Nas Sets July 15 Date For Untitled Album

Nas's long-delayed follow-up LP to Hip-Hop Is Dead finally has a solid release date. The Queensbridge rapper's Untitled album will see the light of day July 15, it was announced today.The project had long been set to be called, first, Nigga, before Nas incited a number of Civil Rights leaders by changing it to the more controversial Nigger. Def Jam executives L.A. Reid and, at the time, Jay-Z, supported Nas's creative rights, saying an artists as profound as the QB poet would deliver thought-provoking work. Reverend Al Sharpton, however, among others, weren't convicted a project with such an inflammatory title could be considered art.Nas eventually relented and scrapped the album title altogether. New Def Jam head honcho Shakim Stewart told XXLmag.com previously that despite the title switch the content is very much intended as originally conceived.Green Lantern partnered with Nas recently to put out The Nigger Tape, a mixtape union that previews the rapper's album. Rik Cordero also collaborated with Nas for the video to his "Be A Nigger Too." Both projects, along with the Untitled album's cover, seem to strongly convey's Nas's message."It's important to me that this album gets to the fans," Nas said in a statement. "It's been a long time coming. I want my fans to know that creatively and lyrically, they can expect the same content and the same messages. It's that important. The streets have been waiting for a long time. The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it."Polow Da Don produced the first single, "Hero." Other collaborators include Busta Rhymes and Mark Ronson ("Fried Chicken"), Cool & Dre, DJ Toomp ("N.I.G.G.E.R."), stic.man, Jay Electronica, and Stargate.---Jayson Rodriguez