Nas It Was Written Gold & Black Marble Vinyl

Some listeners look for the raw, underground feel associated with early ’90s hip-hop, others prefer a more polished sound with cinematic themes. It Was Written takes the latter direction, pairing Nas’s storytelling with mafioso and gangsta subject matter.

Looking for a landmark Nas album in a distinctive vinyl presentation? This edition features gold-and-black marble-colored vinyl, giving the release a visual detail that stands out in a record collection.

Originally released in 1996, It Was Written is Nas’s second studio album. Its sound and themes mark a clear shift toward a more polished, mainstream approach.

Technical overview

This is a vinyl edition of It Was Written, the second studio album by American rapper Nas. The pressing is described as limited and uses a gold-and-black marble color design. That combination makes it suited to listeners who want the album in a physical format as well as fans drawn to distinctive colored vinyl.

• Name: It Was Written
• Format: Vinyl
• Color: Gold and black marble
• Dimensions: 0.32 x 12.42 x 12.17 inches
• Weight: 15.52 ounces

Best use cases

Choose this edition to add a pivotal Nas release to a hip-hop collection, or to spend time with an album that moves beyond a raw underground aesthetic toward a more polished, cinematic sound. The production was largely handled by Trackmasters, and the album helped introduce The Firm, a group featuring Foxy Brown, AZ, and Cormega.

The album’s mafioso and gangsta themes give it a distinct identity within Nas’s catalog. Buyers often describe it as a ’90s hip-hop classic and praise its rap and beats, while feedback on sound quality is mixed. That range of reactions is useful context for listeners choosing it for the music and album experience rather than expecting a particular playback result.

Getting the most from it

Set aside time to listen to the album as a complete release and follow the shift in mood, production, and subject matter across its tracks. If you collect vinyl, the marble coloring adds a visual feature to the edition, if you are exploring Nas’s catalog, its more polished approach offers a different point of comparison from an underground sound. A vinyl-compatible turntable is the practical way to play this format.

Questions before you buy

What is It Was Written? It is Nas’s second studio album, originally released on July 2, 1996. The album takes a more polished, mainstream direction than a raw underground approach.

What style and themes does the album explore? Its sound embraces mafioso and gangsta themes, with production largely by Trackmasters.

Who appeared in The Firm? The group’s lineup featured Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Cormega, the album marked the group’s first appearance.

Is it worth it?

For listeners who want Nas’s 1996 album on vinyl, this edition brings together the record’s polished, cinematic direction and a limited gold-and-black marble presentation. It makes a fitting addition for fans of ’90s hip-hop and collectors looking for a visually distinctive version of It Was Written.