Nas at the Fox News protest rally in New York City, July 23, 2008

Nas made an appearance on “The Colbert Report” and discussed the Fox News protest which had taken place the same day, on July 23, 2008.  He also performed “Sly Fox,” the single — that takes Fox News to task for its propaganda and disinformation — from his newly released album, Untitled.

About four hours after the announcement that his controversial, politically charged ninth album was number one in the country, Nas was on a small podium in front of Fox News headquarters in New York City protesting what he sees as racist attacks against Black Americans and presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Nas at the Fox News protest rally in New York City, July 23, 2008

In a brief prepared statement, the multi-platinum rapper pointed out examples of what he and ColorOfChange see as a long racist smear campaign against the Obama family: The onscreen graphic that referred to Michelle Obama as the Senator’s “baby mama”; Bill O’Reilly casually using the phrase “lynching party” to refer to attacks on the Senator’s wife; referencing to the couple’s infamous fist thump as a “terrorist fist jab.” Said Nas, “Fox poisons this country every time they air racist propaganda and try to call it news. This should outrage every American that Fox uses hateful language to talk about the person that may be the first black president.”

Nas Sly Fox video poster

The rapper stood next to 19 neatly stacked cardboard boxes, with the number 620,127 taped to the side of each one — over 600,000 signatures gathered by ColorOfChange demanding that network president Roger Ailes “find a solution to address racial stereotyping and hate-mongering before it hits the airwaves.” Fox rejected the petitions, but Brave New Films says that Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report will accept them instead.

Source: Nas Delivers Petition to Fox News, Says Network Is “Scared”(Rolling Stone)

Nas with Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report, July 23, 2008

Thus, viewers were treated to the sight of Nas and Stephen Colbert sitting on the 19 boxes of  620,127 petitions that Fox News refused to accept, a video compilation of the kinds of statements Fox News correspondents, commentators and news anchors have made that precipitated the protests, and even Stephen Colbert’s attempt to freestyle rap, as he suggested that Nas should challenge Bill O’Reilly to a freestyle rap contest instead of a debate.

For more on the Fox News protests, see related post:

Photo credit: Top Photo: Yahoo News; Second Photo: Getty Images North America



Stephen Colbert’s interview with Nas



Nas performs Sly Fox


Related posts:

Video: Nas on The Colbert Report 7-23-08 Fox News Protest & “Sly Fox” Performance