Nasty Nas, Huh?

By Iyapiphany


half-man, half-amazing/cause in my physical I can express through song/delete stress like Motrin/then extend strong/I drink Moet with Medusa/give her shotguns inhale/from the spliff that I lifted in hell/
It ain't hard to tell… Nas.

One of the dopest emcees to emerge from the new school of hip-hop, resurrecting the East Coast's reputation for producing the illest, most prolific rappers in the country, in New York language, the planet, now has me scratching my head and questioning whether or not I'll ever purchase another one of his albums (cd).

I understand the pressure of a career that demands one stay relevant and adaptable to appeal to the palate of an ever-changing fan base, however, that is no excuse for professional irresponsibility and communal disregard. Unfortunately this was exactly what I experienced on May 18, 2008 at 5:30pm while listening to Hot 97's DJ Envy interviewing Nas about the new album, Ni##@. (Which I have heard is being changed, thank goodness, as of this writing.) Trust and believe I understand all about swag. There is no way an emcee can approach a mic without it and expect to be considered valid. It isn't going to happen. The swag of course must be accompanied by skill and an ease of delivery that belies any doubt that may be part of the emcees internal experience. Nas has consistently delivered on these counts, whether the song was "OchiWali" or "I Can". We may have been confused about his stances or if he had one, but he sounded convicted, so we gave him passes on the basis of his unquestionable lyricism and breadth of seeming knowledge. There are times however, when passes have to be revoked. This is one of those times.

DJ Envy questioned Mr. Jones about the title of his album. Nas responded that he received criticism from the elders in regard to this and that the elders didn't understand that today's youth have it harder than they (the elders) did. What?! I was thoroughly confounded. How? No one under the age of 40 knows what it is to have a cross burned on their lawn, nor have to get off of the sidewalk to walk in the dirt street because white folks needed the space nor be denied the right to vote nor have their choice of vocation nor love interest. If he meant something else, he didn't say so. Envy also asked him about his long time relationship with 50 Cent. Nas laughed and said, "You talkin' 'bout that song. You wanna know who Biter about." He went on to say that 50 Cent is in a lot of pain and ..."that brother's crazy I ain't saying he bite tables or nuttin' like that but he be wildin'. That's why I ain't git in his ass, but if he ready, he could come see me." I was at Black woman arched eyebrow mode by this time. DJ Envy said something else but I would be performing a major disservice by even pretending to have heard what because I was thoroughly riveted by Nas' statements. At this point, Mr. Jones went on an expletive rampage, and very quickly all that could be heard was feedback and a hurried music choice. I waited for Envy to come back on the radio but that took a moment. When he did return he did an interview with TierraMarie, played her new song, played more music and spoke to TLC's Chilli. Nas was not mentioned. It was as though he hadn't ever been on the radio.

I stood in my kitchen, shocked and amazed. I quickly called my beau, who is quite familiar with the inner workings of hip-hop and relayed the aforementioned occurrence to him. He asked me a few quick questions about the station and what was going on and we hung up. I was aghast. Not so much by the arrogance in Nas' statements but because it was incredibly clear that this man did not think about the impact of his words, and if he did, he disregarded any advice his better judgment might have steered him toward. Questions that immediately came to my mind were:

How high is he?

Was he aware of how many people were listening?

Why would he dare put Hot 97's license in jeopardy (FCC is always listening)?

Was he holding some kind of grudge against someone? The most lingering however was this one:

Why would Nas, of all people go out like that?

One thing I always admired about Nas was his ability to think and not be typical. Another thing I admired was his ability to be emotional through his work but not have the need to be overtly antagonistic toward those he took issue with. I thought he had a basic respect for his peers; those of us who have grown up to and with him. My expectation was that he would take up the banner of adult, a grown up or as my Caribbeans like to say, a big man.

No, it isn't that I am prudish or too bourgeois to appreciate the colloquialisms of urban, inner-city descendants. My favorite emcee is Ghostface Killah (who understands Ghost?) I will love NY emcees 'til the day I die. There are however, codes of behavior that we-people over the age of 27-need to exhibit to our peers and certainly to the children and youth that look to us as examples of who to be and become. If one doesn't want to be a role model and uses that as an excuse, it doesn't matter, they still are. Evidence, you seek? Look at the generation of young people who have little to no fear of authority, feel no personal responsibility to promote life in the community, much less the world they live in, and the every continuing disruption of Black marriage, love and family. THEY LEARNED THOSE BEHAVIORS FROM US! My point is simple, Nas KNOWS better.

At this stage in the game, he could demonstrate that there are ways to move that are just as effective in communicating a point that shows displeasure or irreverence without being crass and vulgar. While we are all responsible for our choices, what is being chosen? His last album was called, HIP HOP IS DEAD. That title leads me to think he was displeased with the direction of the music and culture that many of us found comfort and definition in. Our secret places to vent, express, teach and reveal the inner truths that many of us were too afraid to speak aloud. We, the socio-economically disadvantaged youth from female headed, single-parent homes who would grow up to be nothing more than usurpers of federal and state funded programs meant to maintain our subsistence found credence in our "street disciples". As one from amongst us, how then does he behave in a manner that undermines his hard work and the influence he's garnered that has spanned across social, economic and educational strata? No Nas, this is not good. My children's Nana has always said, "When you know better, you do better." That cursing tirade did not just affect me. Other working, educated, intellectual, former backpack, conscious folk are also questioning Nas' devotion to both craft and culture. The prevailing thought and statement has become, "I'm not buying that. It may be something I download." In the act of not giving a damn, was that his intention?


Iyapiphany is an educator and training specialist, currently residing in New York. She is also an essayist and performance poet. "Intentionally Black" and dedicated to her life, in the words of her oldest son, "She loves being Black," Iyapiphany has made it her personal mission to understand the movements of Black men and the necessities of Black women to better help in the facilitation of BlackLove and the restoration of The Black Family. In addition, Iyapiphany is a columnist for the Contraband publication.