Untitled Nas album
Nas's politically charged untitled album sparked title controversy.
Nas dropped his ninth studio album on July 15, 2008, through the Jones Experience, Columbia Records, and Def Jam Recordings. Though it has no official title, fans usually call it *Nas* or simply *Untitled*. The rapper originally planned to name it *Nigger*, but scrapped that idea after backlash over the racial slur. The record stands out for its heavy political themes, a wide range of producers, and confrontational lyrics. Guests include Chris Brown, Keri Hilson, Busta Rhymes, and the Game, among others.
The album hit number one on the US Billboard 200, marking Nas’s fifth chart-topper, and went gold in the United States with over 500,000 copies shipped. Critics and listeners gave it mixed to mildly positive reviews when it came out.
**Background** Nas first mentioned the original title *Nigger* during an October 12, 2007, show at New York’s Roseland Ballroom, where he also announced the release date. Def Jam stayed silent on the matter. This echoed his earlier attempt to call his 2006 album *Hip Hop Is Dead* either *Nigga* or *Hip Hop Is Dead... The N*. On May 19, 2008, Nas confirmed he’d dropped the title, saying, “The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it.” The cover shows a shirtless Nas from behind, with scars from a whipping forming the letter N—a nod to the slur and the torture of enslaved people in America. Fort Greene assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries asked New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to pull $84 million from the state pension fund invested in Universal and its parent company, Vivendi, if the title wasn’t changed.
Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid said the label fully backed Nas’s decision. Support for the original title came from Eminem, 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. Critics included 50 Cent, Will Smith, Al Sharpton, Bill O’Reilly, Oprah Winfrey, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and the NAACP.
**Production** Producers on the album include stic.man of Dead Prez, DJ Green Lantern, Polow da Don, Salaam Remi, DJ Toomp, Stargate, Cool & Dre, Game, Mark Ronson, Mark Batson, Jay Electronica, J. Myers, Dustin Moore, Calvin McDaniel, and Eric Hudson. Early reports mentioned No I.D., DJ Khalil, Jermaine Dupri, Chris Webber, and the Hitmen, but their tracks didn’t make the final cut.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Nas
- Released
- 2008-07-15
- Recorded
- 2005 – early 2008
- Genre
- Hip-hop · R&B · political hip-hop
- Length
- 54:04
- Label
- The Jones Experience · Columbia · Def Jam
- Producer
- Cool & Dre · DJ Green Lantern · DJ Toomp · Dustin Moore · Eric Hudson · J. Myers · Jay Electronica · Mark Batson · Mark Ronson · Polow da Don · Salaam Remi · Stargate · stic.man
- Prev Title
- Hip Hop Is Dead
- Prev Year
- 2006
- Next Title
- Distant Relatives
- Next Year
- 2010
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The album's original title, Nigger, was announced by Nas during an October 12, 2007 performance at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. Def Jam made no comment on the title. On May 19, 2008, Nas confirmed the album would be untitled, stating that 'the people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it.' The cover depicts the back of a shirtless Nas with flagellation scars forming the shape of the letter N, referencing the racial slur and the torture of slaves in the United States. Fort Greene assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries requested New York's Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to withdraw $84 million from the state pension fund invested in Universal and Vivendi if the title was not changed. L.A. Reid confirmed Def Jam fully backed Nas's decision. The original title received support from Eminem, Ice Cube, Jay-Z, and others, while drawing criticism from 50 Cent, Will Smith, Al Sharpton, Bill O'Reilly, Oprah Winfrey, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and the NAACP.
Reader's Guide
The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming Nas's fifth album to do so, and was certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of over 500,000 copies in the United States. Upon release, it received generally positive reviews from music critics, with a Metacritic aggregate score of 71/100. Entertainment Weekly credited the album for its maturity and ability to keep listeners guessing. The Source gave it a 4.5 mic rating, and The Independent's Andy Gill described it as 'probably the most politically oriented rap album since the days of Public Enemy and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.' However, the Los Angeles Times gave it 2 out of 4 stars, criticizing Nas's lyrics as hypocritical and inconsistent. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album but lost to Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III. Its legacy lies in its unflinching political commentary and the controversy over its original title, which highlighted debates about race and free expression in hip hop.
Did You Know?
- The album's original title was Nigger, but it was changed to untitled due to controversy.
- The cover shows flagellation scars on Nas's back forming the letter N.
- The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 187,078 copies in its first week.
- It was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Album but lost to Tha Carter III.
More in Band Members & Collaborators
Elsewhere in Nas
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced