Illmatic or It Was Written: Why Hip-Hop Has Been Asking the Wrong Question

For almost 30 years, hip-hop has argued over one question: Illmatic or It Was Written? I think we've been so busy trying to decide which album is better that we've overlooked the more interesting conversation. Instead of asking which album won, maybe we should be asking what each album was trying to accomplish—and that's where Nas' legacy becomes even more impressive. Most discussions about these two classic hip hop albums turn into a music criticism debate over which one deserves the crown. I don't think that's the right conversation. Nas Illmatic album and It Was Written represent two completely different stages in Nas' artistic journey. One introduced a once-in-a-generation lyricist to the world. The other showed what happened after the world finally caught up. In this conversation, we're looking at why Illmatic became one of the greatest debut albums in hip-hop history, why so many fans—and even legendary MCs like Jadakiss—prefer It Was Written, and why I believe trying to force one album to "beat" the other misses the point entirely. We'll also compare songs like "N.Y. State of Mind" and "The Message," "One Love" and "I Gave You Power," and explore how Nas' storytelling, songwriting, and artistic vision evolved between 1994 and 1996. Whether you're Team Illmatic, Team It Was Written, or somewhere in the middle, I hope this conversation gives you a different perspective on one of hip-hop's most enduring debates. Video Chapters: Illmatic vs. It Was Written: Why This Debate Never Ends— 0:00 — 1:02 Why Illmatic Is Considered One of Hip-Hop's Greatest Albums — 1:03 — 2:35 Why Many Fans Prefer It Was Written Over Illmatic — 2:36 — 4:51 What Illmatic and It Was Written Were Really Trying to Accomplish — 4:52 — 5:39 Why Comparing Nas' Two Classics Misses the Point — 5:40 — 6:53 Why Hip-Hop Struggles With Artists Who Evolve — 6:54 — 8:02 We’ve Been Answering the Wrong Question — 8:03 — 8:45 Illmatic or It Was Written? My Final Answer — 8:46 — 10:49 OUTRO + CTA — 10:50 — 11:29 Get vidIQ to grow your channel faster! 🚀 https://vidiq.com/BroadwaytheLyric 🎤 Subscribe for weekly Hip-Hop commentary, history, reactions, and cultural debates. Whether we're breaking down rap legends, revisiting forgotten classics, or challenging today's biggest conversations, this channel is dedicated to the hip-hop discussions we should be having. 🎬 Watch More ► Hip-Hop Didn't Tell You...    • Who REALLY Controls Hip Hop?   ► Where Are They Now?    • Obie Trice: The Rise, Fall & Aftermath   ► Rappers We Don't Talk About Enough   • Busta Rhymes’ Legendary Run | Rappers We D...   ► Albums We Don't Talk About Enough   • Nas & DJ Premier’s Light Years Is Dividing...   📱 Follow Broadway the Lyricist ► Instagram  / broadwaythelyricist   ► TikTok  / broadwaythelyricist   ► Facebook  / broadwaythelyricist   ► Threadshttps://threads.net/@BroadwayTheLyricist 🎙️ Equipment I Use ► Canon EOS R50 ► Shure MV7+ ► Rodecaster Duo ► DaVinci Resolve Studio 🤝 Business Inquiries Business Email:[email protected] #Nas #Illmatic #ItWasWritten #BroadwaytheLyricist