The N-word? You mean...Nas?!?

Photo by: Jazmin$Million

After unilaterally proclaiming hip hop dead with his 2006 LP, Queens rapper Nas is taking it to the next level on his upcoming album, which he wants to title "Nigger". CNN got his two cents on the Grammy red carpet, where Nas wore a t-shirt emblazoned with the controversial adjective. His wife, R'n'B singer Kelis, also wore a "Nigger" shirt, though hers was more discretely adorned with the slur across the back.

"The meaning of the word is supposed to be ignorant," Nas explained to CNN's Brooke Anderson, "so there is money being made off us poor so-called ignorant people. No longer are black people niggers. Today it's also me and you."

We all know the n-word gets bandied around left and right in rap lyrics. It's about time someone in hip hop gave it center-stage. Evidently the chairman of Island Def Jam, "L.A." Reid, isn't so sure.

The Beatles had their "white" album. Jay had his "black" album. Why shouldn't Nas up the ante with the “n-word” album?

First of all, it's going to be hilarious hearing white college hip hop deejays trying to figure out how to reference the record. Then again, we'll also see certain factions of whitey jumping up and down for the chance to say the word with full artistic license.

If the title gets the green light, we'll likely see Blacks divided between defending and blasting Nas. Personally (and I'm white - my vote doesn't count for much, let's face it) I'm all in favour of shit disturbance. If this move encourages dialogue, good for Nas. If it pisses everyone in the mainstream media off, good for Nas. If it sells records, well, that can’t be bad, either. I’m just trying to figure out which of these three things Esco really wants to accomplish the most. I’m going with number three.