cool, but honestly it's just a word. in the context asher used it, it was lame, to be sure.
but like you guys use the word in your own song, for example: "nigger vs faggot". the context is ironic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZCS5I80X-8
 

 

the line "faggot vs. nigger" was written and performed by a gay black man (leif) attempting to dissect two derogatory labels that are commonly understood to apply to someone like him.  the context was not "ironic" so much as deconstructive.

and yeah, i agree that context determines the significance of language, duh.  context determines the significance of anything.  but just because george carlin *attempts* to establish a context in which using the word nigger is acceptable doesn't make his punchline of calling richard pryor and eddie murphy niggers a foolproof usage of the word, in fact i personally think it fell flat and didn't come across as funny.

someone does not need to intend to be racist to offend people. if people are offended, then the action that they took offense to should be considered offensive.

http://www.illdoctrine.com/2008/07/how_to_tell_people_they_sound.html





 

who the hell wants to listen to asher roth in the first place?

 

a fine point

 

I think the best part of this is shit is that (as much as he sucks)young Mr.Roth is right he said the word "niggers"(or was it niggas?)and a group that speaks on the behalf of black people is now mad at him and also most likely black people who have nothing to do with that particular group,
also big fuck you to the guy who brought to my attention that George Carlin called Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy a nigger,I now have to re-evaluate my opinion of his body of work but more than that fuck you for making the same tired old "but black people say it" arguement thats been unsuccessfully made a million times before,let me explain it to to any one who doesnt get it by now,durring seggregation any one who wasnt white wasnt allowed to eat at the same resturaunts,use the same bathrooms or sit on the same side of the bus as whites and this was enforced by law,even now that its no longer enforced by law certain limitations are enforced passive aggressivly by individuals one of these limitations is that it is frowned upon for white people to say nigger or nigga in the context that has become so popular,hell even a mexican person calling a black person a nigger out of genuine hatred isnt nearly as uncomfortable as a white person doing the same thing primarily because mexicans had to sit on the same side of the bus durring seggregation.
 

The fact that another seemingly questionable Hip hop act felt compelled to discuss the matter- is enough to give importance to the done deed.

Was it right? Depending on the person questioned, the response varies. It's Hip hop folks. Not the most formal or kosher conduct oriented sport for dialogue.

There' is a hell of shit that strikes as an irritant or that I find corny. ie; that taco bell/kfc joint- pretty lame in almost every music aspect. Still- I find other shit from the same humorous duet quite fucking dope.

Again, it's Hip Hop- not a fucking compassion for your fellow fucking negro contest.

You're not anymore accepted for standing up to something stupid.

just sayin-

 

here's a question i've dealt with personally:
me and my friend spencer have a hip hop cover project where we record and tackle live versions of some of our favorite cuts of the genre. it's fun and intended as a loving homage to a style of music we both love and respect. but what happens when a completely white dude like myself, who doesn't ever use the n-word conversationally in any context, is repeating the words of a black man who indeed does say it? i go ahead and do it, because they're his words and not mine and as part of his flow and means of expression they are appropriate, but i'd be lying if i didn't admit to feeling a certain strain of awkwardness about it.

 

similarly minded discussion from mc serch's blog:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=29919232&blogId=315377619

 

I recommend substituting "ninja" to avoid the problem altogether.

 

AMAZING.

 

Hear me out.

Hey, can I call some strangers sister a hoe? Not unless I want to get punched out! I know a guy, him and his sister call each other alllll types of off the cuff names. But you can tell its all in fun. Can I call his sister a hoe? Not if I want to stay friendly with the kid.

Whats up; Bra, Cuz, Kid, My Peoples, Ock. There are SO MANY salutations, why use nigga? I don't know about other groups but SOME, white people do it with a purposeful, almost, evil glee and then claim ignorance. "Oh well how come I cant say it?" or "its just a word?" and then seriously look at me like your ass is slow!? Like young Asher here he knows the power of this word and enjoys toying with it! Why the pathological NEED to say NIGGA, NIGGER? WTF? It's like trying to downplay it but there is a sinister intention behind it. Like with ALL ISMs.

I don't call other racial groups ethnic slurs. Why is it ok for other groups to call me a nigger/nigga/ninja? We all know the historical connotation. People died, where hanged, raped and the word is forever linked to that negative energy. I don't go to a white hipster party or a red neck bar like "Yoooo my honkys!".

Likewise; If I did that to a Latino or a Asian and used their racial slurs as salutations, that would be a problem! I brought this up to a Puerto Rican friend of mine. He's always "nigga this nigga that", I said "If the tables where turned and I did the same to you and used the Latin slur you would get HEATED and the situation would get nasty. So why do you do it with your black friends? It's accepted cause we are all minorities I understand (I usually let it ride) but I don't like it.

Is it just a word? Call a self conscious chunky kid "fatty". Its just a word (but he is crying). Make fun of a person in a wheelchair. Bust on a kid at the store buying food with food stamps. JUST WORDS. Words do damage, words start wars, words get people killed.

"That Nigger was staring at me!" said by a young white women in 1929. Just words. That one got a brother lynched and then they chopped of his penis!!!

...........Yup just a word.