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Untitled Nas album

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Untitled

Untitled is the ninth album by New York rapper Nas, which was released July 15, 2008.[1] The title was revealed on iTunes on July 1, 2008 after much debate.

Background

The original title of the album, Nigger, was mentioned by Nas several times, as well as on an October 12 2007 performance at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City where he announced the title and release date, both confirmed by Haider Abed. Def Jam Recordings made no comment on the title.[2][3] This was similar to attempts to name his 2006 album—eventually titled Hip Hop Is Dead—both Nigga and Hip Hop Is Dead… The N. On May 19, 2008, it was confirmed that Nas changed the name of the album to an untitled one, stating that "the people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it."[4]

Fort Greene, Brooklyn assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries requested New York's Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to withdraw $84 million from the state pension fund that has been invested into Universal and its parent company, Vivendi, if the album's title was not changed. Universal has not made a response.[5]

L.A. Reid, chairman of Def Jam Records, has confirmed that Def Jam fully backed Nas and his decision on naming his album.[6] The album's original title received support from Ice Cube, Jay-Z, Bishop Lamont, Alicia Keys, LL Cool J, Rev Run, Common, Akon, Method Man, Lupe Fiasco, David Banner, GZA, and Melle Mel.[7][8][9] The title Nigger came under fire from Reverend Jesse Jackson and the NAACP.

Revealed in the single 'Hero', Nas explains the decision to name the album Untitled. The primary concern of his management was that the album would not be sold by chains such as Walmart, thus limiting its distribution. Nas pushed on with the 'Nigger' concept through the pre-album mixtape.

Nas released a mixtape with DJ Green Lantern titled The Nigger Tape on June 9, 2008.[10] In a recent interview with Angie Martinez, a hostess of the New York radio station Hot 97, Nas made several controversial statements: "Somebody called L.A. [Reid] [About the former title of forthcoming album], the White House called!… Yeah the 'White House', 'White House'!… I mean Congress… [called Def Jam], they're concerned!"[11]

It was also revealed that apparel company Fila will be providing financial support for the albums marketing in exchange for Nas wearing Fila sneakers at his shows. [12]

Singles

The first official single of the album is "Hero".[13] Nas told Hillary Crosley of Billboard magazine that the announced first single from the album "Be a Nigger Too" would not be on the album because of sample clearance issues.[14] A video of Sly Fox was released on 10th July.[15]

Production and guest appearances

Production credits for the album include Polow da Don, DJ Green Lantern, Salaam Remi, DJ Toomp, Stargate, Cool & Dre, The Game, Mark Ronson, Mark Batson, Jay Electronica, J. Myers, Dustin Moore, Eric Hudson, and stic.man of Dead Prez.

Guest artists featured on the album are Busta Rhymes, Keri Hilson, The Game, Chris Brown,[16] The Last Poets, Eban Thomas, and Mykel. Although Jay Electronica produced the introductory track, he does not have a verse on the album, as previously stated by Nas.

Reception

Reviews for the album have been generally positive. According to Metacritic, the album is currently rated at a 71, out of 13 reviews. Entertainment Weekly credited the album for its maturity as well as the album's ability to keep the listeners guessing. Andy Greenwald credits Nas, saying "In a summer of 'Lollipop', it's good to hear a complicated record that doesn't shy from grown-up ambition."

The album did have its share of criticism. Ian Cohen from Pitchfork centered the majority of his criticism against the record around what he believes is Nas lazily sifting through irrelevant ideas. He says, "On Untitled you get to decide whether you prefer Nas thoroughly exploring half-assed concepts or half-assedly exploring thorough concepts."

Track listing

# Title Producer(s) Featured guest(s) Writers Time
1 "Queens Get the Money" Jay Electronica Nasir Jones, T. Thedford, J. Powell 2:12
2 "You Can't Stop Us Now" Salaam Remi Eban Thomas of The Stylistics & The Last Poets N. Jones, Salaam Remi, A. Oyewole, B. Strong, N. Whitfield 3:05
3 "Breathe" J. Myers and Dustin Moore N. Jones, J. Sublett 3:34
4 "Make the World Go Round" Cool & Dre & The Game Chris Brown & The Game N. Jones, Jayceon Taylor, A. Lyon, M. Valenzano, E. Montilla 3:49
5 "Hero" Polow da Don Keri Hilson N. Jones, J. Jones, J. Sublett, C. Haynes 4:00
6 "America" Stargate N. Jones, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mikkel S. Eriksen 3:52
7 "Sly Fox" stic.man of dead prez N. Jones, C. Gavin 4:23
8 "Testify" Mark Batson N. Jones, Mark Batson 2:46
9 "N.I.G.G.E.R. (The Slave and the Master)" DJ Toomp N. Jones, A. Davis, A. Bell, P. Hurtt 4:33
10 "Untitled" stic.man of dead prez N. Jones, C. Gavin 2:51
11 "Fried Chicken" Mark Ronson Busta Rhymes N. Jones, M. Ronson, Trevor Smith 2:50
12 "Project Roach" Eric Hudson The Last Poets N. Jones, E. Hudson, A. Oyewole 1:48
13 "Y'all My Niggas" J. Myers N. Jones, J. Sublett 4:16
14 "We're Not Alone" stic.man of dead prez Mykel N. Jones, C. Gavin 5:40
15 "Black President" DJ Green Lantern N. Jones, J. D'Agostino, J. Armour, Tupac Shakur, R. Troutman, L. Troutman, D. McDowell, L. Goodman 4:29
* "Like Me" (UK bonus track) DJ Green Lantern 3:47
* "Proclamation" (iTunes pre-order) 1:00

Samples

Release history

Region Date
Ireland July 11, 2008
United Kingdom July 14, 2008
France July 14, 2008
United States July 15, 2008

References

  1. ^ Nas: Nas: Music Amazon. Accessed July 7, 2008
  2. ^ Shaheem Reid (October 13 2007). Nas Reveals Controversial Title Of New LP At NYC Gig MTV News. Accessed October 15 2007.
  3. ^ Hillary Crosley (October 15, 2007). Nas Selects N-Word For New Album Title Billboard. Accessed October 15 2007.
  4. ^ Nas Issues Statement Regarding 'N****r' Name Change
  5. ^ Black widow (October 5, 2007). Update: Universal Told To Change The Title Of Nas' 'N-Word' Album Or Lose $84 Million Six Shot. Accessed April 20, 2008.
  6. ^ Shaheem Reid (October 22, 2007). L.A. Reid Stands 'Firmly Behind' Nas Over LP Title MTV News. Accessed October 22, 2007.
  7. ^ http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/mixtape_monday/010708/
  8. ^ AllHipHop.com Interview with Melle Mel about Nigger title
  9. ^ Shaheem Reid (November 1, 2007). Nas' Album Title Gets Support From Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Bishop Lamont, LL Cool J, GZA, Reverend Run, David Banner MTV News. Accessed November 1, 2007.
  10. ^ DJ Green Lantern & Nas - The Nigger Tape Accessed June 9,2008.
  11. ^ http://videos.onsmash.com/v/H3CLjrINRQcCJA9q
  12. ^ Fila Provide Financial Support For Nas' "Untitled" "Nas has signed a one year endorsement deal with South Korea’s largest sportswear manufacturing company, Fila.", Urban Lookout, 2008-07-04. Retrieved on 2008-07-04.
  13. ^ Nas' Defjam Page For "Hero"
  14. ^ Crosley, Hillary (2008-06-27). "Tough issues go beyond words for rapper Nas". Billboard. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  15. ^ "Sly Fox". Accessed July 10, 2008.
  16. ^ Shaheem Reid (May 14, 2008). Nas Previews Controversial Album For MTV News: 'I'm Here To Rap About What I Feel' MTV News. Accessed may 15, 2008.
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