Tracklist Hide Credits

A1	Album Intro Producer – Nas, TrackmastersWritten-By – N. Jones*	2:28
A2	The Message Engineer [Mix] – Rich TravaliProducer, Mixed By – Poke And ToneScratches – D.J. Kid Capri*Written By – N. Jones/S. BarnesWritten-By – N. Jones*, S. Barnes*	4:10
A3	Street Dreams Engineer [Mix] – Rich TravaliKeyboards – Delight Producer, Mixed By – Poke And ToneWritten By – A. Lennox/D. Stewart/N. Jones/S. BarnesWritten-By – A. Lennox*, D. Stewart*, N. Jones*, S. Barnes*	4:41
A4	I Gave You Power Engineer – Eddie SanchoProducer – DJ PremierWritten By – N. Jones/C. MartinWritten-By – C. Martin*, N. Jones*	3:56
A5	Watch Dem Niggas Engineer [Mix] – Rich TravaliKeyboards – Delight Producer, Mixed By – Poke And ToneWritten By – N. Jones/S. BarnesWritten-By – N. Jones*, S. Barnes*	4:06
A6	Take It In Blood Engineer [Mix] – Rich TravaliMixed By – Poke And ToneProducer – Live Squad, Lo Ground, Top General SoundsWritten By – N. Jones/R. Walker/J.T. Epps, Jr./J. Pruitt/W. Childs/C. HorneWritten-By – C. Horne*, J.T. Epps, Jr.*, J. Pruitt*, N. Jones*, R. Walker*, W. Childs*	4:49
A7	The Set Up Engineer [Mix Engineer] – Mike FrondaKeyboards – Delight Producer – Havoc Written By – N. Jones/K. MuchitaWritten-By – K. Muchita*, N. Jones*	4:26
B1	Black Girl Lost Engineer [Mix] – Bill Esses, Rich TravaliFeaturing, Backing Vocals [Background] – Jojo Hailey*Producer – L.E.S.Producer [Additional Production], Mixed By – Poke And ToneWritten By – N. Jones/L. Lewis/Mtume/LucasWritten-By – Mtume*, L. Lewis*, N. Jones*, Lucas*	4:32
B2	Suspect Engineer [Mix] – Rich TravaliMixed By – Poke And ToneProducer – L.E.S.Written By – N. Jones/L. LewisWritten-By – L. Lewis*, N. Jones*	4:16
B3	Shootouts Engineer [Mix] – Rich TravaliMixed By – Poke And ToneProducer – Kirk Goddy, Poke And ToneWritten By – N. Jones/S. Barnes/J. OlivierWritten-By – J. Olivier*, N. Jones*, S. Barnes*	3:46
B4	Nas Is Coming Engineer – Kelston RiceProducer – Dr. DreWritten By – N. Jones/A. YoungWritten-By – A. Young*, N. Jones*	5:40
B5	Affirmative Action Engineer [Mix] – Rich TravaliFeaturing – The Firm Featuring [The Firm] – AZ, Cormega, Foxy Brown, NasKeyboards – Dave AtkinsonMixed By – Poke And ToneProducer – Dave Atkinson, Poke And ToneWritten By – N. Jones/A. Cruz/I. Marchand/C. McKay/S. Barnes/J. OlivierWritten-By – A. Cruz*, C. McKay*, I. Marchand*, J. Olivier*, N. Jones*, S. Barnes*	4:20
B6	Live Nigga Rap Mixed By – Ken "Duro" Ifle*Producer – Havoc Rap [Verse] – Havoc , ProdigyWritten By – N. Jones/K. MuchitaWritten-By – K. Muchita*, N. Jones*	3:46
B7	If I Ruled The World (Imagine That) Engineer [Mix] – Rich TravaliFeaturing, Vocals – Lauryn HillKeyboards – Delight Mixed By – Poke And ToneProducer – Poke And ToneProducer [Additional Production] – Rashad SmithWritten By – N. Jones/J. Olivier/S. Barnes/K. WalkerWritten-By – J. Olivier*, K. Walker*, N. Jones*, S. Barnes*	4:44
B8	Affirmative Action (Saint Denis Style Remix

Companies, etc.

• Phonographic Copyright (p) – Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
• 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.
• 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
• Mixed At – The Hit Factory
• Mixed At – D&D Studios
• Mixed At – Dre's Crib
• Copyright (c) – Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
• Copyright (c) – Zomba Enterprises, Inc.
• Copyright (c) – Ill Will Music, Inc.
• Copyright (c) – Slamuwell Productions Inc.
• Copyright (c) – DJ Premier Publishing
• Copyright (c) – Gifted Pearl
• Copyright (c) – Grand Imperial Music
• Copyright (c) – Bridgeport Music, Inc.
• Copyright (c) – Juvenile Hall Music
• Copyright (c) – BMG-Careers Music Inc.
• Copyright (c) – Mawkeen's Music, Inc.
• Copyright (c) – Famous Music Corporation
• Copyright (c) – 12 & Under Music Inc.
• Copyright (c) – Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But Fu-kin' Music, Inc.
• Copyright (c) – Kuwa Music
• Copyright (c) – 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.
• Recorded At – Sony Music Studios, New York City
• 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
• 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
• 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".

This song (Street Dreams) is an interpolation of "Sweet Dreams" as written by Dave Stewart and Annie Lennox and performed by the Eurythmics. Used courtesy of RCA Records.
This song (Street Dreams) also contains a portion of "Never Gonna Stop" as performed by Linda Clifford. Used courtesy of BMG Songs, Inc.. © 1982 D'N'A limited/BMG Publishing Limited.

This song (Watch Dem Niggas) contains a portion of "Sponge" as written by Earl Klugh and Bob James, and performed by Earl Klugh. Used courtesy of Warner Special Products and Soda Fountain Music.

This song (Take It In Blood) contains a sample of "Mixed Up Moods & Attitudes" as performed by the Fantastic Four.

This song (Black Girl Lost) contains a sample of "Starlight" as performed by Stephanie Mills. Used courtesy of Polygram Records and Famous Music, Inc..

This song (Suspect) contains a portion of "El Gatto Triste" as written and performed by Chuck Mangione. Courtesy of Mercury Records and Upam Music.

"If I Ruled The World" contains portions of "Friends (Instrumental)" written by L. Parker courtesy of Zomba Enterprises, Inc./Funk Groove Music Inc..
"If I Ruled The World" written by Kurt Walker, performed by Kurtis Blow. Courtesy of Kuwa Music.

Back cover:
© 1996 Sony Music Entertainment Inc./℗ 1996 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.

Printed inner sleeve:
Mastered […] at Sterling Sound, NYC

Management [...] for Stiggedy Entertainment

Barcode and Other Identifiers

• Barcode (Text): 5099748419637
• Barcode (Compact text): 5099748419637
• 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
• Rights Society: ASCAP
• Rights Society (A6, A7, B3, B5, B7): BMI

Other versions

Category	Artist	Title (Format)	Label	Category	Country	Year
CK 67015	Nas	It Was Written ‎(CD, Album)	Columbia	CK 67015	US	1996
484196 1	Nas	It Was Written ‎(LP, Album)	Columbia	484196 1	Europe	1996
484196 2, col 484196 2, 4841962011	Nas	It Was Written ‎(CD, Album)	Columbia, Columbia, Columbia	484196 2, col 484196 2, 4841962011	Europe	1996
none	Nas	It Was Written ‎(Cass, Album, Unofficial, Chr)	Not On Label	none	US	Unknown
none	Nas	It Was Written (Clean Version) ‎(CDr, Album)	Whitfield Street	none	UK	1996