Personal website of Vincent BrownPhiladelphia, Photography and Commentary

Mr. Bill O’Reilly (email),

While I agree with critics that he may not have been the safe or most accepted act to play at a memorial benefit for friends and family of this tragedy; I believe you have been promoting a distorted view of Nasir Jones (Nas) on your “news” program, in response to his invitation to perform at Virginia Tech. Concert details here.

In recent shows you have criticized Mr. Jones – for malign motives – based solely on snippets of song that don’t accurately portray (in context) the message found in the stories being told. On top of that, you neglect to offer your viewers the necessary, factual information on Nas so that they can independently familiarize themselves with his body of work. Mr. Jones is a hip-hop performer who writes songs that tell a story, convey thoughts, feelings and emotions and that narrate real life and fictional events.

Screenwriters and producers create movies about gun culture, (Die Hard, The Bourne Ultimatum, Rambo and The Terminator come to mind) and television shows (like Cops, Jerry Springer, Desperate Housewives, The Sopranos) with graphic content because life is graphic. Authors create compelling story lines for novels based around that similar premise, but when, if ever, are they boycotted from appearing in public? Mr. Jones is no different in that regard, except that he strings together rhyming words and delivers them to a beat in his signature poetic style and you can’t appreciate it.

I urge you to research his entire body of work, interviews and poems. Then, surely you can find an appropriate amount of positive and uplifting messages to compare with his gritty portrayals of the life he’s grown up in, (those so-called “Street Tales”).

I write this because I don’t feel you have been fair in your portrayal of this man, Mr. Nasir Jones. To myself and others he is a refreshingly unique individual in Hip-hop. Never one to water down his content for mass consumption, his message has largely been uplifting and positive – despite the stories he narrates of the difficult and cruel environment the world can be at times.

I am asking that instead of working against the progress we’re trying to make in Hip-hop culture, please work with us. Learn to understand, respect and represent us fairly to your viewers. I present to you, the more uplifting and soulful songs/videos of Nas for your listening/viewing pleasure: Continue reading →