Can Ice Cube Escape “Gangsta Rap?”

By Jayar Jackson

Ice Cube, the West Coast gangsta rap icon and member of the pioneering group N.W.A. has a new single and video out.

For many in the Black Community that despised the acronym N.W.A. in the first place, (Niggaz With Attitudes) and felt that their largely misogynistic and extremely violent lyrics perpetuated and advocated a negative vision of Black Americans, Ice Cube should not be winning any NAACP Image Awards.

After so much popularity and controversy over their lyrics that banned N.W.A. from many radio stations and tours, and Ice Cube’s solo career has stretched for almost 20years. Even though Cube’s albums were highly political and included large amounts of social commentary that spoke of America’s hypocrisy and hidden racism, he never completely escaped the gansta rap label he and N.W.A. began with. So with a new album out and his new single entitled, Why Me? is it possible for him to be seen as a positive voice in the eyes of some that only remember some of the violent lyrics of the ‘80s?

Why Me? largely focuses on the senseless murder of Los Angeles High School student Jamiel Andre Shaw who was shot down near his home in March due to random gang violence. After two Latino gang members approached Shaw and asked which gang he belonged to, they shot him after receiving no response, as Shaw was simply a standout football player and student looking forward to going to a major university.

Ice Cube’s video features the family of Shaw and says, “Why you wanna murder me? You never ever heard of me. You don't know who I am. I could be part of your family tree. Sent by G.O.D. To save the word you and me. You never know who you facin.' Who ya chasin.' The life you wastin.'"

These words are obviously in sharp contrast to Ice Cube’s lyrics on N.W.A.’s Gangsta Gangsta, “Heres a little somethin bout a nigga like me. Never shoulda been let out the penitentiary. Ice Cube would like to say. That I’m a crazy muthaf***a from around the way. Since I was a youth, I smoked weed out. Now I’m the muthaf***a that you read about. Takin a life or two. That’s what the hell I do, you don’t like how I’m livin, Well f**k you!”

Due to those kinds of lyrics, I wonder if his previous detractors will even listen to his new song’s message that actually agrees with the overwhelming opinion that this needs to stop. Those that still disparage artists like O'Shea Jackson that recorded songs that spoke of senseless killing and street life need to give his message another chance.

Sure Cube, 39, still uses profanity and the word nigga freely in his lyrics, but if a positive message is what many want to get across to young people that listen to his music, how much pain is it really causing? With his name, notoriety, and respect he still has with fans, every little bit from every influence to change things for the better should be accepted.

Jayar J. Jackson produces The Young Turks Show TYTv: M-F 6-9pm PST, Rolling Post Show 9pm.

Comedian Dick Gregory Is Out Of Control, And Not Just At The State Of The Black Union

Dick Gregory In The House Y'all!

Tavis Smiley has just made Dick Gregory relevant again. The legendary storyteller who ain't afraid to use the word Nigga is the top search on Google Trends. In fact, this clip shows Gregory using the same lines he did today!

You're a trip Mr. Gregory, but you can not be ignored! FYI, did anyone take offense to Michael Eric Dyson also using the N-word?

"Nigger" Hits the Streets in December: Are You Really Trying To Rush Rapper Nas' Upcoming Album?

Don't Hate On This Brother Just Yet, He Just Might Surprise You

By Jayar Jackson

Hip Hop superstar, and respected lyricist Nas has quite a bit of steam behind the December 11th release of his new album “Nigger.” Fox reported that a source close to Def Jam chairman Antonio “LA” Reid said Nas wouldn’t be releasing an album this year, and it definitely wouldn’t be called “Nigger.”

Contrary to the always honest reporting of Fox News, Reid boldly stated that “We stand firmly behind and beside our artists with pride and with pleasure. Anything Nas wants to do, I completely stand beside him. Nas is prolific, he's prophetic, he's a genius, an amazing artist of respect. So, while I'm not sure exactly all that [the title] entails, I know it's smart, so I stand behind him. That's real.” Support for Nas’ controversial title included fellow well respected artists Common and Method Man.

Now before the detractors’ heads explode, and vow to never buy their another Nas, Def Jam, Common, or Method Man record ever again for the first time, let’s remember who we’re talking about and what he’s saying. Nas is the artist that has always brought some kind of meaning and purpose to most of his lyrics, somehow finding a way to still speak to hardcore hip hop fans that have been hypnotized enough to accept hip hop as a mindless genre, talking about hos, rims, shooting, and money. When many artists speak positive messages, they’re written off as corny, but his single, “I Can” still came across.

“I'm a street disciple,” Nas explained. “I'm talking to the streets. Stay out of our business. You ain't got no business worrying about what the word 'nigger' is or acting like you know what my album is about without talking to me.” For all the critics that look to jump to conclusions about how he’s trying to degrade his race and continue to bring the conversation down to calling himself and his brothers niggers, a good place to start is by asking, “What does the album “Nigger” mean?” When respected poets utilize the word to make a point, they are primarily seen as deep and thoughtful. Just because Nas curses and has done collaborations with the likes of Diddy, Ginuwine, and Timbaland, his perceived thoughtfulness that he’s always brought to his albums is quickly forgotten, all over this word.

Are these blind critics assuming that Nas can’t carry a conversation about the words and inspiration that went into this title? Maybe they think he was falling asleep from all the weed those rap guys smoke all the time and when asked what the title should be, he said, “Aw…Nigger.” To be this ignorant is accepting and owning the term that too many hateful people harbor, thinking that this word can get the mildest mannered Black man to snap upon overhearing it. Maybe he’s trying to diffuse the “power” that many racists believe it has over us, which some of us continue to mentally bow down to. Perhaps he’s sick of an entire country afraid of saying, hearing, or writing the word without a couple of asterisks and squiggle lines to censor it. Or what if he just like the way it rolls off of his tongue?

What does Nas mean by the title on this new album? Until we stop haphazardly labeling him a nigger by refusing to ask the question, and instead choosing to ignore it until it miraculously disappears, we’ll miss his point and keep ours bottled up as well. Now remind me again, what would that accomplished?