Nas names new CD after racial epithet....

[bingolong]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/2007 ... titialskip - Sorry but Richard already beat him to the punch by like 30 years....'

NEW YORK (AP) — To some, it's a hurtful racial epithet. For Nas, it's an album title. The rapper told MTV News that he would indeed be naming his new album after the N-word. And he denied earlier reports that the album's title would be spelled N—-a, considered in some circles a less inflammatory epithet. He said the disc is due out Dec. 11.

"(People) shouldn't trip off the (album's) title; the songs are crazier than the title," he said in an interview posted on MTV's website.

But some have been outraged by the rapper's choice.

"The title using the 'N' word is morally offensive and socially distasteful. Nas has the right to degrade and denigrate in the name of free speech, but there is no honor in it," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said in a news release. "Radio and television stations have no obligation to play it and self-respecting people have no obligation to buy it. I wish he would use his talents to lift up and inspire, not degrade."

There were reports that his label, Def Jam, had scuttled the title idea. But Nas told MTV that he has had no opposition from the label, and said his intent in naming the album the N-word was to take the sting out of it.


"We're taking power from the word," he added. "No disrespect to none of them who were part of the civil rights movement, but some ... in the streets don't know who (civil rights activist) Medgar Evers was ... they know who Nas is," the rapper said, referring to the civil rights leader slain in the 1960s.

"And to my older people who don't know who Nas is and who don't know what a street disciple is, stay outta this (expletive) 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."

A representative for Def Jam did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment from The Associated Press sent after business hours.

The use of the N-word is common in rap, though rapper Chamillionaire recently declared he would no longer use that word or curse in his rhymes.

[tamra]

bingolong,

and I can't wait to hear the new CD. Nas always has a way of bringing you back while taking your forward.

[bingolong]

tamra,
Yeah I will tell you what...it's funny ow about a year ago he came with an album called "Hip-Hop Is Dead" and offended rap luminaries and then last week on BET HipHop Awards had cats like Lil Wayne proclaiming "I am HipHop"!! Nas started a movement with that last album and this next joint could too

[tamra]

bingolong,

offended?? given some of the degrading stuff rapped about some "rappers" are lucky they even get Nas.

if Lil Wayne is hip-hop then I am Buffy the Queen of sorors from Ole Miss did ya see him accept his award @ the Hip Hop awards - a drink in hand, pants sagging like a prison bitch and no shirt on. hey lemme stop talking about my New Orleans' folks.

but because of some folks I think rap needs to be re-categoried:

hungry-do-whateva-I-gotta-do-even-kill-for-this-paper

poets-who-have-something-serious-to-say

fun-just-wanna-have-a-good-time-music

and

I-just-don't-give-a-fuck

[bingolong]

tamra,

[blumustard]

I like Sananda Maitreya's(TTD) new album title:

Nigor Mortis



Seeing him in November.

[bingolong]

blumustard,

[blumustard]

bingolong,

[bingolong]

bingolong,
Just got thru hearing some mixtape stuff and nas is very aware of the contributions of Richard Pryor and how he fliiped it....looking forward to hearing more

[walrusjk]

bingolong,
Oh you guys. I'm turning 50 in a couple of weeks. Music has been my thing my whole life but I am so lost on this. There has to be something cool about it (there I am being old. I said "cool") but I just can't get past the notion that it's like clothes fashion from the 70's. Now excuse me. I have to soak my dentures...