You know what’s funny, sometimes I wonder if the people that have a problem with it REALLY do have a problem with it or are they just embarrassed of what white people think of them? Do we really wanna change all this stuff for ourselves, or to be more excepted by white people? I think a lot of us just wanna impress yt deep down. I just wonder sometimes when people say “you don’t see white people calling themselves cracker, you don’t see mexicans, asians…blablabla [and by the way...where i'm from latinos call eachother 'beaners']” A lot of us always say “You don’t see white people….so why are we….” So does a white person have to do it for it to be right???? I just wonder sometimes if a lot of people are just embarrassed and scared of what white people think about them and want to impress them.

Anywho…

I agree with Nas. And SexyQB, you’re right, there needs to be another revolution. So many reasons why. And Nas has so many reasons to act like that. Something fishy is happening in the media.

*accepted

GIMMICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! come on nas,you cna do better than that!

I hate when people say “it’s going to make others think it’s ok to use it” like they’re stupid and will not know the difference? That statement is ignorant in itself

You know, Nas had me… until I read his reasoning for why he can use the word! I am so sick of people sayin’ they can take meaning from that word by using it frivolously. THEY CAN’T. (our poor ancestors.. we have to do better black people)

do me a favor

google “definition of N” (spell out the word)
and
read what wikipedia has to say….

If you knew what the word implied, and the HISTORY behind the word, you wouldn’t use the word.

Peace

@66, Yes, I’ve heard of Uncle Kracker, and I even have a few of his songs on my iPod. And notice how he, a one hit wonder, is locked up somewhere. But he’s one man in a race of millions. I’m talking about the use of a racial slur wide-scale.

@75, No, I don’t use the word N!gger or Nigga, period. My grandparents were deep into the civil rights movement and because of that my mother has learned to never use that word. There’s hundreds of years of hate and pain behind that word, and no rapper will change that. In my book stupid people all get the same title (asshole) whether they’re black, white, green, or otherwise.

And I agree with you, people shouldn’t be proud of what they’re suppose to do. But seeing as though what you’re suppose to do is no longer commonplace it becomes something to be extra proud of. You don’t know me, so you don’t know the things that I’ve gone through to get where I am. So until you do, you really can’t call me a Nigga for being proud about my accomplishments in life.

And no, I’m not too ignorant to exclude myself from the post. I know it wasn’t directed specifically at me, but you made a generalization. So therefore I had a right to stand my ground.

Nassir Jones handles his business - he’s very intelligent. I love NAS!

he has a point about that cornel west comment. damn people let the man state his business

As EnVogue said ‘Free your mind, and the rest will follow. Be colorblind don’t be so shallow’ HA HA

I agree with Nas to a certain degree. BUT, I don’t think it’s that serious for people to changed their opinions of him. Your doing exactly what the racists want you to do. Treat the word like it’s the worse word on the planet… like blk people are N***** *. If you know your not a N, then why get so upset. I am sure blk people were called alot more stuff back then. This is 2007. Don’t give them the power to belittle blk people by a word. ALot, of people posting sound really stupid. I love the NAACP but who made them the leaders of blk people. Hell, they call blk people (COLORED) in their name. (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). And I feel that is inappropriate. I don’t think NAS meant any disrespect to them. He’s basically saying, theres a reason I am doing this. Dictionary.com defines the N word as a blk person. We need someone to speak up for us. Instead of having a funeral. BTW, Did anyone on here attend?

co-sign #86…good post!

QTwitDaBootie:

WHY? WHY? WHY? At age 10, my son already knows what NAS seems not to understand. When anyone uses the N-word in his presence or when referring to another, he asks the question, “Why I gotta be a N___ga!” He knows that this term originated with hateful intent.

Why couldnt the album be called “America’s Worse Nightmare: The Intelligent Black Man!”

Get it together Nas. You should learn to respect those who died for the rights you enjoy and enable you to speak your mind and live in the manner that you do.

_________________________________________________________________

Your comment shows how much power this word has, and I think that’s the point that Nas is trying to make. I mean, why sugar coat it? Why pretend like it doesn’t exist? I think that Nas is putting it out there so that we can examine it, because I think that we all have done everything else but that. And that’s what’s unfortunate.

This country is so good at sweeping things under the rug, but in order to move forward and make progress, we must pay attention to why this word was used in the first place and why it’s still a taboo.

But, let’s ask ourselves, why does this word sting so bad? Why do non-black people want to use it? And why is it up to us to eliminate this word just because this other person doesn’t have the brains to use their better judgment?

And again, why do you all want to write Nas off? If you know anything about his music—even better, his lyrics—you’d know that he’s not about doing the “Nigga, Nigga, Nigga, Nigga–The End” type of songs. His songs are stories, they have a point to them, and you don’t have to go digging for the point, he’s very straight-forward in his approach. So, understand him first before you throw him in the category of being this abomination to black folks.

86. Agreed…

Beautiful. It’s time for the older generation of blacks that fed our people that nonsense and confusion known as the civil rights movement to step aside and acknowledge that it didn’t work. Like Nas said, racism and racial genocide are at an all-time high worldwide. Nas will have to be prepared for a heavy backlash from simple blacks that hate to be told that they will not come together with the white man.

88. Hmm, I feel non black people want to use the word because it’s “cool” to them. The word nigga is. Just like swing was, rock was, hip hop is, and so on, so then it becomes mainstream and we get rid of it and it becomes…there’s, so to speak. =]

Chadwick said:

You know, Nas had me… until I read his reasoning for why he can use the word! I am so sick of people sayin’ they can take meaning from that word by using it frivolously. THEY CAN’T. (our poor ancestors.. we have to do better black people)

Bill Said:

The Brother, NAS, is well meaning, and I’m sure he has good intentions,
but….
His Logic is flawed.

I Wonder if he really understands the meaning of the word,
the history behind the word,
the 400 years of oppression due to that word.

He is being very ambitious to think that his particular CD is going to revolutionize the concept behind the word, change the meaning of the word and free Blacks of the mental slavery due to that word……

I appreciate Nas’s enthusiasm in attempting to change a person’s perception of the word, but to use that word as an Album title is very dangerous, and that damage cannot be undone once it’s executed.

Peace

COMMON DOEZ USE THE WORD NIGGA…U CHICKS IS SENSITIVE..AND IF U EVA LIKED NAS..HE ALWAYS USED THE SO CALLED N WORD..U FOOLZ FALLIN FOR THIS PUBLICITY STUNT TOO EAZY…IF U NOT BUYIN HIS ALBUM CUZ OF THAT U PROLLY WAS NEVA BUYIN HIS ALBUM ANYWAY..STOP WASTIN YA TIME WRITIN THAT U AINT BUYIN HIS ALBUM CUZ OF THE N WORD…NIGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

IGNORANCE!!!!

How long have black people been so called, “taking the power from the word”? It OBVIOUSLY has not worked because the moment a white person comes up to a black person and calls that black person that word, the black person gets upset. If the power has been taken from it, Bill O’Reilly should be able to refer to black people as n*ggas, and we not get upset. The whole argument of “taking the power” out of the word is foolish and doesn’t make sense.

I wonder if Martin Luther King and Malcolm X would agree with Nas?

Ugh.. he needs to sit down.. no he did NOT give a valid explanation and his response was riddled with profanity, nigga this nigga that, and ignorance from the streets (sreet disciple?, stay outta this?).. Don’t u think these ppl have been where u are?! Compared to these ppl u dissin, u still got MILK on ur breath.

o.k. I’m all for trying to reach ppl that u may feel are ignorant and that u have the outlet to reach them, but not in this way. No, I can respect selling something with that hatred plastered all on it.. Just sell nooses to go with it!!!

And like someone else said, everybody knows mostly white people are gonna buy this cd. (as with any other cd)..

I like Nas and all but he needs to shut the fuck up! It is a bad word. I don’t care how any idiot out there wants to twist its meaning. I don’t give a shit about his reason behind using the word. Don’t use it. When will this madness end?

I hope that album flops bad. I, for one, won’t buy it. Kelis, please talk to your man. Nonsense!!

Hey I have an idea…….why don’t all black people start wearing nooses around our necks like Cat Williams did at the BET HIP HOP awards. If we all start wearing nooses, that will take the power out of it when a racists hang one from a tree or from the door of a professor at Columbia University. We can show them that they can hang nooses all they want to and it won’t bother us anymore because we have taken the power away from hanging nooses in the country.

The same holds true for the N-word.

I was lambasted yesterday for saying that most ppl critiquing nas’s choice in name were looking at the glass as half empty instead of half full….there is alot more to this than what mtv printed or released or will make available for viewing..seriously we are at a crossroads in this country where we are about to have the first minority in the white house as a vice president (now ya’ll don’t think they would let him go from nothing to something without having to make a pitstop)..its time that we wake up and get past the power and significance of a word when there are a number of new words arising..the best way to defuse something is by going at it from an intellectual stand point..i’m sure nas’ album will be a reflection of the eyes of those he represents and that’s not solely black urban folks..but urban minorities period..When Jesse jackson was physically abusing ladies in his congregation and al sharpton was complaining about rap lyrics…the jena 6 was going on..when the media started covering…then and only then did these two cowards pop up to chime in with their opinions and support..as usual…its time that we go beyond the lets stand up for rights and actually do more than just standing…lets take it to em NAS!!!

Cosign with #34, #64, #76

And what do I personally think about the “n-word”: I think…no I KNOW, that in the U.S. the rich keep getting richer while the poor keep getting poorer. I KNOW that people are being SLAUGHTERED everyday day in Darfur. I KNOW that souls are being lost everday due to lack of knowledge or rejection of the Truth.

Holla.

“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.”

Tell ‘em Nas!!! Fox got Jesse and the NAACP on speed dial, playing them like dominoes! You know none of them called Nas first, to give a brother the benefit of the doubt.

NAS IS REAL…I CAN NAME A FEW NAS SONGS THAT HELPED ME THROUGH SOME ROUGH TIMES…I DONT CARE FOR RAP MUSIC NOWADAYS BECAUSE OF ITS INFLUENCE AMONGST YOUNG PPL. But when it comes to certain rap lyricist like Nas, I will glady support. Check out these tracks by Nas,
Untouchable Lifstyle, The World is Yours, Black Girl Lost, Nothing Last Forever, Doo Rags, Black Zombies, Drunk By Myself, Message To The Feds, These are our heroes, Money over bullshh & Blunt ashes. Those were just to name a few..nobody cannot tell me Nas is not influential? Ya gptta be smokin, Nas is a represntation of the streets and its glory. He wants to inspire his ppl to do and become better regardless of what they tell you….he represents God and himself as his son rather than considerin himself God like other rappers tend to do. He doesnt just rap about money hoz bitches and clothes….His music expands further than that. He is the truth, he is knowledge and wisdom and he represents that in his music….The only person I can see fuckin with Nas is Pac? How can we get upset over this when theres songs out geared towards our youth that contains the word Nigga…but its OUR PPL THAT SAYIN “NIGGA ILL KILL YOU” FUCK U NIGGA DIS AND THAT…OR NIGGA I GOT THIS AND YOU DONT HAVE THAT? WHO DA HELL IS JUSDGIN THAT? OR SPEAKIN ON IT? But yall wanna dog Nas out? WHATEVER!!!
Nas your true fans(whom respect and know real music are behind and will support you always as long as you continue to spark our mind enlight our thoughts and keep us dancin)And oh yes God is right in front of you….dont let the judgemental and the foolish knock you down…were behind to push you back up *screamin” get back up and make dat music souljah..YOU ARE THE TRUE STREETS DISCICPLE AND NOBODY IS FUCKIN WITH YOU RIGHT NOW.

#98 at least those “cowards” showed up. Where was NAS and the rest of Hip Hop (barring Mos and Bun)? Heck, I try to stay on top of things in the world but the first time myself and a whole lot of other people heard about Jena6 was through this website. So give them some credit. When they DID find out about it, they did something.

The word is poisonous and cannot be contained. It boggles the mind how some black people are actually justifying trying to continue calling each other that word. It’s a bad habit that some don’t want to put the effort in to cut down the use of. I personally chose to stop using profanity years ago. Believe me when I say it didn’t happen over night. But I tried to stay conscious of it until I developed the habit of not cursing. We as a people just need make the effort to quit.

Before we judge Nas for the album’s title it may be worth it to hear the album. The fact that he’s comparing it Cornell West piques my interest. Some of Nas’ comments are a little off the wall, but he’s an artist. His words are no different then an author or a painter, he’s using his words to express something. I don’t think he would use the title unless he really had something worthwhile to say on the subject. I just hope it’s not all for the hype and some meaningful discussion can stem from this album.

“STAY OUTTA OUR MOTHERFUCKIN BUSINESS” = priceless

Real talk is coming….straight no chaser, and i can’t wait.

I love Nas! Can’t wait for the album…he has yet to disappoint.

“Lotta times it seem like you aint gonna make it where you wanna be in life
but yo, yo if ya gotta plan
believe me you gonna get there
you gonna get everything you ever wanted baby, thas ma word” - Nas

“My heart and my lungs was affected from Henny’s and gettin blunted
Do your body right and it loves you back
You only get one life, and yo because of that
I’m still blazin, goin out for the cause
Still rockin stockin caps, not for the waves, obeyin no laws
And it’s like that ” - Nas

“MAKE YOUR OWN PATHS BE A LEGEND IN YOUR SKIN” - NAS

jesse jackson you are one of AFRICAN AMERICANS BIGGEST HYPOCRITES…
How da Hell can you call out Nas? one of music greatest heroes?
What a foolish azz man.

#98 - I see your point, but I don’t agree that there is any similarity between a noose and the “n” word. A word, any word, carelessly used can hurt someone’s feelings or evoke other emotion, yes. However, a noose has more than just a negative connotation - it’s meant to kill. A slavemaster only used the “n” word to degrade someone, but if they hung a noose around your neck, it was meant to kill you.

Not the same at all.

Velvet..the first ppl to respond to this situation was the hip hop community…unless you’ve been to the town in question you wouldn’t know..ask the ppl of that town..who supplied food, drinks, transportation..it was not the cowards mentioned it was ppl like you and I and rappers who did not want the publicity…anytime a rapper is associated with a situation like the jena 6 its immediately him trying to be an activist or him looking for shine with the media…I have alot of respect for alot of rappers because alot do more than we the public give them credit for because we are misinformed as you apparently are. Yes mos def and the david banners are known in public as activists, but how many of these other artists that we don’t know do the same or provide resources for ppl to be able to do so? So when al sharpton actually finally does something for a harlem that has been so kind to him (I grew up in harlem and can tell you al sharpton is a hack and publicity hound) instead of rolling over for the disney’s of the world who want to move us out of harlem…when jesse jackson actually comes and visits brooklyn and talks to these kids instead of on tv they’ll be making change until then..they’ll be in my eyes publicity sluts!!

So even after hearing his justification for the use of the word and his hopeful increase of the use of the word to “take the power out of it”, I should still wait to hear the actual album? I would hope he would denounce the use of the word on the album but from all indications so far, that is not his plan. So I have a right to criticize.

I actually like NAS and agree he is one of the industry’s best, but come on. This is not a good move.

Isn’t Nas the same guy who made that famous club banger Oochie Wally a few years ago……

Oochie Wally, QB Finest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwmKqym0a2U

Now, He’s a Street Disciple ??
okay…whatever

@ Bill: for once, I agree with you

“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.”

He’s a big headed “muthafucker” if he thinks he can just ignore what the older generation has been through. That’s my argument when I hear anyone use the n word - “would you say that shit in front of your parents you dumb bastard? All this word can ever promote is inequality, regardless of the context its used in.

I had a lot of respect for Nas before I heard this and I was waiting for him to come up with a good justification for using this word, sadly he hasn’t. Pathetic. And the way he jumps on the bandwagon talking bout “Fox”. Damn airhead.

Kander..I used the noose incident as an example of all these leaders outcrying about something when it becomes media worthy (explosive, controversial, and well covered) that’s all..why is al or jesse at almost every rally or demonstration that has a camera but never at ones where there are none? I know..we’ve reached out to both in regards to nyc’s education system since the mid 90’s…we’ve been declined by mr.sharpton but in that same letter there is an attachment for donations to his coalition…lol…see where i’m going with this? You think al really gives a hell about any of this? Pimp al…I sold kilos al…I abused tawanna al…come on…money talks player…

I like Nas but what he is saying is some bullshit. MLK, Malcolm and all our ancestors would smack his ass for this non sense. Sure homie on the street dont know about Medgar Evers etc, but why doesnt he teach them about it in songs like he did in the past like I CAN. Damn homie!

@29: LMFAO

Big ray…how many pro empowerment albums have you bought in your life? Question answered..how many of those educational albums fed those artists families? 0!!!
How many of those empowerment artists are now working regular jobs? 98%….
so why would he attempted to do that in music? Jesus walks by kanye was a fluke and came on the heels of other material that wasn’t as pleasant..So a man with a label responsibility is expected to make an album book? gtfoh….ya’ll look at things too easy..this is complicated..he’s doing what he can with what he has…point blank…smart rap does not sell..ya’ll would be in here clowning him for flopping if he even attempted…

I don’t agree with the title …..if he still uses the title I hope he spins it like Mos Defs “Mr. Nigga” song.

I’m white, i get offended when people say cracker (Nas is wrong on those words being less weight)…and the n word isnt an issue for me, because of my race, however I dont believe it should be used. No matter what there is tons of history and meaning behind that word that can never be lessened. It shouldn’t BE lessened. but thats just my opinion…

#112 - Al and Jesse don’t give a damn about anyone but themselves or advancing their own agendas! I pay them no mind. To your point, neither one of them got involved in the Jena 6 issue until it became a major media event. Neither one of their organizations organized that protest in Jena - Al just showed up because the cameras were…again, just words…

Rappers have more influence over the generation that can make a difference than Al or Jesse. They will hear a Nas before their hear either one of them.

I understand the essence of what Nas is trying to do. He may or may not exceed…

Anyone who lets a word dictate how they feel about themselves or how they view themselves is limited in views and significance of life..as many parts and issues and stress’ in life as we go thru..i think the meaning of a word is just redundant and pointless..are we not educated enough to know that there are literally thousands upon thousands of words in a dictionary..some have good meanings and some don’t..do we base our lives on eradicating these words? Is the “N” word the only word or even the worst thing you can be called? I mean seriously? Should we not be more focused on educating ourselves and our children to take our rightful places amongst the elite bosses and business owners of this world? Come on ppl..its things like this that don’t allow us to move forward..understand when there is no power to the word…its meaningless..meanwhile we continue to harp our energies on eradicating a word that is going nowhere…the world and time passes us by..and we still dont have shit to show for that time..EDUCATION PEOPLE!! EDUCATION!!

I would like to know why is it that we as a people are so quick to put up a front when other races, mainly white are watching? What I mean is why some black folks and you know who you are, call each other “niggas” all the time, but when it gets “mainstream”, out in the open the first thing yall would say is “Oh its wrong and we can’t let white people see and do it too.”
And what happens afterwards, we turn back around and do the same thing we been doing, disrespecting each other. Its equivelant to someone going through domestic violence behind closed doors and once its out in the open, that person gets embarassed and ashamed. They vow not to go through it again and see how unacceptable it is, but what happens? They go through the same nonsense again once the door is shut because no one else is “watching” and its pretty much accepted as the norm.
My point is that we can’t have both ways; call each other “my niggas” and then when white people see it and the whole world see it, you want to cover everything up and all of a sudden make a change. I think Nas should keep doing what he’s doing, who ever is all of a sudden ashamed and angry, maybe you’ll learn to stop using the N word amongst yourselves and peers.

@#119 I applaud you!!!!! Thank you!!!

If he wants to educate ppl donate some dollars to the school board, because the only people who are going to buy this album are rich suburban white kids.

Poster # 106, I was trying to make a point about the argument of “taking the power out of things”. The same argument used for continuing the use of that word can be used for any word, or even a noose. We think we are helping ouselves by embracing negative words, stereotypes about black people, and negative things associated with being black. But the truth of the matter is we are actually hurting ourselves. When I said The same holds true for the N-word at the end of my post #97, that was sarcasm.

If ever there was a time when black people should have been publically calling each other that word and encouraging the increased use of it to “take the power” out of it, it was during the 50’s and 60’s and prior. THAT is the time when white people were really calling black people that word. But for some ODD Reason Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were not smart enough to realize that the more we called each other the word, the more power we would remove from it, resulting in Black people being better off.

What happened. Black people waited until we reached a point of where we were being called that word less than we had ever been since we were brought to this country. We waited until we were better off than we have ever been in the history of this country, THEN WE decided to embrace the word to take the power out of it? That word has been around since we were brought here. But I hear it now more than I ever have in my life and it is only hurting us whether we realize it or not.

What is the old saying……”The road to hell is paved with good intentions”.

Nas is doin this for attention!

By the way, the last sentence of that second paragraph on post # 122, is sarcasm.

@120
You already know what it is Too bad others don’t understand or refuse to understand…

Wow, as much as I disagree with the use of this word, I understand why he is doing what he is doing. I totally agree with what he said. In fact it is one of the most intelligent things that I’ve heard in a while, because now we have to see him for more than just a rapper. He has a brain and a gifted mind (always knew though), the brother is on point!

Boy do I love this man!
Can’t wait to hear what he really has to say on this album.
Love ya boy!

Look at the power of this word…

MY ISSUE IS WHAT IF IT WINS AN AWARD AND A WHITE PERSON IS PRESENTING IT? SO HE GONNA BE LIKE THE WINNER NAS….NIGGA!

WTF SMH…

Im currently reading Carmen’s book, she makes me sick, and though some of the things she states are hard to believe: I can’t help but see Nas in a different light now.

I’m pretty sure he has a good explanation for naming the album that but I still think it’s ignorant of him especially since this year the N-word has been in the media and very controversial.

If this is the a ploy to sell records then he needs to lean more on his talent then drama.

This is exactly why african-american people as a whole can not progress. We rather add 200 comments to this story but let real political issues that really affect us and our children go by without a peep.. It’s ridiculous(sp) to argue about this because this wold is and never will be accepted in casual usage so, leave it alone already, why can’t we just not use the word then everyone will be happy and we can move on to something more important. We waste too much of our time on the irrelevant. Is using or not using the n-word going to help my child grow to be a confident productive citizen in this country, I think not so let’s move on to something that will. Nas is just trying to put dollars in his pocket so, he and Kelis can continue to shop at the LV stores and we catch their photos on this site. Now the day that a white person can come up to any African american and call them the “N” word and we not get upset but can laugh about it then I’ll believe Nas’s argument and everyone that accepts that view. But you know what it’ll never happen!! So black people let’s put the word to rest and converse about how we can get our piece of the “american pie” for mine and yours. We need to really stop letting silly crap distract us. Now we are up in arms over the usage of the “N” word while some white man was about to be awarded a Nobel prize until some info came forth about publications he wrote about how blacks were less intelligent than whites. Let’s get our heads out of the sand and stop the escalating violence against one another because I Love my people but we got to do better!! and that’s what’s real and Nas didn’t tell me that.

Nas needs to chill with whatever his drug of choice is,
because he looks crazy as hell in that picture up above
and
he is making some really ridiculous statements:

“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.”

Was he high when he said this ????

BashyBoo
Friday, October 19, 2007
MY ISSUE IS WHAT IF IT WINS AN AWARD AND A WHITE PERSON IS PRESENTING IT? SO HE GONNA BE LIKE THE WINNER NAS….NIGGA!

WTF SMH…
__________
Oh so true…

@76 you are so on point..people don’t mind…they mind how white people see it, use it, feel about it…etc..Cause that is what it is about…it is about them still having power over us and our ability to be full citizens - nevermind their ability to impact our self love…
4 those of you who are disowning him…
Come on brothas systas. Did you read what Nas said…There are actually plenty of books published in the last 10 years that deal seriously with the subject of race in america, specifically with the subject of black people in america that have references to or titles that include the word N***ER….Soooo..for us to assume that his work will include anything less than intelligent discourse about the very subjects you are on here speaking about (second class citizenship, aspiring to raise the level of conscioussness in the streets, political mobilization and disenfranchisement just to name a few) is exactly the point he was making…Don’t we expect nothing but the best from our brotha…
Don’t be through…cop the record and hopefully learn something as so many of us do (even with letters behind our names) from Nas’ perspective…

Nas 4 President said:

Come on brothas systas. Did you read what Nas said…There are actually plenty of books published in the last 10 years that deal seriously with the subject of race in america, specifically with the subject of black people in america that have references to or titles that include the word N***ER….Soooo..for us to assume that his work will include anything less than intelligent discourse about the very subjects you are on here speaking about (second class citizenship, aspiring to raise the level of conscioussness in the streets, political mobilization and disenfranchisement just to name a few) is exactly the point he was making…Don’t we expect nothing but the best from our brotha…
Don’t be through…cop the record and hopefully learn something as so many of us do (even with letters behind our names) from Nas’ perspective…

Bill Said:

Speaking of books
There’s a excellant book called The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn’t, and Why by Jabari Asim
*the title is a little misleading..The title was designed to get your attention, so don’t read to much into it. The author feels that the N word should not be used by anyone.
I feel the same way:

Anyway,
When you get a chance, read this review.
http://www.amazon.com/N-W...an-Shouldnt/dp/0618197176

Peace

I was a Nas stan. But bruh sounding ignorant as hell right now. He needs to take some Jim Crow history classes and learn more about how blacks have been oppressed over and over and then see if “Nigga” needs to be made a positive term.

I am so disappointed in him.

Nas can probably think circles around and through most of the black people calling him ignorant or “miseducated”. Honestly, black people are not ready for what Nas is doing because they think like children.

I,m sorry If Nas think he can justify the use of that word he is just another DUMBASS N*GGER.!
Come on Nas……..THINK. You can do better than this.!!

you can’t take power from the n-word, dumbass. no matter how it’s used it still reflects the extortion, murders, raping, slaving and lynching of black people.

i hope this album never leaves the shelf. fucking dumbass tryna pull and kayne/50 stunt. not gonna work this time buddy.

Are my comments being moderated because I’m speaking the truth or are they being moderated because I’m speaking the truth? Nothing that I’ve said has been off topic, nor have I attacked anyone so I’m following the rules. Our people have to realize that when it comes to real topics like this, some of us will have to check our egoes at the door and acknowledge that we will have different opinions. I mean, I know I’m a black man with a strong opinion but damn, do I still have the right to voice an opinion in an arena of my actual peers so we can see and understand why we’re in this condition? Fear is an evil emotion and I think alot of black people only exist, they don’t live because they’re scared that the real solutions will not be predicated off of anything that the white man has taught them.

I think many of the people commenting behind this post seem to have missed the bulk of what Nas tried to express in his statement.

(Note: You’ll notice a lot of extraneous commenting behind posts on this blog that apparently result from people’s failure to read the entire post. For example, when Angel dropped an update on the Megan Williams case, too many people expressed their outrage at the decision against charging the culprits with a hate crime when it obviously was. The post had more than clearly stated, however, that the decision was only made in order to enforce stiffer punishments. I say ALL that to say that as long as we’re talking about detriments to our community that should not be perpetuated, how about adding the stereotype that Black people don’t read to that list?)

Moving on: anyone who reads Nas’ ENTIRE statement can see that not only are his intentions for his album both conscious and probably necessary, but the NEWS of his decision was released both prematurely — he said he had not given any media entity clearance to release the information — and out of context. And, as stated directly above in his Cornell West example, all that is exhibited here is the internal classism and stratification of status that plagues Black people now. How are we to expect to continue to breed new generations of community activists, spiritual leaders, and agents of social change if every time someone who is vocal does not fit the mold of the establishment we dismiss them as “ignorant,” a “thug,” or someone who is trying to “SALE” (misspelled for #20, lol, but it’s all love) albums? It can be likened to the bleak, self-fulfilling prophecy made by the teacher who has already given up on the young Black man he or she is unable to relate to.

As expressed in the statement that ::once again:: CAN BE FOUND DIRECTLY ABOVE, we can NOT take the reporting of media outlets at face value, especially when the “story” covers an issue that addresses the strength of our community, whether in dealing with controversy from the global community or from one of our own. I’m confident that everyone here is strong, educated, and discerning enough to agree at least with that point.

If there is any point I’d like to drive home, it’s that we should not be quick to condemn anyone for addressing an issue just because we are shocked by the method. I’m sure everyone remembers the time wasted by the Bill Cosby backlash. Once the address is HEARD, will everyone agree? No. Should we blindly follow the leadership of a “radical,” a “rebel,” or a “street disciple,” just because he’s oneof our own? OF COURSE NOT! But, I implore you, give a man the just service of FULLY COMPREHENDING his direction, his motives, his goals, and his intent BEFORE you decide whether or not he should be dismissed…or rejected. I respect the intelligence and tenacity of everyone here, and I look forward to even possibly working with some of you beautiful passionate Black people in building and developing our communities in the future.

Thank You Angel for posting BOTH SIDES of this story, and for not hand-holding. READ FOR UNDERSTANDING, YALL!!

Black people get mad over the DUMBEST SHIT!!! NaS I’m supporting the album when it drops

@Judah,
Well said!

#140 I Agree!!! & people keep saying NaS is doing this for sales, Yall sound dumb as shit, When was the last time NaS put out an album & was promoted like all the other rappers? Never! That aint his thing, NaS is not fake. He’s probably the realest rapper alive!

Nas is being ignorant, nd clearly he aint thinkin straight. think of the young generation growing up nd seein ignorant fools such as nas use the word everywhere and anywhere. think of dat only black kid in a school, wonderin, everyone asking, ” do u like Nas’ new album nigga!” think of the kid in an awkward situation, walkin down the street nd hearin ppl of a different race yell that out to him.

i strongly disagree wit nas, wit evry bone in my body. Not evry country is as racially free as America. in some countries it not go be taken as serious wen someone of a diff race uses the word towards a black person.
Start a movement, voice ur opinion, but dnt leave a couple of million kids at a disadvantage just so that ur album can sell!!

Judah, If you are attempting to use the N word in your posting,it will not post.

I figured it out….
You can’t spell out the N word on Concreteloop
You have to abbrevate it.
If you attempt to spell out the entire N word, and post your comment, your comment will go into moderation and it will not post

Nas has been in the game over 10 years and has made some good albums. I am going to see what he has to say when his album drops. People so quick to judge on something they ain’t even heard. Wow bigger things going on in the world people.

I don’t get it. There’s a huge difference between someone of your race addressing you with a word with racial undertones and someone of another race doing the same. It kills me when non-blacks in this country ask why blacks call themselves whatever they chose to. I don’t know a single black person who gives a damn how people of another race chose to address one another. What these morons are essentially doing is reveal that they are too obsessed with black culture to check their common sense. Don’t blame your lack of social intelligence on blacks. And stay off our nutts while you’re at it.

I will say this: The fundamental deterrent to black American advancement is giving a shit what white people think. People need to start developing themselves and their immediate communities, and quit patronizing the mainstream whose ideals and establishments subjugate them. By patronizing, I mean STOP allotting financial, emotional, physical, or spiritual resource to non-black establishments.

I will never make money for white shareholders. I will never tolerate a business with a black segmentation that is not committed to the black community. I will never subscribe to Eurocentric ideologies, including their bullshit religion. I will never acknowledge their inferior culture. I would never date, talkless of marry a white chick. These are so trivial, I wonder if black Americans are under some kind of hypnosis.

I find that my life changed for the better when I said “Fuck crackers and anything they stand for.” I have 400 years of empirical evidence to back me on this.

Don’t complain when others call us it if we call ourselves that word. That’s why it’s not in my vocabulary.

I am going to play devils advocate here and say:
On one hand, it is a word and we all make way too much of the entire thing. While I understand that words can be powerful and cut deep like a knife. I believe a word is what you make it, no matter how someone else uses it. We could spend our time doing so many more productive things than useless debating over ‘a word’. I kind of agree that you can take the original meaning of a word and make it something else, but when it is the N word (and everyone knows the original meaning) there will be always be controversy surrounding it’s use. We just perpetuate the situation by even debating it more. This is the land of “FREE SPEECH”, right? If Nas wants to name his album the N word…it is his right to do so. Or is it? Record companies censor people (even if they do have the Parental Advisory sticker on the front). Biggie was censored from saying “I wouldn’t give a eff if you’re pregnant, give me the baby rings and the number one mom pendant”. Meth couldn’t say “Like Hitler, stickin’ up Jews with German Lugers”. You hear artists all the time complaining about creative control of their projects, but hey when you have someone else fronting you the money to get your project out to the world…you will have to play by their rules. Master P, Too Short, Esham, and a few others are geniuses for selling their music “out the trunk”. If Def Jam won’t put out Nas’s CD and he believes what he is doing is right and ready to deal with the backlash of all the sensitive people, he should leak it himself. This is most likely a way for him to get some hype or whatever anyway. Nas is an entertainer, so as long as we are talking (or typing) about him, he is happy.

Now, on the other hand, I can relate to people who despise the word. It is not a nice word (original meaning), and probably not something that you want your kids to say or even hear. How many people here never even knew who Don Imus was before he said, “n*ppy headed-h**? He became a household name over night behind this incident. So did Michael Richards, who I only knew as Kramer before his incident. Don’t get it twisted people. Some Mexicans use the ‘S’ word around each other. Some Caucasians use the ‘C’ word around each other. Just like SOME black folks use the ‘N’ word around each other. Not every African American uses the word believe it or not.

While I would love for people to just “get over it” and stop making such a big deal about the dreaded N word, I guess there are certain words that I would rather not hear as well. But I’m not gonna make a big deal about any word. If someone is using any kind of language that I find offensive (especially when I am with my son), I will kindly as them to not use it. If they keep using it, then I just let my son know that it is “adult” language and he better not repeat it. This world is full of so many “tough guys” dying because people don’t want to get punked! I would teach my son that it is not something worth dying for…and the only thing worth dying for to me if LIFE (whether it be my life, or someone else close to me that I would die for). I think that if someone who does not know me is brave enough to call me the N word, they should be brave enough to get knuckled up a little…not shot…not killed. They just need a little sense knocked into them. Ultimately, you have to be responsible for the things you say to people. And using any “taboo” language while talking to strangers or “sensitive” people that you do know is just not cool. We should be worried about things like illiteracy and education. It’s a shame that I need a secret decoder ring to decipher some of the things I read online. Our country is fighting multiple Wars in multiple countries (not only Iraq). Poverty and Homelessness is affecting more and more Americans every day. Home foreclosures are up sky high! And folks are worrying themselves to death about a word. Chrysler, Ford, and GM are taking money out of our economy by building plants in overseas locations where they can pay workers pennies to build the exact same parts we used to build in the States. It is good business for them, but horrible loyalty to our country and the people who buy their products (cars). Especially when the price of the cars will still be the same as if it was built here in America. Health care sucks and is sky high! Too many people don’t even have health insurance. Detroit (my hometown) is chock-full of crime from the Mayoral scandals, police department scandals, to citizen crimes. The Michigan State Goverment had to shut down recently because of a budget crisis. To me, the topic just seems diminutive when compared to the other things listed above.

Last but not least, as long as the word generates this much interest (or more)…it will never DIE!

-SimP-