Nas Marks 30 Years of ‘It Was Written’ as His Hip-Hop Legacy Keeps Growing

Thirty years after its release, Nas’ It Was Written remains a defining chapter in his career. Released on July 2, 1996, the Queensbridge rapper’s sophomore album expanded his sound and storytelling, taking the lyricist introduced on Illmatic to a much larger audience.

The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 250,000 copies in its first week. “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That),” featuring Lauryn Hill, and “Street Dreams” became signature records, while “The Message,” “I Gave You Power” and “Take It in Blood” showcased his range. “Affirmative Action,” featuring AZ, Foxy Brown and Cormega, introduced the lineup that became The Firm.

The anniversary arrives during another active year for Nas. In March, Mass Appeal released Feature Presentation 2025, a 15-track collection bringing together his guest appearances from the Legend Has It… series alongside commentary on the artists involved. His official store also marked It Was Written’s 30th anniversary with a collection inspired by the album and its singles.

This week, Nas joined Slick Rick and comic artist Sanford Greene at New York Comic Con, continuing Mass Appeal’s crossover with Marvel through Legend Has It… and a forthcoming collaboration involving the X-Men. The appearance brought his role as both an artist and a champion of hip-hop’s legacy into another creative world.

That momentum follows Light-Years, his long-awaited collaborative album with DJ Premier, released on December 12, 2025. Their reunion offers another connection to It Was Written, which also featured Premier’s production.

For Nas, 2026 has been a chance to revisit a landmark album while giving listeners and fans new ways to engage with his work. Three decades later, It Was Written still gives hip-hop plenty to talk about.