L.A. Reid recently revealed his stance on Nas' controversially titled LP Nigger. It may surprise you.

While some reports claimed that Reid was against the album title and would not release it, Reid himself dispelled those comments.

"We stand firmly behind and beside our artists with pride and with pleasure. Anything Nas wants to do, I completely stand beside him. Nas is prolific, he's prophetic, he's a genius, an amazing artist of respect. So, while I'm not sure exactly all that [the title] entails, I know it's smart, so I stand behind him. That's real," he told MTV.  

Nas has received support from others as well. Rapper/actor Common added his two cents as he showed support at the premier to American Gangster.

"Nas is always bringing something new, bringing something for us to think about. He's one of the best ever. If it wasn't for Nas, a lot of cats, including myself, wouldn't be rhyming the way they do. So I mean, I know [the title] is something behind what he's doing, he's making statements. That's something we need in hip-hop. Last Poets did it, Gil Scott-Heron did it, Marvin Gaye did it. We gotta keep making statements," said Common.

Some have not been as supportive. Al Sharpton voiced his concerns and complaints.

"We're in an age where they are hanging nooses. They're locking our kids up in Jena and Florida. We do not need to be degrading ourselves. We get degraded enough. I think we need artists to lift us up, not lock us down."

50 Cent concurs.

"Nas sucks," he said. "It's nonsense, man. That's a stupid name. It doesn't make sense. Why would you title it that?"