Nas attending a Prince concert earlier this year. (Wireimage)
In the face of criticism from black leaders and representatives from the NAACP, Nasir Jones better known by his rap name Nas, recently spoke to MTV about the rumors concerning his new album, entitled Nigga.
Nas says that not only is his album coming out, but he’s going to go a step further and call it Nigger.
“I’m a street disciple,” Nas told MTV News. “I’m talking to the streets. Stay out of our business. You ain’t got no business worrying about what the word ‘nigger’ is or acting like you know what my album is about without talking to me. Whether you in the NAACP or you Jesse Jackson. I respect all of them … I just want them to know: Never fall victim to Fox. Never fall victim to the sh—they do. What they do is try to hurry up and get you on the phone and try to get you to talk about something you might not know about yet.
“If Cornell West was making an album called Nigger, they would know he’s got something intellectual to say,” Nas continued. “To think I’m gonna say something that’s not intellectual is calling me a nigger, and to be called a nigger by Jesse Jackson and the NAACP is counterproductive, counter-revolutionary.”
Nas told MTV he was unhappy that the titled had leaked out before he had a chance to explain why he’s using the N-word.
“I wanna make the word easy on muthafuckas’ ears,” he explained. “You see how white boys ain’t mad at ‘cracker’ ‘cause it don’t have the same [sting] as ‘nigger’? I want ‘nigger’ to have less meaning [than] ‘cracker.’ With all the bullsh—that’s going on in the world, racism is at its peak. I wanna do the sh—that’s not being done. I wanna be the artist who ain’t out. I wanna make the music I wanna hear.
“We’re taking power from the word,” he continued. “No disrespect to none of them who were part of the civil-rights movement, but some of my niggas in the streets don’t know who [civil-rights activist] Medgar Evers was. I love Medgar Evers, but some of the niggas in the streets don’t know Medgar Evers, they know who Nas is. And to my older people who don’t now who Nas is and who don’t know what a street disciple is, stay outta this muthafuckin’ conversation. We’ll talk to you when we’re ready. Right now, we’re on a whole new movement. We’re taking power from that word.”
For the full story:
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1572287/20071018/nas.jhtml
I am a retired school teacher who now has a free tutoring program in the city of Chicago.
After helping my sons to graduate from MIT and Harvard Law schools, then I turned th basement of my home into a classroom. I started mentoring the tutoring classs in the church I attended when I was a teacher.
I have a baby grand piano in my class, two years ago I got a very large grant for the children to study the arts, they are getting vocal and music skills lessons.
I don’t encourage them to isten to any music that has profanity or the N word in it, because when they come to my home I want them to see a place different from where we live and that is what Mr. Cosby is talking about stop running our mouths and do something for our selves and community to make a change.
By the way before I can teach many of the children for about three weeks I have to deal wirh the sociall issues of getting many of them clothes and making sure they are eating porperly. I feed them each day as well a good nutritous snack, many of them take fruits home to their brothers and sisters who are too young to enroll.
I tutor from the grades of 1rst to 12th I do not go by age because that does not meanything in our community.
In fact one of my students recieved an educational grant from a cntest Fantasia Barrino sponsored this summer she was a very slow reader when she started the proram which affected her ability to well in Math she today is an honor student, she was afraid to enter contest but her mother is very supportive and she was a winner.
So, to #162 I say to yu and any others here I have earned my right to voice my opinion. Thank you. I am a 59 year old ADULT!!!!!!
By the way as I prviously said I don’t comment I only come site to get a feel on young black america in the entertainment industry, and I don’t camp here so I missed the cosby post and glad she did that!
By the way we were recently given a brand 2007 vehicle fully loaded so I can pick the children up from schools because many were missing classes because they could not get there, the vehicle was donated and by a well know arist which I will not mention due to his request. I was given $1,000.00 gas card and the insurance is paid for five years, full coverage. That is what we am talking about!!!!!
Nas has the type of education that you can’t receive from your formal education, let’s not act like the school curriculum is not Eurocentric oriented, the dude has knowledge, but just because it differs from what is given in grade school doesn’t mean he isn’t qualified to speak on an issue that affects black people as a whole. You all act like white people using the word is the same as when one of your own uses it, let’s stop with that. Some of you would rather feed your children a history based around European principles then one around Afrocentric studies and that’s not cool, your looking through the eyes of a Caucasian rather then the eyes of a race still oppressed in an covert way.
n how bout dey TALK 2 US, da actual hiphop generation, all kind of us too, preppy suburb ones or ny street ones or straight hood, wutevr, jus TALK 2 us OR even talk to sum rappers (not jus 1 dude, even tho Common is aiight but) n folks othr than jus old disapprovin church ppl (who werent NEvr gonna like hiphop any damn way to bgin wit cuz of jus a generation gap or wutevr)
dey might be surprised n stuff, we aint dumm n stuff u kno, we CAN talk 4 ourselves u kno, since we suppose 2 be da ones bein “destroyed” by jus music
but Nas, Um we coo n evrything but Um i wus thinkin bout it, jus CANT b down wit ur ER version, nah cant do it, luv u n stuff but, maybe if u go wit “nigga” but, nevr da ER version, jus sorri. nah. no waay, jus no
…………………
n i STILL always be feelin EVRY single thing he say tho, bout how we DO respect da civil rights ppl n evrything (we do honest), n bout sorri but jesse jackson and naacp dont realli know sh*t 2 say bout hiphop (no disrespect n stuff, cuz dey all dont even KNOW hiphop 2 even talk bout it) im jus sayin, n bout ownin the word n EVRything, so much stuff, but, jus not da “****ER” version, dass all
cuz hiphop STILL aint da problem 2 think about when u thinkin of black folks, its like da biggest race relations uniter in modern pop culture, believe it or not its TRU tru tru,
it IS. Eminem wus even syin it. SO Um y cant dey talk bout sumthin dat actualli matter 4 gudness sake
wutevr
n well Um hello, how bout dey jus even TALK 2 US, da actual hiphop generation, all kind of us too, suburb preppy ones n ny street ones n straight hood n evrybodi, jus like TALk 2 us, n talk to sum rappers 4 gudness sake (n not jus 1 dude, even tho Common aiight n evrything but), n not jus old disapprovin church ppl (who dey werent NEVr gonna like hiphop any damn way to begin wit, cuz of jus a generation gap and stuff), cuz dat wus a very onesided “panel” damn
cuz dey can jus TALK 2 us, maybe dey would be surprised u kno, we r not dumm n stuff, we CAN talk 4 ourself n stuff u kno, since we jus supposed 2 be da ones bein all “destroyed” and stuff by jus music
…………..
n Um Nas, we coo n evrything but jus thinkin bout it, jus cant be good wit da ER version, maybe if u jus go wit “nigga” den maybe but, not da ER version, NEVr, naah, jus cant do it. no waay, Jus, no.
……………………….
n STILL feelin EVRything he say, evrything, bout respectin da civil rights ppl (we DO, like honest 4 real), n how jesse jackson n naacp jus realli dont know sh*t 2 even talk bout hiphop (no disrespect or anythin, jus dey dont even KNOW hiphop 2 even talk bout it at ALL) im jus sayin, n bout ownin da word, n evrything, all dat stuff, but, jus not ur “****ER” version. jus sorri, jus no. no
n Um: hiphop STILL aint even da problem at ALL at all even, when ur thinkin of black folks n stuff, actualli its like da biggest hugest race relations uniter (for modern pop culture) 4 real its TRU tru tru
Jus Tru. it IS. cuz Eminem wus even jus sayin it b4, n stuff. so, Den y dey dont talk bout stuff which actualli matter, like 4 real 4 real
but wutevr n its jus ALL tired alreadi n stuff, well dass all, but dang Oh well wutevr
Oh yeah n maybe, its jus a generation thing 2, dey wont NEVr understand, ur parents use 2 hate on rock n roll too its da devils music n stuff… maybe dass all, den can ppl jus move on cuz damn alreadi
well dass all, it IS tired, so den Uh: Oh yeah wuts good wit Jena 6 and stuff, cuz jus gotta keep on dat ish u kno
(n not just jena 6 too) please cuz a update would be coo
It is official, blacks are officially some of the most ignorant people on earth. Anyone that condones this is not only a moron, but a total idiot. This gimmick is just another way for blacks to exploit one another for a profit in a slumping music business. The sad thing is Nas has actually convinced people that the title is for the right reason. I muse to myself when i read the comments of illiterate people who have no idea where the N word stemmed from or it’s history. How can you dumb down a word that has been used to hang, shoot, kill, exterminate, belittle, demean, ostracize, hose down, bite our people in the past. This is the state that blacks has reached in this day and age. what a crying shame, the big executives at Nas record company must be laughing in their seats (btw the execs aren’t black), they actually found a moron that would desecrate the pride of his own people without them doing it. For the majority of uneducated blacks that dwell on this site, continue supporting guys like this who will continue to make life harder for yourselves and your children through their irresponsibility. For the record, i don’t care how lyrically nice nas is, he is not consistent with his product so i can only expect an album filled with afro-centric babble sugar coated over catchy beats.
Nas should name is next album “NAS is a Asshole”
What the hell is wrong with Nas.
NAS is a disrespectful fool.
WTF? Revolution? This is only gonna set black people back 100 years. I hope he can back up whatever the hell talking about. This album better be nothing less than amazing. Not one bogus lyric, not one lame beat..everything needs to be on point to release something that will affect people’s perception of black people. these rappers will do anything to make a $ and “save” hip hop.
Nas, why are you providing ammunition to use against people of color? Has anyone learned anything from Rutgers WBB chaos?
All these low self-esteem Negroes make me laugh. White people were racist WAY before NAS. White people will be filthy racist swines WAY after NAS is gone. Keep on wondering how they perceive you, dummies.
The way he thinks reminds me of Tupac.
To #14 and the other person that said, “Nas is just trying to SALE”, I think you should probably “wake up” and realize who Nas is, what his albums mean on both a literal and figurative perspective (because he’s a true poet and intellectual–listen to Illmatic…then, re-read this post). As far as him just trying to sell, Nas is well off; platinum albums, he has a hand in writing his music so he gets money from that as well… He’s not a publicity stunt type of person… peep the message people: he’s making a political statement with this album title.
What da f*ck do calling your album N*gger has to do with politics.??????????????
The sting will never be removed from this word. As soon as a white person says it, all hell breaks loose.
-1 MILLON WHITE KIDS COULD BUY THIS ALBUM…IT MAY ENLIGHTEN THEM OR DO DAMAGE…SO WHAT…4 MILLION BLACK KIDS ARE GONNA DOWNLOAD IT AND HEAR THE MATERIAL…AND THE RIGHT PEOPLE WILL HEAR IT…SO ITS FAIR TO SAY STOP USING THAT DUMB ASS EXCUSE TO VALIDATE AN OPINION
-WHAT ABOUT WHEN NAS PAYED FOR SEAN BELL’S FUNERAL…SINCE WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BRING SOMEONE DOWN FOR WHAT THEY HAVE’NT DONE
-PEOPLE THAT ARE USING SINGLE SONGS, THAT NAS MADE TO JUSTIFY THEIR OPINION, JUST NEED TO GET OFF THE NET…CUZ U HAVE NOTHING VALID TO SAY AND KNOW NOTHING REGARDING NASIR’S GENIUS BODY OF WORK
-PUBLICITY FOR SALES…HE’S NOT GONNA HAVE CERTAIN OUTLETS BECAUSE OF THE TITLE…MAINLY THE BIGGEST DISTRIBUTOR…WALMART!
-HE HAS COUNTLESS SONGS ABOUT UPLIFTING HIS/OUR PEOPLE OUTTA THIS MODERN DAY SLAVERY…YALL NEED TO LISTEN FOR REAL…
@ 191 Thank you . I agree. I’m just laughing at this entire thread. How the hell will that word set us back 100 yrs? Stop using it and then what ? Take the word away and what will happen ? Not a damn thing ! Why are black people always begging for acceptance from other races? Don’t you know how they veiw us will always be how they veiw us, regardless of what words we use . I get disgusted with how mindless many of you are when visiting this blog. Nas can express himself however he want to , Im not bothered by it . I know he’s an intelligent brother and he has good reasoning for calling his album that. So, many of you embrace rappers who use the word throughout their albums but now it’s a problem ? I also refuse to believe that some of you don’t use the word in your everyday vocabulary . Everyone gets “intelligent” and all for the cause on this blog but at home I would love to see how some of you act . Stop the BS.
That’s wassup! Nas done did it again….but because of the high knowledge content that Nas brings, he probably won’t get no press…I fuckin’ HATE the media and what it’s able to do to us. For everyone who wants to know the truth about this country, check http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com, it will change ur life!
PHYR
test72
LOOK, IF NAS WANTS TO CALL HIS ALBUM N!GGER, THEN HE CAN CALL IT N!GGER, NAS HAS BEEN BEEN IN THE GAME FOR WHAT FOURTEEN YEARS!!!
DON’T YOU PEOPLE KNOW BY NOW WHAT TYPE OF DUDE IS HE, IT’S NOT LIKE HE’S CALLING IT N!GGER AND HE’S JUST GONNA BE ON SOME BULLSHIT TALKING ABOUT NOTHING.YOU KNOW HE’S GONNA DROP KNOWLEDGE LIKE HE ALWAYS FUCKIN DOES.
TO CHILLIN IN NY,
I COMPLETLY RESENT YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT ‘RECITE THE WORDS OF OOCHIE WALLY’
YEAH, WHAT’S YOUR FUCKIN POINT, NAS HAS MANY INSPIRATIONAL AND UPLIFTING SONGS SO HOW DARE YOU SUM THIS MAN UP BY ONE DAMN SONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND TO WHOEVER SAID THAT BULLSHIT ABOUT HIM BEING A DROPOUT…..SO FUCKIN WHAT, LOOK SCHOOL IS NOT THE FUCKIN BE ALL AND END ALL OF LIFE.HE EDUCATED HIMSELF, READ MATERIAL ABOUT TOPICS THAT SCHOOLS DON’T EVEN FUCKIN TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT, SO GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE WITH THAT BULLSHIT.
AND SMH @ PEOPLE SAYING SHIT LIKE “THIS IS GONNA SET US BACK 100 YEARS” MAN GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE, THIS REALLY AINT THAT IMPORTANT IN THE GREAT SCHEME OF THINGS, WORRY ABOUT MORE IMPORTANT THINGS SUCH AS WHY CHILDREN IN AFRICA ARE DYING EVERYDAY OF STARVATION, WHY PEOPLE KILL EACH OTHER OVER BULLSHIT ETC
THAT’S WHAT REALLY HURTING US AS BLACK PEOPLE, NOT WHAT NAS IS NAMING HIS LATEST ALBUM!!!!!!!! SMH
NAS, DO WHAT YOU DO
ANYONE WHO’S GOT ANYTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT WHAT HE’S DOING CAN FALL BACK.
Maria, Nas is a N!gger………..and you are an asshole.!
newayssssss
I love Nas but if he does this I am going to have to become an ex fan. And yes I know who Megar Evers was and who Nas is and if he were alive or any of the other leaders who died in the fight against that word and the systematic racism that permitted that word to be created and used by them would be having a different conversation with him. Nas is too smart to be playing with fire. Why doesnt he use that power to mobilize people against racism instead on ensuring the continued use of the word. Funny thing is, he thinks this will help him sell more records but what its going to do his make him look like an ass and loss legends of fans like myself, who studied the civil rights movement, understand the power of words and the meaning behind them. Nas loses all creditability with me. And I thought he was a lyracist that wasnt into gimics but I see he doesnt understand ish!
@ “ClarkThink”
What is your overall point? Do you have one? Why do you call yourself a name and provide yourself with an avatar that denotes that you have deep thoughts when you obviously have no thoughts at all?
CLARKTHINK, IS THAT RIGHT!!!!!
LMAO
I love when black people say dumb shit like “What will white people think” or “this will set us back 100 years”, lol. Set us back 100 years from what? From “equality” with the white man, lol. Gimme a damn break already.
I can definitely tell that Nas’s album title will be a seminal moment in American history and world affairs along the lines of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the assasination of Kennedy, and the Civil War. Nas is obviously stopping white people from accepting blacks. There were no white people that disliked blacks or used that word until Nas gave them the idea. What is this man thinking about? How dare he not fear a word like most other black people do. LMAO.
CLARKTHINK, BUT YOU TOOK THE TIME TO READ THIS ASSHOLE’S COMMENTS DIDN’T YOU.
YOUR ONLY ARGUMENT IS THE FACT THAT NAS DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL.
SHUT THE FUCK UP.
CLARKTHINK, BUT YOU TOOK THE TIME TO READ THIS ASSHOLE’S COMMENTS DIDN’T YOU??
YOUR ONLY FUCKIN ARGUMENT IS THE FACT THAT NAS DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL
SHUT THE FUCK UP.
@Maria
Notice that white people never talk about Bill Gates not being a college graduate but they’ll throw it at Nas because he’s a black man.
It’s an ugly word that has no place in today’s society, no excuses for any one of any race.
I like Nas and Kanye they always speak their mind!!! I DONT SEE THE PROBLEM IN THE “N” WORD AND I’M BLACK!!! BUT THATS JUST ME, I’M NOT GONNA USE THE WORD ON HERE BECAUSE I MIGHT OFFEND SOME PEOPLE AND I DON’T WANT TO DO THAT. I DON’T USE IT ANYWHERE BUT I DON’T SEE THE PROBLEM IF ONE BLACK PERSON CALLS ANOTHER BLACK PERSON THE “N” WORD. AND I’M BLACK ONCE YOUR ASS AINT WHITE. NAS IS JUST SPEAKING HIS MIND AND SO AM I SO PLEASE DON’T TAKE NO OFFENCE!!!
AND THE “N” WORD IS WRITTEN IN THE BIBLE IT’S A RIVER IN AFRICA…SO BEFORE YOU START CALLING PEOPLE DUMB AND IGNORANT READ YOUR BIBLE!!!
ROFL @ the “n” word being a river in Africa in the bible. You need to pick yours back up, because I do believe you call yourself talking about Niger the largest river in Africa. Wow! lol.
ROFL @ the “N” word being a river in Africa in the bible. You need to pick yours back up, because I do believe you call yourself talking about N*ger. Nor is it even pronounced the same. Wow! lol.
@ My other post the Nile is the largest not that one. Couldn’t quit laughing about the “N” river lol.
@ #65, QTWitdabootie,
Awwww Shut up Nicca! LMAO!!!
Smart move Nas, we can’t show white america that were always going to be the mad negros.
White people don’t get mad they make moves and money while we stay mad. Raise up!
I’m all for this being brought to the four front. Nas, I will most definitely support this!
He is a leader period. There’s so many other people out here following you can’t understand what it is to blaze a trail. If it’s ignorant to you the word must hurt beyond belief. If you know Nas and his recording history you would understand it’s not gonna be on some ignorant ish. Ladies and Gentlemen.. Pick up a book.. Mike Diyson – Cornell West and stop watching video’s. Sensitive ass thug and thugettes..
I been a Nas fan since It Was Written. If havent heard that album your not a Nas fan and shouldnt be claiming to be. The N word is like so nothing. The last thing Black people are thinking about when waking up in the moring is ” i hope no one uses the N word today”. The word has no power. Blacks are only affended when whites call them one in person. Ive known a couple white people in my life and they never called me N—a. Did they say it at home or with their friends, probably . But who gives a F, i wasnt there. Blacks need to stop trying to live up to the standards of white people as if they are the ones that set the bar for excellence. If the N word can set you back a 100 years that means you where never up for the last 100. Blacks need to stop crying like babies over the smallest things. We march and protest on Imus and Police brutality. But wont say nothing about Black on Black Murder Black Fatherless homes or drugs sold buy Blacks to Blacks. Come on now people WAKE UP.
Title aint shit,Nas is definitely gonna kick knowledge on this as he normally does…remember if you criticize him you r racist too