Whenever I get the chance to interview someone in person, I make it my business to drop everything and maneuver to wherever I need to be. So when I was notified of an in-person interview with Nasir Jones at a YRB Magazine photo shoot, I jumped at the opportunity. I arrived at the set a few minutes after Nas, so when I walked into the studio, he was already chomping on some delicious soul food (I didn’t eat all day).

While in the cut, I manged to snap a quick incognito flick of the Queensbridge poet and started to make my rounds right after. I introduced myself to a couple of other BET personnel who happened to be in attendance as well. Toure, from Black Carpet seemed kind of stand off-ish, but hey I wasn’t tripping. I found myself a seat, and began to wait (this is when the real fun began).

10 minutes later, Nas sat  down with Toure for an extensive and entertaining Black Carpet interview. Their interview was supposed to be 7 minutes, but wound up taking over 45. Wait, before I go any further, here are some interesting quotes I overheard Nasir blurt out….

-”Def Jam wanted to keep the album title, but I wanted to change it.” (obviously a reference to naming his album after the, ahem, N word.)

-”I’m not voting. I don’t trust politicians and they don’t trust me.” (seems clear enough. No Barack. No Hillary. And definitely no McCain).

-”Hip Hop is scared to DEATH of politics.” (hmmm. I thought Hip Hop was dead).

-”I believe Barack Obama is the N*gger to make that change.” (He said he wasn’t voting, but that doesn’t mean he can’t endorse someone, I think).

-While Toure was wrapping up the interview, Nas blurts out “Nah, we should talk more about this (Voting for Obama).”

-”There was never a president to come to any hood to help us out…EVER! There’s been rappers that come to Queensbridge, but not presidents. Rappers are our presidents.”

- Nas is dropping N*gger around Independence Day (July 1st to be exact)

- “This N*gger album is more important than my first album.”

- “If they make me change the album title, it just goes to show how people aren’t ready to deal with the issue.”

After finishing up the interview, Nas retreats to a back room to prepare for his photo shoot. Still waiting patiently, I start flicking some photos of the set up for the cover (scroll down and check em out). Nas emerges and gets busy. The photos are coming out great and everything is moving according to plan. I approach Nas’ publicist and inquire about my talk time, he looks at me and says “uhhh give me one second.” He approaches Nas in what I thought was an attempt to bring him over to me so we could knock out four or five questions. One minute goes by, they’re still talking. Two minutes go by, they’re still talking. Five minutes go by and they are STILL talking. Now mind you, I’m standing in CLEAR VIEW with a bright ass red shirt on, but i guess he didn’t see me.

I’m not the pushy type and I know how these industry goofies love to style on us little folks, so once again, I played my position and fell back. 15 minutes and nothing has come of the situation. I heard Shawn Pecas (one of Def Jam’s big wigs) utter the words “Yo, we gotta go do Clue” (A POPULAR DJ on Power 105.1 in NYC). And what do you know, Nas was out of there. It seems like someone was going to make SURE I didn’t get my goal accomplished.

And though I may sound bitter, I swear I’m not…okay, I am lol. All they had to do was say yes or no. Instead, he had me waste two hours sitting at a magazine photo shoot for NOTHING! In no way, shape or form am I blaming this on Nas (he had no control over the situation).

Alright I’m out….heading over to Def Jam to retrieve my Glow In The Dark tickets for tomorrow’s show @ Madison Square Garden. I guess my job isn’t all that bad.

Check out some exclusive photos of Nas at his YRB photo shoot below!

Sincerely,

Low “Tool: An individual who’s self worth is much less than he/she imagines” Key

P.S. Erika Shantz….YOU’RE AWESOME!!!  

The set up….

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I don’t wanna spoil the shoot, so I won’t say anything about this shot….

I guess I am spoiling it huh???

Nas in DEEP thought…..

Toure and Nas chop it up….

I swear every time I see this picture, it makes me think Nas is making a beat with his hands… 

Too Cool For School……

An American flag and Nas??? I smell trouble!  

Told you…….

Nas checks for approval…..

Nasir Jones. The one I did not interview…YET.