Quote of the Day: Nas
Posted by Bossip Staff
Nas recently discussed his upcoming album which will be called Nigger now, not “Nigga”:
“I’m a street disciple. I’m talking to the streets. Stay out of our business. You ain’t got no business worrying about what the word ‘nigger’ is or acting like you know what my album is about without talking to me. Whether you in the NAACP or you Jesse Jackson. I respect all of them … I just want them to know: Never fall victim to Fox. Never fall victim to the sh– they do. What they do is try to hurry up and get you on the phone and try to get you to talk about something you might not know about yet. If Cornell West was making an album called Nigger, they would know he’s got something intellectual to say. To think I’m gonna say something that’s not intellectual is calling me a nigger, and to be called a nigger by Jesse Jackson and the NAACP is counterproductive, counter-revolutionary.”
“I wanna make the word easy on mutha—-as’ ears. You see how white boys ain’t mad at ‘cracker’ ’cause it don’t have the same [sting] as ‘nigger’? I want ‘nigger’ to have less meaning [than] ‘cracker.’ With all the bullsh– that’s going on in the world, racism is at its peak. I wanna do the sh– that’s not being done. I wanna be the artist who ain’t out. I wanna make the music I wanna hear.”
“This Nigger album is bigger than an album. This is for my daughter, when she looks back and sees all the chump n—as in the game, she’ll say, ‘My pops was a man.’ When I have more kids, they’ll see, ‘He was a man.’ That will inspire them to be real in their life. Some people say I’m conscious, some say I’m a gangsta rapper — it’s just me doing me. I’m stomping in my own lane. I’m doing what I do.”
“We’re taking power from the word,” he added. “No disrespect to none of them who were part of the civil-rights movement, but some of my n—as in the streets don’t know who [civil-rights activist] Medgar Evers was. I love Medgar Evers, but some of the n—as in the streets don’t know Medgar Evers, they know who Nas is. And to my older people who don’t now who Nas is and who don’t know what a street disciple is, stay outta this mutha—-in’ conversation. We’ll talk to you when we’re ready. Right now, we’re on a whole new movement. We’re taking power from that word.”
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thats right esco educate these people
First!!
Alot of what he says is true. I’m still not sure if the title is the right way to go. If everybody was on the same page with the way he feels, black and white then maybe it wouldnt be such a big deal
whatever…I still don’t like the word.:(
I knew he had a good reason behind the title. But isn’t it a shame what people have to do to sell records now-a-days?
meanwhile we have brothers getting their jaws broke, stomped in the street being called a “Nigger”
hey bossip…
WHY DIDN’T YOU MAKE THIS POST TITLE:
IS NAS AN UNCLE TOM?…DISCUSS
I understand what he is saying. Taking the sting out of the word. I get it. Like Salvation takes the sting out of death. Speak NAS!!!!!
I KNEW HE HAD AN EXPLANATION FOR THIS….I JUST KNEW IT. AND HE’S RIGHT, IF CORNELL WEST WAS COMING OUT WITH SOME “NIGGER” BOOK, I WOULD BE LIKE “IM CURIOUS TO READ THIS, I HAVE TO CHECK OUT HIS P.O.V. AND WHAT IS INSPIRING SUCH A PROVOCATIVE TITLE.” I GOTTA GIVE A FAIR CHANCE FOR MY MAN NAS TO ELABORATE, I KNOW HE WON’T LET ME DOWN *FINGERS CROSSED*
Shut-Up….pure ingnorance….. This is what Bill Cosby is talking about. How can you make a word like that positive, why would you want to. Attention whore, new album… what better way to sell.. then to cause controversy……pure ignorance….
“I wanna make the word easy on mutha—-as’ ears. IGNORANT….
“This is for my daughter, when she looks back and sees all the chump n—as in the game, she’ll say, ‘My pops was a man.’ …Teach your daughter who Medgar Evers was, since you claim they don’t know, not about a derogatory word….IGNORANT
That is some bullshit! First of all, you can’t compare the word “cracka” to the word “nigger” because white people were not captured, enslaved, lynched and oppressed with that word. It doesn’t have the same volatile history, therefore it doesn’t have the same power! Nas, the word has NEVER been “easy on muthafukka’s ears”, so what makes you think that by naming your album “Nigger” that you are going to magically change all that? Do you REALLY think that your daughter is going to look back on this project and say “My father was a man?” Do you really expect us to believe this shit?
Nigger, please!
DAYUM!
Nas, you so wise! (In Gina’s voice from Martin)
DAMN NAS DROPIN HEAVY KNOWLEDGE
I MIGHT COP IT IM NOT REALLY INTO EAST COAST RAP BUT
NAS IS TIGHT.
http://WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THAGRINDAHOLIC
“LATER 4 U” REALEST SHIT I EVA WROTE
why do people like him are so stupid. Why doesnt his wife stick her foot up his ass if she so dominate towards him so he could understand. I don’t see spanish people saying what up my SPIC!!
wow Nas! when you grow up to be an old man you will look on this foolishness and weep because it will lead to a whole generation’s worth of trouble. you are so deluded and wrapped up in your status as the’ only intellectual rapper’ that you actually believe your nonsense. YOU ARE NOT TAKING THE POWER OUT OF THE WORD, YOU ARE MERELY MAKING IT ACCEPTABLE FOR WHITE PEOPLE TO DEMEAN AFRICAN AMERICANS. This is foolishness which I was convinced was nothing but a rumour. And all of this for what Nas? Because this album (like your last one) won’t sell anyways. So what have you ultimately achieved.
IF YOU THINK NAMING YOUR ALBUM ‘NIGGER’ IS A GOOD THING THEN YOU TRULY DESERVED TO BE CALLED A ‘NIGGER’. And stop calling yourself a disciple. You are a disgrace and an embarassment and I would hate for others to think you are one of the black leaders of the street. I’m disgusted
I understand what Nas is trying to say even though I disagree with him. The only way to take the pain out of the N-word would be to forget where we came from and how it affected our ancestors. I can’t speak for every black person but I for one don’t want to forget it. It’s the same as the nooses in Jena, Louisiana. It was so horrible b/c those kids who hung it knew the pain and hate behind it. Even though none of the kids involved were alive when lynching was going on, hundred of years later it still hurts and it still affects us. I don’t want to take the sting out of the word. I want to evolve from the word, educate people on the word, and I want black people to stop calling other black people the word. Real talk.
SOME OF THE POSTERS MISSED THE POINT…WHAT HE WAS SAYING WAS “GIVE ME A CHANCE TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE IM COMING FROM,” THE SHIT AINT OUT YET KEEP AN OPEN-MIND, I MEAN IF WE’RE GOING TO BE ALL OUTRAGED HOW ABOUT SONGS WHERE RAPPERS CLAIM TO BE SO HOOD, AND BEING THE DAMN SNOWMAN, AND CALL THEMSELVES DUFFLE BAG BOYS AND NOTHING UPLIFTING ABOUT THAT BULLSHIT…I GUESS THEY HAVE TAKEN THE STING OUT OF BEING DRUG DEALERS
If he comes out with this album everybody has to boycott this album to show him that this is not tolerable and not giving him money for this foolishness.
roger ram
hey bossip…
WHY DIDN’T YOU MAKE THIS POST TITLE:
IS NAS AN UNCLE TOM?…DISCUSS
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co-sign 100%
Well this is reality and he’s right, we hear this word every damn day whether we say it or not, we still hear it, do we stop and tell them how ignorant they sound? Hell no, so you cant be mad at Nas and call him ignorant for wanting to provoke some thought about this word. I just hope he knows what he’s doin 4real.
I just luv him.
Kelis is a very lucky chick.
1st of all, y’all are wrong for tht pic of my baby, Cornell. lol
For real, though, I’m usually all for intellectual rap. A lot of it is crap, so it is always nice when an artist is trying to inspire thought. Nas, like Kanye, Common and sometimes Jay-Z, used to be like that. Now he is joining the ranks of those using controversy to sell albums.
He can talk about taking the power back from the word, but I don’t care how many times he raps the word “nigger,” if a white person calls me that, it is still on.
Nas is a talented dude with a honest spirit. That being said he needs to get off the drugs and think of a more “CREATIVE’ word for the album.
He’s right about Mr. West too.
Anything he says, I always listen to cause I know it’s progressive.
I feel that way about very few people.
To all the people who are dissn Nas
How is Nas titling his ablum N- any different than the rappers whose every other word is N- in every song? Bossip posted an interview of Lil Wayne not too long ago and he used it in his interview. Really how is it any differet? I really want someone to answer this.
@Octavia
In response to:
He can talk about taking the power back from the word, but I don’t care how many times he raps the word “nigger,” if a white person calls me that, it is still on.
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Discrimination or prejudice based on race is one of the definitions of racist. It’s okay for blacks to use the word but if a white person says it you ready to go to jail? This is why our culture is always last when is comes to something positive. THE WORD IS BAD NO MATTER WHO USES IT. PERIOD. WHEN WILL WE GET THIS???
That’s the point though AND.., it’s NOT any different. And it would be hypocritical for any of the rappers to say that they use it to bring “awareness and change” to it’s power. None of them are doing that! So what does that make Nas?
Correction: that should read “None of them are SAYING that!”
EVERYONE WHO PLANS ON “BOYCOTTING” THIS ALBUMN MUST BOYCOTT 98% OF HALF THE BULLSHIT THAT COMES OUT TODAY THAT THESE RAPPERS TRY TO PASS OFF AS MUSIC. I HEAR WHITE KIDS RAPPING LYRICS TO RAP SONGS ALL THE TIME, ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO STOP WHEN THE RAPPER SAYS NIGGER IN A SONG OR IS IT OK FOR THEM TO SAY IT, WHITE PEOPLE CAN’T CALL US NAPPY HEADED HOES BUT LUDACRIS CAN PUT OUT A RAP SONG TALKING ABOUT I GOT HOES IN DIFFERENT AREA CODES, CMON MAN, WRONG IS WRONG. WE CAN’T ADOPT THE ISAIAH THOMAS RATIONALE OF IT’S OK FOR ME TO SAY CERTAIN THINGS BECAUSE IT HAS LESS STING. MY MOTHER TOLD ME, HOW AM I GONNA BE MAD AT SOMEONE CALLING ME SOMETHING IM NOT, THAT’S LIKE SOMEONE CALLING ME A JEW, HOW AM I GOING TO BE MAD? IM NOT JEWISH. I DOESN’T MATTER IF IT WAS INTENDED TO BE INSULTING, WORDS CAN ONLY AFFECT ME IF I ALLOW THEM TO, I HOLD THE POWER TO BE OFFENDED. PEOPLE CAN ONLY DO WHAT YOU ALLOW THEM TO DO TO YOU, SO I CHOOSE NOT TO LET WORDS AFFECT ME, I DON’T CARE WHO SAYS THEM
Nas is one of the most prolific and intelligent rappers on the scene…he is one of the only ones that actually take whats going on in the streets and is speaking on it…regardless of how his image in the media is portrayed… Im from the South…and I pretty much stay true to what i like but Im buying the album…i wanna hear what he has to say! at least he’s not supermaning on yall hoes…
AND…
To all the people who are dissn Nas
How is Nas titling his ablum N- any different than the rappers whose every other word is N- in every song? Bossip posted an interview of Lil Wayne not too long ago and he used it in his interview. Really how is it any differet? I really want someone to answer this.
…………………………………………..
It is not any different. BOTH uses of the word are in my opinion wrong, self-hating, damaging to our race and degrading. I am not a hypocrite, I disagree with the use of the word, period.
Notice how all the posters who will support Nas will no doubt be hood rats. Or should that be hood niggas. Truely intelligent african americans will see straight through this mess. Its only the porch monkeys who cannot see the damage they are inflicting on the whole race by the use of that word. such people deserve to rot
richie
That’s the point though AND.., it’s NOT any different. And it would be hypocritical for any of the rappers to say that they use it to bring “awareness and change” to it’s power. None of them are doing that! So what does that make Nas?
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I agree but I’m just shocked by all the he’s ignorant crap that people are saying like to hear a rapper use the N-word is something new. By the way some of these people are reacting the word wouldn’t be used at all if we really boycotted artists that used the word. Why did it suddenly become so bad today? AND… to those people dissn Nas do you own any of his albums? Do you own any albumns that use the N-word?
and for those of you not familiar with hip hop especially from down south…a ho is a noun…person place or thing…so is bitch…its called creative creation people…just because someone says bitch or ho does not mean its automatically degrading women…hello?!?!?!? I know people arent really that slow…
I SUPPORT NAS AND IM NOT A HOODRAT OR HOOD NIGGA, AND I LIKE TO THINK OF MYSELF AS AN INTELLIGENT BLACK WOMAN, MAYBE I THINK OUT THE BOX
I am glad that we now agree with Whites that we deserve the N*** word.
That just tells the Whites that they were right to call us that.
But be warned if some Black or White calls my kids that with an N***er or N**ga they are going to the hospital with a broken jaw.
I have taught my kids not to be Black idiots, but to think for them =selves.
You people who use the N*** word are the real “Uncle Toms” find your own word to describe yourselves idiots! don’t use the Whites man’s word.
stop it. just stop it. nas you are not smart enough to pull this off. put the gimmicks down and pick up a book. stop trying to sell out your entire race just to sell albums. did you learn this tactic from your boss Jay-Z?
I mean out of ALLLLLL the rap singles wit’ the word Nigga or Nigger….. I’m suprised that anybody would be suprised if Nas took it a step further to call his album that….. And Nas isn’t the 1st rapper to name his album the N word…. I mean NWA had efil4zaggiN?….and wasn’t nobody complainin’…. O.D.B had Nigga Please…. wasn’t nobody complainin’…. Dick Gregory wrote a book called Nigger…. wasn’t nobody complainin’…. so why complain now…. I’m sure Nas has a bigger purpose to name his album that word…. and he’s made his point….. and he didn’t necessarily compare Nigger to Cracka…. he just said that Cracka had less sting than Nigga does….. and all y’all self righteous mofos…. if y’all ever bumped Jay-Z’s “Aint No Nigga” or “Jigga My Nigga” and know ALL the words to them songs…. y’all shouldn’t have a problem wit’ Nas…. and if you’re familiar wit’ Nas and his catalogue…. you know BETTER than to think that Nas is anything less than an intellectual…. and if y’all bring up the fact that Nas is a High School drop out…. lemme tell y’all somethin’ beforehand… YES he is… but he self educated himself at home by readin’ the dictionaries, doctor, and lawyers books that his mother had in the house…. and that contributed to his brilliant lyrics and songs that has made to solidify his career….
Some of you are hypocrites. You’ve used that word since you were young. Why are you mad now? Did you boycott Dick Gregory? Did you boycott Quentin Tarentino or Martin Scorcese or any other Director/Actor that incorprates that word in their movie dialogue? Did you care? Why do you care now? Do you think this album is honestly going to get pushed by the label? There’s a lot of risk involved with this type of controversy–it’s a high possibility that it won’t be sold in Walmart (biggest CD seller). It’s all just publicity huh? Nas don’t need the money, his rep is already solidified, so what is he really gaining? You answer those questions first then I’ll consider your arguments.
@MSABOGADA,
I am glad that you have the mental fortitude to dismiss the word. But you do not speak for all of Black America. People have different experiences. Some are empowered and some are not. So for some, that word strikes a chord that you will not be able to identify with. For you, it is as simple as “mind over matter”. But if you have not walked in a man/woman’s shoes, if you have not lived the civil rights movement, it isn’t the same thing as reading about it! You gotta get deeper than that.
Please Nas…DON’T INSULT OUR INTELLECT!
You’re doing what Brittany’s doing…and it works!
Nigga’s in the hood could care less if you (try ) to take the sting outta that word! You could care less either.
Controversy sells…. trust me , we get that. But bro. please don’t scapegoat on a word and try to pimp that word.
NAS—-IF A WHITE KAT CALLED YOU NIGGER….YOU WOULD GO BROOKLYN ON HIS ASS…
and i said that to say this ……STFU, and just put out good rhyme’s,and hang out with your dynomite looking better half,and leave the (controversy to people with no talent…..)
think
http://www.blackwiz.biz
@Mary J. Blige
@Richie
@TruthTeller
I knew I wasn’t the only black person who not only doesn’t use the N-word but don’t allows others to refer to me that way. Thanks for letting me know that there are more of us out there
@ terika
I’m sorry I must disagree. Calling someone a bitch or hoe is degrading to anyone especially women. These two words have become a synonym for the word woman, female, girl, or lady. I hate that you feel this way but obviously you have every right to. It just adds fuel to the fire.
He’s lost his mind. No matter how you dress that word up or down, it’s hurtful, derogatory and stupid. If we put as much fight into changing our economic situation, as we have in fighting to keep this word alive, we’d all be Zillionaires. Wake up Nas - you’ve fallen asleep at wheel.
Real recognize real.
@AND
It’s a matter of self respect, if you respect yourself and have pride in your family heritage, then you don’t allow anyone to call you outside of your name, nor to use an historically nasty word to refer to you or your family.
I love my family and myself too much.
Negro please! Nas, sweetie, sit your tail down somewhere……You all are right, what he is doing is no different than what other rappers do, but does that make it right? This is why I don’t buy all that mess now. I don’t allow my kids to listen to it, and I sure as hell don’t allow that word to come out of my or my kid’s mouths! He is just as ignorant as anyone else who chooses to use that word and then proclaim, “But, by using it, we are softening the word!” Once again, Negro, please!
This is foolishness..the N word can never be positive. Thats like me hanging nooses and saying, “I was just trying to hang nooses to take the sting out of what it meanss” GIve me a break! Black folks look for ANY reason to stay ignorant
Let’s see Kanye and 50 used their little beef to create a buzz for their albums. Jay-Z is doing his whole American Gangster movie thing to garner attention. Then comes Nas–sitting at home with chlamydia and crazy Kelis, thinking to himself “What has happened to me and my career. I haven’t put out a solid album in years. I need something big, something real big. Oooo I know…”
@AND.. You betta believe that I don’t go for that “nigger” shit and all the children in my family know it too, because no one in my immediate family will stand for it!
@Avery
ROFLMAO!! Right on, Brother/Sister!!
@Avery,
You are right Nas us trying to salvage his career on the backs of Blacks. Isn’t that a form of prostitution?
SMDH..Our ancestors were beaten, raped, tortured, and murdered while being called the “N” word…you can’t take the power, the pain or the sting out of that word! The fact that Nas thinks it’s okay to label his album with such a painful word proves to me he had no idea what it means to be a “real man” because to me a “real man” is Martin Luther King Jr. If he were alive today could Nas stand toe to toe with him and look him in his eyes and call him a N****r and think it would have no sting!!
Sparkle
SMDH..Our ancestors were beaten, raped, tortured, and murdered while being called the “N” word…you can’t take the power, the pain or the sting out of that word! The fact that Nas thinks it’s okay to label his album with such a painful word proves to me he had no idea what it means to be a “real man” because to me a “real man” is Martin Luther King Jr. If he were alive today could Nas stand toe to toe with him and look him in his eyes and call him a N****r and think it would have no sting!!
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I wonder how the rap game would be period if Martin Luther King Jr. were still alive. Don’t you?
when will we ever move pass this word, as black people. Yea, I know some yt people say it and think it everyday, but we need to let it go, and let others know that we have grown as a culture and the N word is just that a word. By naming this cd Nigger, lets ignorant people know that, that word can still hurt us. There is more of a struggle going on in our black community that stems very far from the word Nigger. Nas needs to focus on putting something positive out there for young black men, teaching them how to be family men, respectful men, working men.
NAS is a rapper. An entertainer. Nothing more, nothing less. He’s not a fuckin’ prophet or a civil rights leader, so don’t take him so goddamn serious.
He’s got a lot of you fools up in arms over a mere demonstration of free speech. As with any other form of entertainment, you can choose to pay attention, or not. Your choice. But he doesn’t speak for a nation of blacks - he speaks to “his” people (and THEY know who they are).
Bravo Nasir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WTF?? **SMH** This is the problem, Nas.. The disconnect between the young and old. This just shows why discussion and interaction between the two groups is necessary instead of the both sides pointing the finger at each other. And please explain to me how the word “nigger” stings? It doesn’t sting Nas, it fuckin’ burns.. That was the last word a lot of black people heard before they were fuckin’ lynched and beaten to death. That word is associated with so much pain, you’re blessed Nas, to be where you are because people chose to believe the latter and that they weren’t “niggers” they human-fuckin’ beings and deserved to be treated as such. Please don’t diminish it. And because you have the knowledge of the civil rights movement and the struggle behind it, you should do your friends a huge favor and school them on that, since it’s a fuckin’ shame men your age don’t know who the fuck Medgar Evers is and that he laid down his fuckin’ life them. I don’t care what the fuck you say on wax, the word Nigga/Nigger is not o.k. to be used by anyone. You’re kidding yourself if you think your going to be able to take the power away from that word. Please believe that if a white person called you that you would be all over that mofo with the quickness.
You have good intentions, Nas. They’re just misguided.
Some of you are hypocrites. You’ve used that word since you were young. Why are you mad now? Did you boycott Dick Gregory? Did you boycott Quentin Tarentino or Martin Scorcese or any other Director/Actor that incorprates that word in their movie dialogue? Did you care? Why do you care now? Do you think this album is honestly going to get pushed by the label? There’s a lot of risk involved with this type of controversy–it’s a high possibility that it won’t be sold in Walmart (biggest CD seller). It’s all just publicity huh? Nas don’t need the money, his rep is already solidified, so what is he really gaining? You answer those questions first then I’ll consider your arguments
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Exactly….
We not only need to move past the word Nigger but we also need to move past the whole Noose thing. Yeah it happened and yes it brings back memories of hate and slavery and all that but as long as white people know that we are sensitive to it, they know they have the power to make us react. Personally, if I saw a noose hanging somewhere, i could ignore it and that’s that. People who hang nooses and call us nigger are just ignorant and only do it because they know it will spark some type of controversy and also make us “angry”. So, in doing that, they have accomplished what they set out to do because we don’t know how to just let it go. We need to focus on moving forward. As long as we let things of the past affect us then the same way we do now we will always, in a sense, be living in the past. I’m by no means saying we should forget about our history in this country but we need to focus on the present issues. Black families are still broken. Our black men are still being locked up. We are still killing each other. Too many black kids, and not to mention some parents, cannot speak proper english and think slang is ok. What about all that? This is what Cosby is trying to bring to the forefront so that hopefully we will wake up. I’m frustrated because I don’t think it is hard for us to change some of the issues we have. I just feel like we are too damn lazy and too quick to blame everyone else!! Have a great weekend and wake the f&ck up!!!!!
What in the nigger loving shit is this hhahahahahhahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa??? NAS! MY MAN MY MAN!!!!!!
helltothanaw
WTF?? **SMH** This is the problem, Nas.. The disconnect between the young and old. This just shows why discussion and interaction between the two groups is necessary instead of the both sides pointing the finger at each other.
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After just reading this it really hit me that this is what we are doing. The olders ones Oprah, Bill, Jesse, etc are blaming us and we are pointing the finger right back at them instead of trying to understand each other. I will never know what it is like to be told I am not allowed into a restroom or denied an education b/c of my color. NO ONE IN MY GENERATION WILL (I’m 22) but on the flip side the older generation doesn’t know how hard it is to survive today. They say “at least you can go to school, when I was young they put me the fields to work” we say in response, “yeah I can go but the books are out dated and falling apart, people are bring knives and guns to school, people are trying to beat me up, and on top of all that the teacher treats me like shit”. We all come from the same place now we need to get on the same side.
Hypothetically speaking,
What if Dr. Martin luther King Jr. had Nas’ mentality on the subject. I hated to desecrate this speech in this fashion spo please forgive me. I am making a point.
I Have a Dream (v.2007)
A Nigga has a dream
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Nigger slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Nigger still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Nigger is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Nigger lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Nigger is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition…
… A Nigga has a dream , down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little nigga boys and nigga girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers…
A Nigga has a dream
…And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, niggas and crackas, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Nigger spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
Wow Nas is sounding real ignorant. Nas you are NO Cornel West. I thought you tried to elevate rap music,but I see not.
Sad.
I guess I’m not understanding Nas’ point. It seems to me that the word is already too “easy on the ears” of a lot of young people these days. I often hear it used with impugnity and without regard to context by those who claim to be innured to the word’s sting. That is, until someone who is not of their race or peer group decides to use it publicly or directs it at them. But in order for the word to truly lose its shock value, that would necessarily require that use of the word no longer be in the exclusive domain of one group. In the commercial marketplace of ideas, are we yet ready for Toby Keith album titled “Nigger?”
@ AND…
You are sooo right. I’m 5 years older than you and understand exactly where you’re coming from with the issues that we faced coming up in school with the educational system crumbling right before our eyes.
Richard Pryor on the word “Nigger”
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fEVmAbxC14g
Newsflash Nas…the “taking it back” movement already happened. And guess what, it didn’t work.
See told ya!
@M.DOT Please read my reply to MSABAGODA.
Also….
What you fail to understand is that you cannot tell people to get over something that has such a deep, violent history. You can’t isolate it in a bubble and examine it. It just doesn’t work that way! Like it or not it is a part of our history; a negative part. And like all negative things in our life they must be dealt with. Get past it? HOW? By ignoring it? Yeah, that works. Psychiatrists’ offices are FULL of people who tried that method. You say we should focus on “moving forward” and ” the present issues”. Well present issues are born from past actions. They go hand in hand. The state of Black America today is entrenched in the Black America yesterday, starting from slavery. So in order for us to “wake the fuck up”, we have to deal with what put us to sleep in the first place. And by the sheer fact that the word “nigger” is used by people as a “greeting” or term of endearment”, proves that we still have alot of dealing to do.
Taking the sting out of it.
1st Black man: “Hey man, why are you, whipping me, spraying me with high pressure water, letting your dogs bite me, discriminating against me, calling me a nigga, calling our women hoes, murdering my brothas…”
2nd Black man: “I’m taking the power from the crackas. I’m making it sting less.”
KKK man #1: “I guess we need to go to the unemployment office. Were out of a job”
KKK man #2: “Or we can pull up a chair and watch these dumb niggas kill each other for us first.”
Oct 19, 2007 - 1:06 pm Andie
Newsflash Nas…the “taking it back” movement already happened. And guess what, it didn’t work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cosign!
Gone head Mr. Jones
“Right now, we’re on a whole new movement. We’re taking power from that word.”
That is all…….
Let somebody call Nasir’s daughter a nigga. I bet he’ll be humming a different tune; tombout he taking the sting out of the word…..
Nas you are one of the greatest MCs in hip hip so stop trying to be so desperate to stay relevant. I understand that being a conscious rapper doesn’t give you the ends that a lot of these ignorant rappers make an easy buck off of…but please…I have too much respect for you to be going in the direction of unoriginal sell out road.
Bahama Mama, can you be more elaborate? You quote what he says but you don’t explain exactly HOW the “sting” is being removed. Am I to assume that if your children were called niggers by their classmates that you would be “un-stung”?
Chile, pleez!
I have to agree with Harlem Chic. I know what he is trying to do but the word isn’t what is harmful. It’s the thought process behind it and that is what he need to be battling.
T.I. DENIED BAIL
@ Richie
when bossip posted this when it first came out that his album was gonna be called Nigga, I said that words are just words, while I understand the meaning and the hurt behind them, they are only as powerful as u let them become.
I’m not blessed with kids yet but I’d try my hardest to teach them that same way of thinking..Words can’t hurt you…only if u let them.
I am not a big Nas fan, but he is DEFINATELY on point. The word Nigga only means something because WE GIVE IT POWER!!! Just like the word BITCH!!! Women have taken the power out of that word. Now you can be a SUCCESSFUL Bitch, a DUMB bitch, a SMART bitch or otherwise. Women even call themselves or each other that because MOST of the time a man calls you a bitch because you are successfull without him or you won’t give him what he wants. Either way….WE WIN LMAO!!!
Bahama Mama,
I understand that, but my question was not about what you would teach your children. My question was how the word would affect YOU if your children were called nigger. No sting? At all?
this will never happen, ever. I can’t imagine people saying “yo’ go get that new nigger album” it just wont happen
And… wrote:
“I will never know what it is like to be told I am not allowed into a restroom or denied an education b/c of my color. NO ONE IN MY GENERATION WILL (I’m 22) but on the flip side the older generation doesn’t know how hard it is to survive today.”
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Why wouldn’t we know? We ain’t dead yet. You say you will never know what it’s like to be denied the use of a public restroom or a decent education because of your color, but I’ll bet you’d know exactly how to react if a white man called you a nigger to your face.
And besides that….a lot you you all went to predominantly BLACK schools I assume because you all mention if Nas’ daughter was called a Nigger he would probably react differently. But I grew up around ALL white people and ALL white schools up until High School out here in L.A. with more Latino/Mexicans and I was NEVER called a nigger until I hung around my own people. Sadly, I have adopted the word, but refrain from using it unless I am describing a REALLY IGNORANT PERSON because that it what I was taught all my life to mean on top of the fact that I have 2 little black boys whom I don’t want to get the idea that that is what they are because I fight hard for their educations.
@Oh effing Pleeze,
I know plenty of women who do NOT feel empowered by the word bitch and would whoop your ass if you called them one. I’m sure that your mother would not appreciate it either. I know mine wouldn’t.
I’ll wait until I hear the first single to see what kind of message he is trying to send before I pass judgment merely based on an offensive “word”. Nas isn’t like a Young Joc, Jeezy or Lil’ Wayne so I will give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
Shame on Nas for using the hardships of Blacks in this world for publicity to sell a few records so he and Kelis can go around acting like Niggers.
I lost all respect for him.
Idiot. Any black still using words such as Nigger or trying to be a nigger is a loser.
Im disgusted.
Kdogg
Hypothetically speaking,
What if Dr. Martin luther King Jr. had Nas’ mentality on the subject. I hated to desecrate this speech in this fashion spo please forgive me. I am making a point.
I Have a Dream (v.2007)
A Nigga has a dream
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Nigger slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Nigger still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Nigger is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Nigger lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Nigger is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition…
… A Nigga has a dream , down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little nigga boys and nigga girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers…
A Nigga has a dream
…And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, niggas and crackas, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Nigger spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
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Its useless trying to get through some of these people. They want to defend everything black, no matter how wrong it is.
And as for your second comment, I for one, was not brought up in a predominantly Black school. What has THAT got to do with anything? The word is foul regardless of WHO says it. And YES, if Nas’ daughter was called a nigger, he would be “stung”.
Richie
Nope, not me it wouldn’t it sting. And that’s real talk
Maybe we should start naming our kids Bitch, Hoe, and Nigger.
That way anytime someone called them that they would not be calling them out of their name
@ole school in response to:
Why wouldn’t we know? We ain’t dead yet. You say you will never know what it’s like to be denied the use of a public restroom or a decent education because of your color, but I’ll bet you’d know exactly how to react if a white man called you a nigger to your face.
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I’ve been called a nigger to my face by white men and women and 50,000+ people didn’t have to come march for me b/c me and some of my girlfriends went back and whooped their asses. Tyler Perry said it best in Family Reunion. “It’s not what people call you it’s what you answer to.” Anyone can call me whatever they want. I am not now, nor have I ever been, nor will I ever be a NIGGER, NIGGA, OR NIGGAH so when people call me something that does not apply to me I simply look around and ask “Who are you talking to?”
And, why do “some” younger people keep thinking they invented the wheel. Black folks have been using the word nigger amongst themselves for generations. The distinction is that we always had the good sense to keep it between “us,” and did not seek to exploit it commercially the way some rappers and comedians do today.
And black folks are not the only people on the planet to have a long, hurtful history with pejoratives directed against them. Amongst others, I’ve heard Polish people call themselves Polacks and Italians call themselves wop and guinea, but they don’t attempt to elevate these derisive terms to a commercial artform while simultaneously complaining when others want to join in on the “fun.”
Bossip are yall changing formats again??
WTF STOP IT & GO BACK TO THE FUGMONSTER WESLEY SNIPES MUG SHOT DAY’S!!!!
richie
@Oh effing Pleeze,
I know plenty of women who do NOT feel empowered by the word bitch and would whoop your ass if you called them one. I’m sure that your mother would not appreciate it either. I know mine wouldn’t.
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Co-signing 10000000%. My grandmother, sister, or niece wouldn’t like it either.
And… why would you and your girlfriends need to whup anybody’s ass for calling you nigger if the word has no power?
@Bahama Mama
Yep, thats what everyone wants to believe, until it actually happens to them. So forgive me if I don’t quite believe you. But you know what? Good for you! If you are that solid with it, then AMEN! But I’ll say it again; your experience and mindset is different from others. Some have been oppressed all their lives and that word is just another stab to the heart. Not everyone is as emotionally evolved as you, BM. MOST people that I know and have met casually DO NOT like the word. Even if they USE the word, they would still fight if “the wrong person” said it in “the wrong way”. So consider yourself a unicorn in a world of black horses.
And I am STILL calling BULLSHIT on Nas.
@ole school
In response to:
And, why do “some” younger people keep thinking they invented the wheel. Black folks have been using the word nigger amongst themselves for generations. The distinction is that we always had the good sense to keep it between “us,” and did not seek to exploit it commercially the way some rappers and comedians do today.
And black folks are not the only people on the planet to have a long, hurtful history with pejoratives directed against them. Amongst others, I’ve heard Polish people call themselves Polacks and Italians call themselves wop and guinea, but they don’t attempt to elevate these derisive terms to a commercial artform while simultaneously complaining when others want to join in on the “fun.”
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I don’t know why “some” younger people act the way they do. I am amongst them but I do not speak for them. You should direct that question to those who do feel that way. Also I completely agree with the rest of your post. What you allow your family and friends to call you is fine. I have a problem with the black people who “assume” it’s okay to label me with certain derogatory words simply b/c I am a “sistah.” As if it is a compliment to be called the N-word, bitch, or hoe. Like you, I don’t understand.
@ole school in response to:
And… why would you and your girlfriends need to whup anybody’s ass for calling you nigger if the word has no power?
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If you go back and read my first two posts you will see that I am one of the people on here that agrees the word does and always will have power.
@M.DOT…I AGREE WITH YOUR POINT, I WENT TO AN ALL WHITE HIGH SCHOOL, OUT OF MY GRADUATING CLASS OF 300+ STUDENTS THERE WERE 3 BLACKS (INCLUDING MYSELF) AM I GOING TO SAY NO ONE EVER CALLED ME A NIGGER, MADE REMARKS ABOUT THE SIDE OF TOWN I LIVED ON OR TRIED TO SNEAK IN LIL JOKES ON THE COOL…NAW, THAT STUFF HAPPENED TO ME, BUT THE THING THAT WOULD TRIP PEOPLE OUT WAS THAT THEY COULDN’T SHAKE ME. I WOULD LOOK AT THEM LIKE THEY HAD LOST THEIR MINDS AND KEEP STEPPING. WHY WOULD I ACT A FOOL AND BEHAVE EXACTLY HOW THEY WANTED/EXPECTED ME TO? THEY WANT TO CALL ME A NIGGA, I SHOWED THEM ABOUT A NIGGA, I WENT TO COLLEGE, LAW SCHOOL AND NOW IM ONE OF ABOUT 5 BLACK ATTORNEYS IN ONE OF THE LARGEST LAW FIRMS IN THE CITY…NIGGA MY ASS. ACTIONS SPEAK MUCH LOUDER THAN WORDS
MSABOGADA
@M.DOT…I AGREE WITH YOUR POINT, I WENT TO AN ALL WHITE HIGH SCHOOL, OUT OF MY GRADUATING CLASS OF 300+ STUDENTS THERE WERE 3 BLACKS (INCLUDING MYSELF) AM I GOING TO SAY NO ONE EVER CALLED ME A NIGGER, MADE REMARKS ABOUT THE SIDE OF TOWN I LIVED ON OR TRIED TO SNEAK IN LIL JOKES ON THE COOL…NAW, THAT STUFF HAPPENED TO ME, BUT THE THING THAT WOULD TRIP PEOPLE OUT WAS THAT THEY COULDN’T SHAKE ME. I WOULD LOOK AT THEM LIKE THEY HAD LOST THEIR MINDS AND KEEP STEPPING. WHY WOULD I ACT A FOOL AND BEHAVE EXACTLY HOW THEY WANTED/EXPECTED ME TO? THEY WANT TO CALL ME A NIGGA, I SHOWED THEM ABOUT A NIGGA, I WENT TO COLLEGE, LAW SCHOOL AND NOW IM ONE OF ABOUT 5 BLACK ATTORNEYS IN ONE OF THE LARGEST LAW FIRMS IN THE CITY…NIGGA MY ASS. ACTIONS SPEAK MUCH LOUDER THAN WORDS
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I applaud you on your self control and discipline. This is exactly what I’m talking about with only answering to what applies to you. AND…then some people say we have no positive black leaders or good black men. Why not? You are! You are a leader whether you know it or not. You are an example of Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream manifested into reality. I congratulate you.
Nas is prolific? Nas needs to sit his stupid ass down and shut the fuck up.
I don’t even like to post words like that, but it is so sad to see so many people sounding like they support this title. I truly hope it is a hoax, but I feel for anyone who thinks that society will ever see the “N” word as something as strength.
People, please wake up. Stop helping to upgrade a word that was used to degrade your ancestors.
To the person who went back with some girlfriends and beat up someone that called you the “N” word …
Have you heard of Jena 6? They beat someone up to. What happened to them. Wake up from your ignorance, little girl.
Ole school, please school the fool.
This boy is foolish. He has to stoop this low to sell records. And to think I thought his talent was enough. Clearly not the case. I am officially over him and his wife. I intend to write Def Jam and I encourage other too as well to stop this and/or boycott the album. This boy is just beyond stupid and so is the record label. Sell your soul and degrade yourself, your people and ancestors to sell albums. I ask all YFB’ers to joing. YFB you asked us to stop racism again Jenna 6 so you know know better. Let’s all get together and stop Nas. Seems he is the one who needs the educating.
The really sad thing is that we argue with one another on what to say with one another. Inside our community if we want to say nigger or nigga we should be able to say it.
I was raised in Richmond, VA. We don’t use the word around white people and we take offense to hearing it pass their lips. Always have and always will.
The really sad part of this discussion is at it’s root it starts with black people arguing over something a white man said.
We would not be discussing the word nigga so much if some white man had not said something disrespectful about one of our women.
other white people called us hypocrites for using the word amongst ourselves but taking offense when it is used against us.
Ingorant assed black folks listen up. If Italians can whip you ass for calling them a wop or other derogatory word it’s ok. Just white folks getting you niggas to turn on one another.
Whether you are an educated nigga or ignorant nigga …to argue with other black people for the use oth the word then you surely are the nigga we all hate ….the overseer!
@ versace
No, you don’t see Spanish people saying “spic” to each other because Spanish people are from Spain and they are white.
Now if you meant “Hispanic” or Latino people, you don’t see them calling each other Spic either because now they too are calling each other “nigga”. Especially Nuyuricans who have been calling themselves nigga for a few years now.
@MSABOGADA
Nobody’s talking about “acting a fool”. We are talking about the word’s “power”.
It’s interesting. You say “THEY WANT TO CALL ME A NIGGA, I SHOWED THEM ABOUT A NIGGA”. So what was it that put that extra puff of steam into your engine so that you “showed them”? I’m not saying you weren’t industrious to begin with, but it seems to me that there was some power in that word to make you even MORE determined. How you channeled it is great but not the point. The power/sting of the word is the issue.
To the people who don’t frquent majority black neighborhoods and were not raised in one you must remember that you are not representative of most of black America.
In other words ..sit your silly assed non pork eating self on down when grown forlks are talking.
No one in LA if one Mexican calls another a Beaner.
Nigga Pleaze!!!! LOL!!
MJB’s #1 Fan
Nas is prolific? Nas needs to sit his stupid ass down and shut the fuck up.
I don’t even like to post words like that, but it is so sad to see so many people sounding like they support this title. I truly hope it is a hoax, but I feel for anyone who thinks that society will ever see the “N” word as something as strength.
People, please wake up. Stop helping to upgrade a word that was used to degrade your ancestors.
To the person who went back with some girlfriends and beat up someone that called you the “N” word …
Have you heard of Jena 6? They beat someone up to. What happened to them. Wake up from your ignorance, little girl.
Ole school, please school the fool.
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You should go back and read the ENTIRE posts before you come on her trying to tell someone else what to to do. What I typed was an example of what I wouldn’t do just b/c someone called me a N-. This is why our people are like this. Read and then comment. PLEASE!
@ AND
You say our ancestors were raped, beaten, and tortured being called that word.
Hell, you don’t have to go back that far. Tell that to that young woman in West Virginia. She was “raped, beaten, & tortured” at the same time being called that word and the just happened last month.
Educated nigga???
I’m an educated Black man. I’ve never been a nigga. I don’t acknowledge anyone that calls me one, Black or White. I admit to having used it on this site for emphasis, but I never use it in public even as a “term of endearment.” Why is it so hard to just stop using it? If black people stopped using it, I would be able to count on one hand how many times I’ve heard a white person say it.
@Just a thought…
I wasn’t the one who posted that although I agree with whoever did and I also co-sign with you.
Ok, the word is not a good one…most of you agree with that. The word is used in many things like music,movies, and books…some of you agree that also needs to change. The word is just that a word and it will in no way determine who I am as a person or degrade me b/c I first know who I am as a person..
Most of