Nas – It Was Written (2-LP Vinyl)

Recorded at a moment when New York hip-hop's commercial ambitions and street credibility were in direct tension, Nas leaned into lush production from Trackmasters and Dr. Dre collaborator Dj Quik, drawing criticism from some corners of the underground while earning him his first platinum certifications. The Firm supergroup, featuring AZ, Foxy Brown, and Nature, materialized largely from the chemistry built here, with "Affirmative Action" serving as the clearest blueprint for that collective's aesthetic.