Nas Addresses Album Title Change, Previews New Video

"[Rev. Al Sharpton] had no influence on me changing the title," Nas proclaimed at a private screening in New York for the video for 'Be a [N-word] Too.' "Hip-hop has caught a lot of heat this last year from our so-called black leaders. We have a lot of enemies from these so-called leaders and they go to these corporations and extort the record labels."

The Queensbridge emcee caught a lot of flack when he announced in late 2007 that he was naming his new album [N-word]. Several community leaders and politicians were outraged by the emcee's desire to use the pejorative as his album title, but Nas stood strong and defended the title until he had a sudden change of heart last week.

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Sharpton called the rapper's decision not to use the N-word as a "partial victory," but Nas made it clear that the activist had absolutely nothing to do with his decision. "The [Bill] Cosby's and Sharpton's they're scared that hip-hop n----s are on the way up and the so-called leaders play the tap dance roll because of that," Nas said.

The video, which mimicked Spike Lee's 2002 film '25th Hour,' featured Nas rhyming in front of a mirror before eventually questioning his position in life. "You could have done something great Nasir Jones....you just a n----,"Nas says to his reflection.