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NASTRADAMUS ON THE RED CARPET

Posted by Erik Brunetti on February 12, 2008 2:57 AM | Email

"In heart I am a Muslim; in heart I am an American; in heart I am Muslim, in heart I'm an American artist, and I have no guilt. I seek pleasure. I seek the nerves under your skin. The narrow archway; the layers; the scroll of ancient lettuce. We worship the flaw, the belly, the belly, the mole on the belly of an exquisite whore. He spared the child and spoiled the rod. I have not sold myself to God."

^{Lyrics from Patti Smiths Babelogue, the intro to Rock n Roll Nigger}

*****

The obvious reaction to the Nas Image(s) of his entourage and himself wearing the word "Nigger" em-blazed across the fronts and backs of their jackets / shirts at last nights Grammy Awards (seen bombarded all over the news, blogs and internet) is shock and confusion.

But, as both a viewer and consumer the most productive action to take is research the use of this word in the world of music, and what it really means when put in the correct context, (the offensive word here is used in place of "outsider" or "rebel") This is what Nas is achieving by titling his forthcoming Lp "Nigger". Now, was it appropriate for them to unveil this controversial marketing tool at the prestigious Grammys?

Yes. This is a statement that is long over due, given all the Black artist that have been duped and ripped off by the "man" in Hollywood's recording industry. (Dating back to Elvis Presley ripping off many a Black Delta Blues artist...himself getting rich off of their soulful songs of yearning, while they die broke. ) I found this move by Nas to be a very powerful statement, to not only go to war with his record label over titling his forthcoming record "Nigger", but audaciously wearing the word on the Grammys red carpet sends a middle finger directly in the face of white Hollywoods own coveted event.

Although Nas is the most recent musician to use the N-Word (with "ER" spelling as opposed to the slang "A" at the end) , this is not the first time a well known recording artist has appropriated this word (with the "ER" spelling) in the mainstream of a musical context.

Sly & the Family Stone's 1969 Album Stand! The second track on the album is "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey", a criticism of racism. The song has very few lyrics, save for a verse by Rose Stone and the song's push-and-pull chorus, which parodies racial unrest in the United States by reducing the concept to two bickering and irresolvable lines:

"Don't call me 'nigger', whitey." "Don't call me 'whitey', nigger."

*****

Following shortly thereafter in 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono released the song "Woman is the Nigger of the World" The phrase was originally coined by Ono during a magazine interview in 1967. Lennon later said during his Live in New York City album that it took him until 1970 to "dig it". He was hoping to show how women were and still are being treated.

The song lambasts the perceived traditional role of woman's subservience to man across all cultures. It was banned from radio airplay because of the word 'nigger' although many prominent blacks, including black comedian Dick Gregory, spoke out in defense of the song. Interestingly, many people tended to take "Woman is the Nigger" as a statement on face-value, and agree with it. So an element of black humor was also involved.

^{*John Lennon's explanation of the song on the Dick Cavett Show can be found here. Below is an excerpt from Lennons:}

"Woman is the Nigger of the World"

Woman is the nigger of the world
Yes she is...think about it
Woman is the nigger of the world
Think about it...do something about it

We make her paint her face and dance
If she wont be a slave, we say that she dont love us
If shes real, we say shes trying to be a man
While putting her down, we pretend that shes above us

*****

In 1978 Patti Smith released a song titled "Rock n Roll Nigger". Rock N Roll Nigger is a punk rock song composed by Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye, and first released on Smith's 1978 album Easter. The lyrics of the song depict the suppression of human beings worldwide, male and female, all races, and creeds. The intro to the song begins with Patti's "Babelogue" (which concludes with the musical intro to "Rock N Roll Nigger") Below are the Lyrics to Smiths powerful song, Rock N Roll Nigger:

Rock N Roll Nigger

Baby was a black sheep. Baby was a whore.
Baby got big and baby get bigger.

Baby get something. Baby get more.
Baby, baby, baby was a rock-and-roll nigger.
Oh, look around you, all around you,
riding on a copper wave.
Do you like the world around you?
Are you ready to behave?

Outside of society, they're waitin' for me.
Outside of society, that's where I want to be.

Baby was a black sheep. Baby was a whore.
You know she got big. Well, she's gonna get bigger.
Baby got a hand; got a finger on the trigger.
Baby, baby, baby is a rock-and-roll nigger.

Outside of society, that's where I want to be.
Outside of society, they're waitin' for me.

(those who have suffered, understand suffering,
and thereby extend their hand
the storm that brings harm
also makes fertile
blessed is the grass
and herb and the true thorn and light)

I was lost in a valley of pleasure.
I was lost in the infinite sea.
I was lost, and measure for measure,
love spewed from the heart of me.
I was lost, and the cost,
and the cost didn't matter to me.
I was lost, and the cost
was to be outside society.

Jimi Hendrix was a nigger.
Jesus Christ and Grandma, too.
Jackson Pollock was a nigger.
Nigger, nigger^,nigger, nigger,
nigger, nigger, nigger.

Outside of society, they're waitin' for me.
Outside of society, if you're looking,
that's where you'll find me.
Outside of society, they're waitin' for me.
Outside of society. (Repeat)