It Was Written "Illmatic", the album contains a more detailed and elaborate production, while it shares similarity to the G-funk sound, relying heavily on sampled and looped funk grooves. "It Was Written" has Nas experimenting with a theatrical mafioso concept under the alias of "Nas Escobar" (inspired by the Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar). The album's subject matter has been noted for its focus on materialistic excess and other mafioso lyrical themes. Jon Pareles of "The New York Times" wrote of Nas's shift in lyrical themes from "Illmatic", stating he "repeatedly cites the Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and drops brand names of
Pablo Escobar, The Drug Lord 10pm/9c, replacing "Decisiones Extremas". From July 30, 2012 to January 24, 2013, Telemundo aired half-hour episodes of "Pablo Escobar" and "El Rostro de la Venganza" weeknights, both sharing the 10pm time slot. From January 25 onwards, one-hour episodes of "El Rostro de la Venganza" were broadcast. The series begins and ends with his dramatic last moments before being shot to death by agents of the Colombian National Police, while escaping from a relative's home, and later flashing back to his chilhood in Valle de Aburra, Colombia, where Pablo is teased by his cousin, Gonzalo, and older brother, Peluche, on a