Nas previewed the video to his much-discussed track “Be A Nigger Too” last night for media members at the Tribeca Grand Hotel in New York. The Rik Cordero-directed clip featured stark visuals and cameos from actors such as The Wire’s Andre Royo and Chris Partlow, John Cho (Harold and Kumar), activist and playwright Danny Hoch, among others. The video, Cordero explained, was inspired by the Spike Lee movie The 25th Hour. “Nas offends no one, but offending all,” Cordero said of the video idea. The clip featured a montage of multi-hued Americans as Nas spits the chorus, calling out all walks of life and equally claiming them all: “Yall my niggers, too.” The rapper explained his album would still be untitled but the cover imagery would convey the message title that was originally intended. See the cover. [NahRight]
A former bodyguard of Busta Rhymes who worked for the rapper eight years ago was found dead in the back of his pickup truck, according to a report. Jermaine Williams, 35, apparently was shot multiple times and police discovered his body when they saw blood dripping in the backseat that was presumed to be abandoned in Ozone Park, Queens. Another bodyguard of Busta Rhymes was murdered in 2006 on the set of his “Touch It” video; the rapper refused to cooperate with police but offered to help the family of Israel Ramirez, which drew Busta large amounts of criticism. [AHH]
Bun B’s latest album, II Trill, debuted at number one on Billboard’s Hip-Hop/R&B chart with sales of 97, 957 units, making the UGK star the biggest urban indie act this year.
Ryan Leslie took to the stage at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan at the Tanqueray Style Session on Wednesday night. Kidz in the Hall, Sean John Model Miguel Perdomo, and DJ Steve Aoki were all in attendance. The R&B singer’s self-titled debut album is due June 17. —XXL staff
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May 30th, 2008
at 1:40 pm
lol says:
john cho in the ‘be a nigger too’ video. classic.
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 1:52 pm
niggafrommemphis says:
i can’t see how some so called rap acts can sell millions and ugk,who have made some of the best music in the last 16 years,can barely go gold.but this ain’t nothin new either,but the bottom line is this.if people are bumpin your music 20 years from now,then you know it will always be written in stone.who’s gonna be listenin to mobb deep, etc;no one i know was bumping them “like that” in 94′.
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 4:32 pm
HoodNigga says:
nigga from memphis is a hoe ass nigga thats probably typing away from the suburbs of fucken idaho you hoe ass mark ass bitch trick ass slut ass hoochie ass groupie ass fuck ass get bucked ass NIGGGGGGA
Reply
June 1st, 2008
at 1:59 pm
mrbutler says:
nigga u fuckin stupid mobb deep is 1 of the illest hip hop groups ever. who wants 2 fuckin listen 2 niggas rap slow & talk about drankin cough syrup. keep that down south shit down south. westcoast & eastcoast got this hip hop ship on lock, dont get me wron the south has had sum nice acts outkast, goodie mob, shit the dungeon family in general. but sorry sir lil jon fucked up the lyrical content 4 the south. okkkkaaaaaay. holla back. l.b.c all day.
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 2:08 pm
Momo says:
wtf is up with busta rhymes camp? it seem like if you work for bus a bus, mutha%uckas end up dead….dis n^gga got a root on him or somethin????
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 2:19 pm
Neven says:
whats the point of a video for NaS lead single or any of the songs off the album the media already put a stop to the whole concept. what are we goin to watch a 3 minute video with 2.5 min of censorship.
The cover is dope. That puts the message out.
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 2:32 pm
NAS IS THE GAY RAPPER says:
EVERYONE KNOWS NAS IS BISEXUAL. SMARTEN UP YALL.
Reply
June 1st, 2008
at 2:00 pm
mrbutler says:
nigga u probably like soulja boy & bow wow get the fuck outta here
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 2:47 pm
NAS IS A HOMO says:
NAS IS THE GAY RAPPER. AND A RACE TRAITOR. ALL U SUPPORTING THE ALBUM MUST BE WHITE TEENS FROM OKLAHOMA.
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 4:11 pm
aka says:
look u cant say anything about a man that is up here sice 1994 , i dont like him but he can rap , and wtf is wrong wit his album nuthin and surely u can see he is not gay .
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 2:52 pm
big skiz says:
i agree with the nigga from memphis. its like that bullzhit list mtv came up wit. rick ross please zero skillz. jeezy comon please. what happen to real rap. illmatic. ice cube. 2 short. the wu. krs. ol dirty. ugk now thats rap. even fifty forgot how to rap. fuqin crakers need to go back to listenin to the cure and depech mode and maybe these rappers will get down to doin some real shit for us real fans.
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 3:11 pm
HustleHard says:
U sound real dumb right now niggafrommphis. At that point in time (in 94′) East coast and the West Coast was runnin’ this rap shit. And every real street dude was bumpin’ Mobb Depp - “the Infamous” album. It was a classic. Plain and simple. I’m not takin nothing away from the South. I got mad respect for the South. It just wasn’t their time. Now it’s their time. And their basicly takin over the rap game. I give them mad props on that. But don’t put down other rappers thats did their thang in the past thats not from the South. That’s not a good look homie. Yo keep it real when it comes to this Hip Hop/Rap shit. ……………..ONE.
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 3:43 pm
fastflipper says:
stfu
im white and i dont trip on 50
curtis was wack as hell
termanology is next to blow anyway
so go on and hate on him cuz hes latino and cuz hes not black
bitch!
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 6:00 pm
Three/21 Media » Nas Screening Coverage says:
[...] Rolling Stone Vibe HipHopDX Nahright SOHH XXL [...]
Reply
May 30th, 2008
at 6:51 pm
whats really good? says:
one day nas is gonna get his ass kicked.
he’s still the illest tho.
and what the fuck are busta’s bodyguards into?cause they all seem to be getting their wig pushed back.
Reply
May 31st, 2008
at 7:12 am
adrian smith says:
50 cent drama sick bastard who burn his home down we kids inside sick world we live in cant wait 4 nas album
Reply
May 31st, 2008
at 7:36 am
Emissary says:
Nas>Jay-Z
Reply
May 31st, 2008
at 8:22 am
TxTitan says:
II Trill Album of the year……….
R.I.P. Pimp C
Reply
May 31st, 2008
at 8:47 am
JAY STONE says:
Nas is that nigga
NIGGER>>>>>>>>THA CARTER III(watch out)
NIGGER>>>>>>>>>>>>>LOLLIPOP
NIGGER(clip)>>>>>>LOLLIPOP(clip)
Reply
May 31st, 2008
at 2:15 pm
Jack says:
Busta rhymes better get to the bottom of this now that his second body guard is dead he could be next so if i were him i would work with the police this time and find out what the fuck is going on. and I’m glad nas changed his title for the album so now people can focus on the music instead of just the title. and Ryan Leslie is just a cheap version of chris brown
Reply
June 1st, 2008
at 5:21 pm
rell-po says:
thats the problem with people today…always speculating on who’s gay. if they are, ITS THEIR OWN BIZNESS HOMIE!!!!!!! u need to get a life if the only thing productive to do is to test your “gay-dar”
Reply
June 1st, 2008
at 8:35 pm
BIG WILLIE says:
Bus a Bus….He run that Gully squad…Bad men dont play
Reply
June 2nd, 2008
at 12:26 am
myspaceparties.com says:
if you need free internet promotion post your events on myspaceparties.com fill out the form
Reply
June 2nd, 2008
at 10:20 am
Bold says:
YES YES MAN!! NAS IS GOING TO DROP IT HARD ON THESE FAKE JACKAZZ CORNBALLS THAT CALL THEMSELVES RAPPERS.
YO, IF YA DONT BELIEVE HIP HOP IS DEAD, NOW, WATCH DIS NIGGER “BRING IT BACK TO LIFE” THEN MAYBE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE IN “THE RESURRECTION” OF HIP HOP.
MAN, NAS IS ABOUT TO SAVE HIP HOP!!!
Reply
June 2nd, 2008
at 12:06 pm
mike d says:
bun b went #1 cause nothing else is dropping right now. aduuuh
Reply