Good Afternoon on this hot and hazy day, a while back when I first got word of rapper Nas’s new album, which he was planning to title “Nigger”, I posted an article expressing my disapproval and utter disgust with Nas’s choice in album names. However, it has been brought to my attention that the name has been changed, nevertheless, still gracing the line of controversy, but in a less blatant way.
Recently Nas has released a video for his latest single off the LP entitled, “Too be a Nigger too”. Today I watched the video and tried to bypass the title and depict the obvious message Nas was trying to relay. Immediately I was intrigued by his two-minute intro, (which extended the video to 8 minutes and 39 seconds), with its pre-recorded voiceovers of people questioning the abandonment of the word from the Black vocabulary. Through well thought out bars of praise and to the black community and black people Nas’s song seems to be a heart filled ballot about the struggles and the detachment people feel toward their inner “ Nigger”. Although I do not agree with his choice of slang, I do comprehend the message that he is trying to relay behind the word. Personally, I do not think that he is asking us to agree, rather to understand where he is coming from.
Nas appears to have transformed into a left wing activist as his chorus taunts all those who are of African descent (which is a majority of the world) saying, “I am a Nigger, he’s a Nigger, she’s a Nigger, we some niggers, wouldn’t you like to be a nigger too?” He illustrates the life of his so-called “nigger” while carefully incorporating all the aspects of those who do not consider themselves “niggers” or part of the black community. It is obvious that only the intellectual audience will be able to decipher an accurate and positive message from this song and video; however, Nas definitely opened the doors for viewers and their criticism, be it negative or positive.
I got a copy of the video check it out and let me know your take on things. Is this video going to get airplay? Is this a positive act that should be commended? On the other hand, has Nas lost his mind? Leave your comments. Peace, GlamDot.
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