Nas changes controversial LP title

Remember Nas? Remember that story 'bout his album, the controversially titled 'Nigger'? Well, it seems that outside pressures have forced the rappers' hand into changing it. A rep' for Def Jam confirmed that Nas has made an eleventh-hour decision to change the title of his new album to 'Nas'.

The Queens rapper created a real furore when he announced the provocative title. At the time, Def Jam stood behind Nas saying; "We stand firmly behind and beside our artists with pride and with pleasure." In an MTV interview last week, Nas suggested that he was facing renewed pressure: "Everybody is trying to stop the title.... Record stores are gonna have a problem in this day and time selling a record with that title. Who knows what's gonna turn out and be on that title? Who knows what that title will be?"

In a statement, Nas clarified that he considers his new album untitled, adding: "It's important to me that this album gets to the fans. It’s been a long time coming. I want my fans to know that, creatively and lyrically, they can expect the same content and the same messages. It's that important. The streets have been waiting for this for a long time. The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it." A big pat on the back to his PR company there for creating interest in a rapper past his peak.