Here’s a piano rendition of Nas’ untitled new album, courtesy of Jordan DeLisser. DeLisser is the same guy who gave us Carter III on piano.

[Props: IllRoots.com]

Nas showing off some Rock Band skills backstage at Colbert Report.

Related Post:
Nas Colbert Report Interview and Performance

Nas performing “N.I.G.G.E.R.,” “Breathe,” and “Hero” at the Roxy.

[Via: Nerdwithswag]

Excerpts from the Nas interview in August issue of YRB magazine:

On the word N-word:
“The majority of rap albums are nigger albums – it’s a nigger culture. We took the horrific, bloody holocaust of the Black American slaves, and the word they called us, and transformed it into money…There are a lot of people other than blacks who are niggers right now – whether it’s dumb motherfuckers in the Dominican Republic where you got light-skinned people hating the dark-skinned one, and you got the same kind of thing happening in Haiti, Brazil…”

On Rev. Jeremiah Wright:
“That’s street corner shit. That’s that nigger shit, just on a higher level. That’s just a dumb-ass nigga. With all the degrees and intelligence he has, he throws all that out the window when he starts cooning. Reverend Wright is the biggest coon of the 21st century so far, and that’s just what it is. And I don’t give a fuck who he’s down with, where he studied at, he’s a great fucking coon.”

Obviously Bill-O has a thing for Nas. Watch the way he says Nas’ name.

Speking of Nas…

He was on The Colbert Report last night to promote his chart-topping new album. Colbert’s intro had me rolling: “A streetwise multi-platinum gangsta rapper who has glorified violence and is known to carry a gun.” Even if you don’t watch anything else today, you should definitely watch these 2 videos.
(more…)

Nas doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk. In addition to ethering Fox News on “Sly Fox,” Nas joined Moveon.org and ColorofChange to deliver a petition against the racist network yesterday. The petition was signed by 620,127 people.

As rightly predicted, Nas’ latest album arrived at the No.1 spot on the Billboard 200.

From Billboard:

One rapper replaces another atop The Billboard 200 this week, as Nas’ untitled Def Jam album dethrones Lil Wayne’s Cash Money/Universal set “Tha Carter III.” Nas’ album sold 187,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, becoming the rapper’s fifth No. 1 here.

Nas’ prior album, 2006’s “Hip-Hop Is Dead,” also debuted at No. 1 but sold 354,000 over Christmas week. Meanwhile, after three non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, “Tha Carter III” slips to No. 2 with a 15% sales decrease to 105,000.

Congrats, Esco. Enjoy it it for six days.