Queens' own Nasir Jones putting on a show at the Cali Roots Music Fest. | Photo taken by Ural Garrett for Okayplayer.
Photo of Nas courtesy Instagram.
Nas is an artist who usually lets his music do the talking for him.
However, yesterday, the legendary rapper flipped the script by writing an open letter on Mass Appeal called "Action Speaks Louder than Words," which can essentially be read as a guide to how to thrive and be black in a politically volatile environment.
Nas comes out firing, specifically taking aim at President Donald Trump:
"We all know a racist is in office. People can talk their shit. Comedians can sound racist. People can go through their moments of that shit, but when you have the responsibility of being President and you carry on like that, you send a strong message to people outside of your group that they ain't worth shit."
While this letter can be read as just more negative press covfefe for Trump, Nas goes out of his way to let it be known that dissing Trump isn't really the point of the letter. In fact, it seems like he has a certain apathy for politics, and is more about doing the work:
"My way of addressing these issues is through my work. Whatever president may be in office doesn’t affect my work directly. The way he affects people is what affects me. I observe what’s going on and that goes into my creative process. The person himself, I’m not caught up with. I don’t even have time for Trump or Pence. I don’t give a fuck.
My focus is on what’s happening with real people in their everyday lives. How they behave, the decisions they make, and how that affects families."
The letter — which was released a couple of hours after he announced his tour with Lauryn Hill— is interesting. Check it out on Mass Appeal.
H/T: Mass Appeal
