Yes! Go Nas!

Nas is the truth and what he’s talking bout in this song is real!

The intro was sick as hell! I love me some Nas and I can’t wait till his stuff comes out. He is real hip-hop!

Love Nas

nas needs to just drop the whole n word thing he has going on

^ even though i love most of Nas’ albums

The ending is hella vivid tho. I wasn’t expeciting to see that lil boy hanging like that.

WOW. GREAT!

Even though I’m not with the N word being tossed around like it is NAS’s music always has a message unlike most of the Rap music today

Nas has always been real. What can I say. Exceptional. But I agree with some of the above comments, he could have made this same song and same album without glorifying the word so much especially in the public eye. But I catch his drift. Our history of blacks is very deep and complicated, and hurtful. I am one who often times say that whites don’t want to see black people not working and they complain about that, but if you work and do well thay can often times give you problems in the workplace. So you can’t win for losing. But with that being said, I don’t let them stop me. I had a masters degree by 26 years old, so you cannot focus on history, you have to look forward to the future. And to be honest in 2008, it is not white people you have to worry about calling you the N word, you have to worry about black people saying what up nigga…give me your keys, your shoes, your wallet, and then still blowing your brains out. I think leaders like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson often times dwell on the serious although sparsely and isolated cases of white injustice versus the day to day homefront war between black on black crime. It is a very complex issue…but anyway…good video Nas.

Damn……that video was strong.

the intro was perfect
i will always love nas- even his nasty nas period.
especially w joints like these! i’m excited for his album!!!

I’ve always been a Nas fan. He is vital to hip-hop right now. It is hard to hear the n-word thrown at you like that, and his delivery makes you cringe. But I think that’s his point. So many folks wanna ride us, and swallow up everything we used to be able to claim as “our own…” now we have to share. and we are charging big bucks for it… but is it worth the price? selling our souls? they wanna talk like us and party like us and swagger like us but they don’t really want to BE like us. Most couldn’t handle it. We are so strong and such a beautiful people. And I think his message is not just food-for-thought to non-Blacks, but also to the young folks who need to get up on their history - knowing what and who we really are will change anyone’s perspective, even the hardest n**** on the block! Too many of us are walking around looking like slobs, being disrespectful, not taking care of their kids - it’s a cautionary statement to them too! Such a dynamic video. We can look back on our mothers, fathers, great aunts, great great grands - and we can be proud of them. They were fly! They were classy and they were survivors and we admire them. When our great grand kids look back at us… what will they say?? They were… blingy? loud? silly? disrespectful? nasty? lewd? …be someone that the next generation can be proud of!

Media outlets are going to censor the shit out of this video and rightfully so I suppose. But NaS always comes hard with a message. The argument about the usage of the N-word will persist. It still makes me cringe to hear it but not like it used to. I guess I’m becoming desensitized to it. I think the discussion over the N-word occurs way too often - it’s now a cop out. We don’t deal with real issues that affect the black community like we should. I’m over summits about the N-word, we need to have summits that lead to action about how to better the lives of the black community - financially, politically, socially and educationally.

Angel…what do you think of the video? Unlike other blogs you don’t share your opinion often.

This too deep for alot of yall

Word up Asea.

I’ve been bypassing a lot of posts about Nas lately b/c I wasn’t sure about his album title ( wasn’t even going to check out the video). BUT, I LOVED IT AND I 100% understand the album title now. He’s trying to put a positive twist of the word “Nigger.” I’m excited about the album NOW…. MAJOR PROPS!

This video right here is what you call beautiful. This is real music.

I been on this joint for a minute. I love it because it is sooo true. Nas always spits nothing but knowledge. The intro/monologue was crazy. I’ve been a dedicated fan since I was 8 and used to lay around in my brother’s room and listen to that TAPE over and over again.

SOME OF YALL COMMENTS ARE TOO F**KIN LONG!!!! (no homo)

That being said, I’m so glad to see more original videos coming back! Death to the video ho! Thank you Kanye, Nas, people like Rik Cordero, for bringing some creativity up front. Love the song, it’s getting me hype for the album!

LOVED IT!!! I really thought nas was stupid for doing the whole thing at first…But honestly the more I listen the more my mind is being changed. Everything hes saying brings tears to my eyes…This is REAL music…this is what hiphop really is…& Nas is bringing back…Music to uplift…music to bring forth CHANGE music to INSPIRE…Thats what the game has been missing for so long. You donthave to agree…but Nas is the TRUTH…

I had a chance to work with Rik Cordero on the “breakfast of champions” video with consequence I did… I love him he’s a very sweet guy and I really think the video was put together well…I mean some of the scenes make you cringe but thats te effect they are suppose to give. Your suppose to feel the music thru this vision.

Im looking forward to the album now.

It is interesting that hearing the n word repeated like this was disturbing…but not so much when it’s tossed around in other songs…and I guess that is Nas’ point. I don’t know about the other racial slurs but again, if his point is that words have power, then he’s certainly made it. At least Nas is up to something that shows some thought and provokes some conversation…I give him that. That we can have Barack Obama and Nas both out here doing their thing, well, can’t be mad at that.

The god NAS!
he’s in top form on this joint.

http://music.pluggedin.com/artists/nas

This man needs to get a grip. He is trying too hard and turning people off. Shame, as he is clearly a talent!

Great video that gives insight to the message that he’s trying to get across. Some people are too slow to understand why he’s doing what he’s doing and think that he’s doing it out of ignorance. But yea I love what Nas is doing. Atleast a rapper finally had the guts to do it. I think we should back and support Nas instead of diss him. Good job NAS.

I’m not disturbed by hearing the word repeated. And, I actually like the video more than I like the song. My question is. . . what is the point of the song? Who is it addressing?

He even said Eminem was his nigger, which would lead one to believe that even white people can be “niggers,” who exactly is this song addressed to?

im speechless i really dont know what to say…
my mind is racing i liked the whole message and everything but it might be to hard for everyone to completely wrap their mind around it

Good video, but NAS gives the N Word too much freedom, thats why you got so many people thinking that is is right to let that word out of their mouth. It is personal choice, and people died to give NAS that choice to make the music he creates. I am a black man who chooses not to use the N Word, but people know think it is cool just to let that word fly, then when a white person uses it and you want to go to war. I feel there are better ways to go about things, and NAS is entitled to go about things the way he feels.

thought provoking, and well wriiten..he’s the truth. I pray the world will catch up and open up to what he is trying to say..Loved it!

Apryl

This video is DOPE!!!!!!!…….. REAL message…… REAL delivery……. I didn’t expect less from Nas…… This is his best video to date……. the REALEST video I’ve ever seen……..

How come Nas can use the N word and when i try to use it Angie morderate my ass?

i love nas he is the truth!

Perfect video for this song!

I think Kanye West gonna love this video, he is going to put it in his blog

Lmao , Nas put NAACP on blast !

@ 25 Just stop it already . If every black person stopped using the N word , People will still call us the word . We never created the term for ourselves so what makes you think we will kill it ?

Im personally not bothered by the word . I know the actual definition of the word so whatever . If I was offended by every term used against my people , I wouldn’t get anything done in a day . Women are called whores, sluts, bitches …etc everyday even been called a few in my life .,but Im notoffended because I know who I am at the end of the day .

I feel the race of “black” people have way moreimportant issues to deal with . The word will NEVER go away .

The reason this brilliance will never be able to reach the masses is that the overuse of the N word dilutes the message, and therefore it will be censored and probably even forbidden on TV. Not smart on his part, not to mention the masses (majority of) is too dense to understand the context of the use of the N word here and get the depth of this. He should have been smarter and more responsible, I still stick by this belief, but he’s still one of the greatest MCs in hiphop history.

I hear you #25.

LOVE NASSS!!!!!! HE IS THE TRUTH AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE TRUTH!!!!! HE REALLY GOT THE MESSAGE ACOSS PREIOD. IF PEOPLE CAN’T HANDLE IT, THEN IT’S YOUR PROBLEM. IT’S BETTER HEARING THE TRUTH THAN BEING LIED TOO, LIKE THE RAPPERS TODAY, THEIr MUSIC MAKE NO SENSE, NO MEANING. JUST CONSTANT MONEY THIS MONEY THAT, I’M TIRED OF THAT FUCKERY!!!!!!! GO NASSS DO YOU!!!!!!!!!

CAN’T WAIT 4 THE ALBUM TO COME OUT!!!! WORD UP!!!

I never understood why ppl got so offended by Nas’ take on naming an album the N word. As someone pointed out earlier, we rap and sing the N word all the time. When it’s put in/used by all of the other senseless songs by these non-talented rap acts/rappers, then it was ok, but when a social conscious giant like Nas tries to teach something about this word and its meaning, then it’s suddenly a problem.

Nas has always been the truth. He has always had thought-provoking lyrics. AGAIN, HE IS THE TRUTH. You have to understand rap and the impact that Nas has had on its evolution. Nas is a self-conscious rapper who makes you think. I didn’t like when he was pre-judged by the teeny boppers or souljah boy fans who probably never heard a Nas album before and had already written him off. Nas’ work speaks for itself - POINT BLANK!

GO NAS! I can’t wait to this album comes out!

I didn’t bother pushing play.

first of all let me say that was a hella long even slightly annoying video
but i LOVE the song && unlike some of you *coughcoughMOSTcoughcough*
I’ve supported it from the beginning!
Im surprised at such positive comments because when the song itslef
was posted there was nothing BUT negativity.
FEW were on Nas’s side now everyone buyin his album? SMH
any who GO NAS

Hats off to Nas for still making “thought provoking” music, but there are more creative ways to get this particular point across.

I like Nas but feel that he’s been aiming for controversy, and sensationalism with his past couple of efforts, “Hip Hop is Dead” and now this.

I feel like he’s relying on gimmicks rather than the skills of one of the greatest emcees alive, as many proclaim him to be.

I, for one, am not too impressed with this new direction and refuse to waste my money on a last ditch attempt at relevancy.

This is about as deep as a shallow grave.

#25, I def. feel you. LOL @ #38 saying fuckery (I’ve only heard Amy Winehouse say that, so it was funny). I feel you. I agree, #39.

Nas is a real lyricists;; It’s funny how people dont wanna pay attention or “own up” to things that really invovle them. &nd I know a lot of black read concreteloop but yet it’s only about 44 responses to this video…smh.

Black people say that they dis-like hearing or using the “n” word and I dont understand why..I guess they feel that it’s a reminder of the past and that black people should move on.. but QUESTION; how to do you move on from the past when things in the past are still happening today??

This video hit a chord. I think that it’s powerful &nd Nas gets all of the respect from me for taking a risk in the game to actually put it out there. I cant wait to see how the radio will censor this or if it will even be on the radio..

Wow!
A beautiful man with a beautiful mind!
I’ve been a fan since day 1 and it will never change.
This is what I love about him most…Entertainment Education.
Can’t wait until July 15th!
It’s about time for my “New Nas Album” ritual…putting his collection in heavy rotation in anticipation of what is to come.

Nas is the greatest! He’s saying what most are afraid to say. He’s not doing it for the money or for attention but because certain things just need to be said. However most are afraid of reality of our history. Not very interested in responding to any haters.

The only thing good about that track is the Right Honorable Minister Malcolm X’s voice in the intro.

Nas-You are so prolific and I hope you don’t let the cynics get in your way. We need more like you to bring truth to a world of lies and falsehoods. People who want to pretend that everything’s okay and that ‘we’ are suppose to forget who we are, what we’re about, what we had to endure. Sure it’s about change, but you can’t get to where you’re going unless you know where you come from and who brought you there. Keep lifting up the youth, they need it…not another cash, money, hoes song. Like we need another one of those-pleez. I dont see nobody up in arms over that SMH

he has a deep message.. but i feel like he’s contradicting himself too… he says we can be more than (n*****) and be better than that but he addresses eminem as one and other black people as one as if its still cool. he uses the n word way too much throughout the song which many white people will hear and think we are still degrading ourselves..

ps i dont think he is resorting to controversy to stay relevant, he’s been controversial…….i mean really.

i suppose if he was doing a song about drugs and money then he’ll be relevant? some of ya’ll really need to stop…no really, stop. It’s a damn shame that education has been viewed as ignorance and that’s what’s wrong in the Black community today. Do your homework and learn something before you dismiss it as nothing. Knowledge is good. Spending more money than you can afford, calling women Bitches, selling drugs…not so good. See the difference?

WOW real talk everything he said was TRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

1. What makes some of you think that Nas made this video for prime-time TV? That’s almost laughable to assume on so many fronts, most important being that most of y’all will have already seen it - on the INTERNET. This song wasn’t made for the ‘rest of them’.

2. Waiting for #42 to offer up some alternative ‘creative ways’ to get the so-called point across instead of just insinutating that such methods exist cause this was the hardest anyone has come since Public Enemy.

3. #36 - Responsible to whom? The networks? See item #1 above.

@ 13 ASEA

So true…..

Was I the only person that the song was kind wack? I mean, I get the message, but the hook was disappointing

i loved it! the ending was crazy…loved how he took a scene from 1 of my favorite spike lee films 25th hour! the message was clear but i agree with 14 the media is gonna censor the hell of this and the message will defnintely not be brought across, but hey i guess thats y we have youtube!

This cat is on a whole ‘nother level entirely. I think that every hip hop head out there should BUY this album, and not bootleg because it will send a message that freedom of speech is one of the greatest liberties that we have here. Respect Nasir Jones.

NAS U R TRULY IGNORANT AND OBNOXIOUS AND UNFORTUNATELY U HAVE FOLLOWERS.

I understand what he is trying to say, but was it really necessary to put a hanging at the end of the video…i mean nobody wants to see that…that’s just vulgar and not needed. He did that purely for sensationalism.

Black people…… there is NO way to put a positive or artistic spin on the n-word. I wish we would stop romanticizing, fantasizing and glamourizing this word. Its not meant for good, period and we all know that. We all know what it means, who it is targeted for and how it has humilated, enslaved and insulted people for years.
Nas is not providing enough historical context by tossing in a hanging scene to help “heal” us with this word…if that is even his goal. Actually his goal is quite vague.
He is not saying anything significant in the song. Then he goes further calling other ethnic groups his “ni**ers” as if they want, need or like being called that as well.
This is another attempt on his part to appear deep and insightful until the CD sales lag, then he will go back to making another Occhie Wally song.

100% W/ # 13 AND # 53

Nas has never been concerned with crossing over to main stream media. Yet he’s still talked about and has people checking for his music. Most of the time his lyrics go over the average mans’ head. It’s thought provoking, inspiring, and very much needed.
The video may never get aired on t.v. but it doesn’t need to. It’s getting attention on blogs, new stations, magazines, youtube….so he did what he set out to do.
For those who don’t agree, or feel he shouldn’t have used the “n” word or shouldn’t have used that ending? Why not, they do it in movies and on t.v. but it’s a problem when he does it?? That’s the problem with our generation and society period…it’s ass backwards. Nas is a prophet…listen to “Black President”, or better yet listen to “Black Girl Lost” which is very relevant today, listen to “These Are Our Heros”….the list goes on and on.

I thought the video was awesome honestly. People who continue to avoid the issues that still plague this country need to realize that even if you put a band aid on an infected sore, the sore is still there. I think with the imagery and the song he is trying put in the face of the non-black people who use the word, “Do you REALLY want to be a n*****?” because in all actuality, they know if they had a choice they would never want to be in a black person’s shoes, but still want to use the word as if they have that connection with the plight…the chorus to me doesn’t translate that much because Nas’ voice is very monotone, but I think the video helped add to the song…people (black and white) have been trying to avoid these conversations for decades, but with Obama’s run exposing a lot of ignorant ideaology and this type of music coming out, I hope it can lead to real discussions…Just remember, even if you ignore it, doesn’t mean its not there!!

Exactly # 60!!!!! Exactly!

u guys dont get it…alot of the concepts in the video are very subliminal. He is really speaking real talk in this video…We’re the slave and the master… Alot of this stuff we do to ourselves, but we are so much more than how we treat ourselves…

he really needs to stop…. its not cool

BULLSHIT THIS ; generation is headed in the [toilet] tank. rap about physics,science, or the way to sucess,that it is to be able to articulate to the cacuasians and not acting like shuffling clowns, or angry mentally ill excuse making negros. this is how the two-legged demons observes you. how many years have we as a people listened to rap and nothing has changed. we just keep going backwards. it makes no sense.

this vid is strong. nas is really goin hard. knowing how it is , this vid wont really get any play

I am disappointed that Nas would use his alleged intelligence to further dialogue about a word that needs no more attention.
There is nothing that has not already been said about the tragedy that is the n-word. So what is his point other than to sale music? To say he is not concerned about mainstream is not true or else he would leave that big label and go to a small independent label.

Thank you #60!! Well said.

Although I do respect Nas as a pioneering artist. We need to move on from the N word. I question that although this album has been complete for a while, the releaseof the song and video has come right at the same time as the Obama Democratic nod.
Marketing 101!

Y’all keep hollering about how deep this song is and yet you don’t even explain it to those who aren’t as you say “smart” enough to grasp it. I think the video was good but the song goes mute. I don’t care how many times you say the word, it still going to have a negative connotation to it. Period. IMO I think it’s stupid to try to change a word into something positive when for over 400 years, it was used to dehumanize an individual. Now you want to use it to up build one another. That doesn’t even make sense. If it doesn’t mean anything, then why white people can’t use it (IN public or in the presence of black people that is.)? If it doesn’t have any negative connotation then why can’t they use it and not be consider a racist? I know a lot of y’all are going to hate me for this comment but so what. It’s stupid IMO.

I just looked at the video and i take that back, the video goes mute as well. Y’all keep giving him praises for the video being original, when all he did was take images in which we already seen before and place them in the video. If he had a point to make, he could have done it in a more decent educated way. Sorry.

^^^again^^^

people kill me saying that nas is throwing the word nigga around like it’s a frisbee.
he’s obviously not saying the word nigga just to say it. there’s a purpose behind it. it’s wouldn’t be as powerful if he said “n-word” 50 million times.

sometimes you gotta call it like it is and stop sugarcoatin’ shit all the time just to appease people’s touchy ass feelings.

if people would just open there minds and actually listen to what the man is saying, instead of just sticking their ears to the word nigga, then they’d understand. but that’s the problem, people are so stuck on him actually saying nigga that they miss the message. JUST STOP BEING POLITICALLY CORRECT AND LISTEN… NIGGAS!

#13 Asea you said it all, nicely written. That video was real, and to see that boy hanging there was so…….omg he really didnt hold anything back. I loved it. I embrace being black and poor, even when i get out the hood ima still be somebodies nigga so it is what it is. I accept it, and I love it.