Nas will release a new reissue of his 1996 album It Was Written to commemorate the album’s 25th anniversary, which will include the original album as well as two rare bonus songs.
It Was Written, the follow-up to his landmark debut Illmatic, including the singles “The Message,” “Street Dreams,” and “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)” with Lauryn Hill. Mobb Deep, Dr. Dre, Foxy Brown, and the Firm, a hip-hop supergroup composed of Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Cormega, all made cameos on the album.
The digital expanded edition, which will be released on July 2nd — the album’s actual 25th birthday — will feature the cassette-only bonus track “Silent Murder” (which will be available digitally for the first time) as well as a version of “Street Dreams” with a bonus verse.
Get On Down will also reissue the album as 2LP “silver & clear galaxy effect” coloured vinyl and an old-school cassette with an original 8 panel J-Card including lyrics housed in a custom slip case. Get It Down is also offering a 7′′ coloured vinyl of “The Message”/”Street Dreams (bonus version)” for pre-order now, ahead of the physical reissue’s September release.
To commemorate the anniversary, Sony Music has re-uploaded the high-resolution quality of It Was Written’s “If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)” and “Street Dreams” music videos, as well as a short documentary on the 1996 album.
