Nas' ninth studio album

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 This article contains information about a scheduled or expected future album.
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Album
The "N"
The "N" cover
Studio album by Nas
Released July 15, 2008
Genre Hardcore hip hop, East Coast hip hop
Label The Jones Experience/Def Jam/Columbia
Producer The Alchemist,[1] will.i.am,[2] Jermaine Dupri,[3] Salaam Remi,[4] DJ Toomp,[5] Diddy & The Hitmen,[6] No I.D., Mark Ronson, Stargate,[7] DJ Khalil[8] Polow Da Don,[9] Jay Electronica,[10] Jake One,[11] Cool & Dre,[12] DJ Khaled, stic.man
Nas chronology
Greatest Hits
(2007)		 Nas' ninth studio album
(2008)
Singles from Nas' ninth studio album
  1. "Be a Nigger Too"
    Released: April 20, 2008
  2. "Hero"

American rapper Nas' untitled ninth studio album is tentatively set for release on July 15, 2008.[13]

Contents

[edit] Background and responses

The original title of the album, Nigger, was mentioned by Nas several times, as well as on an October 12, 2007 performance at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City where he announced the title and release date, both confirmed by Haider Abed. Def Jam Recordings made no comment on the title.[14][15] This was similar to attempts to name his 2006 album—eventually titled Hip Hop Is Dead—both "Nigga" and "Hip Hop Is Dead...The N". On May 19, 2008, it was confirmed that Nas changed the name of the album to an untitled one, stating that "the people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it."[16]

Fort Greene, Brooklyn assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries requested New York's Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to withdraw $84 million from the state pension fund that has been invested into Universal and its parent company, Vivendi, if the album's title isn't changed. Universal has not made a response.[17]

L.A. Reid, chairman of Def Jam Records, has confirmed that Def Jam fully backs Nas and his decision on naming his album.[18] The album's title has received support from Jay-Z, Bishop Lamont, Alicia Keys, LL Cool J, Rev Run, Common, Akon, Method Man, Lupe Fiasco, David Banner, GZA, and Melle Mel.[19][20] The title "Nigger" came under fire from Reverend Jesse Jackson and the NAACP.

Nas is said to release a mixtape with DJ Green Lantern titled "The Nigger Tape" sometime soon.[21]

The cover for the album was released to the internet at the end of May 2008. The cover is a prominent image of Nas with his back to the shot, he has 'whip lashes' down his back in the shape of a giant 'N' to represent the original title of the album.[22]

The first official single of the album is "Hero", which was leaked to the internet in June 2008.[23][24]

[edit] Production and guest appearances

Production for the album is said to include The Alchemist, Jermaine Dupri, Salaam Remi, will.i.am, DJ Khaled, DJ Khalil, DJ Toomp, (Diddy &) The Hitmen, No I.D., Stargate, Polow Da Don, Jay Electronica, Jake One, Cool & Dre, stic.man of Dead Prez, and possibly MF Doom.

Guest appearances confirmed by Nas to be on the album are newcomer Jay Electronica,[10] Dead Prez, Rick Ross, and The Lox.[25]

[edit] Leaked songs

The song, "Be a Nigger Too", was leaked onto the internet on April 20, 2008.[26] The song includes numerous racist epithets in addition to the one mentioned in its title.[27] On May 19, 2008 a new song leaked titled "N.I.G.G.E.R." also was leaked online.[28] On June 5, 2008, the track titled "Black President" was leaked online and will appear on the Nigger Mixtape. The song samples a line from 2Pac's Changes. This was followed by official first single according to defjam.com "Hero" produced by Polow Da Don. Another song was leaked on June 7, 2008 called "Fried Chicken", by it's producer Mark Ronson on his radio show.

[edit] Track listing

Title Producer(s) Featured guest(s) Time
"Be a Nigger Too" Salaam Remi 3:16
"N.I.G.G.E.R." DJ Toomp 4:36
"Sly Fox"[12] stic.man of Dead Prez
"The Fear"[7]
"This Is Not America"[12] Stargate
"Project Roach"[25] No I.D.
"Y'all My Niggers"[25]
"America's Top Brothel"[29] stic.man of Dead Prez
"Fried Chicken" Mark Ronson Busta Rhymes
"Hero"[30] Polow da Don Keri Hilson 4:04
"My Legacy" Polow da Don
"What It Is"[31] DJ Khalil

[edit] References

  1. ^ Urb Magazine :: Features :: Niggardly Nas
  2. ^ Urb Magazine :: Features :: Niggardly Nas
  3. ^ Reign (October 22, 2007). Jermaine Dupri To Produce Majority Of New Nas Album Def Sounds. Accessed October 22, 2007.
  4. ^ Shaheem Reid. Mixtape Monday: Nas Talks About 'Crazy Joint' With Jay-Z; Wu-Tang Delay LP For Ghostface's Sake MTV News. Accessed October 22, 2007.
  5. ^ Henry Adaso (October 19, 2007). It's Official, Nas to Release Nigger in December About.com. Accessed October 19, 2007
  6. ^ Kenny Rodriguez (October 19, 2007). Nas’ New LP Titled ‘Nigger’ Draws Controversy NobodySmilling.com . Accessed October 19, 2007
  7. ^ a b Shaheem Reid (November 29, 2007). Nas Exclusive: MC Reveals Details, Song Titles From Controversial Upcoming LP MTV News. Accessed December 1, 2007.
  8. ^ (February 23, 2008). Nas "What It Is" first listen DailyMotion.com . Accessed February 24, 2008
  9. ^ Shaheem Reid and Jayson Rodriguez (February 25, 2008). Lil Wayne, 50 Cent Deny Beef; Nas Keeps DJ Khaled, Jermaine Dupri In Suspense About New LP: Mixtape Monday. MTV News. Accessed March 6, 2008
  10. ^ a b Aliya Ewing (March 29, 2008). Nas Big Ups Jay Electronica. HipHopDX. Access March 29, 2008.
  11. ^ Andreas Hale (April 1, 2008). Little Brother, Freeway, Young Buck & MF Doom On One Album?. HipHopDX. Access April 2, 2008)
  12. ^ a b c http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7287/nasniggermf9.jpg
  13. ^ http://www.rap-up.com/2008/06/08/the-game-moves-lax-to-july-15/
  14. ^ Shaheem Reid (October 13, 2007). Nas Reveals Controversial Title Of New LP At NYC Gig MTV News. Accessed October 15, 2007.
  15. ^ Hillary Crosley (October 15, 2007). Nas Selects N-Word For New Album Title Billboard. Accessed October 15, 2007.
  16. ^ AllHipHop.com Daily News - : Nas Issues Statement Regarding 'N****r' Name Change
  17. ^ Black widow (October 5, 2007). Update: Universal Told To Change The Title Of Nas’ ‘N-Word’ Album Or Lose $84 Million Six Shot. Accessed April 20, 2008.
  18. ^ Shaheem Reid (October 22, 2007). L.A. Reid Stands 'Firmly Behind' Nas Over LP Title MTV News. Accessed October 22, 2007.
  19. ^ AllHipHop.com Interview with Melle Mel about Nigger title
  20. ^ Shaheem Reid (November 1, 2007). Nas' Album Title Gets Support From Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Bishop Lamont, LL Cool J, GZA, Reverend Run, David Banner MTV News. Accessed November 1, 2007.
  21. ^ Nas and DJ Green Lantern To Release 'N*gger Tape'.
  22. ^ Nas 'Untitled' Album Cover
  23. ^ Nas' First Single - "Hero"
  24. ^ Nas' Defjam Page For "Hero"
  25. ^ a b c Shaheem Reid (May 14, 2008). Nas Previews Controversial Album For MTV News: 'I'm Here To Rap About What I Feel' MTV News. Accessed May 15, 2008.
  26. ^ Nas: "Be A Nigger Too". VIBE.com (2008-04-21). Retrieved on 2008-04-21.
  27. ^ Reid, Shaheem (2008-04-21). Nas Amps Up Controversy Over Forthcoming LP With Racial-Epithet-Spewing New Track. MTV News. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  28. ^ Nah Right » Blog Archive » Nas - N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave & The Master)
  29. ^ Urb Magazine :: Features :: Niggardly Nas
  30. ^ "Hero" Review
  31. ^ DJ Khalil Speaks On "Detox" And "Nigger" | Hip Hop News > HipHopDX.com
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