The Album That Turned Nas Into A Star Turns 25

The legendary MC’s debut was both the greatest rap album of all time and a commercial flop. His legacy hung on the success of his second and eventually best-selling album It Was Written. For its 25th anniversary, we revisit how Queensbridge’s finest went from nasty to number one.

In the summer of 1996 Nasir Jones was the greatest rapper alive. After releasing a debut album two years…