Nas

Rodrigo Diaz McVeigh 08/16/2008 6:55:00 PM

Hey there Ben, Interesting article you wrote, it really caught my attention. See I grew up in Miami listening to Hip Hop and I now live in Brooklyn. I have followed Nas throughout his entire career and own every album. As a New Times journalist I am let down by what you wrote. Out of all the pathetic rappers out there, with absolute no message or educated opinions you go after Nas? Does it scare you that Hip Hop might be deep, does it intimidate you that a black man from Queens could be compared to other musicians like Bob Dylan, Neil Young or Bruce Springstein. As a journalist for a cutting edge newspapper you should be appalled by the fact that Nas wasn't allowed to call his album Ni**er, and the artist from Panama Nigga had to change his name to Flex. This is the real problem. Keeping the word Ni**er and not Cracker as an obscene word keeps the black man isolated, your sarcastic remarks about him calling his next album Nazi truly offend me and millions of other intelligent hip hop fans around the world. It is because of you that I have to put two little stars on that word every time I write it. You contribute to the sensless hip hop that rocks the charts today. I hope you don't prefer Soulja Boy or Lil Wayne to Nas. Artists like Nas need to be praised. You do not have to agree with his message but at least give him credit for taking the risk to call his album that and for having strong opinions about all the issues that other rappers don't even comprehend or know exist. Try to tittle your article Ni**er and I'm sure you will lose your job. This is what Nas is fighting for: freedom of speech, freedom of press and equal rights for all. Please write back Ben, I think this is a very important subject to many people. Thanks, Rod