Nas removes N-word from album title

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Rapper Nas has ditched his controversial plan to call his new album "N*gger."

"It's important to me that this album gets to the fans," Nas said in a statement, referring to likely problems promoting and distributing the album.

"The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it."

The untitled project will be released July 1 via Def Jam.

Last year, Nas announced the original title in response to the stir caused by former CBS radio host Don Imus' comments toward the Rutgers women's basketball team. But he recently told MTV that he was being pressured to change the title.

His last album, 2006's "Hip-Hop Is Dead," has sold 757,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Reuters/Billboard