After an announcement, a denial and a spelling modification, Nas is finally speaking out about his N-word album title controversy that has angered African American community leaders, social activists and politicians, alike.
"It's like talking to your child about sex. It's hard, but it's important," the rapper told Rolling Stone. "It's probably going to make people uncomfortable. I don't expect a lot of people to sell a record called [N-word]. Hopefully, people can open their minds up and lose some of their fear and deal with it. It's just an album. It's one piece of the many things I do, and this will be one of my favorite pieces."
Brooklyn assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries is not willing to open his mind and accept Nas' latest "piece of art." The assemblyman has requested that New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli withdraw a $84 million investment in Universal Music Group and its parent company Vivendi. "[They are] profiting from a racial slur that has been used to dehumanize people of color for centuries," Jeffries said. "It is time for Nas and other hip-hop artists to clean up their act and stop flooding the airwaves with the N-word."
Universal has not responded to the politician's demand, but the comptroller's office has expressed some concern and says they "urge them not to release the album" with the contentious title.
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Reader Comments(1 of 1)
JCat 10-31-2007
Don't Do It Nas!
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Duhat 10-31-2007
Can you say horrible idea for a publicity stunt??? I guess he can't sell enough albums he has to do something to get his name out. I guess I shouldn't expect the double standards to stop anytime soon. Let people abuse all they want and then one someone they don't like uses something so "touchy" they will fight fight fight for justice.
J Jamesat 11-02-2007
This isn't a publicity stunt. His reasons are valid and he is doing the right thing. People are offended by rappers using the N-word. So NaS is going to take it and take it further, making it mean even less than it does now.
jerryat 11-02-2007
NAS have a positive message to pass & anyone who calls this a publicity stunt is just ignorant.
in africa, we use the word to indicate the deep extent of fondness we have for real friends. and since hop hop is changing the order of things, those against us can't shut us up. hip hop is the main reason i prefer the USA (New york) over other developed countries.
Even if this album does'nt drop, NAS will forever be remembered as an activist by millions.
Duhat 11-02-2007
And it isn't going to work at all. The outrage will be even worse. Just another double standard at its finest!
Chaunceyat 11-08-2007
I think its all too little to late, I'm more than sure that Nas is doing this for a reason. He wants to make a point and I'm sure he'll get his piont across. However, why be so hard on him for using the N word as a title. Lets not forget there was once a Rap group called N.W.A. I dont recall anyone being so hard on them for using the word. They were able to release several albums under that title.
To sum it all up the N word doesnt appear to be going anywhere soon. So why not listen to those who are trying to something about it as oppose to siclening them.
Chaunceyat 11-08-2007
I think its all too little to late, I'm more than sure that Nas is doing this for a reason. He wants to make a point and I'm sure he'll get his piont across. However, why be so hard on him for using the N word as a title. Lets not forget there was once a Rap group called N.W.A. I dont recall anyone being so hard on them for using the word. They were able to release several albums under that title.
To sum it all up the N word doesnt appear to be going anywhere soon. So why not listen to those who are trying to something about it as oppose to siclening them.