controversial album title from Nas

BleedingHeart · #1 11-03-2007, 07:51 AM

Jay-Z defends Nas album title

Hip-hop mogul Jay-Z has defended Nas' decision to name his new album 'N**ger', but insists the naming of the record is "misguided".

Jay-Z - real name Shawn Carter - is releasing the LP under his label Island Def Jam Music Group, but admits he is not fond of its title.

But Carter denies the rapper - real name Nasir Jones - is trying to provoke the media with the title.

He says: "I know he is very intelligent and there's a reason behind what he is doing. He's not just doing it for the sake of being provocative. Of course we are going to support his art.
"I hope (the concept) is coming from a great place. I believe it's coming from a great place. I just think it's misguided."

The 'Hip-Hop Is Dead' hitmaker intends to test race issues when he releases the new album on 11 December.

So what ye all think????

Daylight22 · #2 11-03-2007, 08:10 AM

It's simple. Nas doesn't sell the volume of records of say mainstream hiphop bores like Jay-Z, 50, or Kanye. Slapping "Nigger" on an album grabs headlines. Headlines often grab album sales.

It seems pretty transparent.

BleedingHeart · #3 11-03-2007, 08:23 AM

there's a site called ban the N-word dot com, they are NOT going to be happy. Well I was talking more on a personal level, like feelings. Would you be ambivalent if you saw the name on the record tomorrow simply because there's nothing behind it other than as a sales booster?

dee_bourgeois · #4 11-03-2007, 08:47 AM

It's cynical, but also why not?
I mean, if I wanted to put out a record called The Pope Is A Whore (on sale Jan 08) then that is pretty much the same line of thinking. Doesn't offend me, offends other people, instant publicity.
xx

Daylight22 · #5 11-03-2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleedingHeart

there's a site called ban the N-word dot com, they are NOT going to be happy. Well I was talking more on a personal level, like feelings. Would you be ambivalent if you saw the name on the record tomorrow simply because there's nothing behind it other than as a sales booster?

I don't know ... I don't use that word in any context, I'm unnerved by others, mostly caucasians, who use in any form. But I also understand the arguement that people of color use it in any variety due to a sense of entitlement -- right, wrong or indifferent. Reclamation of a negative symbol of opression is pretty popular in minority groups anyway -- feminists reclaiming "cunt" or "bitch" via Eve Ensler, the LGBT community using the triangle, etc etc. I don't really see any real redeaming value in this, aside from grabbing attention from an artists that is otherwise pretty passed his prime -- not to say that he isn't talented, because he is. In a marketplace infested with Soulja Boy and TPain, Nas really is old hat.