Though Nas's ninth album is due for release on July 1, it will no longer be titled "Nigger". It seems that the controversial name has finally been shelved, after almost a year of high-strung, back-and-forthing between Nas and everyone under the sun.
There were rumours in late 2007 that the album was to be retitled while public pressure was at a fever pitch, and Nas's label, Island Def Jam, was understood to be capitulating. However, label chairman Antonio "LA" Reid became an unlikely white knight, announcing that "Anything Nas wants to do, I completely stand beside him ... with pride and with pleasure."
The commotion had since cooled, until an interview last week when Nas indicated that pressures had once again reared their heads. "Everybody is trying to stop the title," he told MTV. "Record stores are gonna have a problem in this day and time selling a record with that title. Who knows what's gonna turn out and be on that title?"
Clearly Nas or his label has finally had enough of the controversy, making what they described as an "eleventh hour" decision to scrap the inflammatory title.
The album will simply be called Nas instead. We're relieved to report that this does not appear to be a racial slur - but then again, we're hardly experts. Hopefully, Nas has done his research.
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