Tracklist
| A1 | Album Intro | 2:28 | |
| A2 | The Message | 4:10 | |
| A3 | Street Dreams | 4:41 | |
| A4 | I Gave You Power | 3:56 | |
| A5 | Watch Dem Niggas | 4:06 | |
| A6 | Take It In Blood | 4:49 | |
| A7 | The Set Up | 4:26 | |
| B1 | Black Girl Lost | 4:32 | |
| B2 | Suspect | 4:16 | |
| B3 | Shootouts | 3:46 | |
| B4 | Nas Is Coming | 5:40 | |
| B5 | Affirmative Action | 4:20 | |
| B6 | Live Nigga Rap | 3:46 | |
| B7 | If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) | 4:44 |
Companies, etc.
- Manufactured By – Columbia Records
- Produced For – Trackmasters Entertainment
- Produced For – 2000 Watts Music
- Produced For – Works Of Mart, Inc.
- Produced For – Total Package Productions, Inc.
- Produced For – Tumblin' Dice Productions, Inc.
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
- Copyright © – Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
- Copyright © – Zomba Enterprises, Inc.
- Copyright © – Ill Will Music, Inc.
- Copyright © – Slamuwell Productions Inc.
- Copyright © – DJ Premier Publishing
- Copyright © – Gifted Pearl
- Copyright © – Grand Imperial Music
- Copyright © – Bridgeport Music, Inc.
- Copyright © – Juvenile Hall Music
- Copyright © – BMG-Careers Music Inc.
- Copyright © – Famous Music Corporation
- Copyright © – Mawkeen's Music, Inc.
- Copyright © – 12 & Under Music Inc.
- Copyright © – Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But Fu-kin' Music, Inc.
- Copyright © – Kuwa Music
- Copyright © – Life's A Bitch Music
- Published By – Zomba Enterprises, Inc.
- Published By – Ill Will Music, Inc.
- Published By – Slamuwell Productions Inc.
- Published By – DJ Premier Publishing
- Published By – Gifted Pearl
- Published By – Grand Imperial Music
- Published By – Bridgeport Music, Inc.
- Published By – Juvenile Hall Music
- Published By – BMG-Careers Music Inc.
- Published By – Mawkeen's Music, Inc.
- Published By – Famous Music Corporation
- Published By – 12 & Under Music Inc.
- Published By – Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But Fu-kin' Music, Inc.
- Published By – Life's A Bitch Music
- Published By – Kuwa Music
- Recorded At – Soundtrack Studios
- Recorded At – D&D Studios
- Recorded At – Bearsville Studios
- Recorded At – The Hit Factory
- Recorded At – Chung King Studios
- Recorded At – Dre's Crib
- Recorded At – Westlake Studios
- Recorded At – Sony Music Studios, New York City
- Mixed At – The Hit Factory
- Mixed At – D&D Studios
- Mixed At – Dre's Crib
- Mastered At – Sterling Sound
Credits
- A&R [Direction] – Faith Newman
- Administrator [Administrative Assistance] – L'Oreal Coppedge*, Joy Burrell*
- Art Direction, Design – Aimée Macauley
- Executive-Producer – Nas, Steve Stoute, Trackmasters
- Legal [Sample Clearances] – Nikki Johnson Of Sample Thatt!!*
- Management – Steve Stoute, Stiggedy Entertainment
- Mastered By – Tom Coyne
- Photography By – Danny Clinch
Notes
On tracks A7 and B6, "Havoc" is credited as "Havoc Of Mobb Deep".
On track B1 "Jojo Hailey" is credited as "Jojo Hailey Of Jodeci".
On inner-sleeve:
album intro [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba music enterprises inc.) (ascap) [...]
the message [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment [....] mixed [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap)/slamuwell productions, inc. (acsap) [...]
street dreams [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] keyboards by [...] for 2000 watts music. recorded at soundtrack studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] this song is an interpolation of "sweet dreams" [...] used courtesy of rca records and d'n'a limited/music publishing limited (prs). administered in the u.s. by bmg songs, inc. (ascap). this song also contains a portion of "never gonna stop" [...] used courtesy of bmg songs, inc. (ascap) © 1982 d'n'a limited/bmg music publishing limited (prs)/administered in the u.s. by bmg songs, inc. (ascap). © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.)/slamuwell productions, inc. (ascap) [...]
i gave you power [...] produced [...] for works of mart, inc. recorded and mixed [...] at d&d studios, nyc [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.)/dj premier publishing/gifted pearl (ascap) [...]
watch dem niggas [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment. keyboards by [...] for 2000 watts music. recorded at bearsville studios, ny. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] this song contains a portion of "sponge" [...] used courtesy of warner special products and soda fountain music. © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.)/slamuwell productions (ascap) [...]
take it in blood [...] recorded at soundtrack studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] this song contains a sample of "mixed up moods & attitudes" [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap)/grand imperial music/bridgeport music, inc. (bmi) [...]
the set up [...] recorded and mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap)/juvenile hall music (bmi) (administered by bmg -carreers music inc.) [...]
black girl lost [...] produced [...] for total package productions, inc. additional production [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] recorded at sony music studios, and soundtrack studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] jojo hailey appears courtesy of mca records. this song contains a sample of "starlight" [...] used courtesy of polygram records and famous music, inc. © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc./mawkeen's music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.)/famous music corp. (ascap) [...]
suspect [...] produced [...] for total package productions, inc. recorded at chung king studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] this song contains a portion of "el gatto triste" [...] courtesy of mercury records and upam music. © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc./mawkeen's music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap) [...]
shootouts [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment. recorded at chung king studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) /slamuwell productions, inc. (ascap)/12 & under music, inc. (bmi) [...]
nas is coming [...] recorded and mixed at dre's house, la [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap)/ain't nothin' goin on but fu-kin music, inc. [...]
affirmative actions [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment. keyboards [...] for trackmasters entertainment. mixed by [...] for trackmasters entertainment. recorded and mixed [...] at hit factory studios, nyc [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.)/slamuwell productions, inc./life's a bitch music (ascap)/12 & under music, inc. (bmi)/a. cruz/i. marchand/c. mckay [...]
live nigga rap [...] recorded at chung king studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap)juvenile hall music (bmi) (administered by bmg -careers music inc.) [...]
if i ruled the world (imagine that) [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment. additional production [...] for tumbling dice productions, inc. keyboards [...] for 2000 watts music. recorded at hit factory studios, nyc & westlake studios, la. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] featured vocals [...] courtesy of ruffhouse/columbia records. contains portions of "friends (instrumental)" [....] courtesy of zomba enterprises, inc./funk groove music, inc.(administered by zomba enterprises, inc.) (ascap) under license from jive records. "if i ruled the world" [...] courtesy of kuwa music (ascap) [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterpises inc.) (ascap)/12 & under music, inc. (bmi)/slamuwell productions, inc./kuwa music (ascap) [...]
© 1996 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
On back cover:
© 1996 sony music entertainment inc./℗ 1996 sony music entertainment inc. [...]
On labels:
℗ 1996 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
On track B1 "Jojo Hailey" is credited as "Jojo Hailey Of Jodeci".
On inner-sleeve:
album intro [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba music enterprises inc.) (ascap) [...]
the message [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment [....] mixed [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap)/slamuwell productions, inc. (acsap) [...]
street dreams [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] keyboards by [...] for 2000 watts music. recorded at soundtrack studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] this song is an interpolation of "sweet dreams" [...] used courtesy of rca records and d'n'a limited/music publishing limited (prs). administered in the u.s. by bmg songs, inc. (ascap). this song also contains a portion of "never gonna stop" [...] used courtesy of bmg songs, inc. (ascap) © 1982 d'n'a limited/bmg music publishing limited (prs)/administered in the u.s. by bmg songs, inc. (ascap). © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.)/slamuwell productions, inc. (ascap) [...]
i gave you power [...] produced [...] for works of mart, inc. recorded and mixed [...] at d&d studios, nyc [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.)/dj premier publishing/gifted pearl (ascap) [...]
watch dem niggas [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment. keyboards by [...] for 2000 watts music. recorded at bearsville studios, ny. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] this song contains a portion of "sponge" [...] used courtesy of warner special products and soda fountain music. © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.)/slamuwell productions (ascap) [...]
take it in blood [...] recorded at soundtrack studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] this song contains a sample of "mixed up moods & attitudes" [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap)/grand imperial music/bridgeport music, inc. (bmi) [...]
the set up [...] recorded and mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap)/juvenile hall music (bmi) (administered by bmg -carreers music inc.) [...]
black girl lost [...] produced [...] for total package productions, inc. additional production [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] recorded at sony music studios, and soundtrack studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] jojo hailey appears courtesy of mca records. this song contains a sample of "starlight" [...] used courtesy of polygram records and famous music, inc. © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc./mawkeen's music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.)/famous music corp. (ascap) [...]
suspect [...] produced [...] for total package productions, inc. recorded at chung king studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] this song contains a portion of "el gatto triste" [...] courtesy of mercury records and upam music. © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc./mawkeen's music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap) [...]
shootouts [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment. recorded at chung king studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) /slamuwell productions, inc. (ascap)/12 & under music, inc. (bmi) [...]
nas is coming [...] recorded and mixed at dre's house, la [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap)/ain't nothin' goin on but fu-kin music, inc. [...]
affirmative actions [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment. keyboards [...] for trackmasters entertainment. mixed by [...] for trackmasters entertainment. recorded and mixed [...] at hit factory studios, nyc [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.)/slamuwell productions, inc./life's a bitch music (ascap)/12 & under music, inc. (bmi)/a. cruz/i. marchand/c. mckay [...]
live nigga rap [...] recorded at chung king studios, nyc. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterprises inc.) (ascap)juvenile hall music (bmi) (administered by bmg -careers music inc.) [...]
if i ruled the world (imagine that) [...] produced [...] for trackmasters entertainment. additional production [...] for tumbling dice productions, inc. keyboards [...] for 2000 watts music. recorded at hit factory studios, nyc & westlake studios, la. mixed at hit factory studios, nyc [...] for trackmasters entertainment [...] featured vocals [...] courtesy of ruffhouse/columbia records. contains portions of "friends (instrumental)" [....] courtesy of zomba enterprises, inc./funk groove music, inc.(administered by zomba enterprises, inc.) (ascap) under license from jive records. "if i ruled the world" [...] courtesy of kuwa music (ascap) [...] © 1996 zomba enterprises inc./ill will music, inc. (administered by zomba enterpises inc.) (ascap)/12 & under music, inc. (bmi)/slamuwell productions, inc./kuwa music (ascap) [...]
© 1996 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
On back cover:
© 1996 sony music entertainment inc./℗ 1996 sony music entertainment inc. [...]
On labels:
℗ 1996 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
- Barcode (Text): 0 7464-67015-1 5
- Barcode (Compact text): 074646701515
- Matrix / Runout (Label side A): AL 67015
- Matrix / Runout (Label side B): BL 67015
- Matrix / Runout (Runout variant #1 side A, etched): AL-67015
- Matrix / Runout (Runout variant #1 side B, etched): BL-67015
- Matrix / Runout (Runout variant #2 side A, etched): AL-67015 3
- Matrix / Runout (Runout variant #2 side B, etched): BL-67015 2
- Matrix / Runout (Runout variant #3 side A, etched): AL-67015 2
- Matrix / Runout (Runout variant #3 side B, etched): BL-67015 1
- Rights Society: ASCAP
- Rights Society (A6, A7, B3, B5 to B7): BMI
- Rights Society (A3): PRS
Other Versions (5 of 62)
View All| Title (Format) | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Recently Edited | It Was Written (LP, Album) | Columbia | 484196 1 | Europe | 1996 | ||
Recently Edited | It Was Written (CD, Album) | Columbia, Columbia | 484196 2, col 484196 2 | Europe | 1996 | ||
Recently Edited | It Was Written (CD, Album) | Columbia | CK 67015 | US | 1996 | ||
Recently Edited | It Was Written (CD, Album) | Columbia | 484196 2 | Australia | 1996 | ||
Recently Edited | It Was Written (Cassette, Album) | Columbia | Ct 67015 | US | 1996 |
Recommendations
Reviews
My copy is very quiet and has a decent amount of surface noise. That said, it's still pretty great. This is a classic album that is criminally underrated.- ...no comparisson to his first LP- from then on all production basically went down the drain...what a dilemma with one of the best mcs to ever bless the mic....
- Amazing Album. It’s rumored that this was the very album that 2Pac was listening to when he got killed.
Mic drop 
My Original US LP is in good condition but there is lot of crakles over the entire duration. It's still the best to have in collection.- Looking for JUST the cover for this record. If you have one you are willing to part ways with, please message me!
Quite a poor pressing, this one comes crackling out of the box and even skipped on the B3 upon first time listening. Musically, a whole different story.
Release
For sale on Discogs
Sell a copy88 copies from $23.36
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