Nas' new album drops soon following a brilliant, but severely overlooked, Hip Hop Is Dead. He has chosen to entitle the album N*gger (minus the censoring).

What do you guys think of this move? Is it a ploy to cause a stir? Use controversy to bring light to his album in hopes it sells? Or do you think Nas is going to try to make a point? He has always been a very conscious rapper, often called a lyrical genius; however his career, commercially, is kind of lagging at this point.

Even if he is trying to make a point, do you think he's doing it in the right way? Or responsibly? Many say the "N" word should be eliminated altogether.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Fighting4Justice,

He most likely is using it to cause stirr and boost his sales. What point would he be trying to make?

Most peple would agree that an African American person can say the word "N*gger" without people being offended (Since it's mostly used just to play around and Joke) but if someone else from a diffrent ethincity uses it then it depends on the person who it's being said to and how they take it. It also depends on how the person who said it said it.

I believe in Free Speech and I think he's aloud to say it, and do that, but it's really idiotic IMO.

I actually think Nas will do something brilliant with it. If you look at his past material, he has always rapped about politics, society, and so on. I think the effect is twofold: to make a point (what point? I don't know yet) but also to cause a stir.

Do I think it's wrong for him to use the word? I personally don't like the notion of people using the "N" word. I will be the first to admit that it slips out from time to time with me, because I think I'm gangsta lol, but I usually feel some guilt using it.

I also don't like how black people use it so freely, and I don't like that it's "accepted" and the "norm" now. To me, the connotations still exist. I probably won't mind Nas using it if he puts it to a good, intelligent cause. I have faith that he'll do it.

Although I do admire and respect Nas as a hip-hop legend, I also find it irresponsible on his part to name his album the "N" word.

Why? Because you then open the doors even wider for people to loosly use the word. In black culture, it's generally acceptable (though frowned upon in some African-American circles) to use the word. But as we all know, just because the people themselves (African-Americans) choose to use the word, it doesn't mean that other races are allowed to do it (and when it does happen, it's viewed offensively).

Therefore, for that reason, I dislike and disagree with what Nas is doing here. I'm sure he has a reason as to why he's doing it, but that doesn't mean I have to agree, because I don't.

I think Nas is using the "N" word for his album to cause stir, gain sales, AND make a point.

Ya'll need to listen to his song that leaked the other day titled "Be a N*gger Too." It might shed some light for ya'll as to why he named his album what he did. While Nas has lately been choosing album titles that are controversial, such as this one and "Hip-Hop is Dead", he's doin' it in order to save the rap game, which has turned into a pile of **** as of late. Rap music use to make people think and change the way they view the world, in addition to making everybody dance. Now-a-days, "rap music" consists of heavy beats with no substance in the lyrics. The most popular rap songs are those that are made for dancing or ones that sound like something that's come before it. If anyone has ever listened to a Nas album, you know that he is a gifted lyricist and is one of the best in the game. He's not naming his album the title he gave it just for shock effect, there's reasoning behind it and I don't think people should judge until they hear it.

I'm sorry, but of course he named this album full well knowing that it was going to stir controversy and attention for the album. Get real. And seriously....what could be the "reasoning" behind naming the album this?? I am SURE there would MANY more titles that he could of thought of that would have made the same point of whatever "reason" there may be. Again, you don't name an album this full well knowing the controversy it will stir.

On a side note, will white people be called racists when they say "hey, do you have the new n*gger album" or "I just bought that new n*gger" album?

Some people don't understand the type of hip-hop artist Nas is. He's one of the most conscious emcees currently working in the industry. He's the prototype of "real" hip-hop - speaking on real issues, and not that mainstream, top 40 sh*t that's currently being played on radio. His work is smart, intelligent, creative, thought-provoking, and most importantly, authentic. As an avid follower of his career, I can say that he's never been the type of rapper that has intentionally created a piece of work to get people's attention - he's not that shallow, and I find that incredibly insulting to his craft that people would even think that. He's never cared about sales; publicity; and if he did, he could have easily made music that catered to the mainstream audience. He has created some of the most knowledgeable, intellectual, brilliant, but overall, substantial records in hip-hop. He has never released an album that didn't contain some quality and was frank in some way and I'm more than sure that this album will be no different. Nas is smarter than what people are giving him credit for. To put it simply, I believe he's trying to shed some light on the cliche (or stereotypes, for lack of a better term) surrounding the word (some of the titles just give me that impression); yet he's doing it in a classy, sophisticated way, as he's been doing it since '94. I see no problem with it.

quote:

Originally posted by 24fanatic:
Ya'll need to listen to his song that leaked the other day titled "Be a N*gger Too."

Ok, I just listened to this track and I think it's brilliant. Nas continues to evolve and show his intelligence as a lyricist. He's incredibly gifted. People are intimidated by the veracity because what he's speaking is true. There's a lot of taboo surrounding the word and he's just bringing it to life and I don't think people can handle him being as frank with it as he is. He's not sugar-coating anything; he's just laying it all out there, flat. In the end, I think that's going to give him further acclaim as an emcee from his contemporaries, fans, and critics alike - for creating an album effort that's socially relevant to the society that we live in currently, particularly doing it while showcasing his talent as a writer.

I can't wait for this album.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Be,

I agree completely with 24fanatic and Be. And I love "Be A N*gger Too." It's probably the most brilliant thing I've heard in hip-hop since Common's "The People" or Lupe Fiasco's "Daydreamin'".

Being a follower of Nas' career, I certainly know and recognize that there's definitely a reason behind the title of the album. However, I don't feel that the title is appropriate because, while those of us who are Nas followers are aware, there will undoubtedly be some people that will misconstrue his message. As an African-American, my problem with this title is that there will be some people (who are not black) that will suddenly find it "acceptable" to use the word in a loose manner.

That's my whole problem with the title. That's actually my ONLY problem with the title. I have no problem with Nas' reasoning behind it because I can't wait to hear it in its entirety to see what he has in store for us this time (Hip Hop Is Dead was an underappreciated, yet brilliant piece of work). But when you decide to name your album something that's this controversial, there's a lot more to consider than just the title itself in the way it relates to the rest of the album. The social impact can have both positive and negative effects.

I also disagree with those that are saying Nas is only doing this for commercial attention. If you know Nas, then you know that he's never been a big seller and he's never tried to be. His music always has a message that's witty, intelligent, and thought-provoking.

I just don't like the title. Plain and simple.

Nas is not the first to put "the N word" in an album title.

In 1993 - 2Pac released "Strictly 4 My N****Z" and before that N.W.A.

quote:

Originally posted by Guru:
Nas is not the first to put "the N word" in an album title.

In 1993 - 2Pac released "Strictly 4 My N****Z" and before that N.W.A.

Yeah, but theirs had the distinctive spelling, which applies something different than the way Nas is spelling it. But that's a whole separate thing.

quote:

Originally posted by Troy:
On a side note, will white people be called racists when they say "hey, do you have the new n*gger album" or "I just bought that new n*gger" album?

I wouldn't imagine so, though that's an interesting point.

There's a taboo against non-black people using that word. Making it an album title might slacken those restrictions because it forces people to be like "I bought Nas' N*gger." What else are they gonna say? Keep referring to it as Nas' latest album? Shying away from the word, sort of turning a blind eye to it is probably the opposite of what Nas is trying to do, or it might just be his point lol.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Fighting4Justice,

Oh I just listened to "Be A N*gger Too." Good song. Here are some interesting lyrics I liked that I decided to point out (I literally wrote these out by ear, so if it's wrong, my bad):

No answers to questions the media's askin
Why we fightin each other in public in front of these arrogant fascists, they love it

Not mad cuz Eminem said N*gger
Because he's my n*gger wigger cracker friend
We all black within, okay
We all African, okay

I'm a n*gger, he's a n*gger, she's a n*gger, we's some n*ggers
Wouldn't you like to be a n*gger too?
They like to strangle n*ggers, blamin n*ggers, shootin n*ggers, hangin n*ggers
Still you wanna be a n*gger too??

I'm the man you go to war with, not the man you go to war against

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Fighting4Justice,

quote:

No answers to questions the media's askin
Why we fightin each other in public in front of these arrogant fascists, they love it

Not mad cuz Eminem said N*gger
Because he's my n*gger wigger cracker friend
We all black within, okay
We all African, okay

I'm a n*gger, he's a n*gger, she's a n*gger, we's some n*ggers
Wouldn't you like to be a n*gger too?
They like to strangle n*ggers, blamin n*ggers, shootin n*ggers, hangin n*ggers
Still you wanna be a n*gger too??

I'm the man you go to war with, not the man you go to war against

Woohoo!

I'm a n*gger!

"Be A N*gger Too" is a tight song. I'm really feeling it. He is vastly underrated as a artist.

Why do people say, the ''N'' word? As if the word doesn't really exist. Why not just call it what it is?

quote:

Originally posted by LKMOSCAR:
Why do people say, the ''N'' word? As if the word doesn't really exist. Why not just call it what it is?

Why don't you say F-UCK or C-UNT in front of people? Because it's vulgar and offensive to some. I wouldn't be surprised if N-igger offended some people. It's an extremely derogatory term, even more so than the others I just mentioned.

I'm not sure what his point is by doing this. We could all sit here and try to believe that he wants to make a political statement, but I'm not going to do that. I think he's really doing it for attention, and in that case, it's just really irresponsible to be promoting the use of that word. Regardless of his being black, by using that word (to describe himself, I presume?), he's only adding to the problem.