Nas Explains Controversial Album Title, Denies Reports That Def Jam Is Shutting It Down

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Site Last Updated: 6:12 AM EDT, November 21, 2008	Make BallerStatus Your Homepage

Published: Friday - October 19, 2007
Words by Allen Starbury

Nas (Photo: Columbia)

After reports surfaced that Def Jam were not releasing an album by Nas called Nigga, despite what the rapper told a New York audience last week, the rapper hit MTV up to explain the situation.

According to Nas, the reports by FoxNews.com (see "Def Jam Denies Nas' Claims That His Album Will Be Titled Nigga") are not quite true and that he hasn't come across any opposition from his label about his album or its name.

In fact, Nas claims that his album will have a different name, but he's only changed it slightly. He's now going to call his forthcoming album Nigger, and said that it will drop December 11.

"I don't know where that [report] came from and neither does Def Jam," Nas told MTV Thursday morning (October 18) when asked about the report from Fox News.

In the story, a "source close to" label head L.A. Reid, was quoted as saying that "There is no album release by Nas on the release schedule at this point, and they would be unlikely to release an album with that title."

"None of us knows where that came from," said the rapper.

Nas went on to say that he is nearly complete with Nigger, which will feature production from Salaam Remi, Diddy, Jermaine Dupri and DJ Toomp.

After the news broke last week about the album's title, it caused an uproar among the media and civil right leaders such as Rev. Jesse Jackson and representatives of the NAACP. But in his defense, he said there's a reason for it.

"If Cornell West was making an album called Nigger, they would know he's got something intellectual to say," Nas said to MTV. "To think I'm gonna say something that's not intellectual is calling me a nigger, and to be called a nigger by Jesse Jackson and the NAACP is counterproductive, counter-revolutionary.

"I'm a street disciple. I'm talking to the streets. Stay out of our business. You ain't got no business worrying about what the word 'nigger' is or acting like you know what my album is about without talking to me," he also said.

The rapper will release a Greatest Hits album on November 6, while the first single from Nigger is expected to leak a few days later.

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COMMENTS (12)

John Wilkes Booth Says:
Wednesday - October 24, 2007 at 11:15am

fuck the black greeks, this is hip hop nation. the greatest ORDER in the fucking world. your rights of passage is the hustle of the dice.

Albert Pike Says:
Tuesday - October 23, 2007 at 7:18pm

the product is lyrical crack, and niggas dont care what they say on record to make a buck. you cant bury the "N" word unless you give it life. there is no decay in making money. the dacay is only to those who buy, and live by the product. get it ;-{

product Says:
Tuesday - October 23, 2007 at 12:54am

the solution process is in the change of attitude and accompanying attributes. To sit back helplessly and just watch the 'decay' is pretty much as useless as the comment below and does not make it right either.

5 Shots Says:
Sunday - October 21, 2007 at 12:20am

the word NIGGA will never stop. what needs to stop is punk ass high minded Black Greeks talking shit, with no solutions. the more you fight for the word not to be used, is the more it will be used. we have bigger issues then debating over this bullshit ;-}

product Says:
Saturday - October 20, 2007 at 4:46am

I think that this word has more negative connotations than any positive ones that ever came out of it.To deny this is simply foolish and naive. As a black person, I don't find it a term of endearment nor parallel to black emancipation. As an artist he can name his album thus but I will be interested in understanding the use and association of intellect with this term tothe album material. Or will it be another examplification of how the black person can continually deride and despise himself with little or no encouragement from the forces that he avidly fights against.

Manny Says:
Friday - October 19, 2007 at 9:07pm

you stupid black people when will you ever learn if someone calls you a faggot and you know your are not then it shouldn't bother you the same with the word Nigger we need to stop letting that word get to us and stop giving the white man power over us. You are allowing that person to control your emotions. We blacks need to worry about being more then just entertainers and sport players. Our ancestor fought so hard for us we need to be ahead of where we are. We need more scientist , doctors, lawyers, educators, legislators, politicians police officer instead of drug dealer and gang members and I think Nas will get at that on his album stop the hating in be more opened minded if not we black people will never be anything and will continually keep blaming the white for our self destruct. I bet you a lot of you guy's didn't even know that J.Standard a black man invent the refrigerator or Frederick M. Jones invented the air conditioning unit but I bet you know who the guy that made a bay bay song is.

Lotta Says:
Friday - October 19, 2007 at 6:54pm

It wasn't one of Nas brigthness idea's. We as a people need to stop using this word if we want the other nationalities to stop referring to us as it. How can we expect anyone to take us seciouesly if we keep on using the N word. Fron the streets to the streets OR not. The N word is direspectful to say the least.

I'm So On! Says:
Friday - October 19, 2007 at 4:31pm

nas is positive and all but naming ur ablum nigger is stupid 2 me. i already be seein white ppl and asain sayin nigga and even fat joe. my thing is if u aint african american dont say it at all i dont care if its nigga not nigger. u can like our music and all but u aint black. i see white ppl lookin at this and laughing. i mean i say nigga 2 my ppl but not around other races u dig. cause if somebody called my nigga ima beat dat azz and act a nigger on them!

G-Root Says:
Friday - October 19, 2007 at 1:23pm

i think nas is the smartest rapper out there right now. his last cd was "hip-hop is dead" which was a huge issue. now how many motherfuckers do you hear talking about, "i won't let hip-hop die/i am hip-hop/lets bring it back". im sure that he has a positive reason for naming his album this.

jay Says:
Friday - October 19, 2007 at 11:40am

Nas is a very good and intellectual rapper, and I know he is putting out an album called "Nigger" to open up people's eyes. The title of this album is obviously going to spark alot of people's interest in hearing what NAS has to say on this album. I just wish that he would use a different title for the album since it is an offensive name. So if Def Jam decides to release this album with the title "Nigger," expect an uproar from individuals like Rev Al Sharpton and another panal talking about hip-hop lyrics

Hugo Says:
Friday - October 19, 2007 at 10:01am

I disagree with your comment, if anything white people thought it would be okay to say nigger when Eminem came out. This album title will not change the way white people say the word nigger. Black people call themseleves and friends that all the time, and most white folks are still scared of using this word. If white people are still scared of using the word nigger even after a white boy names Eminem does it, they will still be scared to use that word even after a cd is called nigger.

watch Says:
Friday - October 19, 2007 at 5:19am

i am african american and i keep this word out of my mouth.... now watch now lil white kids will have a damn excuse to use the word once again to just say it...its gonna be like this "hey dan you get that album nigger that nigger album is good shit i listen to nigger all the time watch how uncomfortable that is going to be inside mall or something and you got some african american walking by....