That’s what I’m talking about! State your business NAS!

This will make for great publicity….. I need to take up Public Relations 101

2nd! It’s about time, he speaks! Tell em Nas!

Wow…I usually agree with alot of things Nas says…Always thought he was one of the rappers out today that spoke/rap with some sense…But, don’t agree with him on this one…

Ether the issh that make ya soul…….

SO

He’s having a weed moment…

This is real talk. The world needs to prepare itself for the REVOLUTION!!!

I HEAR U NAS!

Alrighty then

Just another ignorant “NIGGA”

I am appalled by Nas’ irresponsibility. He should look at the people who are on his side and the people against him and see that what he is doing isn’t right. I am a true Nas fan - have every album, met him a few times, and support his style - but I draw the line at this title. He will not lessen the effect of the word, he will more and likely hurt more people than he can help. He need to talk to his father about this. That word isn’t something you can just put on a cd as a title and erase hundreds of years of oppression of abuse with it. Like I said before, look at who’s supporting his quest - DON IMUS - need I say more.

Nas, change your mind.

A true fan,

Aaliyah M

Do you see white people going around calling themselves Crackers or Honkies? Or the Hispanics calling themselves wetbacks? Then why the hell are black people trying to…excuse me….MAKING it a casual term?

To perpetuate it’s use is only giving power to the word.

I don’t care what he has to say, I think he can say it without using that word. There is not excuse, not “talking to his people” or “I’m a street disciple” or what if it were Cornell West or whatever other off the wall excuse he uses. I can’t ride out with Nas on this one. Wake up

I don’t agree with Nas on this one either…i am highly disappointed. I was never a hardcore Nas fan anyway (I’m not very street smart..lol)..so I really don’t care…whatever….this will be a field day for Bill O’Reilly and the other white male talk show hosts

btw..is Nas smokin that crackpot……is he hittin the pipe with Kelis?????????????

I’m sorry but he sounds really ignorant!! He needs to keep it real. If white person came up to him and called “nigger”, he would be ready to punch them in the face. Also I think it’s sad that our young people don’t know anything about the civil rights moment. It’s part of our history!! It’s american history!! It’s who we are as a people!!

Like I said I will not PURCHASE it. Regardless of his reasons. He would not let another race call him that damn name. Nas WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is a racist name however you want to slice it dice it devour it. It is a damn shame that the name is still be using - to greet your fellow friends come on now. That is just plain ignorant…

I find it funny that black people have a problem with the word “nigga”, but we go calling each other “nigga” and I’m not speaking in a derogatory sense. Maybe his CD will spit “STRAIGHT KNOWLEDGE”. That’s the reason NAS is upset in the first place. People are sooo quick to judge.

But to each his own…

I think Nas is trying to gain publicity so his album can SALE… I cant believe how many people are giving him big ups for this shit. He usually sounds very intellectual when he speaks but now he sounds down right dumb. I guess it makes GREAT for record sales. More money in his pocket fuck the community

Um, ok, can i say this, he’s an ignorant idiot! Don’t curse people out while trying to make a positive “movement”.

i didnt know how i felt about this whole naming his cd nigger business until i read this article. he is so right, if cornell west wrote a book or something and called it nigger, we would think we were about to be educated or enlightened, but nas names his cd nigger and we think oh he’s about to say some niggerish things…does nas not always drop knowledge with anything he does, how could we expect anything but greatness from him…now if trick daddy or someone were to make an album entitled nigger, then i would expect ignorance

*used* typos are a b$tch when you are upset about some dumb crap like this.

Wow.

@18, I have a problem with the use of the word Nigga and Nigger. Even if Nigga isn’t the word itself it’s a derivative of the word. If anything it’s not a separate entity, but an updated form of the word Nigger. There’s no distiction; they’re one in the same.

But try explaining that to assholes like Jay-Z and now apparently Nas.

@21, tell me about it. LOL

My entire opinion on this topic has CHANGED. As a so-called intellectual, degree-d and all of that I am happy I still have an open mind. I am LOVING Nas. Much respect bra.

This is interesting. Im a huge Nas fan. I’ll check the album out and see what he has to say.

NAS LOOKS SO FUCKIN SEXY IN THAT PHOTO

I completely hear what Nas is saying…and I agree with him.
My only concern is how the hell will this album be advertised.
Lets be real for one mi-nute. Lets think about it.
I agree with number # 2, this will be great publicity…so in all actuality he really wouldn’t
need alot of advertisement because of all the controversy the title will get…I guess that is one way to save money.

He is just trying to cause controversy so people will buy his album. think about it, with all the issues in the new lately, Don Imus, Micheal Richards, Jena 6, he is trying to capitalize on the controversy to sell records. simple as that! so tired of these so called “real” people trying to make is seem like they are down, when the bottom line is their pocket book

I’m glad to see my man NAS stand his ground. Be prepared for the backlash. Just know that alot of people are gonna have no comment on this one. I hope this isn’t just to start a conversation. This is what hip-hop has lacked since the early 90’s. Someone to push some buttons like P.E. and KRS. Let’s be creative people (the NAACP had a funeral for the word). People want to act like the word never existed. The only thing we can do is what NAS is doing, ADDRESS IT!!!!!!!!! Notice that he said that he wants the word to be easy on the ears (strip it of the ignorant meaning).

That’s what’s up Nas. I’m feeling you on that. My husband and I were just talking about this last night and he said that Nas naming his album such a name, means that he has some intellectual shit to say! He’s just throwing that name out there to hype up the media to make it look and sound all controversial. But in all actuality, this kat, knows what he’s doing. He’s smart as hell.

I’m not for or against this, partially because I’m for freedom of expression…but I just had to say that this word has been made casual amongst us years ago. People acting like this is new, it’s not. Our great grandparents that had to endure overt racism used this word casually…I think because to them it was used so much toward them that it became commonplace for us. I think we earned the rights to use it, or refuse to use it–and like other words let it be spoken of with it’s own individual set of consequences. If Nas wants to put himself out there like that, let him take up the cost for it.

alot of yall females(not all yall) commenting is “ignorant hypocritical niggaz”. How can you NOT know what he means. Yall female niggaz talkin bout “I dont agree”, “so”, “he’s ignorant”. Yall think he just naming his album “Nigga” just because. I bet yall bit@h’s…yeah I called yall bit@h’s are 19-22yo living a sheltered life or livin off a man. No wonder why black guys start to date white women of other races!

#35, what the hell is “white women of other races”? You don’t make sense. SMH at Nas.

I’m trying to understand, but the word itself will never sit right.

NAS SAID IT. HE A GANGSTA AND HOW MANY G’S U KNOW DAT DON’T CALL EACH OTHER NIGGA? DATS HIS THANG IF HE WANTS 2 NAME HIS ALBUM THAT, HE IS SMART AND A REALEST. SOME MAY BE OFFENDED AND I FEEL DAT 2. MY MAN DOESNT LET ME CALL HIM NIGGA BUT HIS BOYS CAN..

i love NAS..im a big fan …i will def. get the new CD…as for the CD title…who cares..life goes on

i guess we just have to wait and see what hes talking about on the album….

but im shaking my head at him right now.

When I first heard that he was calling his album the N-word…I thought the N stood for Nas. But when I heard it was going to be called Nigga, I said, well Nas is intelligent and has to have a really good reason for calling it that. But, now that I’ve heard the reason, and its totally ludicrous. I won’t be supporting!!!!
I think he may have been high when he gave that interview.

EXACTLY! Go NAS

Is wondering how can he compare himself to COrnell West?? Thats like comparing Dr martin Luther King to Bobby Brown.. Nas does spit “ETHER” but hes no damn cornell west….

@35. Although I may be 20, I’m no bitch. And no, I’m not living off some man. I worked 3 jobs through high school, I pay my own rent, college tuition, and car note WITHOUT some man helping me out. Just because you throw in some “(not all yall)” doesn’t make it any less of a generalization. Maybe black women give sad excuses for black men like you a hard time because they don’t like for people to go around calling them BITCHES. Just a little food for thought.

um #41 he really didnt give a reason he was saying that they went off about it without asking him what it was called but if the other dude had made a album like that they would think it was going to be intellectual but because he’s doing it they want to go off…….him sayin that he was a streep diciple was not his reason,read between the lines people

i’m a fan of nas and if anyone else is they know that nas never has anything ignorant to say and he always makes sense in his music so get off my NIGGA nas’s nuts

I know he has something positive or deep to say regarding using the N word. Often the media jumps to conclusions without listening to purpose or content of the lyrics. They really need to wait and see because Nas is one of the only few artist who ‘brings it’ on the mic every time. Trust!

street*

test

I have a lot to say, but post has been moderated.

I believe, no doubt, that Nas will spit science, knowledge and above a lot of people’s heads. But, that still doesn’t justify the title. That word represents lynchings, beatings, rapings, the destruction of African families and heritages. There is no justification for using the full on term n—er. Nas is one that uplifts and I believe that he believes that is what he is doing, but he will destroy a lot more than uplift with one word than the entire album will education or kick knowledge.

Unfortunately he will not lessen the effect of the word. I believe that he will cause a lot of controversy, may or may not sell a lot of albums and the word will still be what it is - a hateful term.

I will still listen to this album, probably bootleg though, to see what he’s talking about. I don’t care what anyone says, HE CAN STILL KICK KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT KICKING OUR ANCESTORS IN THEIR A**es.

I teach a sociology class in New York and this is a big issue of contention in class discussions. Certainly NAS has the perogative and the constitutional right to express what he wants to say (No question about that) but I do wonder about the implications that it may produce. I do wonder if this is going to give license to other folks that it is okay to say it as we know ( and I know NAS knows) that his biggest paying audience are going to be young white suburban teenagers.

Like others on this board, I often wonder why other races and ethnicities do not subscribe to the same sort of banter that African Americans do: Why don’t Latinos or Jews, or Italians, or Africans for that matter use such words to each other?

When I was a little boy, a comedian by the name of RICHARD PRYOR
released an Comedy Album entitled
“That N is Crazy” (1974).

That N’s Crazy was the third official album release by Richard Pryor. It was recorded live at Don Cornelius’ Soul Train nightclub (named after his TV show) in early 1974. This album won the Grammy for Best Comedy Album for 1974.

* Although I don’t agree with NAS use of this particular word (His logic is flawed), this technique HAS been done before.

welllll please infrom me of the reason soon ..

Well I guess he and his wife,two perfectly good artists,will both be sitting at home with unpromotable and ill-selling cds.Nas should really think this one over.At a certain point,an artist has to sacrifice himself for the industry.There’s only so far that you can go before “individuality” turns around and bites you in the ass!Additionally,if he wants to in fact use the “n word” as his title can he at least have a reason that leaves him personally responsible and not brings so many examples and instances of outside entities into the equation.We as a race have to learn how to think our creativity all the way through.We are the world’s most talented race but sometimes our inability to be rational pigeon-holes us and stops us from achieveing our highest pinnacle of success.

**is this thing on? You all got me thinking I was banned or something. lol.

there is NO explanation. i don’t care how much sense he thinks he is making NO EXCUSE FOR THIS CRAP.

does this fool know that 80% of those that buy his album are WHITE. he better not complain when 15 years old whites are using the n-word.

LOST 1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000% respect for this fool. BUY FOREVER FOOL.

Commentary: Blacks Who Use the N-Word Should Take a Page from Pryor’s Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2005
By: Gregory Kane, BlackAmericaWeb.com

Richard Pryor, who died this past weekend, vaulted into superstardom with his comedy album called That N***a’s Crazy.

In fact, that N-word figured prominently in Pryor’s comedy routines for years. It’s too bad that so many of us seem to have forgotten that, in the latter part of his career, Pryor rejected the word and came to regret his overuse and abuse of it.

The epiphany came shortly after Pryor visited Africa. He saw black folks in positions of power and authority. He asked himself “Did you see any n there?” When he answered in the negative, he realized that he had been wrong to use the word himself so many years. Pryor resolved never to use that word in reference to another black person ever again.

What’s interesting is that his career seemed to go downhill from that moment. It’s as if, once Pryor rejected the use of the N-word, we no longer had any use for him. But there are some black folks around today who need to drink whatever Pryor was drinking on his trip to Africa.

The use of words like “n” and “sambo” — once routine epithets spewing forth from the mouths of white bigots — now come primarily from the mouths of black folks. And the targets of the epithets are usually other black folks.

Take, for instance, blogger Steve Gilliard, who couldn’t resist recently calling Michael Steele, the first black lieutenant governor of Maryland, a “sambo.”

There are several definitions of “sambo.” Among the first seems to have been a definition that comes from several dictionaries: a black person in Latin America who also had Native American or white blood. Somehow whites in the United States got wind of the word and used it to apply to blacks in a nasty and derogatory manner.

So what do some of us do? Why, the same thing, of course. And the way some of us are throwing the word “sambo” around, we’re clearly trying to out-racist white racists.

The same can be said of the N-word, but with so many black offenders who are determined to keep it in operation, it’s hard to put any one name at the top of the list. But I figure Kanye West — fresh off his “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” gaffe — is as good an offender as any.

At a recent concert in Baltimore, West told whites in the audience that he would “allow” them to use the N-word as they sang along with his hit “Gold Digger.” They only too eagerly agreed. It must have made for quite a scene.

White folks in Maryland — never known as a “friend of the Negro” state — standing in an audience singing “I ain’t sayin’ she’s a gold digger, but she ain’t f—in’ with no broke n—er.”

You know, there are a lot of white folks who are going to get themselves pimp-slapped listening to that goofy Kanye West.

But West isn’t our only goof, just our most prominent one. Other rappers use the word like it’s darn near a religious obligation. And the word figured prominently in what has to be the most degrading piece of stereotypical, racist trash Hollywood has ever put out about black folks.

No, I’m not talking about “Birth of a Nation.” I’m not talking about “Gone With The Wind,” either. I’m not even talking about the abominably racist 1940s cartoon “Scrub Me Mama With a Boogie Beat.”

No, I’m talking about “Soul Plane.”

Remember “Soul Plane?” It “starred” Method Man, Mo’Nique, Brian Hooks, D.L. Hughley and some other black folks you think would have known better. It also starred Snoop Dogg, who probably didn’t.

In fact, it’s Snoop Dogg who proves that using the N-word should be the exception, not the rule. Some black folks use it appropriately. Cartoonist Aaron MacGruder used it to superb satiric effect on the premiere episode of his show “The Boondocks” which is now a Cartoon Network program, as well as a syndicated comic strip.

There is a time and place when black folks should, indeed, use the N-word. But it should be done sparingly. And it should be saved for extremely outrageous instances, like when Snoop stood in front of television cameras and proudly proclaimed that executed Crips co-founder Stanley “Tookie” Williams was “our Martin Luther King.”

Can I get a hearty “N, please” chorus going for that one?

Bill, leave it alone. I know you are probably going to have something intellectual to say, I read and agree with alot that you say, some I don’t but thats neither here nor there.
Is it really worth getting into a cyber argument because you know thats whats gonna happen? Someone always tries to challenge you. Its not worth arguing your point all day. Think about it.

Damn, got it out before I could post

EXACTLY. I would be mad too! I’m a black person and I HATE, absolutely HATE, the N-word. Whether it’s the “friendly” kind or any other kind, I still don’t like it because this is how I see it….. white people are trying to make the n-word on the same level and the word, ‘cracker’, so then it would be OKAY for everyone to say it. But who really ever knows what kind of emotion white people have behind that word when they say it….unless you are white, of course. But that’s only my opinion. Good one Nas.

Can’t wait to hear the song and album.

RC said:

**is this thing on? You all got me thinking I was banned or something. lol.

Bill Said:

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

grlnva said:

Bill, leave it alone. I know you are probably going to have something intellectual to say, I read and agree with alot that you say, some I don’t but thats neither here nor there.
Is it really worth getting into a cyber argument because you know thats whats gonna happen? Someone always tries to challenge you. Its not worth arguing your point all day. Think about it.

Bill Said:

So..Everyone else has a right to popst THEIR opinion, but I should keep my opinion to myself, huh……

I never get into cyber arguments,
but
I do WELCOME debates (which strengthens my mind….)

Peace

LMAO @ “stay outta this muthafuckin’ conversation”

Thanks Bill! I’ve been trying to post this for the last ten minutes. lol

The first quote and the one after the cut contradict each other sooo hard!!! How do you ever expect to be taken seriously as an intellectual when every other word is mutherf**ka!? He definitely gets a straight face on that one.

BUT!!!! with that being said, I don’t have a problem with the album being called N****r. DON IMUS IS A PIMP the way he effectively passed the buck and deflected the attention off of him and onto hip hop. It embarrasses me the way the NAACP, Al, Jesse, Oprah, etc. ate that ish up. Did anybody even care about using N-word or ho until six months ago?

Of course one album won’t undo decades of hate, but I think Nas is trying to present the other side of the coin. Yes, it would be nice if everyone stopped using the word, but realistically that’s as possible as world peace. White people have the power and will continue to use the word as a DOG-WHISTLE to rile us up. This is where the change needs to occur because trust, if some white person calls you the n-word, you can just as easily go through the same bullsh*t as the JENA 6. “Defending” your honor is never worth eight months behind bars.

N****r is no longer a word that evokes fear and humiliation for our people, and I think that is so powerful in itself.

But I guess if I don’t agree with the rest of the talented tenth, I’m ignorant right?

*if this was submitted twice, sry

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.

Never heard of Uncle Cracker then I guess Nicholelibra. Guess what he’s WHITE. I think as long as people get up in arms about a word that doesn’t describe them then it will always have power. The moment we “Let it go” it loses its hold on us. As long as we feed racsism it survives. I don’t pretend to know what his album is about but it should be prolific using that title. Nas is no idiot. He knows what he’s doing and I’m sure he already spoke to Olu Dara about his decissionn. His fathers not gonna lead him astray.

GON HEAD NAS PREACH THAT SHIT

The N-Word: Not in My Vocabulary

By Desiree Bailey

(Names have been changed.)

“N, please.”

My friend Jeff and I were having a slight disagreement at school last month when he decided to call me the N-word. Since we’re both black, he somehow thought it was appropriate. But it’s not to me. I hate to be referred to in that way by anyone, no matter what his race.

“Don’t you ever call me a n,” I said. And so our heated discussion began.

To Jeff, using the N-word within the black community is a way to turn the negative word “n” into a positive one. He told me that it’s empowering to be able lessen the effect of a word created to demoralize blacks by changing its meaning. He claims that using the word allows it to roll off his back.

No Way It’s Empowering

I’ve heard Jeff’s argument a million times before from almost everyone who uses the word, in my life and on TV. I understand his point but I don’t agree with it at all. There is no way that the word “n” can be empowering for me. I come from a strict Trinidadian household where pride in oneself and one’s race is strongly encouraged. My parents always taught my brother and me to love and respect ourselves. They would have a heart attack if they heard us referring to people we care about as “n.”

That doesn’t mean I haven’t heard the word used in my house. Unfortunately, I have. But my relatives have only used it during rare moments of extreme frustration to describe a low, shameless character that betrayed them. In my house, the term is meant to degrade. But I don’t approve of its use for that purpose, either.

I appreciated it when the New York City Council passed a resolution in March to discourage the use of the N-word. (A resolution isn’t a law; it’s only intended to raise awareness.) Maybe coverage of the council’s action will get people talking about the word’s painful past.

Intimidating and Belittling

I was curious to learn more about the N-word, its origins and its source of power. I was also interested in the different viewpoints on its usage. So I started reading The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn’t and Why, a new book by Washington Post deputy book editor Jabari Asim. In his book, which was published in March, Asim dug to the root of the word and chronicled its influence from its emergence in the U.S. to today’s youth culture.

Asim wrote that the word “n” comes from “n,” the Latin word for “black,” noting there is some dispute as to whether the word began as a neutral or derogatory term. One of the earliest written references of the word in the U.S. was in 1619 by colonist John Rolfe. It began as a description for black people. Since black people were scarcely thought about in a positive light, it was never used in a pleasant way.

The word became a way to intimidate and belittle blacks, and that continued into the 20th century, according to the book. In the 1930s there was a city limits sign in Hawthorne, California, that read, “N, Don’t Let the Sun Set on YOU in Hawthorne.” That sounds like a death threat to me.

Asim suggested that the N-word is a metaphor for many low periods in black history. It represents white people’s control over and contempt for blacks in the past. Blacks were once thought of as creatures and specimens. In the 1800s, there was even a false branch of science called “n——–ology,” in which unbelievable claims about blacks were accepted as facts. Blacks were thought of as the scum of society and in some cases, they still are. The N-word is a symbol for that long and horrible history of oppression.

Not an Affectionate Word

That’s why I hate to see the word used as a term of affection or “brotherly love.” I think that calling your friends “n” makes a mockery of the past. How can other races take black people seriously when we use such degrading language to describe ourselves?

These days, kids hear people using the N-word in their community and start using it without stopping to think what the word really means. Black entertainers, many of whom probably heard the word growing up, use it in their work. Sadly, teens I know also hear their favorite artists and celebrities using the word so they think it’s OK to use it.

But black people are still outraged when a white person calls them that name. Why? Because the word remains negative. So how is the “turning negative into positive” plan working there? I told Jeff that lifting ourselves out of the ghetto or any other bad predicament is what’s empowering, not using a word that was created to keep us down.

That’s why I passionately disagreed with Jeff at school that day. I tried to explain why I felt so strongly to him. “When I hear the word ‘n’ or ‘n,’ I see images of men like my father or my brother being hanged from a tree or kicked to death on the ground!” I told him.

While Jeff respected my point of view, he held his ground. I knew I couldn’t change his mind in a matter of minutes, so we agreed to disagree. Trying to change his opinion would be as difficult and time-consuming as trying to de-program someone who’d been brainwashed.

I believe some blacks like Jeff have become desensitized to the word and to the various struggles in our past. When we become desensitized, we run the risk of forgetting. And when we forget, we run the risk of repeating the torment through which blacks suffered.

Fueled By Memory

While I don’t think we should use the word in coversation, it should not be erased from the English language. The word should remain as a reminder of all the suffering blacks endured in the past. Instead of using the language of racists, blacks should use the memory of that word and everything surrounding it as fuel and motivation to get ahead.

They should hear the word and remember the dreams of blacks in the past like Toussaint L’Overture, Harriet Tubman and many others who weren’t honored in all of our history books. They should remember how many blacks risked their lives in slave revolts, the Underground Railroad and the civil rights movement of the 1960s to give us a better future.

The N-word should remind African-Americans to resist racism and prejudice. And young blacks should pay respect to the past by dropping the word from their everyday speech. “N” is not a word to be thrown around lightly.

Bill Said:

So..Everyone else has a right to popst THEIR opinion, but I should keep my opinion to myself, huh……

grlnva said:

Nope, go ahead

I knew Nas would have an explanation on his decision for his album title, and it’s funny how we can embrace all these other rappers talking about cars and bitches and hoes, things that are killing us as a people but we lift up because it has a good beat, but we can’t even begin to hear Nas’ explanation before people start calling him ignorant and on the weed.

The N word is freely used among our people because its meaning has changed. It’s been made ordinary usage, and it really only has it’s sting when other races use it against us, whether or not they were meaning any harm at all. So I suppose Nas wants to somewhat neutralize the word, well I commend his attempt, but either way you slice it, we still have a long way to go before we can hear the N word from another race and not want to lay them out, and it’s going to take more than a cd to get us there.

To everyone getting ready to question my race(there we go with that racial seperation again) I’M BLACK. The next time someone tries to call you out of your name try this ignore it and watch there response. Shear confusion it’s so funny to see. Don’t even hear it and after a whie you wont hear it at all.

Strong black woman against racism!

36.

JoRo

You so dumb, you cant even read between the lines(what a dumb ass)! So what if i made a mistake…you knew what I meant. As long as you know what i meant…my point is proven…unless your a ignorant nigg@

Until he fully explains himself, i don’t think anyone should comment or jump to conclusions, because knowbody actually knows what he is talking about or what he is tryna do with this whole album, so until then, imma reserve my opinions.

70.

Tizzy-T WhistleQueen

***************************************************************************

i do not listen to any rapper that uses such words. that’s why i liked Nas because he talked sense and avoided crap. but i guess he has to pay bills so he has REDUCED himself to trash.

oh well, i guess i should move on to common. BYE FOREVER NAS.

44.

NICOLELIBRA

I dont call all women bit@hes, but I will call a ignorant female a bit@h. Im a black guy is ignorant, what do you call him…most likely a nigg@. If your out with your girls and a guy keeps tryin to talk to you…I bet you call hi a migg@. Im not sayin you call him that in a bad way, but you likely will say something like: “These nigg@z wont leave me alone”! I highly doubt you’ll say “That black guy” or “that african american dude”. Just because you MAY be a black women doesnt give you the right to refer to a black male weather it be your brother, friend, BF, etc to call them a “nigga” even if you are “jus playin”

And i wasnt refering to you anyway, just because yuo fell within that age range doesnt mean I was talkin bout you…but your too ignorant to exclude yourself from that statement. I glade for you that you have a car, apartment, job, etc and dont have to depend on a man…what you want a cookie for something your supposed to be doin…WTF! See that’s ignotrant…only a nigg@ would be proud of something they are SUPPOSED to be doin. That like me being proud I have a job…nigg@ Im supposed to have a job..WTF!!

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-

I don’t use the word, but Nas is extremely intelligent and there is something underneath it all that people are missing. By the way, I do hear other races call each other names such as wei, or chinc etc. They usually won’t do it in front of white people though.

Nas is wrong!!!

The whole rap game needs to come correct with a passionate display of artistry that will put the N-word back where it belongs.

It’s just a word but there are too many nonblacks that have invested more negative energy in how they have affixed that word to our whole race.

I wholeheartedly agree with #’s 11, 12, and 13!!! I think we as a people are going down pretty swiftly it seems and the sad thing about it is that WE ARE OUR OWN WORST ENEMIES!!!!

So sad…

Wowww. Um acutalli he feel evrything EXACTLi like wut i say 2, bout takin tha power of the word n stuff but, Um r u sure bout da “****ER” version
Um, Nas, homie
Um maybe, u shud jus use nigga instead. Um, wow
Well Um, k

Unreal, you are REEAALLL. Judah, havent spoken to you in a while but Im feeling what you’re saying.

I love the debates going on here but I already chosen sides (Nas’s of course).

One question: Why is it everytime, black people do some controversial type of sh*t, other blacks wonder what the white people or other races going to think of us???

Why should you care though? We are the reason so many other races exist, our culture is what started many other varieties of cultures. We are the originators of all types of things. Shiiiiiii, we are far more superior (well back in earlier times) than all races that descended from us. They are the ones who should care about what we think of them.

So, if Nas wants to name his album N***a, that brother can go right ahead because people who actually have a brain know what the man is really saying.

the United states was established on the bases of freedom of speech, and NASIR JONES is making use of his civil right, so he’s justified to title his ablum by whatever name he likes.
The word nigg@ is what we black people identify each other as (weather you like it or not)…we use the word in movies, books, documentries and so on, but when an intelligent person decides to express his thoughts (in form of a music album) we all open critize and rubbish his opinion rather than respecting it.

Interesting…Nas plans to redefine the N word? Oh, okay, after that let’s work on redefining B**tch and C*nt so that all women will lovingly respond to these terms as well. Oh and while we are at it, let’s redefine lynching, murder and slavery so that what happened to our ancestors becomes nothing more than a trip aboard a lovely cruise ship. Yeah, I think we should work on that immediately. Let’s unite!!!

I’m a Nas fan (all recordings were purchased, not copied), but I’m also an independent thinker. If Nas really believes that the use of the word removes the sting….well, he may need to pause and reflect on that thought.

I have no problem with the title of the album; I actually think it might be a good idea. He could use that word to shed light on the history of the word, to expose the danger in accepting a word like this into your vocabulary and to educate the masses. Instead, he wants us to accept the word as a term of endearment?

Why should I have to endure being called the N word because HE feels like I should accept the word to lessen the sting. If Nas is interested in my opinion, I’d rather be called compassionate, intelligent, charming and witty.

I have a compromise. For a year, Nas should change his name from Nas to N*gg*. When that year is up, he can get back with us to review the benefits of normalizing this word.

By the way mr. NAS, I am one of those old school mothers whom you seemed not to have much regard for. All I can say is may God bless you. I can’t tell my sons what to listen to they do not live in my home, but like all other disrespectful hip hop artist I don’t buy your music anyway nor do I listen to it. I come to the loop to read comments and to see the positive things that our young people are doing and really am learning how lost and direspectful most of the young men (and some of the yung women) are. I often wonder do you have mothers, sisters, aunts grandmothers, nieces, nephews and are you accountablt to anyoje because the young man TI has shown you don’t even care abou the law. I know youdon’t fear God or it seems as though you all don’t know who he is.
In the word of Bill Cosby’s book “COME ON PEOPLE”
To Ms. Angel it would be nice if you could post the excerpts from his book on your site..good reading and it needs to be heard by all our young people. Oh, he is old school and like NAS said Mr. Cosby would be a muhter whatever along with the rest of us…..

I must admit I do sometimes(though rare) use the N word in conversations with other blacks to emphasize, dramatize, or magnify the the sentiment expressed at that moment(can’t even explain why but it happens sometimes). I also know it is the same with some other black people. These instances are non offensive amongst us. I never use the term interracially and would go into a kineption fit if some other race use the term against me. I am ,like most blacks, aware of its controversy.
The term “Cracker” never achieved the loaded derogatory meaning of the N word because the users of that term, plantation blacks, were powerless and voiceless. As a matter of fact, not many whites are evenaware of that term.
I neither support use or disuse of the ‘N’ word amongst blacks. I also believe that over time its meaning may change(a very very long time from now).However, right now NAS is basically capitalizing on a controversial term or topic. If he would donate the proceeds from this album sale to some organization I may see his point.
Right now I see him as nothin but a pimp.

By the way mr. NAS, I am one of those old school mothers whom you seemed not to have much regard for. All I can say is may God bless you. I can’t tell my sons what to listen to they do not live in my home, but like all other disrespectful hip hop artist I don’t buy your music anyway nor do I listen to it. I come to the loop to read comments and to see the positive things that our young people are doing and really am learning how lost and direspectful most of the young men (and some of the yung women) are. I often wonder do you have mothers, sisters, aunts grandmothers, nieces, nephews and are you accountablt to anyoje because the young man TI has shown you don’t even care abou the law. I know youdon’t fear God or it seems as though you all don’t know who he is.
In the word of Bill Cosby’s book “COME ON PEOPLE”
To Ms. Angel it would be nice if you could post the excerpts from his book on your site..good reading and it needs to be heard by all our young people. Oh, he is old school and like NAS said Mr. Cosby would be a muther whatever along with the rest of us…..

@Judah and Provost (fist in the air)
Provost…I couldn’t stress enough the need to read between the lines with media….

To those of you boycotting the album…one question - Name some rap CDs you bought this year?
Remember your list…it may include titles like Pliers, TI, Young Joc, and will probably include Jay’s American Gangsta, etc, etc.
All I have to see is…
When N****r comes out, let’s take a look at the content and compare notes and see who is detrimental to our community.

@160
I am a mother too, and it is clear to me that you probably have not listened to any of his music. I understand. I am an activist/scholar/mother/daughter and I can understand your frustration, however, Nas of all rappers certainly is not the enemy. I also would not assume that young people are not down are read or learned. I am grown, but even my young brothers and systas that I try to school are studying, learning, piecing together the past with their present. The last thing they need is to think that your generation rejects them.
In Angel’s defense…She posted a long video on Cosby and the book the other day.

@Bill

If that’s what it is brother, than that’s what it is. I just cannot co-sign on fear and that displays a fearful mentality. Whether you edit the word out of the English language, you cannot edit it out of the hearts of people and you certainly cannot edit the spirit that the Most High gives men. This is how you know that the “N” word will be the bane of our people until Christ comes back because you cannot bury or delete a word or a false ideology, it must be atacked and confronted, which is what the brother Nas is attempting to do. This is why it is incumbent upon black men to be men, analyze this society, and stand for something. No disrespect to some of the sisters, but if they are involved with any type of social reform it will usually revolve around some form of nonconfrontational format which results in no change at all. This is why the white man orchestrated the civil rights movement behind the black male homosexual and the woman.

What’s good Sade, how are you sis?

Ignorant ass…

This title is a ploy just to sell more albums since the whole Hip-Hop is Dead ploy didn’t work according to plan.

Okay, so…..

- 70% of hip hop music buyers are white
- every major record label is owned by a white ceo
- every cable music video channel is owned by white ceo’s
- every major radio broadcasting company is owned by a white ceo

…but we continue to think this is “OUR MUSIC”!? Wake up people!

When I see the Spic, Kike or Chink albums come out, then i’ll be convinced that we aren’t being played. Or better yet, when I see an album cover w/ a swatstika on it by a jewish artist, I’ll be convinced. Until then, Nas sit your ass down!

No ones buying your music anyway and this PUBLICITY STUNT won’t help either. You and your girl need to stick a fork in your played out music careers. You couldn’t even get your damn reality show off the floor. I’m so sick of these greedy, self absorbed, profiteering music “artists” acting like they’re the voice of young black America, when they’re just the voice of their greedy, self absorbed self! These negros would sell you up the river for the price. Oh wait….they already are!

This is what happens when you give someone a mic, who thinks they’re more intellegent and prolific then they actually are. Just because you have a few songs about “positive” things, does not make you some type of intelectual or an incredible thinker. Just because you add the word “hyroglifics” or “africa” to your songs, it does not mean they’re deep. Nas is one those conspiracy theorist, mother africa negros who talk a lot of shit about the man, but don’t do anything about it.

To my Black people…

WAKE THE FUCK UP!!! WHITE AMERICA (nas’ core customer and employer) IS PLAYING YOU!!

SMH

Nas is pandering and an artist of his caliber should not pander! He is NOT on the intellectual level as Cornell West, so his comparison was completely irrevelent. Capitalizing on a term of hatred is no different than hate groups selling memberships. Nas should be ashamed.

@Chillin in NY….

Well written… I’m feeling EVERYTHING you wrote up there.

And for all the people who act like Nas is some incredible, uplifitng, intellegent rapper please recite the words to Oochywally out loud.

Yeah….I don’t think Cornell West has any books that sound like that.

Once again Nas….Sit you ass down!

For all of you dumbasses who think Nas is doing something “revolutionary” by naming his album this should be ashamed. The real revolution is when you get off your lazy asses and VOTE! Voting is more powerful than some rapper trying to reach in your pocket by creating controversy.

get em esco. and to all the idiots. who obviously dont know what NAS is about. should know that NAS doing something like this or anything always will have a intellectual reason behind it

CHILL IN NY
And for all the people who act like Nas is some incredible, uplifitng, intellegent rapper please recite the words to Oochywally out loud.

SMH
THAT’S ONE FUCKIN SONG
ARE YOU GONNA JUDGE HIS WORK ON ONE SONG
HOW ABOUT SOMEON RECITE THE WORDS TO ‘I CAN’

I love Nas and I loved his response.
Everything that needed to be said was said.
All the rest of you m’fuckas can fall back—-way back.

@Chillin in NY

Stop it with the house negro race card nonsense. My favorite ploy that the house negro uses is to pose as one that actually cares about the welfare of their people. What kills me with some black people is how confused they are. You said that Nas is a “conspiracy theorist, Mother Africa, negro that blames the ‘man’”, but then you said to blacks, “White America is playing you”. So doesn’t that make you a “conspiracy theorist” also or are you just, like I said, another house negro trying to play the race card in an attempt to sway weak-minded black people into thinking that the white man is above reproach. Stop it please. Just say that you disagree with his opinion concerning the “N” word and keep it moving.

In regards to Cornell West, I have a couple of his books and he is what Christ calls a “hireling” (John 10:11-13). This is why the white man puts him on TV. He is the modern day Frederick Douglas (another fake so-called black leader). These black intellectuals, i.e. Cornel West, Michael Eric Dyson, etc. specialize in verbosity. They string some multi-syllabic words together and throw in the university that they teach at to trick black people into thinking that what they have to say has merit. People are very quick to criticize Nas or Bill Cosby for what they allegedly haven’t done for the black community, but what has Cornel West done? Can anyone actually explain what he stands for, that’s if he does stand for something. The Oochy Wally reference was corny too, lol. So what he did Oochy Wally….and? Martin Luther King was allegedly bisexual and slept with white women. Malcolm X was a pimp and a drug dealer and user. I think that you just don’t like the fact that a young black man stood up and took a strong stance on something. This is why the black man must carry his cross because when he does, he’ll see how much he’s really hated and it will sober his mind.

NEGRO PLEASE STFU!

Talk to your Def Jam execs about this ish not MTV.

I am so tired of black people trying to justify this disgusting word. We should not use it as a term of endearment to each other. Black people were humialted, beaten and lost their lives over this word. WAKE UP PEOPLE!! All of these rappers, actors and black peopl in power need to stand up and set an example for out people and the generations to come. Talk about having self pride and loving each other. You are not fooling anyone Nas. Using this word to line your pockets of our hard earned money. Shame on you my brother! Black people should boycott this album.

I agree, this wouldn’t be a big issue if Dr. Cornell West wrote a book called “N*%#er”, but Dr. Cornell West is a highly educated intellectual. Nas is a great artist. He has a lot of insightful things to say about race, religion, and politics. Most of the time his intentions are good, but leave the intellectual jargon to the intellects. This is why education isn’t a priority in this country, you have a high school drop-out giving you his dissertation on the word “N*%#er” and why we shouldn’t question his intentions.

You are so right BLACK, Nas is a f*cking ninth grade dropout. This motherf*cker ain’t
no intellectual prophet. We as people needs to wake our dumbass up.!!!!

[...] can create an image or aura of a pretty person, as opposed to just physical features. For example, Nas’ ridiculous, almost pathetic attempts to legitimise calling the N word for the name of his… lessen his appeal to me because he is associating himself and de facto trying to promote a word [...]

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