Wtf do him releasing a song a year later prove? Illmatic was the reason Nas considered one of the best.
IWW is only being considered a classic because Nas fans deep down know none of his other albums are even respected like that. So they championing this album when in reality it’s a good album that was criticized upon release.
Well, Jay was insinuating Nas fell off. If Nas had fallen off and IWW was so bad, how was he still being argued as Top 3? Rap had changed drastically since
Illmatic and no
Illmatic wasn't the sole reason why Nas was considered one of the best being that
It Was Written was the introduction of Nas to many.
Illmatic was still being slept on.
There are a lot of classics that are criticized upon release. It changes nothing. There's a lot about
It Was Written that is classic that has absolutely nothing to do with Nas fans. "I Gave You Power" inspired Pac. Foxy's
Ill Na Na is heavily influenced by IWW. How many MC's outside of Death Row or Ruthless affiliates had a Dre track? More importantly, a Dre track appearing on an East Coast album in the middle of the East/West media driven feud?
It Was Written inspired Lupe's
Food & Liquor in 2006, which is a decade after it initially dropped.