Nas Speaks Out On The Chicago Student That Was Beaten To Death
I remember feeling like I was the hardest “n*gga” breathing. And I couldn’t wait to prove it. But let’s think. What are we really proving?? And proving what to who?? Everybody knows Chicago breeds the strongest of the strong but I just feel, me, being ya brother from another state feels your pain as if I grew up with you in ya very own household.
You have the ability and mindpower to change they way we are looked at. Look who’s watching us young warriors, look who’s throwing us in jail constantly, look at the ignorance in the world. Look at the racist dogs who love to see us down. Loving to bury us in the ground or in jail where we continue this worthless war on one another.
Young warriors…. We are WASTING more and more time. We gotta get on our jobs and take over the world. Cuz this movie left the theaters years ago, Juice, Menace, Boys n the Hood , Blood n Blood Out, Belly!
When we see each other why do we see hatred? Why were we born in a storm, born soldiers, WARRIORS….and instead of building each other up we are at war with each other.. May the soul of this young person find peace with the almighty. I’m with you young warriors. You’re me and I’m you. But trust me! you are fighting the wrong war.
This sh*t sucks !!
-Nas via Global Grind(Full letter)
Stop The Madness: A Chicago Honor Roll Student Is Beaten To Death
Suggestion Box
September 28th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
i hear u Brethren..realtalk!
September 28th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
cosign…..we have to stop this self hate
September 28th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
WORD..THAT SHIT WAS’NT TOUGH, IT WAS STUPID
September 28th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
He’s right. If we can take control of this anger that we have and direct it at the right people, we’d be doing a lot better in society. We have to come together and take what’s ours and stop taking from ourselves. When one black person is down, we’re all down. And they love it. Do you think they care about us? If you do, they’ve got you fooled! If they really did, we’d have 40 acres and a mule. And it IS about race. Because if it wasn’t, they’d give us our fair share. You know, 150 years worth of slave labor. But the ones who blame our situation on their ancestors are the same ones who are cool with the advantages given to them from their ancestors.
Whatever…that’s all I have to say.
Rest in peace, Derrion Albert.
September 28th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
nas is the smartest guy in this hip hop game. when I listen to guys like rick ross, the game, Lil wayne….all I fucking see is ignorance, but these are the types of people the media exposes black youths to and it’s cool to them. Jay-z is a role model too but he ain’t nothing but a business man. thats all there is to him. the world is more than making money, you gotta try to elevate people’s WAY OF THINKING. jay-z will always be known as a guy who came from nothing, then started dealing drugs then became a famous rapper, so FUCK JAY-Z !! guys like 2pac, nas = smart brothers. but you americans will always be the dumbest nation on earth anyway, this shit will neevr stop
September 28th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
i think we all need to watch this video of Pac speakin the truth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7zmKOGEPaE
Now, do you think we’ve changed over these past 16 years….
September 28th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
REAL TALK from Nas
September 28th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
That’s what I like to hear NAS! That’s what’s great about these living legends (i.e. NAS, Jay Z), they have knowledge to share from a unique perspective. And they got millions of people listening to them – they should utalize their celebrity more often.
Like Jay does as a philanthrapist on the low providing clean water to so many villages overseas. NAS speaking out again ignorant crime. We need more people in Hip Hop to take a stance and represent the culture. Its not about race, it’s about whats right and understanding our potential. Leave the world in a better place than we received it in – we owe that at least.
Not trying to get preachy, but I really like to see the leaders of Hip Hop stand for something positive. We can’t forget about 50 Cent doing that concernt in Queens for the kids.
September 28th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
nas the goat
September 28th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
thats for sure
September 28th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
I gotta disagree with ‘Daddy’ b/c it’s not about race anymore. Every man has the ability to attain his dream w/o a handout. It’s about how you look at it, cause it will look at you the same way.
I dont expect anyone to give me anything, keep ya 40 acres. Bottom line is, things like this incident would still occur if every man had a piece of land.
Last, I respect the artista who bring awareness to the youth & our struggles. But the REAL man is the one who steps-in to help when the news doesn’t have a headline like this one, when things are quiet. That’s when we should raise a voice & stay engaged with these kids.
FOR ALL OF YOU TUFF GUYS OUT HERE . . . WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO PROVE OTHER THAN YOU KNOW HOW TO RUIN YOUR LIVES?
September 28th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
…couldn’t have put it no better myself!!!
“My insight enlights vision, words of wisdom,
niggas pay me a tuition to listen, the murder paragraphs of mysticism”
- NAS ‘The World Is Yours (remix)
September 28th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Nas is one of the few intelligent rappers violence is all hip hop preaches and how we depicted in movies if its gonna stop in the hood its has 2 stop in hip hop bcuz rappers are basically our voice , role models and teachers blacks as a whole devalue education until our culture changes the shit lik this would jus b another reason y most people consider us a lesser form of life
September 28th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Finally a rapper speaking up on shit like this that needs more attention than Kanye and Taylor swift. A little boy lost his life and this isnt a big story like I thought it should. No one at my job asking me about this shit. But mention Kanye and ppl still mad. Obama clld a liar & some ppl didnt even know. Anyway to stay on topic, good lookin Nas. He might fuck around and get his next album copped at best buy if he keeps this up.
September 28th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
This is what Nas needed to do. He is a voice that needs to resonate in the ears and minds of black youth. Very insightful. He has had the power and voice to lead a movement for his entire career. Its good to see him exercising it. For a long time Nas has been a leader without asking people to follow his lead. He has been a one man army. But now, with this message, he is beginning to show us what many rappers cannot. I’m with you on this, Mr Jones. Speak out against violence and self destruction because is no one speaks out, then spectators are open to pass judgement and spread the blame to our hip-hop culture. At the end of the day, hip-hop did not kill this child. Misguided children killed this child. Now adults like Nas can take the rope and loosen it.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
RT @ Nas
Our children need saving, but I have to ask…where are the parents of these reckless kids?… imo the morals and values start at home.
We need to educate these ‘waste parents’ that are raising ignorant kids.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
…and this ‘no snitching’ culture needs to stop, all its doing is holding us back.
wake up peoples.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Nas is not only right but he’s offering insight into what a lot of people seem to overlook. An example is how quickly people are to say that Nas lost the war but won the battle with Jay cause Jay has the most money…that’s what’s defined as a win, I presume, huh? Nas chose a different path and listening to this analysis and countless others alone you see where he differs from Jay and why Jay is where he’s at and Nas isn’t…hearing this from Jay would have impact but it wouldn’t be the same. Nas has a voice that’s signifcant in dialogue Jay doesn’t and this is one of them. I’m glad he spoke on this.
September 28th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
hey no 3 how old are you , you a banger oh youvé killed like how many people ? i thought sooooo none so how is it stupid whats he talking about , ah ha i get yo ass aint never done no time you never been away from yours for 6to8 years huh , well ya on your way my dumbdown nigga , cant belive you said it was stupid , the very fact that assholes like you still living in music videos is stupid , how many times niggas got a tell you those films left the theater a generation ago
September 28th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
RT @ Nas
Our children need saving, but I have to ask…where are the parents of these reckless kids?… imo the morals and values start at home.
We need to educate these ‘waste parents’ that are raising ignorant kids.
^ Can’t always blame the parents. Mom and pops can’t choose the path the we walk on, we do. If we want to do good we will, if we want to do evil things we will. We have to take control of ourselves not put the blame or look for others to tell us how to live. I grew up in a single parent household and moms was at work most of the time and I turned out fine.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
i’d run them over in my boxster porsche! right……… but i would run them over!
their aint much to say! kids need shit to do, recreational activities like violin or masturbation i guess from an early age cause this violent shit thats cool to them. like jojo smoking weed. me persnally i liked anime, video games and playing with my computer. my father always thought i smoked weed i never dd though my school had all of these crazy mothafuckas. i’d hide and throw a stone too… but thats besides the point… we need health care!
the other day i was watching some shit on oakland gang wars. dudes shooting each other like it was fun… crazy… when you dont dream have low selfesteem, have nothing to look forward to. you cling and focus on the the most ignorant easiest futureless shit to past your time. i mean… you can do anything if you put your mind to. i mean look at dave!
September 28th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
i cosign everything gary said. violence is primitive and in this modern world we should not have to resort to that for recreation or for the solution to a problem. but things like proverty harbours this behaviour, we can only blame obama or disney for not making enough parks for us to play in.
September 28th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
we demand parks with water slides! by the way… fuck the police!!!
September 28th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
u know wat?? i want a go kart! and to see micky mouse
September 28th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
I agree with stop the violence but I don’t agree with blaming other people for anybody commiting crime/failing in life. Some people need to stop blaming other people for any law breaking they may do, you knew it was wrong before you did it… don’t front. Bill Cosby is the man. Anyway Nas is my fave rapper. Grown man ish!
September 28th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
LOL @ #23 WORD @ the last line hahaha
September 28th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
thats fucked up! them kids simply need a strappin!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykRX3VoSwsU
September 29th, 2009 at 12:17 am
I’m not saying that I’m expecting 40 acres and a mule. That isn’t gonna happen, so don’t count on it. I’m saying that we have to come together and start making things happen, and stop killing each other. We have to come together as a people and make sure we start moving ahead in society and start owning businesses. Look at Jay-Z, Diddy, Birdman, Pharrell, Russell Simmons, and LeBron James as examples on how to be that rose in the concrete. And once you gain the knowledge, share it with the people who haven’t made it yet. Basically what I’m saying is, we need to come together and do something. Unit and show the rest of the world that we are greater than what people tend to believe.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:48 am
shit is never going to stop….cause dumb ass NIGGAS do terrible shit for no reason at all….except for SELF-HATRED…committing horrible acts because they have NO LIVES…no ambition and no determination
September 29th, 2009 at 2:30 am
lol @ 29 nuttin like a ferror rocher @2:thirty. lookin at bayoneta preview lot to learn.. and, lost planet 2.
September 29th, 2009 at 4:02 am
Nas deep as hell , when he speaks he actually makes sense..he would make a good activist, he says what everybody else is thinking but can’t find the words ..he has to be , the smartest or one of the smartest rappers/mc’s i’ve heard before.
R.I.P Derrion Albert
September 29th, 2009 at 4:15 am
@ Prof A, I think No.3 was agreeing with Nas… Saying that shit (what they did to the student) aint tough it’s STUPID!!! Please read and increase the peace… Bless
September 29th, 2009 at 5:56 am
I don’t care what anybody says the parents are to blame especially the absents fathers educuations starts at home it don’t matter if you have both parents living at home you grew up with parents for the most part. where are they when you have black people killing each other ? The goverment has alot to answer for because there is virtually nowhere to be but at home or on the streets because their is no places for kids to go and be at peace and just chill out. Instead of coming together and trying to better ourselves we are fighting and killing each other of the most petty shitty ever know we are suffering daily because of the ignorance all our black leader are gone. Naturally they gonna try and find a role model on the streets especailly if their fathers gone. All of us have evil in us if we so which to do it but growing up with morals and strong parent or parents will curb that evil into somethink postive to release the potentinal for somethink good. 2 Pac and Nas will always be my 1 and 2 interchangably because of the great music and the qualities to lead the black youth who are struggling to find roles models at home. Look at this speech from 1992 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ4FvfM9Ftk&feature=related
September 29th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Its just real sad, I’ve been seeing shit like this since the early 80″s and it seems like it is never going to stop.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
i agree with most but its the fast life & gang life that everyone wants to portray. them real gangstaz are dead & gone. now they sangin an american gangsta song. peer pressure played a role & i try to put work in the youth like jus because he/she sd it or did it does it mean u have to do the same. we all have our own walks in life to b black leaders. not follow behind a code that they keep feedin us. jealousy is a trademark that many have. its the crab syndrome either you overcome or left out to be hung. i continue to pray that we will all over come & stop all this violence. if the media get it together instead of publishin all this hate then our ppl can b GREAT…. we aren’t the forgotten or lost tribe, we had america b4 it was america. its not up to the schools but the parents to take time to show our kids what we been through for many generations ever since our ancestors was tricked to come on the deadliest cruise to date. JUST CONTINUE TO PRAY BECAUSE ITS NOT THE END. WE STILL GOT SO MUCH LIVING AHEAD!!
September 29th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
smarten up Nas
September 29th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I would say we need more rappers and athletes speaking out like this, but majority of the time they do folks respond wit “shut up and play ball.”
http://screwheadsonly.blogspot.com
September 29th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Nas Won
September 29th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
whut nas said was right to somebody who got some sence. but to a dum nigga words like young warriors,and everybody knows chicago breeds the strongest of the strong, you know dum niggas like yeah joe u see how we get down, like when niggas feel proud that they city the murder cap. D.O.T.D.N. (death of the dum niggas)
September 29th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Fuck that I’m not going to listen to a fucking rapper telling me to stop the violence. All these niggas do is talk but there is never no actions. I love 3 of my niggas in the past two years and chicago is leading in murders and all Obama and the mayor wants to talk about is the fuckin Olympics. Until I see ya in my hood tryun to stop shit then i will fuck wit yall but until shit the fuck up and stay out our city. Where was this speech when him and Jay was going at it.
September 30th, 2009 at 12:23 am
ESCO!
September 30th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Some of you need to grow up! Nas is correct….and by the way Nas and Jay beef never turned violent and they squashed the word play on records because it was played out!!!! Grown and mature men handle business…they do not kill each or promote killing each other! People need to sop blaming others for doing nothing but talking about it….and the men or should I say boys involved in the gangs and destruction of the black communites….they need to take control of their anger and insecurites and learned to talk things out! These men are killing one another over standing on a block or drugs and who said what. This mess is dumb and it makes no sense at all!
September 30th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
This is what sets NAS apart from the rest (including Jay-Z, not including Ludacris)
I hear the concern in NAS voice. The dude cares about things he need not care about.
He has money and power, but he hasn’t forgotten the hood. The place that made him the man that he is.
Major props to NAS. A real dude, no sellout.
Ask Jay-Z what he’s doing with his money and time besides PR interviews with Oprah and building a stadium that will leave BK folks (ironically) homeless. Half Jay’s money should go back to the hood. Bill Gates is a realer dude than Jay. Jay sells his ass to the highest bidder. All that and the hood is what made Jay-Z. I used to be a Jay-Z fan. No mas.
October 1st, 2009 at 9:09 am
The letter was a bit redundant to me. He said the same thing over and over.
He could have spoken about the need to prove ones masculinity, the need to dominate, the need to thrive, all things that black men feel. He could have spoken about how men are stripped of their masculinity once incarcerated and once released into the real world they have a yearning to show and prove. or about how drugs and alcohol have altered parents, who have altered children who yield more children as a result of not knowing how to make the distinction between, love, affection and primal urges. I could go on and on, but all I know is I will think for myself and not fully listen to someone who along with his wife decided to glamorize (or try to desensitize) the word “Nigger” by saying the meaning of it has changed or been taken out, instead of just saying it shouldnt be glorified & walking arounf wearing it on jackets. Nas has his smart moments..But after that travesty.. I don’t believe in him.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
professora needs to learn how to read..#3 was clearly referencing the death of Derrion being stupid, not what nas said..fuckin moron
October 1st, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Wow Viv, broke it down the best I’ve ever seen. I see people who suffer from the same problems Viv speaks about in #45. Damn Viv do yo u got a blog? Nas is a great MC and I’m glad he spoke on the matter, but he doesn’t always get it right in my mind. ie saying Nigger came from Niger or Nigeria! WTF?!!! But anyway kudos to Nas for the effort and awareness.
October 3rd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
hardest come out of chi town HAHA nukka pleasee
October 12th, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Rip Derrion Albert its a Shame stuff like this is common in the black community but do me a favor and vote for me
http://www.newbalancelive.com/schuhgalerie/?shoeId=2439