Yup. IWW was all about flow to me. Easy lyrics to digest but that flow was the sharpest by an MC at the time
Like T.I. Trap Musik
Complex- Why Nas' "It Was Written" Is Better Than "Illmatic"
- Thread starter hustlemania
- Start date
Yup. IWW was all about flow to me. Easy lyrics to digest but that flow was the sharpest by an MC at the time
Like T.I. Trap Musik
Wait, nikkas didn't like black girl lost?
It Was Written was the natural progression of Nas as an artist. It's a great album, which one is better between The two is a matter of personal opinion but honestly if you listen to Illmatic, I mean REALLY LISTEN then it becomes quite obvious that It Was Written isn't the dramatic departure that people make it out to be. Nas's lyrics ALWAYS carried that imaginative, wistful desire to do more, experience more, BE more. When Nas says he'd open every Cell in Attica he's speaking on young black men just like that boy he met on the project bench. When you listen to I Gave You Power you hear the thoughts of the young man who has his own mask and gloves to bust slugs. The final lines of Ain't Hard To Tell speak DIRECTLY to his future ambitions "I NEVER felt Nas's raps should be locked in a Cell". He can't be bound by what OUR ideas of what's "real Hip Hop" are. He can't be bound by the project logic, the label bullshyt, or people's expectations. It Was Written is the proof of that statement and the second chapter of what it takes to become a legend.
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From a mainstream America standpoint, yes IWW is probably the preferred album. Just like from a mainstream America standpoint, Hard Knock Life is probably preferred over Reasonable Doubt. But from a hip hop standpoint, its Illmatic all day.
up in here
Superstar
Yeah, faggit nikkaz
Digga38
The seperation between what's fake and what's real
Idk whats wrong wit these new nikkas man
I prefer It Was Written and it in some ways, it can be argued as the better album, but the status of Illmatic is cemented. It doesn't matter how many units Nas moves or how creative, lyrically, and conceptually progressive or well-produced some of his other albums are, Illmatic will still be generally accepted as the best Nas album.
That being said, reading some of that Complex article after them saying It Was Written was a disappointment has me like
. It seems like Nas fans hit them up either on the comments section or via e-mail with that ether. In response, they were like 
and wrote this article. They are still getting their 
with the article though because it'll be another article distributed throughout Hip Hop forums and blogs so they can be like
at the traffic.
That being said, reading some of that Complex article after them saying It Was Written was a disappointment has me like
. It seems like Nas fans hit them up either on the comments section or via e-mail with that ether. In response, they were like and wrote this article. They are still getting their with the article though because it'll be another article distributed throughout Hip Hop forums and blogs so they can be likeat the traffic.
The problem with Internet journalism and Complex in particular (also Pitchfork) is that they try to back up their articles with such over analysis it's ridiculous ...
"On his second album , Nas mastered the use of space"
I can see how both albums are great. I don't think one is better than the other because it's apples to oranges.
I just copped that vinyl over this review, that and nastradamus. I'll have every nas record released officially on vinyl.
I just copped that vinyl over this review, that and nastradamus. I'll have every nas record released officially on vinyl.
As much as I hate Complex they were kind of on point with this one
Illmatic is a classic subway album
IWW is a great everywhere album
Take It In Blood is still my favorite Nas song of all time
Illmatic is a classic subway album
IWW is a great everywhere album
Take It In Blood is still my favorite Nas song of all time
Digga38
The seperation between what's fake and what's real
IWW >ILLMATIC
All first verse
My man put me up for the share, one-fourth of a square
Headed for Delaware, with one change of gear
Nothin on my mind but the dime sack we blazed
with the glaze in my eye, that we find when we crave
dollars and cents, a fugitive with two attempts
Jakes had no trace of the face, now they drew a print
Though I'm innocent, til proven guilty
I'ma try to get filthy, purchase a club and start up realty
For real G, I'ma fullfill my dream
If I conceal my scheme, then precisely I'll build my cream
the first trip without the clique
Sent the bytch with the quarter brick, this is it
Fresh face, NY plates got a Crooked I for the Jakes
I want it all, ArmorAll Benz and endless papes
God sake, what nikka got to do to make a half million
without the FBI catchin feelings
All first verse
My man put me up for the share, one-fourth of a square
Headed for Delaware, with one change of gear
Nothin on my mind but the dime sack we blazed
with the glaze in my eye, that we find when we crave
dollars and cents, a fugitive with two attempts
Jakes had no trace of the face, now they drew a print
Though I'm innocent, til proven guilty
I'ma try to get filthy, purchase a club and start up realty
For real G, I'ma fullfill my dream
If I conceal my scheme, then precisely I'll build my cream
the first trip without the clique
Sent the bytch with the quarter brick, this is it
Fresh face, NY plates got a Crooked I for the Jakes
I want it all, ArmorAll Benz and endless papes
God sake, what nikka got to do to make a half million
without the FBI catchin feelings
2manyFCKNrappers
mentally i measure kilos
complex can suck a dikk with aids on the tip as far as i'm concerned....