sublime
16. Beautiful Freak by Eels
17. New Adventures In Hi-Fi by R.E.M.
18. Being There by Wilco
19. On Avery Island by Neutral Milk Hotel
20. Emperor Tomato Ketchup by Stereolab
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