When it was announced last year that NaS was tentaively naming his ninth studio album ‘Nigger’ a minor shitstorm started brewing. Would studio executives dare tempt the wrath of AL SHARPTON (read: major corporate sponsors) and allow NaS the artistic freedom to title his album in such a controversial manner?
There has been no shortage of debate on the use of the word. I just wish that someone would ask me about the origins of the term for a plowman. People still miss the mark on why this term was offensive in the first place. The fact that it descibes someone’s caste or station in society is why it is derogatory. It was used to tell people that no matter how much education they acquired, or how much property and wealth they secured they would still be viewed as a dispensable commodity. That was certainly an insult to anyone who held a degree or owned a business. And even more insulting to someone with dignity, even if they were sharecropping.
Right before the release of his latest album, which coincidentally no longer bears any name, NaS has released the ‘Nigger’ mixtape. Along with DJ Green Lantern, NaS takes us on a journey which expresses the ‘N’ word throughout pop culture. From comedians who have used the word to describe their freedom to comedians who use it to limit your freedom. Not since N.W.A. have I heard the ‘N’ word used in almost every possible connotation.
Green Lantern deserves some of the credit for the success of this mixtape album. Where NaS has faltered throughout his career has been in his selection of the music that has backgrounded his vocals. This mixtape holds some of the grittiest rap production that I have heard in a long time. Its filled with triumphant boom bap head nod rap beats. I almost wish this mixtape was recorded to a Maxell metal casette. I would listen to it on my Walkman with my broken headphones that were repaired with scotch tape.
There’s been some great Hip-Hop already released this summer. Whether NaS new album matches the momentum he has already established I will definitely bump the ‘Nigger’ mixtape all summer. You should too.
Get your free copy here – NaS ‘Nigger’ mixtape
my only complaint is it was too damn short. Nas has me salivating for more (||)…which is a good thing, cuz I haven’t bought a rap ablum in a minute and I will most definately be prurchasing this nameless joint.
Is it just me, or is that joint “Hero” the best rap song I have heard in years?
As a true school Queens native, it makes me proud that Nas is stilling going in hard.
hero needs to be played as loud as possible from coast to caost.
Lil Wayne sold 900k+ units last week? So effin glad I left the music game in ’04. Truly living in The Age Of Ignorance.
links dead 🙁
But yeah, the Nigger Album bangs (none.)
I just spoke to my peoples at OnSmash. The link should be live again any minute.
love that cover folk
best tape of the year?
…
im not gonna go in [||] like that just yet, but its a real good listen… i bumped it on the train for a hour today
Agrees to every word in the sentence of your quotes.
Chiming in from the Left coast to second everything DP just wrote.
The album makes you remember how and why we got into real hip hop many moons ago.
It’s so refreshing. It’s going to be hard to go back to listening to the subject-less or subject-lite music we get 9 out of 10 these days.
>>I almost wish this mixtape was recorded to a Maxell metal casette.
Cosign.
Hip Hop has been resurrected!!
“Felonious Thelonius Monk…”
That #2 beat is the smash killer fly dookie. It is too damn short. The Nigger Album better be at least as dope as this.
Im feelin his joint wit stic man .. guilty by association, anyone know what movie the intro’s from; is that will smith talkin
i told you that shit was dope, fam.
Well executed mixtape on the real. Can’t wait for the LP to leak…I mean drop.
One.
Yeah that joint is crazy hot, but kinda short (Reminds me another Nas album, hmm…..).
But I’m surprised you gave props to Latern since his beats are weak. The “Be A Nigger Too Remix” wack compared to the regular version, same for the joint that has the verse from “Everything I Love” Other than that, this nigga Nas might be his way to making a true classic. That is, if this mixtape is any indicator.
link dead.
alternative:
http://rapidshare.com/files/121384642/Nas_and_DJ_Green_Lantern_-_The_Nigger_Tape.rar
I love the way they ended the mixtape with Pryor drop.
I love Dead Prez, but I’m not feeling their cut together.