Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Crippled Seedz — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:48:24 GMT

Crippled Seedz
Straight Jack It! Volume 1: Raw & Unmixed
Permanent Ink Entertainment

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

slimturk — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:10:08 GMT

It will be entertaining for a young turkish male like myself to go into a store that sells music and asking for the Nas - N****r....I can just picture it now....dropped jaws...

But think about it....all the publicity....only means this ill sell lots of albums on and after the day of release....but Nas always has a message when he releases his albums....so i will be looking forward to adding this album to my Nas album collection that i have at home....

This is just another album making history....

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

vega_diamond — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:14:23 GMT

I think that he should call it that. we give that useless word too much power. the more we are offended by any word, the more we will limit ourselves.

Plus arent we all smart enough to look past the provocation of words like that? if not, we need to re-evaluate our states of mind.

Now Listen To My Shit....NIGGA!!!!

http://www.myspace.com/starrscream

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Reverof — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:14:40 GMT

U see this man named NAS is making sure he in the history books for regular reference by future generations. The pharaoh never wants to die.

Good one Nas, I wouldn't have done better myself in your shoes. He best come with the fire though otherwise his ass gon freeze.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Reverof — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:19:19 GMT

@vega_diamond

Nikka! get the font on yo site right. We can't read shit on thur. Can't hear shit either....

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

vega_diamond — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:54:37 GMT

thanks i'll fix it for ya...thanks for tryin dude

now listen to my shit!

http://www.myspace.com/starrscream

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Tony_Starks — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:03:45 GMT

Alicia Keys is too beautiful.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

tumelo007 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:06:00 GMT

Nas is a God !
Whats the big deal naming ur album nigger.....the word is been used on rap music since my ears were blessed with Hiphop...those (black people) who are against this are totaly in denial of reality.
Nooses are all over the place these days, even on statues of 2Pac, J6, etc, what does that mean? Open ur 3rd eye Black!
we were born in a struggle against the system of the so called white supremecy and the struggle is still there, it will never and up until we all become 1 color....

As long as there'z still a Blackman and a whiteman, the will be a ''nigger'' whether u like it not!
Nas is one of the intelligent mcs out there and he always reasons.
long live Nas !

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

lekuche — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:08:53 GMT

hope he says sth about the jena issue and imus running mouth...

shout to nas...one

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

billyocean06 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:28:19 GMT

word to David Banner....dont give a fuck what u name it, as long as its jammin.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

KingOfEngland — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:42:30 GMT

i dunno. Not sure,DJ BOOGIE made a good point so did Melle Mel, i like Nas so i'ma look out 4 da album. Period

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Boss Up — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:20:12 GMT

Word

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

jaynnas — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:25:29 GMT

I agree with most of y'all that the title will help create a buzz and may transpire to good marketing...however on the flip side its gonna also affect his sales negatively...I can't see many parents both white or black picking up the N****r album for their kid for Christmas lol...specially if don't know much bout Nas.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

The_Game07 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:57:36 GMT

Its fucking ridiculous

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

jaeda — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:10:53 GMT

I co-sign what Coremega said

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

youngregin07 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:12:08 GMT

Nigger with ether American Gangster. I'm buying both.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

flonightheart — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:14:27 GMT

This sounds like it could be the biggest album of his career. Illmatic is considered a classic in the hip hop community, Stillmatic is the classic that reminded people Nas is still top 5, Lost Tapes is the quintessential Nas album which is also a down low classic, and even a year later Hiphop is Dead still has people talking plus the music itself was fire so I think it will be considered classic as many years pass by and we look back at it. This new album Nigger is not just causing a stir in the rap community, it is making waves outside of that to the point where Al Sharpton feels the need to address it. I wouldn't be surprised if Oprah asked Nas to come on her show and discuss it. With all that said though THE MATERIAL BETTER BE SOME NEXT LEVEL SHIT or all this will be for nothing.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Fawn — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:16:38 GMT

This is a really nice piece. Great read.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

slimturk — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:22:27 GMT

@ jaynnas,

you do got a good point....because i know when i go to buy my copy i will feel awkward....but hey i just want the latest music in the market...thats Nas choice and this will affect sales both negatively and postitively....

also like stated by someone....the word is used ALL the time....i still cant recall an artist not using the word...anyways....we will see the impact that it has on sales....and if there is actually a statement for the title of the album...

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

black maybe — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:47:28 GMT

Nas is ur favourite rappers' favourite rapper.

nigger album in stores Dec. 11. looking foward to it.

Peace!

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

ES FLY BOY — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:51:09 GMT

I DONT SEE HOW PEOPLE CAN JUDGE THIS ALBUM TITLE WHEN THEY DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT THE ALBUM IS ABOUT...NAS IS A TRUE VET SO I KNOW HE KNOWS WHAT HE DOING...IT GOTTA BE A STATEMENT BEHIND IT...

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

j.johnson — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:00:17 GMT

I dont think that should be the name of his album. Unless he is talking about that topic for the whole album, which is doubt. Im pretty sure their will be a song and a skit or something but, aint no body gone devote an entire album to that.I know nas isnt. And if thats the case, then the name does nothing but help sell his album.And basically some white record executive that could careless about our struggle is gone make some more money off selling a product called "nigga". Its like a slap in the face.

Kids from different races are going to buy the album just so they can say to the clerk "wheres that nigga album".Or "man i love that nigga album!" You see the lunacy in that. We all love Nas, at least i do. But do you really think this ablum is going to help anyone. No its not. It just causes more separation in the black community. Older black folks against the younger community. Its already a gap, but this has already pushed it farther. They used the expample that if cornell west made an album called nigger, we would give him a pass....yeah i would. But you cant compare Cornell West and Nas. They have a different track record. Cornell West is in a whole different level than Nas is.

I just hope this doenst backfire, and someone picks up and album called "nigga" and its filled with tales of guns, drugs,and murder. Because thats what we are already viewed as.I just hope there is a different message behind this album

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

mu$h da great — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:10:56 GMT

regardless of what the album is called people who are not black or considered black still do not, I repeat do not have get a pass to say the n-word. matter of fact when you go buy jus say give me the new nas. with that being said I trust nas's judgement. Im putting faith in him that he iz going to produce a worth wild album filled with thought provoking intelligent subject matter for mufuckers to grow on. nas if you read this no "you owe me". it wasn't terrible its jus not the time or the place, but I know you know that. viva revolutioné

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Demsky — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:11:19 GMT

We'll see what happens controversy sells like sex so i hope he fuck the shit outta niggas eardrums

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

OneAngryBlackMan — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:15:29 GMT

Nas has always been one to make a statement, whether you agree with his opinion or not. We're in a time where dudes like Sharpton will attack the hip hop community over the word but you can turn on TBS and or TNT and hear it without being bleeped out. Since they wanna have congressional hearings on banning words in our music, Nas hits them with an artistic F*** U.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

YoungG757NGE — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:20:44 GMT

David Banner said what I was thinkin Cormega summed it up for me but Melle Mel took the cake. That nigga Nas is very smart and we know his album aint gon be no straight coonery so lets take the music for what it is when it comes out. If u love Hip Hop whether u a nigga or not just support it so we can prove to Nas Hip Hop is Alive. Holla at ya nigga

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

mu$h da great — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:22:44 GMT

n.o.r.e. lol

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

mu$h da great — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:22:46 GMT

n.o.r.e. lol

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

mu$h da great — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:24:54 GMT

more albums/names with the n-word in the title n.o.r.e.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

HoodProphet — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:33:09 GMT

Open Scribe to Community:

i'm a Nigger, your a Nigger, he's a Nigger, she's a Nigger.

Does that hurt you when I say that?

Ask yourself why...

History shall explain it to you.

Or ask our father, William Lynch.

We were once Africans

Converted (processed) into Niggers

Called ourselves Negroes, Coloreds, Afro and African American

To make us feel better about it.

Now we want to ban the whole word.

Hoping that if we erase the word, we erase what happened

The plan was to turn us into Niggers...Plan got executed.

Newly converted niggers naturally do niggerish shit.

When we show hurt, we show our ignorance of our status quo

When we show hurt, we show recession.

When we aspire to cover this up

We show just how much it needs to be in the light.

Nas: "Nigger" If it offends you, ask yourself why.

You might not know your history, or just might be ashamed of it...

ya boy,

HP

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

groovetone94 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:50:06 GMT

I don't see where it's a problem...Richard Pryor used it on one of the covers of his album and noone had anything to say so...

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

BKsDrDRE — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:54:23 GMT

Im so happy i got to meet NaS, one of the most respectful artist i've ever met
Dude is on another level, u can't even begin to comment on his album title
I bet theres a whole lot to it than just "shock and awe"

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Tha Truth Be Told — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:07:28 GMT

@ j.johnson

Your probabbly right about him not making songs about the title throughout the whole album. But just think of this. A society that looks at a black man as nothing but a n****r they go into best buy and see this and just laugh they might even buy it and then they hear a grown black man spittin knowledge beyond what they could ever imagine. Now the title takes on a whole new meaning. Its more of a slap in the face to those that still see the black race or anybody with dark skin as below them. It is real relevant bc of events such as the Jena 6 that are still going on. Its evidence that n***a is a sate of mind and a state of ignorance not a color. All nas is doing is making it true.

@ HoodProphet

Thats real talk

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Layne90043 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:07:42 GMT

"...you ask me if im tryna kick knowledge? naw im tryna kick the shit you need to learn though..."

like these dudes say...NAS saying nigga you know its gonna have a message behind it. thats how Nas rolls...even if his album was called AMerican Gangsta you know it would have more relevance and substance than any other emcee with that title...Now if jeezy or someone came around...no diss to Jezzy....but if any other random nigga lol came out with that title it would be ignorant. We all know NAS gonna make people really think and understand where he coming from. Only an artist of his calibur and with his social awareness can pull it off...REAL NAS FANS KNOW HE KNOWS WHAT HES DOING ANS WE KNOW TO EXPECT SOME ENLIGHTMENT...so all you trap rappin dboys dont go tryna call you album somethin like this...youd miss he point...

funny how i kept sayin nigga in this post...cant help it...Nas is tha nigga and a nigga like me is witn for his album!!!!

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

chocol8b0y1da — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:18:01 GMT

Chuck D said it best, "Everybody can’t just say everything without a proper background. If you don’t have street education or book education, you’re just making up sh*t in your head. Nas has a background and a resume of conscious thoughts. And it has been a growth pattern in what he says. Nas goes into a wider realm of accepting that he is a man and can never turn back to being a boy again. That’s unlike a lot of cats who are in their thirties or into their mid-thirties all of a sudden feel that they can conveniently step into their adolescence to sell records; which I believe is some bullsh*t."

This what makes Nas a great MC, not afraid to think outside the box. I'm definitely gonna cop that joint.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

D. Blaque — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:34:29 GMT

I think it'll be interesting. Nas is too intelligent just to name is his NIGGA or NIGGER without putting some type of twist on it. I appreciate that Nas continues to put thought provoking music rather than that weak ass studio processed shit that you hear cycled on the radio. I will definitely cop the album just as I did for Hip Hop is Dead.

The most interesting thing is how the album itself will look. Will it have a picture of him dressed as a slave, or an all black cd with the word NIGGER in big bold white letters? Not only will the title of the cd be controversial but I'm thinking that the cover will cause a stir as well

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Polar Bear Grizz — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:37:07 GMT

I'm walking in to an all white record store and with a loud a clear voice I'm going to demand that those crackers give me two copies of NIGGER.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

gunot_17 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:37:46 GMT

I'm with Nas naming his album whatever he wants.
I'm also with Mick Boogie though, as a white dude, I'm not about to walk into Best Buy and ask where the album is. I'd rather spend an hour searching for it if need be, when it comes out, then say the word.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

busayo — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:44:08 GMT

"U see this man named NAS is making sure he in the history books for regular reference by future generations. The pharaoh never wants to die."

nas is neither a pharoah or royalty, hardly any book would mention him after his death. maybe a few literature or music book but nas is no historical figure and nothing much than just a creative artist

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

busayo — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:47:09 GMT

how would NAS market this album, this has to be both a marketing ploy and an attempt for NAS to create a conceptual album about race or n-word.

anyway fye-Nigger for sale: It's off the chain.

just kidding guys

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

IronHorse — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:48:08 GMT

Anybody who is expecting something bigger than life just because of the album title and the hype, or expecting this to be 'better than illmatic' or anything else ridiculous out of Nas is useless to the game, period.
Last thing we need are even MORE fans who are eager to doubt another legend, Im so sick of that. This nigga been Burning niggas since 92' and is always in the back of EVERY MC's mind..EVERY MC, underground or commerical. That shit aint an easy task, so I dont hold doubt or reserve for Esco.
I been sold that he was God yeeeears ago. I had the privledge of seeing Nas live in the QB community center many times before illmatic dropped, I seen him burn niggas on the block like Tragedy and a few local dudes you never heard of. Im sold.
Niggas on the 41st side who dont fuck with Nas or got drama with his side give it up to the kid, thats how nice he is and was...
Nas been Nas and Im expecting Esco to bring the message like he always does, weather the beat is crazy or not.
David banner talkin about 'as long as its jammin'...nigga please!
if I can turn the shit on 5 yrs later from now and still get chills off the lyrics alone, Im cool bro! Nas is timeless you just gotta accept it, fuck the beat.
Stop looking for hits with this guy, he dont care about sales maybe you shouldnt either. I dont need to 'jam' to get the message, thats Niggas problem now. And thats also probably why DB aint where he needs to be himself, tryin to please everybody by doing it all. Nas dont try and save the world, thats niggas perception. He cant even save his own hood yet let alone the world! Nas comes from the gutter, he aint a concious rapper or a gangsta rapper the nigga is a realist and if we had more niggas in this world who werent fronting or tryin to be down all that time it would be easy to figure out why he does what he does...shouldnt be this complicated to question Nas motives, ever...

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

IronHorse — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:57:47 GMT

...And I hope southern fans dont DECIDE that this album title is a subliminal shot at em' just like they ASSUMED with 'hip hop is dead'. And I'll say this 1 time:
All the record stores that shut down, the lack of quality music, album sales, all the trends, ringtones, the commericalizm of black america in general, explotation on every level imaginable, downloading, the shift in the music industry on every level, The types of rappers we have, the internet and oh so much more. these are all of the many reasons why hip hop is dead, Nas just called a spade a spade...and nowhere in particular is the south highlighted in 1 area here or on Nas actual album. just wanted to put that out there for GP cause some niggas refuse to let that shit go...

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

TWON THE DON — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:02:21 GMT

I NEVER SAW HOW THE WORD NIGGA OR NIGGER
CAN STOP YO WHOLE WORLD.
IF U A WHITE IN A ROOM FULL OF BLACK PEOPLE
AND YOU SAID THE WORD NIGGER!!
DO U KNOW EVERY BLACK PERSON IN THE ROOM WOULD TURN TO U.
NOW IF YOU SAID BLACK PEOLPE THEY WOULD LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU CRAZY.

JUST DON (ASSMAN)
HE SAID NAPPY HEAD HOES
POINTED AND LOOK THERE ARE SOME NAPPY HEAD HOES.
NOW IF YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT A NAPPY HEAD HOE LOOK LIKE HE POINTED AND SHOW YOU.

BUT BLACK PEOPLE FOREGAVE HIM..?

THE OTHER WHITE GUY CALLED THEM BOYS NIGGER 8 TIMES
THE MEDIA PLAYED THAT SHIT EVERY 5MINS. OVER AND OVER
IT WENT FROM THEM BOYS ARE NIGGERS
TO Y'ALL SOME NIGGERS.

NOW WHAT NAS IS DOING IS THE SAME THANG THE MEDIA IS DOING
CALLING YOU A NIGGER!!
THE WHITE MAN HAS BEIN CALLING YOU NIGER!!
WHEN HE FIRST MET YOU IN NIGER!!
BROUGHT YOU TO AMERICA!! CALL YOU NIGER!!
CAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW YO NAME
HE ONLY KNEW WERE YOU CAME FROM.AND WHERE HE TOOK!! U FROM.
WHICH WAS NIGER!!
SO TO REID YO HEAD WITH REMEBERING WHERE YOU COME FROM HE CHAGED YO NAME
TO WHAT YOU ANSWER TODAY
SO DON'T GET MAD WHEN THE CALL YOU NIGGER!!
GET MAD WHEN THE CALL JOHNNY OR FRANK
CAUSE NIGGER IS JUST A TYPE O. FOR NIGER!!!

BIG UP TO NAS!! I'M A BIG FAN

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

FlyBoy718 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:11:42 GMT

good piece...lookin forward to the album

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

HIPHOPHEAD74 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:22:01 GMT

Im say this I call white pll niggas too and Im blk I dont give a fuk its a word to insult anybody white blk or whatever I use the word on anybody no matter their so-called race.If nas made a Cd call nigga I dont give a fuk becuase if its good Im going to listen to it.I dont give a fuk about how pll live their life and Im not trying to be some educated big word talikg mutherfukker just a real person.Like David banner said Americas are hypocritcs sop fuk what Al sharpton say.What we suppose to believe evrything he say becuase he in the spot light fuk that.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

BlackPeople 1 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:37:01 GMT

Okay, cool we got the title now solidify it with production strictly by DJ Premier.

At least let the lead single be Primo.

Fuck the club and the radio.
That's for the sheep.

Not the listeners (word to Rakim Allah. The R-A stands for "Ra")

Dayum!

-Black People

DEMAND A FULL ALBUM BY NAS AND DJ PREMIER

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Bobby Then — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:37:38 GMT

I cant believe all yall are drinking the kool aide! Bottom line this is MUSIC. Dick Gregory having a book called nigger has hundreds of pages to make a social impact, if a movie were called nigger (it would never happen) it would have a plot, characters, script, etc. to make a point. This is MUSIC. We are giving Nas way too much credit. Just like we thought Hip Hop is Dead would glow when we took it out the package and automatically change music. NO. It was a good album but didnt touch the album title save for 3 or 4 tracks. Same way Minstrel Show by Little Brother is GREAT music but cant do what the movie did. It was done to get people in stores. Same in this case. He'll talk about Imus, Oprah, hiphop police, Jena 6. And then what? At the end of the day its socially irresponsible b/c one man, Nas especially, cant fix whatever 'problem' people think he will.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

da goddess IsIs — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:25:02 GMT

Go Nas....Nas is expressing his right to say what he wants.
I am so sick of the controversy over a word.

Everyone should know that it means brotherhood when its expressed among brothers and its derogatory when expressed by these bigots out here.

The controversy comes from the need to impress someone or to prove to something to same people who invented the word.

We don't have to explain or change nothing for them....

But, they love to keep the blacks fighting over b.s....when we should be fighting over the fact the black man can't seem to get employment, good housing or education....in the hood.

No one has the right to tell one what he can and cannot say. But, one with common sense should know to use their words wisely, and make sure you know who you are talking to.

Hip Hop did not make up this word but they did transform the word from what they learned from our fore fathers...like Sharpton in the early 70 and 80s. (straight pimpin)

Look at movies from the 70s and you can hear phrases like, Dats My N*gga.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

da goddess IsIs — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:10:56 GMT

I guess it was o.k. for us to be called Negros....which sounds like a plural to Nigga and a combination of Nigger and Afro and it was o.k. for them to call us Afro Americans because we wore afros.

Sounds real stupid and patronizing to me. We are Blacks or at least light brown to black.

If U know who U R, Who cares what they say...

Stick and stones hurt like hell...but words cause debates...some are worthless.

Hip Hop Community don't change....Keep it real...My Niggaz..cuz I will...I am not ashame of who I am...or where I come from. I am da Goddess IsIsz born of kings and queens...

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

MAK™ — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:11:38 GMT

CORMEGA SAID IT BEST.. LOL

HTTP://MYSPACE.COM/CRACKPRODUCTIONS

-MAK-

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:18:32 GMT

IS NIGGER THE NEW BLACK?

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

ILLZITO — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:40:02 GMT

I GUESS NAS REALLY "MADE YOU LOOK!"
THE TRUE ESSENCE OF HIP HOP IS REALLY DEAD. I KNOW,I WAS THERE FROM THE VERY BEGINING WHEN THEY MOVED OUT THE COMUNNITY ROOM TO THE PARK, CEDAR PARK THAT IS, WHERE
HIP HOP ,RAP,TRAP,SNAP,CHOPPED AND SCREWED OR WHATEVER THE FUCK YOU WANT TO CALL IT WAS BORN, YEAH,SHOUTS OUT TO KOOL HERC!
BUT WTH ALL DUE RESPECT, THIS SHIT I'M HEARING NOW (LIKE I SAID"WITH ALL DUE RESPECT") GOT ALOT OF US DUMBED OUT.
SO IF THE MAN WANTS TO NAME HIS ALBUM NIGGER,SPIC,CRACKER,CHINKS,GWOPS, YOU GET MY PICTURE, AT LEAST I HOPE YOU DO, LET HIM ,IT'S ONLY THOUGHT PROVOKING ARTISTIC FREEDOM... IT ONLY BALANCES OUT THE "A BAY BAY'S" AND THE "SUPERSOAK THEM HOE'S" .
ME PERSONALLY,I THINK IT'S GENIUS,PROBABLY BUY TWO DISC JUSTFOR THE HELL OF IT.DAMN, PARDON THE SERMON.
PEACE!

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:42:39 GMT

@By Will "Deshair" Foskey & Friends

If Nas is so damn innovative why you have to write "NI**ER"
all the time? (******) and if you ain't doin that, got it spelled out with an "a" on the end instead of "er" , These fools try to argue in favor but can't even spell it out N I G G E R

see Nas is gonna start up Nigger History Month and it's gonna be a beautiful thing. Now if you ain't from the streets you don't understand so you have no right to comment.
And all you white boys from the suburbs who supposedly buy the rap albums, stay away from this it's not for you, it's strictly for my......

I figured out the purpose of Hip Hop for the 21st century:

-to make temporary things permanent

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

realniggatalk — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:06:27 GMT

people are funny saying its gonna feel weird asking for NIGGA in the stores. When i go the store i say " Yo let me get that new nas" simple as that. And Mr. Banner since your shit got pushed back farther than Plies hairline you worry about making your shit jammin. On 9mm nigga trying to sound lyrical and cant flow to the beat, how bout you stick to beats and let nas rap 4 you

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Code of Iron — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:19:06 GMT

I Can"

[Kids]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen up
You can be anything in the world, in God we trust
An architect, doctor, maybe an actress
But nothing comes easy it takes much practice
Like, I met a woman who's becoming a star
She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe
Singing songs, Lina Horn, but the younger version
Hung with the wrong person
Got her strung on that
Heroin, cocaine, sniffin up drugs all in her nose...
Coulda died, so young, now looks ugly and old
No fun cause now when she reaches for hugs people hold they breath
Cause she smells of corrosion and death
Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring
Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing
So if you gonna be the best, I'ma tell you how,
Put your hands in the air, and take a vow

[Chorus - 2x (Nas and Kids)]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I wanna be (be what I wanna be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
I'll be where I wanna be (I'll be where I wanna be)

[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again
This is for grown looking girls who's only ten
The ones who watch videos and do what they see
As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID
Careful, 'fore you meet a man with HIV
You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey
Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be
Rapists, so act your age, don't pretend to be
Older than you are, give yourself time to grow
You thinking he can give you wealth, but so
Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know
You thinkin life's all about smokin weed and ice
You don't wanna be my age and can't read and write
Begging different women for a place to sleep at night
Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish
If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this

[Chorus]

[Nas]
Be, be, 'fore we came to this country
We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys
There was empires in Africa called Kush
Timbuktu, where every race came to get books
To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans
Asian Arabs and gave them gold when
Gold was converted to money it all changed
Money then became empowerment for Europeans
The Persian military invaded
They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred
Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
Shot up they nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today, you see?
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
Then learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more learn more, change the globe
Ghetto children, do your thing
Hold your head up, little man, you're a king
Young Princess when you get your wedding ring
Your man is saying "She's my queen"

[Chorus]

Save the music y'all, save the music y'all
Save the music y'all, save the music y'all
Save the music

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:41:05 GMT

"I can" is all lovely but Esco ain't rockin that type of shit at the
Check out this recent show at sneaker pimps on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAZ3OD-GlTY

Shoot 'Em Up Lyrics

One 44, two 45's
3 loaded clips, 4 niggers roll, one nigger drives
500 Benz, 6 reasons why
This kid should die
We shootin every motherfucker outside
Pulled on his block, jumped out the car, guns in our hand
At the same time everybody ran
There that nigger go, hiding in the crowd
Let the trigger blow, 7 shots now he lying on the ground
Blood on the floor
Then we shot some more
Niggers he was with
2 niggers hit, one nigger fell
One tryed to run, go get him son
Make sure he's done before we bail, i aint trying to goto jail
Must handle beef, code of the street
Load up the heat, if these nigger think they could fuck around
Real niggers do real things
By all means, niggers knowin how we get down.. It goes......

Chorus (3X)
Shoot 'em up, just shoot 'em up, what..
(whispering)
Kill kill kill, murder murder murder

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

flonightheart — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:59:21 GMT

Damn I just found out Jermaine Dupri is producing most of the album. I'm kind of dissapointed to hear that cause dude always been on some r&b/pop/dance type vibe and I dont think that meshes well with the formula that makes Nas spit at his best.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:01:25 GMT

see you gotta understand the hustle. He does one "I can" that means he can do 10 thugs joints and no one can says shit

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Hypnotice7 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:06:09 GMT

I cosign mu$h the great's comments

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Darnell004 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:32:07 GMT

Can't wait to here what Nas has to say on the album. Everyone judging the CD by its cover and no one has heard it yet. I don't think Nas is going to dissappoint his listeners. Melle Mel and David Banner pretty much summed it up.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

baynig4sho — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:06:05 GMT

its pretty obvious to me the people will listen to whatever the labels or the radio puts out.so its not the people who control the music comin out.and if you let 10 to 15 year old kids decide what were listening to your wrong for that.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

coon66 — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:05:02 GMT

QUESTION????? To da Black people. Am I the only nigga that feel uncomfortable when the word Negro is used to describe us more so than nigga. just a thought cause personally I hate the word Negro for some reason or afro american whats that bullshit. Did blacks create the word Negro? Or did some white person create it to make it sound better than Nigger?

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

187skillz — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:52:35 GMT

It's whatever but is he really taking the meaning out of it by calling his album that? Hey white people, pls don't start thinking this is your opportunity to use the term...you'd still get f**ed up behind it.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

HoodProphet — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:56:44 GMT

I read a lot of comments in regards to how hes going to push this album in the stores.

If a huge icon like Nas (who has loyal fans) gets snuffed by the mainstream, then thats what hip hop needs.

Hip Hop wont live until it gets back out of the palms of mainstream americas hands and back to the street corners.

When hip hop stops being a sucker for money and the materials it buys, and goes back to the art and expression of the black man...then Hip Hop will Live!

think about it...the classic hip hop was the hip hop that was snuffed by mainstream america and considered not real music.

That was the theme of the movement, anti-mainstream. Now that hip hop is in bed with mainstream america, it got slipped a micky and went into a coma...

-HP

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Most Propa M Holla — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:12:15 GMT

mu$h da great said:
regardless of what the album is called people who are not black or considered black still do not, I repeat do not have get a pass to say the n-word. matter of fact when you go buy jus say give me the new nas. with that being said I trust nas's judgement. Im putting faith in him that he iz going to produce a worth wild album filled with thought provoking intelligent subject matter for mufuckers to grow on. nas if you read this no "you owe me". it wasn't terrible its jus not the time or the place, but I know you know that. viva revolutioné

A-MEN, LOL I better not hear anyone say do u have Nas Nigger Album, there will be a fight on spot. Let me get the new Nas is just fine. I can't wait ta see who he's gonna have on the CD also. Another Jay and Nas track is totally due

NJD Representative
Mindset

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

MattLee — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 14:02:20 GMT

Nas
Is the
Greatest
Goddamned
Educated
Rapper

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

_IllStrip — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:33:29 GMT

laughing @ people saying this is gonna affect sales ... lol ... shit like this drives sales ... if shit like this affected sales NWA would of never went platinum ... and i aint talking about the use of the word Nigga ... im talking about the nature of the things they spoke about on thier album ... the cursing the violence ect ...

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:36:01 GMT

why doesn't he just call the album GINGER?
then ther wouldn't be all thes problems

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

iNFERN0 — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 18:06:43 GMT

To me this is obvious as it is to Mick Boogie - Everyone keeps referring to the album as "The N-Word." People walking into Best Buy asking where the new Nas CD is... Conversations with friends: "Oh have you heard the new Nas "Ni**er" CD?"

The political statement is right there!

You've got half of america calling it the N-Word, the other half calling it Ni**er (or Ni**a whatever) and everyone running around confused and uncomfortable about it. You've got Jesse Jackson and Reverend Sharpton talking about it, the entire industry talking about it - He's set up the leaders of the african american community to provide additional hype for him, the hip-hop community is clamoring to hear it and everyone is giving him a chance because of his resume of past works.

Everyone wants to know: What's your political statement, Nas?

Truth is this: If the first song doens't jump off and provide some prolific insight into Nas as an artist and a leader within the various communities he is revered in, and this whole thing becomes some ashy Fifty Cent marketing trick he'll be doomed as an entertainer.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

MISS INCREDIBLE — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:37:54 GMT

man i always hated that damn word but i guess it is the same gesture as all the women who tittle songs and works of art with "bitch"... damn it man this is such a touchy word, its not only a word its the history behind it i dont know man... i hope nas accomplishes what he set out to with this one... much respect and love to nas...

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

j.johnson — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:48:36 GMT

@ inferno

yeah im with you on that one.

@ shani

yeah, people act like Nas is some saint or something...like its ok if he does it....its nas. Look at his body of work, lyricism aside, the message aint positive. Shooting,killing,fucking,drugs.... thats the majority. And guess what, to the masses, thats some "nigga" shit.

@ Bobby then

i agree 100%. It is irresponsible. You have to take into consideration, even though you may a have a certain intent, when you do something, it doesnt mean the est of the world will take it the way you meant it. So on a wider scale, are you really helping, or just causing trouble because you can...

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

BoNeSuN703 — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:51:00 GMT

"Gentlemen, I greet you here on the bank of the James River in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twelve. First, I shall thank you, the gentlemen of the Colony of Virginia, for bringing me here. I am here to help you solve some of your problems with slaves. Your invitation reached me on my modest plantation in the West Indies where I have experimented with some of the newest and still the oldest methods of control of slaves.

Ancient Rome would envy us if my program were implemented. As our boat sailed south on the James River, named for our illustrious King, whose version of the Bible we cherish. I saw enough to know that your problem is not unique. While Rome used cords of woods as crosses for standing human bodies along its highways in great numbers you are here using the tree and the rope on occasion.

I caught the whiff of a dead slave hanging from a tree a couple of miles back. You are not only losing a valuable stock by hangings, you are having uprisings, slaves are running away, your crops are sometimes left in the fields too long for maximum profit, you suffer occasional fires, your animals are killed.

Gentlemen, you know what your problems are: I do not need to elaborate. I am not here to enumerate your problems, I am here to introduce you to a method of solving them. In my bag here, I have a fool proof method for controlling your Black slaves. I guarantee everyone of you that if installed correctly it will control the slaves for at least 300 hundred years. My method is simple. Any member of your family or your oversee r can use it.

I have outlined a number of differences among the slaves: and I take these differences and make them bigger. I use fear, distrust, and envy for control purposes. These methods have worked on my modest plantation in the West Indies and it will work throughout the South. Take this simple little list of differences, and think about them.

On top of my list is "Age", but it is there only because it starts with an "A": the second is "Color" or shade, there is intelligence, size, sex, size of plantations, status on plantation, attitude of owners, whether the slave live in the valley, on hill, East, West, North, South, have fine hair, coarse hair, or is tall or short. Now that you have a list of differences. I shall give you an outline of action-but before
that I shall assure you that distrust is stronger than trust and envy is stronger than adulation, respect, or admiration.

The Black slave after receiving this indoctrination shall carry on and will become self re-fueling and self generating for hundreds of years, maybe thousands. Don't forget you must pitch the old Black male vs. the young Black male, and the young Black male against the old Black male. You must use the dark skin slaves vs. the light skin slaves and the light skin slaves vs. the dark skin slaves. You must use the female vs. the male, and the male vs. the female. You must also have your white servants and overseers distrust all Blacks, but it is necessary that your slaves trust and depend on us. They must love, respect and trust only us.

Dr. Freeman's
Latest Book

Gentlemen, these kits are your keys to control. Use them. Have your wives and children use them, never miss an opportunity. If used intensely for one year, the slaves themselves will remain perpetually distrustful. Thank you, gentlemen."

Open ya eyes, It's still alive---BoNeSuN

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

BoNeSuN703 — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:53:24 GMT

Oh yea Big up 2 HoodProphet and Bobby Then ...good insight

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

DREWMAC — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:59:43 GMT

WHY?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Severe3000 — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:01:25 GMT

"um....excuse me. i need to pick up 2 niggers, where do u keep them?..."

"hey, do u have any niggers left?"

"yo son, where dat nigger at?"

" can u help me find that nigger?"

"i cant believe theres no nigger left!"

"ay yo! let me borrow that nigger"

"dj, play that nigger!"

lol.....i could go on forever..........

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

j.johnson — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:07:33 GMT

@ BoNeSuN703

thank you, im not sure how many people have actually read it.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

BLUNTBLAZER — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:51:00 GMT

ONLY SOMEBODY LIKE NAS COULD DO THIS IM FROM THA WEST BUT I RESPECT NAS. JAY Z COULDNT DO A ALBUM NAMED THIS. BUT IF THA CONTENT IS WEAK THEN WHO CARES WHA THE TITLE IS BUT I HOPE ITS ON SOME GHETTO REVOLUTIONARY TIP. AND ONLY PEOPLE OF COLOR CAN SAY THAT WORD ANYBODY ELSE TRY AND U GETTIN STOMPED OUT WIT THA QUICKNESS WE DONT PLAY DAT AN NO ALBUM CAN CHANGE DAT.

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THAGRINDAHOLIC
GRIND OR DIE

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

KingOfEngland — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 01:19:01 GMT

i kind of also agree wit dat INFERNO person

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 03:58:46 GMT

YO EVERYBODY

check this out: Sean Price discovers the power of rap music
over white people, file under N

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRbc3mIXIDU

white man at it again: you probably saw this
Ben Folds -Bitches Ain't Shit (wirtten by Dr. Dre)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oVvFyBic_4

bomb dropped, nobody gave a damn

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

a.sea — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 05:12:58 GMT

we are the people who give that word as much power as it has. this could be good in a sense that it could further take the word in the direction it has been taken by our generation. but if it backfires, the results could be catastrophic. all in all, i've always been a fan of Nas simply because he isn't scared to do what he feels at that time and keeps something to get my brain turning. i just can't wait to hear what he has to say on this one.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 08:56:10 GMT

I guess Esco is exhuming that which was buried by the NAACP

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

j.johnson — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 14:30:51 GMT

According to local New York news outlet, The Brooklyn Paper, Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries (D-Fort Greene) has requested that Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli withdraw the $84 million that New York's state pension fund has invested in Universal 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."

Despite prior reports that the Queens MC's album title, Ni**a, was shut down by Def Jam, Nas has since clarified that his new album will be called Ni**er.

Although Universal did not respond to The Brooklyn Paper's request for comment, a spokesman for DiNapoli, who manages the pension fund, said the comptroller "is concerned about this issue and is intending to contact the company and urge them not to release the album."

In February, the Council passed legislation urging people not to use the racial slur. Jeffries, a former assistant general counsel at CBS and lawyer at Viacom, said he is more interested in impacting the industry's bottom line.

"It's a staggering amount of money, which at least justifies a review of the appropriateness of the content that is flooding the public," he said.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 17:26:59 GMT

We need to take all these curses
and bad words out of the music.

With cleaner language we can still make perfectly good songs about drug dealing and murder.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

j.johnson — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 17:40:26 GMT

@ shani

LOL...i feel you

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 18:30:24 GMT

TOTAL NUMBER OF TIMES THE TERM OF ENDEARMENT, NIGGA IS USED on some recent rap albums

Nas, Hip Hop is Dead 54

Jay Z Kingdom Come 53

Common, Finding Forever 7

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 19:00:56 GMT

If Nas changes the title to Ni**er
that's gonna upset David Banner
and you know what he's gonna do

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 19:05:28 GMT

la la la wait till I get my money right
la la la then u cant tell me nothing right?

wrong

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

il nonno — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 23:53:12 GMT

I dont want to sound ignorant or anything but why are americans so pretentious? I mean you allow people to publish books, write songs, people say it in movies but you cant allow soembody to name his album with the same term? Just doesnt make sense. You've got the biggest porn industry in the world, yet make an issue of janet jackson's 'wardrobe misfunction'. Are yall living in two worlds at the same time? Grow the fuck up. Freedom!

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

tha_realest1 — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 01:44:26 GMT

IST HIP HOP IS DEAD, NOW THE N WORD, NAS IS JUST TRYING SELL RECORDS ....

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

emccoy1972 — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:06:12 GMT

Respect,

Phonetics are wild. Did you know "naga" (a slight phonetic variation of the term of discussion) is 'an ancient Kemetic name for serpent which in this case, a serpent represents the fluid transmition of thought, like the 3rd eye asps in many Egyptian garments and wardrobes. That's Richard King's 'The African Origin of Biological Psychiatry'. Nas is a creative man, intelligent. I'm sure the composition is going to be something worth pondering, worth purchasing.

Respect,

JAW

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Tony T — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 23:23:05 GMT

Hip hop is Dead....Lived up to innovation...

Nigger"...better live up to innovation, Not controversy

...he will be on headlines..NAS...dont be a Nigga on Natl.Tv..Black people is begging you

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

T.B — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 03:56:37 GMT

Another to the collection-- Nas is like - love undying

He told u

He ain't 50, he ain't Jigga, he ain't Diddy, he ain't Pretty Pain, power, pussy and pistols, lyrically no one

Nas is like a comic book superhero killin all that wake-ness
the rest of the industry need to wake up and start bumpin sum real sht.

and stop siging these one hit wonda over night suckcess soljah boyz that aint giving any knowledge.

rappers need to realise you can styll make songs to dance2 that have sum thought and meaning to it. sum realness.

not every1 is on that fakesht.
nursery rhyme catch phrases
so let Nas call his album wht he wants. His da realest nigga out

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

TheKnowledge — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:55:20 GMT

Nas goes into a wider realm of accepting that he is a man and can never turn back to being a boy again. That’s unlike a lot of cats who are in their thirties or into their mid-thirties all of a sudden feel that they can conveniently step into their adolescence to sell records; which I believe is some bullsh*t.

WOAH!!........Chuck D just ethered alot of MCs right here. He spoke truth though.

Nas is an intelligent MC and I can't wait to see the type of concept the album has. The excitement is building.

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

Streetweyez Sayles — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:14:33 GMT

Nas is a great emcee, one of my favorites but I believe he is just trying to sell records. The term "Nigger" has been written about so many times and for so long that I am surprised people still act like there is some hidden depth to the term.

Half the slave trading south in those days were a bunch of ex-con illiterates. It is a proven fact that many of the Africans they enslaved knew more about agriculture, architecture, and other related trades than most of the whites.

People do need to realize that most of the whites sent to the colonies in Australia and America were the dregs of British society right? Parts of Australia and America were used as penal colonies. The British exported a criminal society onto unsuspecting populations in the name of exploration and spreading the "gospel".

Everyone keeps acting like the white man was so damn ingenious. Black people were just slipping and when you're slipping you can be beat by the most lame characters. If he named the album "I Am An AFRICAN", nobody would even be talking about it.

"Black Caesar"
http://www.myspace.com/streetweyezsayles

re: Nas: Between Innovation and Controversy

shani — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:05:41 GMT

"He (Bill O'Reilly) doesn't understand the younger generation. He deals with the past. The people he represents are Republican, older, a generation that has nothing to do with the reality of what's happening now with my generation."

-Nas, Black Republican