Nas Defends “Shoot ‘Em Up” On CNN
October 5, 2009 @ 1:44 PM EDT
News
In light of Derrion Albert’s murder, Nasir sat alongside Don Lemon on CNN and discussed his lyrical content—specifically, “Shoot ‘Em Up” off Nastradamus. Clearly, mainstream America doesn’t understand the art of storytelling.
Props: Street Knowledge
Nas is a dope MC, but he’s a sucka.
The ethered him when they played “Shoot Em Up”. Its funny how he says the media doesnt highlight his other work, when he fails to do that to other artists himself. I.e. 50 cent.
THIS IS WHAT I MEANT when I say all rappers are hypocrits.
Now Nas is standing up at least ( maybe for publicity, who knows why he put the el down long enough to get to CNN but at least he did it )
Okay. So I am all for artistic expression. A song is just a poem. There are tons of those around saying a lot worse than this. And on the same album there might be many good and bad messages.
This still ( to me ) is not the point. The point is not what they say, or even what they do but WHY we choose to listen to rappers at all? For any kind of message.. let’s go pick up a real work of artistic expression. Not a song from some yokkel. Nas is defiinitely better than most but if a kid could pick up Nas and listen they could also go pick up Gucci Man and *listen* this is why it’s dangerous..
Rap = music. Not a path to higher learning.
A rapper has YET to hold their own against a real jounalist ( non racist) it will never happen because Education trumps a rhyming dictionary or dope hook…hello!
Kanye right now is in New York right? Why are we lookign to him ( of all people) to speak out on this.. Black people.. we are in a cycle that is so dangerous.. fi you’re lookign to Kanye West for leadership. Not even Common. NO RAPPER IS QUALIFIED TO LEAD.
Yes because Shoot em up is the reason why Derrion Albert is dead.
Whats up with all this Nas hatred?! What makes him a sucka? Cuz some suit who obviously doesn’t listen to hip-hop pointed out a song he was telling a story on over 10 years ago?! You all are such followers! Shame on the fucking idiots running around saying rap caused this and rap caused that, and even if it did Nas would be the last of those I would point a finger at saying he negatively impacted the people. I am one of the biggest Nas fans but I’m not a biased one, personally I didn’t like “Shoot Em Up” but not cuz of the topic, i just thought that he couldve done better on it. But it pisses me off that these fucking people introduce him to the show by playing shit that dropped in 1999 like that’s all he’s worth.
Maybe it’s the titles that he chooses which is why he always has to explain himself. But still he shouldn’t have to if people would just understand the real concept of the song.
*applauds Nasir*
What is a Nastradamus?
Furthermore, J Dizzle, wtf are you talking about Nas not highlighting 50 Cent’s shit? Highlight what? What other topic has 50 ever rapped about thats worth highlighting as groundbreaking and innovative? True hes very successful, sold millions of records, and thrives in several different ventures but to quote Jay “What we talking bout?” 50 doesn’t have “other work” as far as his content on records to highlight. These same people would blast Common for the shit he spit on Kudi’s “Make Her Say” joint but disregard his entire catalogue of positive music. This is what he was defending, the fact that the critiques look for the most graphic shit to beat on rap. “Shoot Em Up” wasn’t even a single off Nastradamus, it was a B side joint that you had to dig in to find which means they selectively put forward something that those ignorant to the culture would find appalling and you wanna talk about 50? As a matter of fact, do your history Dizzle, 50 was Bravehearted by Nas before his deal with Em and Dre so its not like Nas never felt him. Niggas just fell out and that was that. i would like to hear from you though about what Nas should be highlighting from 50 Cent, just curious.
Lotta people quick to bounce on this issue and its age old debate. Not to write an essay but I gotta say some stuff with all due respect:
Firstly, I dont see how Nas got ethered with that clip. Even in his somewhat “hood/inarticulate” state he made the point that he has made many positive songs as well and its all a matter of capture various perspectives from the hood. When are people going to get, that when rappers like Nas make an album, its okay to present different perspectives and mind states because ultimatley that’s a reflection of the surrondings he grew up in, the people he was with and various perspectives people share to different situations? Everytime he did a negative/gangster song it was always from the perspective of a young brash kid or on some crime storytelling shit? At the same time, he highlights not only this but the depression of being trapped in a negative situation (Project Window, One Love, Black Girl Lost) and hoping for better things and staying postive even against the temptations of yourself or your surriondings and negative situations (I Can, Let There Be Light, Warrior Song, Nothing Lasts Forever)
Secondly, people need to chill with the “Rap is making the situation worse” argument. It’s only rapping about what’s there, if it wasn’t there we wouldn’t need to rap about. At the end of the day even when Hip-Hop went through phases where Gangster Rap was played out (Afrocentric era, the shiny suit I just wanna dance era) violence and crime was still happening in these communities and ultimatley people choose to listen to the rappers frustrated with that shit or reflecting there own struggled with it (NWA and DMX respectivley for each era). So no, rappers dont have to change shit. Its good someone like Nas or Killer Mike steps out of the mic to give a honest reaction, but ultimatley its up to the councils of these cities and communties to organize themselves against the problems and also to the familes and households themselves.
Lastly, everyone keeps on harping about why Chicago rappers haven’t said anything about the murder yet. Uhm hello??? These guys have been taking about the violence and how shit needs to change on the southside for YEARS (Common, Kanye and Lupe in particular). You guys keep getting on them for not saying anything, were you listening to begin with?
What is a Nastradamus?
^
a good album! It’s not that bad!
Well said Chris, I want to know what the interviewer from CNN has ever done to stop the violence.
And that’s also a good point regarding what Common, Lupe, etc have been doing and saying since day one in their rhymes. They’re all positive brothers but again, that kind of rap music don’t make the headlines when stuff like this in Chicago happens.
@Queenz (suprise here)
what has Nas ever done to stop the violence… are you seriously calling a letter on GlobalGrind.com a step forward in the “fight” against violence amongst black teens?
SMH.. this is what happens when you allow ignorance a turn at the mic.
The best argument for non-violence is MLK. I choose that because every black person in the US knows his story even more than they know Nas’. If you want some proof that non-violence is the way to go, you need look no further.
#stoptheviolence
#stoptheignorance
[…] Via RR […]
THE MEDIA FUCKIN’ SUCKS!!! THERE WAS VIOLENCE BEFORE HIP HOP!!! EAT A DICK CNN!!!!
DON’T HATE ON MY OPINION!!!!
on a not so serious note…my niga need some gym work
that size looking real mid 40s on him
Quote from:iCandy
what has Nas ever done to stop the violence… are you seriously calling a letter on GlobalGrind.com a step forward in the “fight” against violence amongst black teens?
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Hey you fuckwit with a keyboard: First, fuck the soapbox you are standing on. Two, as just one example, he went to Virginia Tech after the gun slaying down there. He goes to schools, etc. Do your fucking research you dumbass useless douchebag.
i Candy, what have you ever done to stop the violence?
What do you want Nas to do? Go stand on every corner and break up fights and dismantle guns in the hood? Where are their parents?
He’s damned if he does, and damned if he doesn’t, if he didn’t say a word and went about his business you’d say rappers don’t step up. He sent out a message and has been speaking to anyone who’d ask (BET, CNN) and it’s still nothing to you. He’s not promoting anything and hes not tryna sell a record. Why don’t you ask where our supposed “black leaders” are on the matter (i.e. Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson)?
I’m not saying that Nas changed the world with at letter to the youth, and he ackowledges that he can’t but all I’m saying is that IT WASN’T A STEP BACK!!!!!! All you wanna do is say that he didn’t do shit. Im just saying that it was a good look and not a step back, I don’t see this hypocricy you’re obsessed with talking about.
In fact, I’m interested in knowing what hip-hop you listen to.
I mean I dont understand why we’re critiquing Nas for saying this on globalgrind. No one said it was the answer to all this violence, but I see nothing wrong with him writing what he felt.
I mean damn we come to this now? I mean brining up MLK is fine, but I imagine if he was alive today, he would come out and voice his dissapproval like Nas did. What else can anyone do? March on the streets chicago? The answer is to encourage the councilmen, the teachers, the community leaders to get involved in there own neighbourhood. Short of that, they aint much else to reach these kids. But I dont nothing with Nas going out there as a well known Hip-Hop artist and saying this, flaws and all.
Same old same old CNN… ignorant “journalists.”
Nas didn’t do too badly… shoulda called ’em out though, said, “Play ‘I Can!’ Play it now if you’re gonna play that other shit! Y’all are misrepresenting my career.”
I think it is ridiculous that these news channels always bring rappers on to discuss a particular issue & then once they get them in the hot seat they take all emphasis off of the issue at hand & instead use it as a moment to crucify rap music as a whole & blame it for all of the world’s problems…the interviewer did not discuss Nas’ letter to the youth or even speak to Nas about what is happening in Chicago…instead they play a 10 year old clip of a song that wasn’t even a single…which is probably one of the most violent songs Nas has ever made among the MANY positive messages he has put forth.
Despite the ridiculous angle that the interviewer tried to take I feel that Nas handled himself very well…actually much better than I expected & managed to get across many good points in that short interview…props to Nas on that one.