Colbert Report: Nas protests FOX, performs new anti-FOX song: UPDATED
Hip hop star Nas joined forces with grassroots organization Color of Change and yesterday delivered over 620,000 petitions to FOX News, demanding an end to the daily on-air racism. Last night he joined Stephen to talk about the fight against FOX (particularly Bill O'Reilly, who Nas says is "scared") and performed the first single off his new untitled album, "Sly Fox."
Download | play 
Download | play
I watch CBS, and I see B.S
Trying to track us down with GPS
Make a brotha want to invest in PBS
You can check out Part 1 of the interview here to see Nas call out BillO.
UPDATE: Hat Tip to Color of Change. Sign their petition: Demand Fox stop race baiting and fear mongering
Jack and Jill says: Nas Joins Color of Change to Deliver Petitions to Fox News
Brave New Films says: Sorry FOX, We Won't Let You Trash Michelle Obama
Full lyrics below the fold. May not be safe for work.
The sly Fox, cyclops
We locked in an idiot box
The video slots broadcast
The Waco Dividian plots
They own YouTube, MySpace
When this ignorant shit going to stop?
They monopolizing news
Your views
And the channel you choose
Propaganda, visual cancer
The eye in the sky, number 5 on the dial
Secret agenda, frequency antenna
Dr. Mindbender
Remote control soul
Controller
Your brain holder
Slave culture, game's over
What's a fox characteristic?
Slick shit, sensin', misinformation
Pimp the station, over-stimulation
Reception, deception
Comcast digital Satan
The Fox has a bushy tail
And Bush tells lies and foxtrots
So, I don't know what's real (what's real)
[ Chorus ]
Watch what you're watching
Fox keeps feeding us toxins
Stop sleeping
Start thinking outside of the box
And unplugg from the Matrix doctrine
But watch what you say,
Big Brother is watching
Watch what you're watching
Fox keeps feeding us toxins
Stop sleeping
Start thinking outside of the box
And unplugged from the Matrix doctrine
But watch what you say, Fox Five is watching
[ Nas ]
The Fear Factir that got you all riled up
O'Reilly? Oh really? No rally
needed, I'll tie you up
Network for child predators, setting them up
MySpace, pimps, hoes and sluts
[ Find more Lyrics at www.mp3lyrics.org/V2L8 ]
Y'all exploit rap culture,
then y'all flip on us
And you own the Post, and y'all shit on us
What is their net worth?
They're going to try to censor my next verse
Throw them off the roof neck first
While I'm clicking my cursor
Reading blogs about pressure
they put on Universal
It gets worse
While I'm clicking my mouse
While they kickin my house
They figured us out
Why a nigga go south?
It's either he caught a body
Don't sleep, they're watching
I watch CBS, and I see BS
Trying to track us down with GPS
Make a nigga want to invest in PBS
[ Chorus ]
[ Nas ]
They say I'm all about murder
murder and kill kill
But what about Grindhouse and Kill Bill?
What about Cheney and Halliburton?
The back door deals on oil fields?
How is Nas the most violent person?
Y'all wouldn't know talent if it hit you
Bringing up my criminal
possession charges with a pistol
I use Viacom as my firearm
Then let the lyrics split you,
who do you rely upon?
Then shoot shells at Leviathon
I'm dealing with the higher form
Fuck if you care how I write a poem
Only fox that I loved was the red one
Only black man that Fox love is
in jail or a dead one
Red rum, political bedlam
Don't let the hype into
your eyes and ear drum
Murdoch own fox
Not A-Team with Baracus
And he hates Barack cuz he
march with the marches
[ Deep voice outro ]
I pledge allegiance to the
fair and balanced truth
Not the biased truth
Not the liar's truth
But the highest truth
I will not be deceived
Nor will I believe in the propaganda
I will not fall for the okie-doke
I am tuned in...
[ Nas ]
Watch because they're watching
Watch what you're watching
Better watch because they're watching
Watch what you're watching
M-m-media, misleading you
Watch what you're watching
pretty good lyrics
I respect that celebrities and even rappers have political opinions...I just don't care to know what they are...even if they jibe with my own.
600,127!!!!!!!
CoIntelPro for Pronktastic Victory Over SCLM, DIEBOLD, ESS and SEQUOIA! @ 3:
Correction!!!!!
Wait, 620k sigs takes that many boxes to hold?
NAS is getting a good message out to a group of people normally ignored. I hope that what he is doing is opening minds and bringing new people to the table to state their equal ownership and rightful place in our society. Good for him, good for Stephen Colbert.
While I am not a rap fan, the lyrics are very thought-provoking, and I admire him for this. Good job!
Or better, just throw your TV in the trash and never look back.
Fox News is putting out the results of a new "poll" or push poll asking do you have a neighbor who is scared of Obama? Jeez!!!
What is scary is Fox News and sick people who watch them. They. are. sick.
....and the album is nice to. These are artist we need to support.
samdog @ 2:
I'm pretty sure they don't care about your opinion either, unless you signed the petition.
Half man, half amazin'.
dosido @ 9:
FOX has a Fear of a Black Planet
These lyrics make a hell of a lot more sense than the ones I grew up with in the 1950s when I was a teen.
I mean, just what the fuck does this mean........?
Sha boom sha boom, a ratta ta tatta tat,
Sha boom sha boom a ratta ta tatta tat.
No wonder I am fucked up.
Go NAS. Keep writing.
Thank you C&L for posting up some poli-rap! Getting the music out to people who wouldn't normally hear it (hip hop/rap) is important in uniting our cause.
samdog @ 2:
Whether you agree with his status, his celebrity grants him a spot as a leader with the black communities youth (and to a large extend, the white suburban kids). I would argue that it's his duty to encourage people who are influenced by his voice to stand up against one of the most corrupt organizations in our country... the media.
While I wouldn't find any interest in rap music itself, I can no more fault Nas for speaking his political views than I can Rage Against the Machine or Bad Religion.
Krisken @ 16:
Absolutely!
good job NAS
This reminds me of when rap was good. Those were the days.
By the way, here's my new vid on why Obama will win.
cool
I wit ya
goosebumps...sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet...thank you!
Jo @ 17:
Bob Dylans voice drives me up a wall, but I do like the message and the songs when done by other people, for the most part.
Great lyrics, but the beats were terrible. It was exactly like hearing Rage Against the Machine, but somehow even worse. There's something about overtly political rock and rap tunes that just sucks (unless you're the Clash or Dylan, or maybe Neil Young).
Now does Billo have the balls to send his ambush guy to confront Nas?
Make a nigga want to invest in PBS???
Really can't believe that's printed here on this site.
And not because it's impossible for anyone to invest in PBS.
JoeMarasmus @ 19:
I approve of the Frantics "Boot to the Head" intro.
Jo @ 17:
I agree.
If 620,127 people found his petition had merit to participate, he certainly have obligation to share. He didn't start and collect for his benefit. He must've felt stronly enough to do something about it. I do share FOX NEWS does use racial tone to feed propaganda to misinform, instill and reinforce fear, and divide us. It is sad to see thousands of individuals at FOX NEWS and the like helping this cause and perpetuate false information for money, influence, etc.
We need to have inputs from all walks of life whether they are from stars, children, older generation and others to better understand and more informed. Other side inputs are fine as long as they aren't feeding sterotypes, hate and marginalizing a group.
dennis @ 25:
Why not? Those are lyrics by an artist. Who are you to censor them? Joe Lieberman?
RancidVenison @ 12:
I see someone's been listening to him for awhile. I don't always agree with Nas but I applaud his efforts on this one. Hope he keeps it up.
NaS, thats my dogg right there..
Been listening to him since I was in jr. high, and while the rest of hip hop and rap music has been taken over by corporations who give money and spots on labels to the rappers that sell records (just like movies, guns, sex and violence is what they are looking for), NaS has still finds time to keep it real.
His new album goes way beyond this song which targets Fox, and I literally had to wikipedia some of the stuff he was referencing. I'm happy he took this chance and made a concept album that explores politics, the role of government and oppression around the world and in the US.
The fact that he is doing activism and pointing a spotlight on Fox's smears is a good example for all the young people that like his social commentary on this album. He is putting words into actions.
orangehairboy @ 23:
(rolls eyes) (slaps forehead)
While I completely agree that faux noise is like a direct line to roger ailes' ID and possibly to satan, I don't think asking them to stop is going to do anything but give them a new group to target.
It's a little like asking shark to go vegetarian.
Jo @ 28:
I'm not censoring them at all. Even though I hate the word, I don't care what he writes or what he sings or what idiotic investment advice he gives his friends. I'm just surprised the word is reprinted here.
Good lyrics but NAS faels rappin' what he wrote. it sounds like he's making up where the words go right on the spot! He's lucky that hsi crew can even follow him to do the backup lyrics.
NAS is tryin' to pull the wool over people eyes, making like he's so good he can just free form/freestyle and kick ballistics. He should have just read the words without any music. Sorry but he has more talent as a poet than a rapper.
Everybody knows that O'Lielly sucks little dicks.
Rider3 @ 7:
I'm not a rap fan in the least, but I admire his courage. Fox will attack. I especially liked "Comcast digital Satan". I hadn't heard it put that way before. Very accurate.
This guy is young and does the not popular thing ????????????????? Gets involved no money honey in that!
The link took me to EE interview. She does not look good. Is she very sick? I really like her.
dennis @ 25:
I don't understand your point. They're lyrics.
Nada @ 32:
One day they will target the wrong group; one day they will go too far. More and more people are (finally) realizing what a joke they are. Besides, it is their sponsors that control the pursestrings. I think this petition is a great idea. I wish I could have known about it beforehand. I would have gladly signed it.
An ok song - like the lyrics, the music is weak - needs to go back to the beats from his first album.
A minor point - Fox doesn't own Youtube - but hey man, there's such a history of such statements - makes me long for the early days!
"They're three of us but we're not the Beatles" - Run-DMC
"So when your eardrums fail so you can read it in brail" - Rakim
Colbert Show is the coolest in so many ways.
His interviewing style is the same with a rapper as it is with heads of industry or politicians. No one is on a pedestal!!!!
This song is fantastic. Great lyrical flow and rhyme. The background music has great rock/metal crossover appeal, too.
Fox News is deeply racist, regressive, and Republican. Nas calls it out with style.
Sign ColorOfChange's petition!
Jay @ 31:
How 'bout some conscious lyrics WITH a sick beat then?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb8TQhqeiQQ&feature=related
Immortal Technique-Third World. The lyrics are under the "more" info tab.
CMINCA @ 39:
I'm sorry. I did not mean to say that faux shouldn't stop or be stopped. They are disgusting. That is a fact. I was just remarking on the futility of asking them to stop. So ingrained are their propaganda ways that it's like asking a leopard to change it's spots. Even if it wanted to, it simply can't do it. Personally I think they'll stop but it will involve the dissolution of the faux network. I'd be honestly surprised if it happened any other way.
h3rb @ 34:
where's your platinum?
inthewoods @ 40:
that was to say what?
Songs against injustice have always been US, and even world, history. The songs of Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and the Beatles were appropriate for their times, and songs by this guy are just as appropriate. I applaud artists that bring attention to social issues. We need more of them.
Fox does NOT own youtube
it is owned by Google.
someone should let him know... pretty silly to have something blatantly inaccurate right before a line about ignorance.
well, I'd be interested except that I haven't watched TV in 6 years now. Get all my news and entertainment online now.
Nada @ 32:
Presenting the signatures to FOX wasn't about getting them to stop, it was about getting out the word - FOX is a racist network. Even if there are some people out there who don't notice the FOX's deeply divisive undertones, a few news stories can go a long way towards getting middle America to realize what we've been screaming all along.
I agree with NAS that fox is poison. One stop by Newshounds and you can see the poison for yourself. It infests the mind with propaganda and you see it in the polls.
Commentator @ 50:
Exactly. Simply being labeled "Fox News" gives an incorrect impression of a organization that has journalists who report at least factually accurate stories. People need to be educated and reminded that the hate that is spewed in nuanced terms is just as harmful to our society as the open vile remarks of people like Hagee and Imus.
Who is responsible for telling the world we are aware of the biases and lies by Fox News if we don't? Who will?
Krisken @ 16:
Well, excuuuuse me. I just don't consider entertainers to be any more of a leader in ANY community than I do anyone else. Let them run for office and get elected, let them take their message to congress, let them actually serve the people (George Clooney/Arnold Schwarzeneggar/Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt/Ronald Reagan) and THEN I will pay attention to them, whether I agree with them or not...(FYI, I HATED Reagan, yet that did not keep me from paying attention to him--in fact it made me watch him that much closer)! In fact, the deification of celebrity is part of what is very wrong with this country. I wonder what you would've said if Paris Hilton had written those lyrics? Rap music leaves me cold, and I detest Rage Against the Machine preaching at me, even if I agree wholeheartedly with their opinion, in fact, I walked out on a RATM show because of it. The only reason I listen to Bad Religion is because melodically, they are superb.
Of course, this is all a matter of opinion, and like musical tastes, political opinion is very personal, and the better educated we all are about issues, the less we will need celebrities, or pundits or political hacks telling us their POV's and trying to sway us.
dennis @ 33:
If your delicate sensibilities have been offended, it might be time to take a pill and lie down for a while.
Man, I love some Nas.
Credit to C&L for posting some hip hop (not that I'd complain about King Crimson and Aimee Mann).
If you don't like Nas, you're sure as hell ain't not gonna like Immortal Technique.
Future President Obama, please please make Nas the Chairman of the FCC!
That sucked
[Deleted. Look Milton Friedman, redwhite&blue, EASTCOAST etc...I'm tired of your bigotry and racism. Go away, troll-Sitemonitor]
This is what I'm talking about! I'm seein Nas live at Rock The Bells and you bet your ass he's gonna be playing this song.
I'm a Dem, Love Obama, Hate Fox...but...c'mon guys...read the lyrics...this isn't friggin Robert Frost and it isn't John Lennon or Springsteen or Tracy Chapman or John Cougar. It's a homeboy.............10 minutes in the John with a book of ryhme. Give him a "T" in grammar & and "I" for knowledge too. That's in TERRIBLE & Ignorance. Christ he sounds like the misleading BS Fox represents and he warbles rails against.
Alex @ 48:
The song is about FOX specifically but it also is about the media generally, as you can see in the 'CBS = BS' reference. He's a smart guy: I'm sure he knows that FOX doesn't own YouTube.
majicman @ 61:
So poetry died in 1965 and rock lyrics in about 1985? Even John 'Czechoslovakia' McCain knows not to refer to John Mellencamp as John Cougar. Why not just say that it's not your generation, nor your culture and that you don't understand it, rather than denigrate it? Sorry, but I'd have to give you an 'I' for ignorance, before I'd give one to Nas. 10 minutes in the john - I'll take you up on that. You're on the clock, Majicman.
Good work Nas!
I'm sure that Billo and Hannity will have some hateful slurs to sling your way.
Love the Immortal Technique reference.. now theres a hommie who keeps it realer than real.. Alot of his songs are are piercing as the Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein..
[Deleted. Racist-Sitemonitor]
Fip Romney @ 66:
You're a joke and you should be EATING at McDonalds. Isn't there something on FOX you could be watching?
omg....an intelligent rap song
not since public enemy have i heard that
not bad....kudos
good on NAS but in general progressives give Fox TV way too much credit- its basically just visual whipped cream on a talk radio turd pie of lies and distortions. until Americans figure out the source of the dumbing down of the media is that uncontested repetition to 50-70MIL that only the talk radio monopoly can provide, progressives will continue to play politics without a front line.
limbaugh/hannity got 1/2BIL$ contracts- a lot more than they could get on TV, and it's not for selling renai water heaters and hardwood flooring and penile enhancement formulas. and it's not for wit and wisdom and truth- its for selling war and deregulation and enabling and excusing and swiftboating and prechewing a smorgasbord of talking points for the lazy talking heads in TV and print. talk radio does the groundwork.
joeedugan @ 63:
Yeah, Okay Joey Dugan. I see you're into the lazy man phonetics game and relying on spell check instead of taking the time in the old classroom. Of course it's Mellancamp....my God Americans get so fucked up trivial matters
Any of you old farts want to come on here and say "This guy Nas's grammar is terrible" or "I'm not into hip-hop" or "This guy is no Dylan"... I don't even need to insult your close mindedness, you already played yourself. Now take your foot out of your mouth and open your mind to the new reality.
You can not categorize, define, or compare what Nas is doing right now. His new album is the perfect subject matter at the perfect time in history. No other artist black, white, rap or country is saying what he is saying.
AND HIS ALBUM IS NUMBER 1 - #1! - PLATINUM SALES.
"HI HATERS! TAKE A PICTURE"
Nasty Nas in your area...Still the king, in my opinion. Who cares about the beat, the point of the song isn't to get you bangin' in the club.
I would love for Billo's group to follow Nas back to his childhood neighborhood of Queensbridge, that would be fantastic. Maybe Mobb Deep would return, too, for some questions. That would go over well...
His best line, in my opinion, is still, "You won't catch me in the streets without a ton of reefer; that's like Malcolm X, catching the jungle fever." So good.
majicman @ 70:
Lazy man? Until I see that 10 minute poem from the W.C., I don't think you should be calling ANYONE names, sport. How is it my fault that your post reads like Steve Allen - circa 1958 - ridiculing rock'n'roll and praising instead his preferred lite-jazz crap? Don't get the reference? Spend some time in the old classroom and learn some modern cultural history. Sorry that 'Cougar' dates you as a cranky old 'in-my-day' fart, but again, how is that my fault? Disrespecting an art form and culture important to tens, if not hundreds, of millions around the globe simply because it is alien to your narrow background is hardly a trivial matter.
joeedugan @ 73:
Damn. Well said. Majikman- Nas continually listens to classic "talent," as his father is a well known local jazz trumpet player, Olu Dara. You would have known that had you a) done any research or b) knew what you were talking about.
dennis @ 33:
They are just words! By making a big deal out of them you give them way too much power. Frank Zappa said it a lot better than I can when people were trying to censor music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HljzEXJvj8 You remind me of the people that want to remove Huck Finn from libraries. Its one of the greatest anti-racist books ever written but it uses that WORD.
samdog @ 53:
I would have said that I was amazed that Paris had any inclination to notice the world around her besides what is directly in front of her nose. Hell, it would be a nice change of pace to see her be an actual role model besides what she is.
See, these days I think we have to grasp at good role models no matter what they do or where they come from. This country is sorely lacking in that department.
Much of music has been politically charged for years (see the Bob Dylan comment earlier). If it makes the message easier to swallow for youth, great!
I hope I didn't come across as snide. That wasn't my intention. I just offered a opposing opinion to yours :)
Krisken @ 76:
Krisken: don't back down. Be as snide as you want.
Samdog: 'celebrities and even rappers' you say, like rappers are the dregs of the celebrity world. I don't want entertainers shoving their political views at me either, but I understand that there is a difference between artists and entertainers. Nas is a smart and talented man: his rapping shouldn't be restricted to stuff in the vein of 'Can't Touch This'. The world is a better place because Picasso painted 'Guernica' instead of a series devoted to poker playing dogs. Is it wrong for Steven Spielberg to depress us with 'Schindler's List', when he could be using his talents to make feel-good movies about friendly aliens on flying bicycles? I always thought that Rage Against the Machine were a bunch of boring posers, but there are any number of artists that have made excellent politically themed music that contributed to culture and the political discussion, some of whom were as, or more, influential than politicians. Bob Marley. Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie are obvious examples. Just because the word 'artist' has been cheapened in recent years by being extended to all entertainers doesn't mean there are still not some real artists out there, and Nas is considered by almost all critics to be an artist. You might not like rap or get where it's coming from, but, rest assured, rap doesn't get you either.
I wait for the day OReilly walks into the street and oh shit the truck driver says, didn't see that guy till it was too late....bye bye Billo, no tears will be shed just piss off forever.
In the broadcast, he sings, "makes a brotha wanna invest in PBS." Guess he wanted to avoid being bleeped.
Funny ... the line is just as powerful ... yet he doesn't disparage his entire race.
While it is indeed unfortunate - but not surprising - that Faux Noise refused to accept the petition, it was kinda cool seeing the boxes containing the signatures - INCLUDING MINE!!! - on the Colbert set!!
Colbert Rocks!!
I signed that petition, and forwarded it to everyone on my list.
I thought the performance was great. And it changed my opinion of Nas...I thought he was all about the bling.
Nice to see a popular rap star get into politics. Now where's Public Enemy?
I signed the petition and even though the message is important and I agree with what he is saying-I just had to turn that shit off.
I hate, I hate, I HATE Rap-It just won't fucking go away
Did I mention I fucking hate rap?
larkztongue @ 82:
I have a love-hate thing with rap...I love the old school stuff. Hate the new bling bling shit.
But I will buy the Nas guys new CD...anyone that hates Fox is a friend of mine!
I am not a big fan of FoxNews and I try to watch news channels with an open mind, but FoxNews just makes my skin crawl! I am an African American women and I am not a big fan of the new age HipHop music, however, I am glad to see someone who has a lot of influence on our youth today taking a stand for a cause that affects EVERYONE.
Kri`Shon S. Long @ 84:
Not even John Tesh's amazing rendition of "Face Down Ass Up"?
Oh no, Papa Bear's head is going to explode!
Simon White-Thatch Potentloins @ 79:
In the Colbert interview he explained how he wanted to name his album "that word." He explained that it is a word that comes from horrible origins but that he can say it and other brothers can say it because they are reclaiming the power that the word gave people over them.
samdog @ 2:
There is a difference between an artist who uses their artistic medium to express viewpoints and a "celebrity" who stands up on a podium spouting their viewpoints outside of their medium. You have basically just turned your back on the entire philosophy of art.
Beyond that. . . I think Bruce Springsteen summed it up nicely when asked what he would say to people who think he shouldn't express his political viewpoints:
"So we should let Ann Coulter do it instead?"
Food for thought.
Of course Fox doesn't own Youtube (or MySpace). They own it, meaning corporate interests. The song's primary target is Fox News, but he keeps referencing other media corporations.
...for some reasons, non-rap fans always seem to think that rap needs to be taken litterally. Please refer to the first few lines of the 3rd verse
I did not know about this. I was wondering why Billo had his two house [Deleted-Sitemonitor] (Juan Williams and the other girl with the weave and that I am not black attitude) on the show looking mad because their massa was offended.
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