[Opinion] Nas' Ghostwriting Controversy And How Social Media Has Ruined Journalism
Hip Hop and journalism are in an interesting space.
Once upon a time, being a hip hop journalist was not something that everyone could do. You had to have the knowledge, skill and ability to network in the unique realm of hip hop culture. Not everyone was trusted and you couldn’t live in your mother’s basement to do it. Things have changed over the last decade. The average Joe (or Jill) can become a blogger and somehow be just as significant as a someone who has been documenting the culture for years. Thanks to social media, anybody can find out anything about anyone at anytime. You don’t have to possess an extensive contact list nor do you have to work for a major website or publication. It used to be an honor to hear an album early and have the opportunity to review it before everyone else. Nowadays, hearing an album before its release date is expected. Everyone is a part of this information culture but few are actually “in” it.
The line between credible blogger/journalist and someone with an internet connection who believes twitter and facebook are a virtual rolodex is severely blurred. This particular subject I’ll address more in depth at a later date. Right now, the issue about how we obtain and distribute information ties into a unique issue that hit the web when acclaimed writer, filmmaker and author Dream Hampton suggested that Nas’ Untitled was largely ghostwritten and RappersIKnow.com’s FWMJ (Frank Miller Jr.) posted a follow-up piece titled “Nas Lost (Ghostwriters).”
In brief, after Dream Hampton’s tweet that “Nas’ “Nigger album was largely written by Stic of dead prez and Jay Electronica,” FWMJ published a piece on his blog where he recalled a day back in 2007 when he spoke with Jay Electronica and was informed that Jay was ghostwriting for Nas — “Queens Get The Money” off of Untitled specifically. As eyebrows raise to the mere suggestion that one of the most prolific emcees to ever touch a mic had somebody crafting his rhymes for him, Hampton’s response somewhat substantiated those claims.
“You only got a phone call,” Hampton tweeted in response to FWMJ. “I heard reference tapes for like, 6 songs. I shed thug tears too. He’s a Virgo, and one of my faves.”
If that wasn’t enough to pique interest, Sticman of dead prez also used his Facebook page to chime in on his the swirling rumors that he was involved in the creation of the Untitled album.
“As far as the rumors about myself and jay electronika ghost writing for Nas, let me say this. Nas is one of the if not the most prolific original lyricist to EVER do it. My contributions to his album was a collaboration and an honor and under his direction of what he wanted to convey and say. Haters cant discredit that man’s genuis. Nas is the Don.”
Does this mean that Nas doesn’t write his rhymes? No. Does it mean we should discredit his entire career because of a tweet and a post? Nope. What does it mean? Nothing…to you. What it does mean is that Nas didn’t work alone on Untitled and perhaps other recordings. To what extent he worked with others has yet to be revealed. There’s only so much you can find out from 140 characters and a blog that is nothing more than an open diary from an individual perspective for you to read. All you know is that something is there. Nothing more, nothing less.
You may not be aware of FWMJ’s experiences in the music industry (trust me, he’s been around longer than you know), but you can’t refute what Dream Hampton has done for the culture and what Sticman has done as an artist. For someone like Hampton to say that and Sticman to follow up is enough of a lead for a good investigative journalist to begin his research with.
I repeat: A good investigative journalist to begin his research with.
Here’s where what I stated about the blurred line between credible industry individual and pseudo journalist comes into play.
The firestorm of controversy immediately hit social media and blogs that posted links to the article. Some very critical comments that didn’t feign speculation, but instead drew to a conclusion of whether or not Nas had ghostwriters flooded the web. No matter which side you were on, there were some very concrete claims made by bloggers and so-called journalists that continue to pry open this gaping wound in “Hip-Hop Journalism.” Everyone claimed they knew something but only a select few know anything. Stories hit websites with claims that Nas had a ghostwriter without any research. Others just slammed the mere suggestion without taking a look at the sources and how credible (or not credible) they were. Either way, there wasn’t a whole lot of investigation or journalism that took place.
Awesome. Valid points. Respect, sir.
Great post
I actually agree with alot of this article, I also believe alot of what is written in the 1st paragraph is still the problem. We still have a lot of the wrong people writing these articles, mainly the guy FWMJ! I don’t care what you say his experience is, clearly he doesn’t understand how the process works. Him and Dream Hampton fucked up! They both lost their shirt by purposely attacking his credibility. YES they attacked his credibility, if it wasn’t for their article/comments nobody would be talking about this. From the artistic aspect…A Ghostwriter is not somebody who comes in and helps you write a hook, or produce your record. A Ghostwriter is somebody who literally writes everything coming out of your mouth. See the difference! There is no way that either of them should get a pass for this, b/c they both greatly exaggerated. The rhymes on the Untitled album are from Nasir Jones not from Jay Electronica, Stic-Man or any person Nas worked with on the album. PERIOD!
stic man of dead prez produced two songs on that album and from what he posted on his facebook, i assume maybe he might also lent some ideas to some songs
Which is common practice. Producers tend to throw out ideas, lyrics, and all that good stuff with emcees/rappers. Both Jay Electronica, Stic Man produced song(s) for the album and as you said most likely bounced ideas off each other
Correction: “Queens get the money” produced by Jay Electronica was on the “Untitled” album not “life is good”
In a tweet Jay Electronica has denied ghostwriting for nas
as a producer, there’s lots of studio sessions where i throw out ideas and lines to the lyricists. that’s just how sessions go. i wouldn’t dare turn around and say ‘yo i ghostwrote that’. i dont think sticman or jay electronica would claim that either. but i have no idea what the motivations of these “journalists” are.
who fucking cares about FWMJ or whatever his name is. he is a SHITTY HIP HOP JOURNALIST as long as i’m concerned. i tried to take a deeper look into his website or blog or whatever(which I just discovered for the first time), and when I encountered a sentence that said biggie was’nt better than rick ross (i’m not saying ross aint good) i closed the window as fast as i could. FWMJ or ‘whatever his name is’ got excited like a new born kid (and when I mean kid, I mean the offspring of a she)goat-over some tweets and hurriedly rushed to write an article which he thought would give his blog exposure, and he basically succeeded since that article has more comments than any other on his blog. And no!! FWMJ has no relationship with nas, either as a fan or whatsoever because his views on the article which comes out erroneous seems to be absolutely prejudiced against nas, especially on the title NAS LOST which sounds like something that comes up in the head of an internet troll.
Cosignee, despite a very good article by the writer, he goes ahead to vouch for d credibility of the perpetrators of the rumors, yes cos the claims have not been substantiated by saying they have been in the “industry” for so long, how does that equate credibility?
A look at the context in which the tweet came should trigger the mind of anybody with a brain to question Dream’s credibility. She got asked about why Jay Z’s music lacked social substance and got defensive by say Jay write what he likes while Untitled was largely writen by Stic.man n JayElect; interpretation, Nas writes what other MC’s write for him. The she followed up with tweets of reference tracks and shedding thug tears, what kinda journalism is that? If she was such a credible jornalist, she wld have said something when d album came out 4 years ago. As a fan of Nas’s music, i bought d album which most people werent ready for n found out that both Stic n Jay got co-writing n production credits, thats no secrete.
In conclusion its either Dream doesnt knw shit about music/hiphop n traditional producing despite her experience or she def had an agenda, i go for both.
Very well written. Great perspective on this. From the jump I think what sparked it is Jay Electronica and Stic being initially excited to be working with Nas and telling the different people around them. Then the people speaking on what they were told, exaggerating. In the studio, ideas and hooks are thrown around. When a person goes to their corner to write they may absorb some of that. Certain lines may be changed due to feedback from the people in the room. No one would EVER step forward and say they “ghostwrote” the “Majority” of the song, let alone the album.
The tone from both sources also was coming from a negative place and meant to discredit. Both Stic and Jay Elec both have said that what they did was not “Ghostwriting”. They were producers on the album and may have thrown around ideas or written ideas. People who were not there exaggerated.
More troubling is the fact that these people showed no integrity on even a friend level to that man. Having convos then running out and throwing out some “Such and such told me…..” shit is not really stand up at all and is rather bitch. That in itself should invite this backlash.
I wasn’t really paying attention, but did Jay tweet today? When did he say he did not write for Nas on Nigger/Untitled and more specifically “Queens Get The Money”
Jay Electronica tweeted “that man’s pen and legacy is without question.” do you know what “without question” means?
Couldn’t have said it better. I think that’s what really bothered me about this whole thing. Dream never actually answered the initial question posed to her on twitter, instead saying that “Jay writes what he believes” , inferring that Nas doesn’t. Her tone along with FWMJ’s was to try to discredit. “Nas is lazy” he said. Now all of a sudden you can’t trust his catalog??? Really? Even the author of this post said “What it does mean is that Nas didn’t work alone on Untitled and perhaps other recordings. ” Where did “other recordings” come from????? Again, cats are trying to discredit one of the few real emcees who isn’t talking about that bullshit you hear on the radio. Shits’ weak.
I agree with the sentiment but you didn’t need 3 pages to say that Dream and the other blogger are wretched gossiping b*tches.
They blog for a living and they are months behind in rent.
So many websites got so many hits off this, they copy and paste images and quotes from twitter and use their hate for an artist to bash his name.
Real journalism requires real sources and concrete statements. It’s ok to discuss ghostwriting in Hip hop but largely everything in this article is about how bad it would be if rumors were true. Social media and these dumb articles have made two dumb people famous.
Dead Pres article on Vibe saying everything he did for Nas in Untitled –
http://www.vibe.com/article/dead-prez%E2%80%99-sticman-dismisses-ghostwriting-nas-%E2%80%9C-didn%E2%80%99t-happen%E2%80%9D
Exactly!
And let the church say amen. Well said, Dre.
I’ve never taken Hip Hop journalism seriously. Its too much like sports journalism back in the day. Your main lifeline is access so you wont burn bridges. Elliot Wilson’s run at XXL is a prime example of someone allying with a label and Bemzino gave himself 4 and a half mice.
Dream is acclaimed and all that but if this info she had was about Jay Z would she have bothered with the tweet? Doubt it, seeing as she has worked extensively with the guy.
Dream-H is a HACK and Her Credibility is WORTHLESS — IMO
A GHOST-WRITER is someone that is Hired/Paid by the Record label to WRITE ENTIRE Rap Lyrics and/or Hooks for a Artist/Performer aka Dr. Dre and Diddy (Puff Daddy) had GHOST-WRITERS… Snoop Dogg when he left No Limit start using GHOST-WRITERS… Kayne GHOST-WROTE & PRODUCED for RocaFella during their Hey-Day and Continued to do so For Jay-Z afterwards
Collaborating during a Studio Session and Throwing out Some IDEAS during Brain-Storming Sessions ISN’T GHOST-WRITING Unless Said IDEAL is given to you for you to COMPLETE BY YOURSELF…
NAS Needs a GHOST-WRITER like Bill Gates Needs MORE MONEY or like Joan Rivers Needs MORE PLASTIC SURGERY —-> FOH!!!
Awesome article and this is (more or less) pretty much my viewpoint on all of this. What irks me though, is the fact that established journalists such as Dream Hampton and FWMJ made such claims.
1) Dream Hampton threw out that Jay Electronica and stic.man ghostwrote the majority of untitled RESPONDING to someone who wondered why Jay – Z would not make albums such as Nigger/Untitled because he wanted to protect his image. Please take into account that Jay-Z is a person who she has worked with A LOT. She was even the co-author of his NY Times bestseller, Decoded. Could she have been on the defense?
2) After Dream Hampton threw out that tweet, we then see her bud, FWMJ, post “Nas Lost (Ghostwriters).” I don’t mind reading personal pieces but in his piece, took shots at Nas throughout the article. Without you know…providing credible sources/proof. The whole article was spewed by his claim, that not only did Jay Electronica call him and said he would be working with Nas on his, then at the time, upcoming album but ghostwrote for him. Engl 101 would’ve been helpful here..ethos? pathos? logos? And all that jazz (I can fire shots too)
3) Hampton comes back into the scene after…FWMJ, more or less, said he only ‘knows’ Jay Electronica ghostwrote Queens Get The Money in a reply to a question asked if Jay Electronica ghostwrote “just one song” on Untitled. Hampton tweets that to her bud, that he only had one phone call but she heard “reference tapes for songs.” BWHAHAHAHA. C’mon son. Both of them turned into griots overnight?
No doubt that they have connections with people in the music biz but at the same time these people, Dream and Frank, are not in the studio during the alleged ghost writing sessions. With all connections that they have, they should have a good grasp on how studio sessions progress and know that producers and rappers bounce ideas off each other.
We have someone such as stic.man, the guy Hampton claims to have more than a helping hand in untitled, who was actually in the studio with Nas come out and deem what Hampton/Dream as rumors vs people claiming x lacking credible source/proof. Who are we going to side with/believe? Who are we going to jump on? It’s that simple.
This piece is dead on, I also wrote my take on it as well. A lot of people are slamming Dream Hampton, their reasoning being that she is a Jay-Z “stan”because she co-authored a book with the man. Those whom are, are dead wrong because of her credentials in the game,what she has done for it, and her being privy to things most of us who are on the outside looking in. Lets be honest what rapper would have the balls to come out and say they needed help writing songs? Yeah i’ll wait on that answer. What ghostwriter would compromise themselves by openly admitting they wrote tracks for a high profile artist and legend such as Nas? It’s just something a ghostwriter would not do period, defeats the purpose of being a ghostwriter doesn’t it? Like Andreas point out (playing devils advocate) what if this was just actually true? What if Nas experienced a some sort of writers block and need help? So what, it won’t take from his mystique, rob him of any previous accolades he’s accomplished musically.
http://bakedbeanzy.com/2012/08/14/video-nas-addresses-ghostwriting/
Get away son with ur attention seeking post, nobody is gon read ur shitty post with u playing devils advocate with another man’s career, wtf. Like u said, if u ghost nobody knows u, so tell me how Dream knows n u have d alleged ghosts come out to flatly deny d claims n u are still here talking about playing devils advocate.
Wtf is wrong with some of you all acting all thick and thirsty? If u both d album u will see in d liner notes of how both Stic n J elect got co-writing n production credits, how does dat equate to largely “written”?
Stop all these BS about Dreams achievements n focus on slanderous claims which is very clear if u look at d context which d tweet came from.
Am done with smart asses like u always in haste to drag on no issues. Pun intended.
Ofcourse u scared of the truth hence u wont post it. Nobody is gon read ur ridiculous post esp when u attach a link of Nas talking about ghostwriting weeks b4 Dream made her allegations as a response. I know u just tryna do ur job but damn at least u shld do it with a lil integrity.
credible news sources always misrepresent facts and twist things the way they want, its not just hiphop, its a global epidemic, worst in the UK then the US. News sources aren’t even credible sources anymore, we live in a time where we as people have to read the information given to us and make a sound decision based off of that, which in turn turns into an opinion, one vicious circle swirling around another circle of lies. Even credible blogs lie, 75% of the internet is pure opinion, live with it, or die with it, your choice.
Social Media ruined journalism? WAHHHHHH. Man why don’t you date yourself a little more, grandpappy. Everyone is a rapper these days. Even my unborn. Are they ruining rap too?
Journalism ruined journalism. If it was quality work, eyes wouldn’t stray. But when more accurate news is reported from people that are actually on the ground, not the payroll, it’s natural to make the switch.
Perhaps you should write an article that Beyonce’s “Bootylicious” ruined the English language because it was admitted to the dictionary. Tears of a clown.
Andreas Hale Try to whitewash the true … this is why we dont trust journalist any more
Cosignee, these jornalists really think we are all zombies and cant see true their designs like blind fury.
Cosignee, d writer made a good piece and at d same time tried to protect the peeps dat made the allegations cos of their so called experience even though they havent produced any concrete evidence.
Journalism without concrete proof, what we talking about?
Agree totally, the writer attempts a good article but then messes it up by vouching for d credibility of d perpetrators cos of their experience, what has experience got to do with credibility especially when d peeps involved are not jounalists. This writer must think we are all zombies.
Here’s the funny thing…both Dream Hampton & FWMJ have no importance to Hip Hop music! Neither 1 of them write rhymes, DJ, Chop up samples on an MP, Engineer, Write Songs, Produce, run a label, etc…so they are speaking from the “Industry” point of a view. So let’s run this back, someone has a debate with Dream about Jay-Z & his content…TIME OUT! Dream is a Jay-Z Stan, the hottest MC in the game right now is Nas hands down! Fans & Critics have created a permanent Nas vs. Jay-Z competition…Hmmmmmm! See where this is going, she fires back with a slick remark about Jay Elect & Stic ghostwriting his album & minutes later FWMJ has a “Nas Lost” article detailing all of this! Why didn’t any of this come up in the last years? Why did it come up when Jay-Z was mentioned. If one can’t see the hidden agenda behind this, you’re dumb as a rock! Fuck Dream Hampton & FWMJ! Let Nas be great & stop hating
Cosigneee 100%, if peeps cant see tru Dream’s and d other no name bloggers agenda, then its either they are thick af or they just faking d funk and riding with d slander. Lol at this writer vouching for d credibility no name blogger who titled d name of his piece; Nas lost. Dat sounds familiar, oops its usually from d Jay Z’s fans that have not gotten over ether even though the Mc’s involved have.
Why are you grown-assed men and women with no investment in Nas one way or the other so butt-hurt and bitter over this?
What do u mean by with no investments? majority of evrybody chiming in have been buying Nas’s albums and singles since 94. If u dnt knw wat to say, why dont u just shut up.
Dre… Great read through and through. If the dreaded word “ghostwriting” wasn’t used, and “collaboration” was, this shitstorm would’ve never occurred (and web traffic to keep Nas’ name out there with RTB coming up wouldn’t have happened)… This is a win/win for all parties involved. Let’s remember this is all entertainment. Nas is an entertainer, so is stic, so is dream, so is Jay Elec. When you start bringing up investigative journalism, i can’t help but to think about the work that Chuck Philips put in, or, not to toot my own horn, that i put in while working for a daily paper in Ohio, that produced CHANGE (in my case, a city manager was fired and the state of Ohio began closely scrutinizing the city government). I think investigative journalism isn’t exactly needed in this case. Writers and editors of note (like FWMJ and dream) should use better discretion, and not jump to conclusions. I’m sure both have learned their lessons, too.
Good points made except from d fact dat both Dream and FMWJ are not entertainers, the former is a writer with a film background while the latter is a no name blogger.
Secondly, its not a win win for both parties, this is basically slanderous n both d perpetrators got their lil 15 mins of fame while clueless peeps especially on the internet have come to d erroneous conclusion that Nas doesnt write his lyrics.
FWMJ isn’t a “no name blogger,” I would argue, Tbones. As far as slanderous, that’s taking it a little too far. Slander/libel are very difficult to prove, legally speaking. As far as I know, Nas’ lawyers haven’t contacted neither dream or FWMJ.
Good article done with good intentions but ended up making a mess of it all with ur unnecessary hypothesis n vouching for the credibility of Dream and the other dude cos of their so called achievements.
As soon as I read Jay Electronica and stic.man wrote songs for Nas I just laughed. I didn’t feel the need to attack Dream Hampton or that other herb, I just laughed. I respect the hell out of Dead Prez and patiently await Jay E’s album, but neither of them are better lyricists or emcees than Nas, how the fuck are they penning his bars?! When you pick up a Nas album: whether he missteps with his production or not, you expect creativity and are never let down on that front. Let the reference tapes leak and I will cry, but until then… Nasir Jones, elite hip-hop artist since 1994. Thank you and good night
Grandmaster Caz wrote “rapper’s delight’(or literally bitten)
Big Daddy Kane wrote 4 Biz Markie
Skillz wrote 4 missy & pharell & timbo
Nas wrote 4 diddy & Will Smith
Gillie da kid wrote 4 lil ish stain/wayne.
These r facts & journalists uncovered them. These weren’t garnered thru innuendo or speculation, which is the problem w/social media “reporting”. But that’s not the only culprit cuz capitalism is another hindrance 2 real journalism. Fox owns tv & paper outlets controlling the medium & making real stories limited status fox relies on speculation & half truths 2 manipulate & influence masses of people seeking “truth”. We need more Edward r. Morrows & less bill orielys or wendy williams.
ecoming a successful ghostwriter demands two things: discretion and the ability to work quickly based on someone else’s outline. Ghostwriting may not be the most creatively satisfying opportunity in the general field of freelance writing. Many writers don’t like slapping someone else’s name on their words; however, freelance ghostwriting can pay well, and can provide you with some much needed income and networking contacts during lean phases of your writing career.;*
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