Nas has finally announced a release date for his long-awaited LP. The release of the controversial album – formally known as Nigger – will be known now as Untitled and hitting stores July 15.
As followed extensively by HipHopDX, Nas’ album was initially given the title Nigga, before Nas decided to enrage Civil Rights leaders and spark numerous heated debates by changing the title to the more controversial Nigger. As the controversy came to a fever pitch, Def Jam executives came to Nas’ aid and supported the project, citing his right to freedom of speech, creativity, and the opportunity to open much-needed dialog about the word. Civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton as well as other critics deemed the album’s title “dangerous” and “disrespectful”.
Though he initially held firm in his choice of album title, Nas eventually caved after major retailers including Wal-Mart threatened to refuse to stock the CD in their stores. Now, instead of Nigger being the album title, Green Lantern has partnered with Nas to release The Nigger Tape, a mixtape preview of the controversial album once titled with the same name .
“It’s important to me that this album gets to the fans,” Nas said in a statement to the media. “It’s been a long time coming. I want my fans to know that creatively and lyrically, they can expect the same content and the same messages. It’s that important. The streets have been waiting for a long time. The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it.”
Polow Da Don produced the first single, “Hero.” The album will also include appearances from Jay Electronica, Busta Rhymes, Mark Ronson, and Cool & Dre among others.
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