@ 70. I agree with you. But Nas is saying he wants to point out how we all blacks, italians, chinese, russians etc have been treated like n*ggers. That’s why he refers to all those groups in the hook. That’s the message he’s trying to convey. I guess he wants us to look past the race stuff and see how much we have in common lol It’s corny & impossible, but I still think there’s some merit in it. I’m just happy to see a black man saying something at all, it happens so rarely these days.

LMAO at most of you “defending” this asshole. This song is far beyond disgrace that CL should be offended for even THINKING about posting it up! I’m embarrassed as an black american, or the correct way, AFRICAN American, to even listen to this song nevertheless, argue a point that its OKAY for him to make such a song! You people should be ashamed by how this comes off and perceived! By any means, does this song enlighten strength, unity, love or hope!

There is a more subtle way to address this issue. I feel this whole thing is a bit too gimmicky.

@ Tia-Bia, I totally agree. I actually like how he made the record extremely abrasive. This conveys the message alot better than most would believe. This also, is extremely anti-radio and “commercial”, he knows that and it will create far more thought provoking discussion, than if he hadn’t.

@81 Tia-Bia

If making chinese and nem come together with blacks is impossible, then why is he preaching this faslehood to black people?

I see a trend here that people are not necessarily offended by the word nigger, so much as they seem to be afraid of white people will think, feel, perceive etc. regarding Nas blatantly using the word. Now I see what’s happening here…

#81 I don’t give a shit what White people think, I enjoy art that is subtle. Which is why I don’t like movies like Knocked up , Scary Movie etc. becuase IN MY OPINION they are wayy too over the top. Comedy is bes thwen it is more subtle. That’s my issue with music in general. The I’m so sexy or the I’m so rich I got rims and shit. Way too over th etop. I like subtle messages more so than over the top messages.

IDONTGETIT

I agree with your statement. Very true. People may disagree with rappers using it in general, but everyone clicked on this link knowing full well what Nas album was called and naturally, to expect the use of the word. I didn’t understand the ‘why is he saying nigga’ questions.

@81

Exactly. Everything these negroes do and think revolves around the acceptance of the caucasian. It’s pathetic. Then these are the same ones that rant about the “civil rights movement” and what it means to be “black”, lol.

TYPICAL……

IT IS SOOOO FUNNY HOW ALL OF YOU ARE SAYING “I CAN’T BRING MYSELF TO LISTEN”, “HE IS SOOO IGNORANT” BUT LET ONE OF THESE YOUNG UNEDUCATED GHETTO BAMA SLAP YOUR MOMMA, FUC* YOU HOE, YOU BIT**, LET’S HAVE UNPROTECTED SEX FAKE RAPPERS SAY SOMETHING AND YOU SUPPORT THEM WHOLE HEARTEDLY. BOTTOM LINE.. DON’T BE A PRODUCT OF YOUR ENVIRONMENT LISTEN TO MUSIC AND READ AND GAIN A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ART IS ALL ABOUT.

HOLLA

@ Judah, I don’t get you.

You come to an entertainment site and act like you are “on another level”. Why do you come to concreteloop is the first place? Makes no sense to me.

This is so irresponsible. Why do we do this to ourselves. I read about our history on here and then see Nas ‘garbage. This mess is for shock value to sell records thats all. Its not about educating a darn thing! We r taking ourselves backward.

He should have been more clever like dude from Atlanta named FARMERBROWN on myspace. Ya’ll need to look that cat up. seriously! But I see where he is trying to go.

#85 I see the overloading of Nas stans are coming through. hmm you obviously don’t read concreteloop if you think they like that Soulja boy BS.

Nas=LOOK AT ME

This isn’t about knowledge people!!! He is trying to sell CD’s !! Damn!

#91 That’s the smartest thing anyone has said one here.

@80. It being impossible is obviously my opinion. Clearly Nasir disagrees which is why he recorded this song and album.

@81. I think that’s always the case to be honest. That don’t upset massah mentality, If that’s not relevent today I don’t know what is lol

#93 You make very little sense what does Nas and his album have to do with me personally?? So how does him upsetting White people relate to me. IN order for someone to have that mentality then it would have to relate DIRECTLY to that person…and it doesn’t unless Nas is some of ya’ll kin folk. You guys should learn. NAS is only trying to sell cds just like everybody else.

DON`T SAY HE IS TRYING TO GET ATTENTION
in 1990 or 91 he said that waving matics at nuns line
snuffing jesus blah blah bla

I`M GONNA COPY THE ALBUM

I’ll try again:

A Brief History of the word “Nigger”

http://www.aaregistry.com..._the_word_a_brief_history

I love how ignorant and childlish some of you guys are, just because someone has a different opinion about a song you resort to name calling. Guess what ALL BLACK PEOPLE AR ENOT THE SAME AND DON”T THINK THE SAME. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THEN YOU ARE A RACIST. IF WE ALL THOUGHT AND ACTED THE SAME IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY BORING. I do agree that Nas is trying to start controversy to sell records , but I will admit it and I like the song. I understand why it offends some and I understand why people like it, but I am not going to act like a teenager and resort to name calling and such, GROW UP.

Also Quan #94 looks like someone took a psychology class.lol. You are right you can’t have that mentality, unless it relates to you and your life personally. Like a lot of people say, ” You are just jealous of Beyonce Rihanna or whatever., this makes no sense the only way you can be jealous of a celebrity is if you know that person or if you are in the same line of field as Beyonce or Rihanna. If not then you can’t be jealous. It always has to relate to you someway. I just sit back and laugh when people make ludicrous statements as these because they think they are spitting knowledge, but in reality you’re not making any sense.

Im not gonna lie I was thrown back a bit by the NIGGER Shirts on the grammy, but now that I understand the meaning of what Nas was trying to get across. I def am feeling it. I love this song, no one tells history like NAS….. He’s a fucking rapping history book… LMAO

@TIA

Good point. I guess i just don’t understand how he could have come to that conclusion. I expected better to be honest. Anyway, its just one song. We’ll just have to wait and see what he comes with next.

I’m not feeling the Nas joint but he has the right to voice his opinion and I respect that. Will I buy it? No, but that’s just me. I aint even mad. Do you Nas!

I think. Maybe. Ya’ll should stop talking / typing. And listen to the song. Listen to the words, what he is saying, the sarcasm of him asking “Do you want to be a nigger too?”.

It doesnt offend me and I am very debatable and I always have an opinion and I’m uber sensitive. It doesn’t offend me.

What offends me is Boyz in the Hood’s song…it goes Imma shoot me a nigger, Imma duck tape me a nigger, etc etc. Off their first album with Jeezy, everytime I hear that it makes me think, this is what racist people say about my race and they don’t even realize the words that they are using….Nas is too intelligent not to know what he is doing…..

But he’ll be a martyr in the rap game though

First off let me say I wasn’t offended in the least bit and for those who were I don’t see why. You have to admit that the truth does hurt and he is speaking it. While I don’t use the word myself, I see how everybody wants to use it and to be quite honest words only have power if you let them. For too many years we’ve given this word power and now when it’s out in the open everybody wants to boycott and bury it. BLACK PEOPLE IT’S TIME TO WAKE UP AND WORDS ONLY HAVE POWER WHEN YOU BELIEVE THEM. TO BE HONEST MARTIN, HARRIET AND MALCOLM WOULD PROBABLY BE ASHAMED OF THEIR PEOPLE IF THEY COULD SEE US TODAY!

Safari if you are so offended, do something political about it then. Make it where NO one can use it, take Soulja Boy out…take out all the rappers who use it AND DON’T MEAN ANYTHING BY IT….at least Nas had a motive. His motive maybe misinterpreted but he has a motive. Also what about the generation before us who started to integrate the word? Because rappers weren’t the first to use the word nigger/nigga.

How about Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues…she said it plenty of times. I just feel like everyone is talking but they don’t even know what they are talking about.

Not saying its right to say it, but while you’re ranting and raving, have a purpose besides being preachy….oh Lordy Lordy I feel offended. Be quiet and do something about it in the community. Actions speak louder than words.

Please and Thank you.

41 so true danielle

People get on my nerves with the “using the N word to take the power away from it”. Richard Pryor FAILED to do it, Paul Mooney officially stopped using it cause he FAILED as well and changed his mind about the use of the word. With that word being used so often in the song you barely hear the message.

We are the ONLY RACE trying to popularize a racial slur. And I think it speaks volume on how we actually perceive and value ourselves as a people.

Everybody has their own opinion, and mine won’t change. I’ve had thousands of discussions about the N word and like I said, I stick by my opinion.

We are have a sorry mentality. You can’t get rid of a poison by using this very poison. We could not look more ignorant right now.

i’ll pass…

thanks.

I don’t get it. We don’t have a problem with our women p-popping & ass shaking like dogs, we don’t have a problem with our men rapping about slinging ‘Ye and shooting each other.We don’t have a problem with dudes who have nothing to talk about but Maybachs and YSL’s. But the second a brother tries to speak about something relevent he’s ignorant? lol

>>>>>>>> Umm white people buy rap music not us. We’ve been having a problem with it for a long time, black people even asked for the boycott of the “we ought to do better” TV show on BET which ended up being cancelled.

I’ll try again:

Question for the Panel:

Suppose you go to work tomorrow, and your Boss says to you
“hey NIGGER, come here !”

How would you react ?

* I’m just trying to understand why a person would not be offended by this word.
It’s not a word that I use in my everyday conversations…
Maybe some Negro’s use it. I’m just trying to understand the logic……

@57 and others

I have listened to the song 3 times to see if what you said is correct but in the song the only thing im getting is he wants us to embrace the word and be a “nigger” tooo. I Know in an interview he did months ago he stated that many ppl take offense to word when it is only a word. The purpose of naming the album “nigger” was so that people can take it light-heartedly and not serious at all. I do not think that he is monking anyone that uses the word but he is trying to influence others to embrace the word… which in my opinion is wrong and if people are influence to use the word in a non-serious manner we will start to ignore history and take OUR history as a light-hearted story.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
NAS GOT Y’ALL MAD
I LOVE THE SONG
LOVE THE MESSAGE
DO YOUR THING NAS
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is offensive and ignorant.

This word drips with the blood or our ancestors. Has everyone forgot Emmett Till? The hangings? Those WHO DIED SO WE COULD BE HERE TODAY? Those who were spit on and who had this word yelled at them to integrate schools? Have you forgotten about them. Or is Nas and everyone else who cosigns this word so cocky and arrogant that they don’t care. This word is more then a word it has power and it has blood of those who loved our people enough to fight it. It isn’t our choice to “change” the word it is up to them. We haven’t earned that right to “take the power”. Cocky idiots. Why do you think those who actually had to sit on the back of busses and who couldn’t eat in White places to eat don’t cosign it? What sit ins have you gone to? How many fire hoses have been sprayed on you? How many crosses have been burned in your yard? How many nights have you been in jail for looking at a white girl?

I feel sorry for those who spit blood. Who walk around so proud and talk ignorant words in justification of this word. I feel sorry for them because they are spitting on those who made this world possible for us. You should be ashamed Nas, you be ashamed all of those that support him, you should be ashamed everybody who uses this word.

You don’t hear any other race doing this to their own? I wonder why that is? Sad isn’t it. How easily we forget. But not me I wont sell my soul and my people out because it’s cool or because everyone else is doing. Or because some ignorant washed up has been rapper wants to sell some records for a White record label is doing it. Nas in the words of Dave Chappelle “I hate you and I hope all the bad stuff in the world happens to you and only you.”

I listened to the song and it thought is sucked. NAS is not doing the black race any favors by putting out crap like “Be a Nigger Too”. Shit, can’t he come up with more inspirational like Malcolm X /Martin Luther king Jr. kind of lyrics instead the crap I just listened too.

I get what he is attempting to do with the word Nigger by making it less powerful. However, I think would it be best to let the damn word die out with time instead of trying to reinvent a new meaning for the thing. NAS needs to just tell the truth and shame the devil brother just want to make a quick dollar off his “NIGGER FANS”. Well, I guess one thing he can be proud of at least the racist White Folks at FOX NEWS will help promote his Hot new “BE A NIGGER TOO”.

NAS IS ABOUT MUSIC AND A MESSAGE…IF HE WAS DOING IT FOR PUBLICITY AND MONEY HE WOULD BE RAPPING SOMETHING IN THE LIKES OF “GET LOW”.PPL SOON 4GET THAT THIS IS AMERICA HE AND EVERYONE ELSE HAS THE RIGHT TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT U DONT LIKE IT DONT LISTEN PICK UP A BOOK!!!

PS-DONT SHOT THE MESSAGER!!!

@ 112 NICOLE, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And once again I will repeat what I stated before to co-sign what you just typed : We are the ONLY RACE trying to popularize a racial slur. And I think it speaks volume on how we actually perceive and value ourselves as a people.

I’m not listening to this sh!t.

Good Job Nass!.

@FlyLikeMe

Then your a Coon

I love the song! It’s fire! However, I disagree with Nas on some issues. First, it does not sound like Nas is saying nigger but nigga. Then he goes on to say that we are all niggas/niggers. This may be true but it is only people with black skin that are called niggers. I don’t see anybody calling poor white or asian people niggers. In this country and in several others nigger is not defined by your socioeconomic status. Your skin is! Secondly, since Nas is saying we are all niggers, can anybody say nigger? Oh my God, I can just see a white high school and college students saying nigger because Nas said we are all niggers. Lastly, Nas says he had no problem with Eminem saying nigger but I did. Notice how Eminem released an apology real quick because that ass would have stomped on. Nevertheless, this is a great song.

I didn’t read no comments but in my opinion Ive never been too much of a Nas fan….ever && when I heard about the whole ‘nigga’ album I was like WTF?? O NO HE DIDN’T….lmao BUT since I keep it real I LIKE this song!! And I like VERY FEW Nas joints so I really might be pickin this ablum up……

LOL @ 13 & 14….I feel you both

Ya’ll niggers need to listen! NAS is speaking the straight truth on this track. Welcome back, NAS!!!

@Bill & Natural Mystic thanks for also seeing this song for what is is. An embarrasment. I can’t for the life of me understand why ppl go out of their way to defend Nas. How can you be sure of his motives? I’m not sure what they are from that garbage put out in that song. Obviously this is not the first time he has used the word in his music, and he certaintly wasn’t saying it for any deeper meaning in the past. So why should we believe he is now? I agree there are plenty of other issues going on in the comm that he could tackle if he really gave a damn. This is all about self-promotion at any cost! Even those blacks he claims to care about. Lastly, why the hell do ppl keep saying that he is so intellectual, by what standards? I take that back, I guess he would seem to be quite brilliant to a bunch of idiots.

Umm…I can’t believe I wasted even three minutes of my life listening to this garbage, and to think we have a black man running for President….

@110 i agree! making the word ok to use, is like forgetting the past. it’s a serious word and that’s how it should remain

@ LULLABY exactly, no other race acts the way we do. ppl can talk about how blacks care too much about what white ppl think all they want but it has nothing to do w/that. it has to do w/the fact that we are the only race that uses our own racial slur, we are the only race that has a whole channel that shows the negative side of us, it reminds me of how at my friend’s campus, they had an event for black ppl (it’s a predominantly white school) and the black girls were bent over while the dudes were hitting it from the back in broad daylight right next to a center where EVERYBODY (students and visitors and international ppl) comes. what other race would do such. i love love love my ppl but we need to wake up. we are such a beautiful group of ppl. let’s represent ourselves in a way that would make dr.king, malcolm, and anyone who has fought for our rights proud

This song is not even hot.

We are not niggers so Nas needs to sit down somewhere.

DITTO #13….How about say “Be a Leader”, “”Be a Warrior”, “Be a Man”, Be a King”, “Be a Father”, “Be a Brother”? You know things we actually should aspire to, I think we have the nigger mentality all figured out. Hence this song and the approving comments.

@Jamila yeah what was Nas trying to say about the eminem issue but last i heard, eminem used it as a slur. i heard he wrote how some girl a nigger b/c she had broken up w/him. or maybe he called her a black b—. idk but whatever he said, there was no other way of seeing it, it was racist

I meant DITTO @ # 113

I liked the song. It has a great message behind it and makes alot of sense. People are totally taking it out of hand getting mad but to each his own. Feel what you feel. In my opinion i feel the sing and respect it. Im about to download it right now as a matter of fact. The word nigga does not offend me and not only blacks use it. it has became just a friendly way to refer to a friend or peer. In slave times Nigger meant an ignorant peson. Coming from a white person said in a hateful way i just might get angry from the word but you know what im not ignorant and im very intelligent so words from an ignorant individual doesnt hurt me. Good song Nas

In the words of Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”.

That’s my 2 cents. Peace!!

i’m sorry but ppl with class would not want to be called nigger as a greeting. that’s ghetto nonsense

and eminem called the girl a black b which was not racist in my opinion. ive called my friend a white hoe in anger lol but im nowhere near a racist. He was mad. Eminem has said my nigga though. So nas was saying he aint mad at him bout it cause the word isnt just for one person. Everyone his nigga lol

YOU SAID IT #19…… MY MAN MY MAIN MAN AZ IS WAY BETTER. BEING THAT YOU CAN TAKE HIS SHYT IN MORE WAYS THEN ONE AND COME OUT WITH DIFFERENT ASS PROSPECTIVES EVERY TIME YOU LISTEN TO HIS SHYT.

listen,if limb biskit or kid rock even sniffed the n-word, ya’ll be ready to fight and extremely offended. but if a black person says it, he’s speaking the truth????? u using it teaches the white person to use it….this term is degrading and disguisting…i’m white and have never had someone call me the n-word but i do understand that it hurts and its extremely demolarising…obviously its a term that can never be forgotten and a term which is deeply tied to african american history…but comeone, making it a commercial term….nas sit ur ass down!!!

nas i stupid..which retailer i going to want to handle an album with this title????
just spreading a lot of hate
i bet white people just look at us and think dumb-asses….how u gonna commercialise on a term that made u feel lke trash?!!!

Ok. So I think I see what he’s trying to do. …Seems like he’s saying that the word is NOT going anywhere…. and giving the ‘pros’ and cons (I do use ‘pros’ loosely) of the word when used … the negatives and ‘positives’. The negatives are much deeper and solemn…. it is a deep word with a lot of meaning and history… But I still wouldn’t put it on a shirt.

@133 ..sorry ‘mixed ma’.. ‘nigger’ does not mean ‘ignorant person’. It has NOTHING to do with ‘ignorance’ . That is a mistake that a lot of people make/think.The word ‘NIGGER’ was created. Only Black Slaves were called NIGGERS.. it was not a term for an ‘ignorant person’. If you have ever read Slave Narratives, you will see that they (when interviewed after slavery) call themselves and others blacks ‘Niggers’ .. ‘Us niggers’ .. etc.

I Love it!

…..Wow, it looks like alot of people on this board don’t understand the concept of IRONY…
I really don’t think the song is that bad at all…there’ve been more damaging lyrics in hip hop than these smh

HIP HOP IS BACK! THIS IS THE BEST SHIT I’VE HEARD IN A LOOOOOONG TIME!! FUCK ALL YOU ONE HIT WONDER BACKWARDS ASS SOUTHERN RINGTONE RAPPIN NIGGAZ. WILL THE REAL MC’S PLEASE STAND UP?

I will refrain from the kneejerk reaction of calling the track ignorant. Though, the use of The Word is jarring. After some thought, I get it. I get what he’s trying to say. He’s making a political statement more so than anything. He’s not glorifying the use of the word. The song is more about the absurdness and hypocrisy of America than anything. My worry is not everyone will think deeply enough to really HEAR what he’s saying. This is the same issue that drove Dave Chappelle to give up a 50 million dollar contract. This is the age old struggle of an artist. How do you control other people’s interpretation of your creation once it’s out there for mass consumption? The answer: you can’t. There in lies the responsibility of the artist and an almost herculean task. From the negative comments posted here, I see my worry is justified. America is filled with people afraid of any type of complex thought.

[...] some reason, the term ‘nigger’ doesn’t affect me, so this had no effect on me. I guess it’s because I’ve never had the pleasure of being called [...]