10/18/07 - Nas' New LP: Is Def Jam Balking At Controversial Title?

J-Banks · 10-18-2007, 12:39 PM

Nas' New LP: Is Def Jam Balking At Controversial Title?

'They would be unlikely to release an album with that title,' a source close to label head Antonio 'L.A.' Reid told Fox News.

By Shaheem Reid

The N-word? Worrrd?

Nas has become a specialist at stirring the pot with album titles over the past couple of years, inciting debates from the 'hood to the most stuck-up suburbs. His latest LP moniker, Nigga, has gained a swell of notice since he officially announced the name onstage last week in New York.

Fox News reported Tuesday that a source close to Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid said: "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. How would that look at Wal-Mart?"

Label representatives had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment at press time, but the Rev. Jesse Jackson did weigh in.

"The title using the N-word is morally offensive and socially distasteful," Jackson said in a statement to Fox News. "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," Jackson added. "I wish he would use his talents to lift up and inspire, not degrade, making mockery of racism."

Long before the recent stir over Nas' album title idea, the word "n---a" had come under fire during the recent call by Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton and others to abolish the word altogether. In September, Nas spoke to Mixtape Monday about his feelings on the word.

"Racism is ugly," he said. "Our people are faced with a serious dilemma. What do we do? You got conservative, rich black folks that are above the word 'n---a.' Rightfully so. Then you got the word n---a, which has the genius of the black mind and has been changed into a billion-dollar word through Richard Pryor, who should own it. Paul Mooney should own the word. N.W.A, Dr. Dre should own a piece of the word. 'N---a' has changed into a billion-dollar franchise. It's just a smack in the face to all the races that we've changed that into a positive. You're gonna have brothers and sisters who are educated, who don't need it. You also have a world who lives in it, who deals with it every day on levels that are unbearable.

"It's not right for all of us who have made it to forget about everybody else in the struggle," he added. "Everybody ain't make it out to be billionaires or filthy rich. We have to bridge that gap back to not come down on each other, especially hip-hop. Don't come down on hip-hop for it. But at the end of the day? Whatever, man. I ain't got no time for it. 'N---a' is a part of my vocabulary, as far as I know, for life. Amongst each other, we say it in jokes. It's really a stupid conversation to even have at this point, on the stage we have it on. If [the people who are against the use of the word] really wanted to have a conversation about it, it could have been done better. We didn't invent the word. We took the word and made it into something positive and we made money off it. God bless Richard Pryor."

Although MTV News has not spoken to Nas on the record since word of the title broke, a source close to the rapper has said that the title is not just meant to cause controversy and sell records. It has a deeper meaning.

Nas says he wants to put the album out in December. On November 6, Nas' first recording home, Sony Music, is releasing the rapper's first best-of collection, Greatest Hits.

Source-MTV

26shotz · 10-18-2007, 01:11 PM

I know it is business and it prolly wont happen but fuck wal mart who buys edited cd's anyways which is all they sell, and its just the name of the cd anyways it ain't gonna affect if its dope or not and I am not sure any rapper or label wouldn't release that title. Can't wait till he drops though but I am of course expecting a push back like every fucking album these days. Props on this Banks

GodToYouKids22 · 10-18-2007, 02:17 PM

ima bitch slap al sharpton and jesse jackson....they need to shut the fukk up....they are more bipolar than game

Drewshady17 · 10-19-2007, 02:13 AM

I bet Def Jam never lets him release his LP with this title.Its to controversial and they don't want all the drama that will come with it if they let him.Its not gonna happen so we should just stop talking about it.

18th letter · 10-19-2007, 04:28 AM

wow, this album is getting publicity..........

GMNRecordsCT32 · 10-19-2007, 09:20 AM

FOX NEWS must've said something.

240KA · 10-19-2007, 10:09 PM

cant wait for the album thats all i know

The Maestro · 10-19-2007, 10:23 PM

how they gonna spell this mainstream wise

10-18-2007, 12:39 PM	#1
J-Banks Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 21,015 Repped: 5,294 Repped 53,425 Times in 7,839 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Neg Reps: 53 Neg Repped at 93 Times in 86 Posts	10/18/07 - Nas' New LP: Is Def Jam Balking At Controversial Title? 10/18/07 - Nas' New LP: Is Def Jam Balking At Controversial Title? Nas' New LP: Is Def Jam Balking At Controversial Title? 'They would be unlikely to release an album with that title,' a source close to label head Antonio 'L.A.' Reid told Fox News. By Shaheem Reid The N-word? Worrrd? Nas has become a specialist at stirring the pot with album titles over the past couple of years, inciting debates from the 'hood to the most stuck-up suburbs. His latest LP moniker, Nigga, has gained a swell of notice since he officially announced the name onstage last week in New York. Fox News reported Tuesday that a source close to Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid said: "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. How would that look at Wal-Mart?" Label representatives had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment at press time, but the Rev. Jesse Jackson did weigh in. "The title using the N-word is morally offensive and socially distasteful," Jackson said in a statement to Fox News. "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," Jackson added. "I wish he would use his talents to lift up and inspire, not degrade, making mockery of racism." Long before the recent stir over Nas' album title idea, the word "n---a" had come under fire during the recent call by Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton and others to abolish the word altogether. In September, Nas spoke to Mixtape Monday about his feelings on the word. "Racism is ugly," he said. "Our people are faced with a serious dilemma. What do we do? You got conservative, rich black folks that are above the word 'n---a.' Rightfully so. Then you got the word n---a, which has the genius of the black mind and has been changed into a billion-dollar word through Richard Pryor, who should own it. Paul Mooney should own the word. N.W.A, Dr. Dre should own a piece of the word. 'N---a' has changed into a billion-dollar franchise. It's just a smack in the face to all the races that we've changed that into a positive. You're gonna have brothers and sisters who are educated, who don't need it. You also have a world who lives in it, who deals with it every day on levels that are unbearable. "It's not right for all of us who have made it to forget about everybody else in the struggle," he added. "Everybody ain't make it out to be billionaires or filthy rich. We have to bridge that gap back to not come down on each other, especially hip-hop. Don't come down on hip-hop for it. But at the end of the day? Whatever, man. I ain't got no time for it. 'N---a' is a part of my vocabulary, as far as I know, for life. Amongst each other, we say it in jokes. It's really a stupid conversation to even have at this point, on the stage we have it on. If [the people who are against the use of the word] really wanted to have a conversation about it, it could have been done better. We didn't invent the word. We took the word and made it into something positive and we made money off it. God bless Richard Pryor." Although MTV News has not spoken to Nas on the record since word of the title broke, a source close to the rapper has said that the title is not just meant to cause controversy and sell records. It has a deeper meaning. Nas says he wants to put the album out in December. On November 6, Nas' first recording home, Sony Music, is releasing the rapper's first best-of collection, Greatest Hits. Source-MTV __________________ JBanksblog.com - check it out __________________

10-18-2007, 02:17 PM	#3
GodToYouKids22 -Ŧħę Fяëşħ Pŕιиєê- Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Jerz Where We Tuck Heat And Love Shanks -Buddens Posts: 8,066 Repped: 1,231 Repped 1,982 Times in 682 Posts Neg Reps: 658 Neg Repped at 458 Times in 316 Posts	ima bitch slap al sharpton and jesse jackson....they need to shut the fukk up....they are more bipolar than game __________________ Im The Sharpshooter, You The Nigga I Target Next

10-19-2007, 04:28 AM	#5
18th letter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 148 Repped: 25 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	wow, this album is getting publicity.......... __________________ Everything i'm not maybe everything i am

10-19-2007, 09:20 AM	#6
GMNRecordsCT32 Back 2Biznass 11/05 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 704 Repped: 169 Repped 166 Times in 28 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	FOX NEWS must've said something. __________________ myspace.com/bummydavis--soundclick.com/gmnproductions

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10-18-2007, 01:11 PM	#2
26shotz Banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Providence Posts: 3,548 Repped: 883 Repped 565 Times in 173 Posts Neg Reps: 37 Neg Repped at 69 Times in 46 Posts	I know it is business and it prolly wont happen but fuck wal mart who buys edited cd's anyways which is all they sell, and its just the name of the cd anyways it ain't gonna affect if its dope or not and I am not sure any rapper or label wouldn't release that title. Can't wait till he drops though but I am of course expecting a push back like every fucking album these days. Props on this Banks

10-19-2007, 02:13 AM	#4
Drewshady17 Shady/Aftermath/G-Unit Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,001 Repped: 295 Repped 347 Times in 71 Posts Neg Reps: 4 Neg Repped at 16 Times in 12 Posts	I bet Def Jam never lets him release his LP with this title.Its to controversial and they don't want all the drama that will come with it if they let him.Its not gonna happen so we should just stop talking about it.

10-19-2007, 10:09 PM	#7
240KA Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Orlando, FL aka trigger state Posts: 2,708 Repped: 9 Repped 1 Time in 1 Post Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	cant wait for the album thats all i know

10-19-2007, 10:23 PM	#8
The Maestro The Maestro* Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New York Posts: 1,178 Repped: 17 Repped 462 Times in 130 Posts Neg Reps: 2 Neg Repped at 10 Times in 8 Posts	how they gonna spell this mainstream wise