Nas Pens Open Letter About President Trump & Racism
Nas says he has no time for Trump.
The hip-hop legend has penned an open letter to fans about his views on politics, race, and President Donald Trump.
The charged letter, which he released through Mass Appeal, begins with a take on race. “The only way the black man gets a little piece in America is if he takes the O.J. stance: ‘I’m not black, I’m O.J.,’ he wrote. “When you ignore the shit that’s happening to people you can live in this fantasy, this American fantasy that you belong to… who? You ignore what’s happening, and that gives you peace. Because what’s going on is enough to make people insane.”
From there, Nas went on to talk about racism in everyday life and in politics. “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,” he added. “So why would I focus on that unless I’m in the political game? Unless I’m running for office I don’t have to pay attention to know that. If I ever vote again—when it’s time to vote again, and I feel like voting again—I don’t have to follow the news to know who I’m voting against. But then you wind up saying ‘Who’s the next motherfucker coming in, and how does that help?'”
The rapper, who bashed Trump on “Nas Album Done,” went on to explain how he chooses to address injustice. “My way of addressing these issues is through my work,” he wrote. “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.”
Comparing President Trump’s era with that of President Ronald Reagan, Nas wrote about the value of resilience. “I’m doing all the things I ever dreamed of, even though there was a Ronald Reagan, even though there was laws that ruthlessly destroyed the black community, put tons of us in prison on trumped-up charges, and put us in jail for a long time over crimes that other people get a smack on the hand for,” he wrote. “It’s basically slavery.”
Next up, Nas is heading out on a joint tour with Ms. Lauryn Hill, starting Sept. 7 in Chicago through Oct. 11 in Vancouver. He is also readying his next album — the follow-up to 2012’s Life Is Good — for this year.