IWW feels more polished and mainstream compared to Illmatic

With that said, Vol 1 and IWW are both classics

“It Was Written” is Nas’ OB4CL to me. Just how cinematic it is and the story telling and content and even some of the production. Those albums really pair so well together.

“Vol 1” is also shiny suit Jay and pairs well with the Bad Boy sound. Even though it was a departure from Reasonable Doubt, it feels really natural for Jay.

Both albums really give me such polar opposite feelings but I like the comparison because both are underappreciated. I lean with IWW. A lot of Nas on that album reminds me of Ghostface and I mean that as high praise. Love how expressive and animated he is one some of those songs.

YOU BELONG TO THE CITYYY

And yeaa f*** it I’m running IWW back in the morning too to see wassup

It’s pretty interesting listening back to Vol 1 and not being from that time period. I listen knowing what Jay Z became. But back then, I can see why it would be somewhat slept on based on where he was in his career compared to Mase for example or Nas and the aesthetic of the album and how he’s talking.

We have hindsight benefit and can read our perspective of Jay Z’s legacy into the album which is why it is more revered than it originally was.

Do you really listen to Dr Knockboot and You Won’t See Me Tonight? Money Is My B****??

Mid doesn’t mean bad. But it’s not top 5 Jigga

it was written

it was written is criminally underrated

lucky me tho

it's 6 or 7ish, it's not mid, it's a good album

what are we doing here bro

Vol 1

Money is my b**** yes, pass on the other 2.

Vol 1 is dope cut it out

Friend or Foe is a movie

Vol 1

It’s some of his strongest and most personal writing i can understand someone putting it at or near the top. I have it above american gangster personally and it might be my second or third most listened to jay album

Damn this is tough. Personally I’d go It Was Written even as a bigger Jay fan they’re both great though imo

it's no way an album with i know what girls like can be on the same level as iww. it's just not possible

Iconic

it was written >>>

miss me with the revisionism

Vol 1 only has 2 bad songs on it

The rest are amazing

His best album imo despite the skips

Vol 1
BP
American Gangster
RD
Black Album

My top 5

I def rank vol 1 over vol 2 & 3 even though I like those too.

There’s a lot of revisionism with IWW as well I personally think both albums are fire