Rumors and speculation surround upcoming hip-hop album

The word can end with an "a" or an "er" and it carries the weight of an entire culture on its shoulders.

Critically acclaimed and lyrically conscious hip-hop artists, Nas, plans to name his forthcoming release through Def Jam Records Ni**a. He initially announced the album title during an Oct. 12 performance at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Since then, the album name has been slightly tweaked from Ni**a to Ni**er.

Response to the album title was quick and abrasive.

"My initial reaction is that as a person who was born before hip-hop but who is a member of the hip-hop community, I am appalled that such a powerful artist would use that term which denigrates our people," stated Cindy Diggs, known as Mother Hip-Hop, in an Oct. 20 Boston Herald article by Chris Farone.

Despite several rumors and reports, Nas stated that neither L.A Reid nor any other Def Jam executive has shown opposition to the name. In Shaheem Reid's Oct. 18 MTV.com article, Nas states, "none of us know where that [reports on Def Jam not approving the album title] came from."

"I'm talking to the streets. Stay out of our business. You ain't got no business worrying about what the word 'nigger' is or acting like you know what my album is about without talking to me. Whether you in the NAACP or you Jesse Jackson," Nas stated regarding the context of the album. "I respect all of them ... I just want them to know: Never fall victim to Fox. Never fall victim to the shit they do. What they do is try to hurry up and get you on the phone and try to get you to talk about something you might not know about yet."

Ni**er is set to be released on Dec. 11.

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