A representative for Def Jam has confirmed to EW.com that hip-hop artist Nas has made an eleventh-hour decision to change the title of his new album from N—– to simply Nas. The Queens rapper sparked a heated debate last fall when he announced the provocative title for his upcoming ninth record, but last October, Island Def Jam Music Group chair Antonio “L.A.” Reid publicly denied widespread reports that label execs were uncomfortable with his decision. “We stand firmly behind and beside our artists with pride and with
pleasure,” Reid told MTV News at the time. “Anything Nas wants to do, I completely stand beside him.”
But in an interview with MTV News last week, Nas suggested that he was facing renewed pressure: “Everybody is trying to stop the title…. Record stores are gonna have a problem in this
day and time selling a record with that title. Who
knows what’s gonna turn out and be on that title? Who knows what that
title will be?” The politically-charged Nas is due in stores July 1. For more of Nas’ thoughts on his new music, check EW’s summer music preview coverage in print on Friday.
UPDATE: In a statement, Nas clarified that he considers his new album untitled, adding: “It’s important to me that this album gets to the fans. It’s been a long time coming. I want my fans to know that, creatively and lyrically, they can expect the same content and the same messages. It’s that important. The streets have been waiting for this for a long time. The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it.”
Nas is my favorite artist and I was interested in how this whole thing would play out. I feel his idea for the original title was good, however, how he described and attempted to back it up was not at all the most intelligent way to do things. Oh well, the album will be great…hopefully.
Thank God! What was the point besides trying to create publicity?
Gotta say I’m very disappointed in both Nas and the label. Also, I never really understood the controversy. There have been several books with ni**er in the title, and the word was featured in the titles of two of Richard Pryor albums. Not sure what the difference is. Changing the title makes me think that I may not even want to buy the album. To be clear, I enjoy Nas’ music, and have several of his albums, so I was not just drawn to the controversy of that word. But when you have a body of work that I’m sure will be filled with scathing political commentary, and to know that the artist in a sense willing allowed himself to be censored, I’m not sure if you could listen to it and not think he was kind of a hypocrite.
Is Nas gonna pay your rent? Nobody cares kid, Nobody cares…
By changing the title of the album Nas is allowing himself to be treated like one by his corporate slavemasters. For all rappers talk of street credibility they are artists, and artistic credibility is based on their unwillingness to compromise their vision. I have always respected nas and can only guess on the number of factors that effected his decision to change the title, but truth is when the album comes out only thing im gonna be able to think is damn homie sold out
It’s about time somebody over at Def Jam came to their senses and made the call that needed to be made months ago.
I could not believe this idiot Nas was on National TV accompanied by women of different races all sporting N-word t-shirts just like it was alright!
It only takes one fool to make the whole race look bad and Nas certainly succeeded with that ridiculous display!
I used to be a huge fan of Nas’ but have to say his albums have gotten progressively worse with each effort.
The ether he wished on Jay ended up burning Nas to his core.
He’s a washed up rapper now hoping to generate interest in his faltering career with cheap controversy.
Rappers with skills don’t need hype like this, lyrical ability is all it takes!
Wow haters. Yall dissing Nas when yall need to be worryin bout yourselves! I support Nas etiher way and don’t care much for what his album is gonna be called but more for the lyrical content it holds. This man is a bold person who took a stand for something and tried something different and I respect him as an artist. And besides he didn’t even really hype this album. You think if he did he would released more than one song and kept us updated on whats going on. A controversial title doesnt mean nada but yall make it to be so much more than just a word. One Love
Wow haters. Yall dissing Nas when yall need to be worryin bout yourselves! I support Nas etiher way and don’t care much for what his album is gonna be called but more for the lyrical content it holds. This man is a bold person who took a stand for something and tried something different and I respect him as an artist. And besides he didn’t even really hype this album. You think if he did he would released more than one song and kept us updated on whats going on. A controversial title doesnt mean nada but yall make it to be so much more than just a word. One Love
I Ef’n Love Nas!!!
I was glad Nas was sticking to his album name but now he changes it and gives into the execs so i dont know i might just download it instead of buy the album
They say we N I, double G E R, we are, much more, still we choose to ignore the obvious…man this history don’t acknowledge us, we were scholars long before colleges. They say we N I, double G E R, we are, much more, still we choose to ignore the obvious…we are the slave and the master, what you looking for? You the question and the answer!
They say we N I, double G E R, we are, much more, still we choose to ignore the obvious…man this history don’t acknowledge us, we were scholars long before colleges. They say we N I, double G E R, we are, much more, still we choose to ignore the obvious…we are the slave and the master, what you looking for? You the question and the answer!
Writermind you are so right. I am one of Nas’ biggest fan and was definitely upset by all of this. Why would he want to use that word for his album title? He is so much more than that and I’m glad Def Jam came to their senses. Most black people around the world don’t use the “n” at all…it seems to be an american thing to use this word with the letter “a” at the end..like that makes it alright. I am a black Canadian woman with Jamaican parents and it was never right to use the “n” word. The majority of black people in Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, South America and Africa detest that word. African-Americans have to come together and get rid of that word…it’s a hateful term that was used to degrade our people. When you use that word you are stomping on the legacies of Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, Harriet Tubman and countless other Civil Rights Activists. Don’t tell me the meaning of the word has changed…that’s not true…get rid of it from your vocabulary!
I will NOT be buying the new Nas album if the title is changed. Nas needs to stand behind his statement, and if people refuse to realize he is saying something, well hey thats art. I WILL be downloading the album. I have been planning to buy this album for a while, but if he doesn’t stand behind himself I will NOT. Thats how I feel.
Nas aint sell out just because he dropped the album title you dumb@ss. I dont know how I feel about this decision though. I just hope he comes with some FIRE so it can make up for all this wish-washiness with naming the album and its multiple delays. So far the two tracks Ive heard “Be a Ni–er too” and “War is Necessary” are fire so hopefully the rest of the album follows suit. He is compromising his career however by creating so much controversy. He did state that he was trying to get everyone to be mad at him for the title.