Nas is featured in the upcoming issue of XXL. We don't know if it's official, but this cover for the controversial new Nas album called 'Nigger' has been circulating on the net.
We must say that Nas is a thought provoking MC, so we believe there is a message behind the title. Just the fact that everybody is talking about his album being titled the "N word" is a message. Don't you think? This is what Nas told MTV News about the album Ni**a and track listings last November.
"I have a song called 'The Fear,' " he said. "The full title of the record is 'The Fear of the Black Man's D---.' That's some sh-- you can get comedy [from], or you can get some seriousness from it when you talk about the barbaric castrations that happened in our past — which is very serious, nothing to laugh at."
Nas also said that despite the serious name of his project — which has already set off a firestorm of controversy — the LP will be balanced, and he emphasized that he is not singling out any one race.
"It's not an attack on white people at all," he promised, regarding the record's content. "It's knowledge; it's understanding for all people. It's not an attack on any race."
Nas clarified that he will be combating a myriad of racial slurs, not just the one after which he named his album.
"It's about the attacks that have happened to blacks, whites, all ethnicities," he continued. " 'Mick' niggers, 'guinea' niggers, 'kike' niggers. I have a song called 'You a Nigger Too.' " "It's all over the place," he added. "Balance is so important because there's a fun level to the [album] too. There's an attractive, sexy, aspect to it; a stylish aspect, a flashy aspect. It takes negatives and makes them good." [Source]
He also said in the interview that rather than rush the album production he was planning to release it in February '08 during Black History Month. We believe the controversy won't really hurt Nas. Controvery brings the heat and sells records. Look at the album battle with 50 cent
and Kanye West. They both kept their beef on wax and sold a whole lotta
records.
Nas also just performed a show last month at the Hammerstein Ballroom. MTV reports that when he was performing "Phone Tap" Nas called out for his partner from the firm 'AZ' to join him on stage. But AZ never showed up. That's when Nas spoke about rapper Foxy Brown who is currently serving a jail sentence for probation violations. Inga Marchand aka Foxy Brown (pictured below) was a member of rap group The Firm with Nas, AZ and Nature.
"Where's AZ at?" Nas yelled, with a look of disappointment on his face. "Where's AZ?" Nas continued. "Foxy's in jail. Life changes, don't it ... I love them, wish they were here." [Source]
CLICK HERE TO WATCH NAS PERFORM AT HIS NEW YORK CITY SHOW AT THE HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM.
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