Representatives for Island Def Jam have denied that Hip-Hop superstar Nas will release an album with the controversial title N#### in December.
The rapper made headlines on Friday (October 13), when he announced the controversial title and release date of December for his next album, during a show at the Roseland Ballroom in New York.
According to FoxNews.com, representatives close to Island Def Jam Chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid have denied that they will release the album by Nas in December.
Additionally, the representative claimed the only album for Nas on Def Jam’s release schedule is his Greatest Hits compilation, which is due in stores in November.
“There is no album release by Nas on the release schedule at this point,” a source told FoxNews.com.”And they would be unlikely to release an album with that title. How would that look at Wal-Mart?”
While the release date is in question, representatives for Nas and a PR representative at Def Jam confirmed the controversial name of the album with AllHipHop.com.
Nas’ album title N#### has sparked controversy and debate throughout the Hip-Hop community.
The title was also condemned by Reverend Jesse Jackson.
“The title using the ‘N’ word is morally offensive and socially distasteful,” Jackson said in a statement. “Nas has the right to degrade and denigrate in the name of free speech, but there is no honor in it. 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, making mockery of racism.”
Nas found support from an unlikely ally – Don Imus.
A representative for the shock jock, who was fired for calling female members of the Rutgers University Basketball Team “nappy headed hoes,” told FoxNews.com that the album title was a “good thing.”
“It’s a good thing,” Imus’ representative Martin Garbus said. “Words like that should be deprived of their meanings, and then they can’t hurt.”