Posted May 22, 2008

Early this week rapper Nas ditched the controversial title, N*gger, from his upcoming album. Now Rev. Al Sharpton and his National Action Network Decency Initiative is taking credit for playing a role in getting the CD name removed, according to AllHipHop.

"Clearly, putting their focus and pressure on the companies and not engaging in a fruitless pursuit of chasing a never ending and ever changing roster of artists has proven to be smart," Rev. Sharpton said in a statement. "The record companies and retailers have the power as this Nas matter shows. Had not the [NAN's] Decency Initiative and other groups put the pressure on, this change of title on Nas' album would never had been a corporate concern."

"No other community is subjected to denigration as a form of entertainment," activist Tamika Mallory said. "A record company would never release an album titled the "f [ag]" word to describe the gay community or the "k[ike]" word to describe the Jewish community as they should not," the activist said. "We are fighting to make sure the rules apply for women and African Americans as well."

Rather than change the album name, Nas has opted to leave the CD untitled.