So far there's been a lot of talk about NNas' controversially titled new LP. Nigger, but no music. The man — and the album's title — have caused incitement and excitement without the public hearing a single note or rap.
Nas had originally planned to put the project out next month, but according to his camp, the album has been pushed to February: Black History Month.
And over the weekend, a snippet of a new Nas record called "What It Is" leaked onto the Net.
"Racist neighbors flinchin'," he rhymes. "They don't know if I'mma rob them/ Or if I'm Russell Simmons/ They thought it was me, just like Mike Bivens/ They pray for my downfall like the mom of Robin Givens."
Nas' camp said the MC is still working out the album's final track list ("What It Is" may not make the cut). Atlanta's DJ Toomp (T.I., Ludacris) and longtime Nas collaborator Salaam Remi have already contributed tracks, in addition to a slew of new producers.
While community leaders such as Reverend Al Sharpton have spoken out against Nas' use of the N-word, the wordsmith has gained a swell of support from his record label as well his peers — Alicia Keys and Method Man to LL Cool J and even Def Jam founder Russell Simmons, as well as current label head L.A. Reid.
