HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Rap star Nas is removing the "Nasty" from his name again.
The 34-year-old music artist is ditching his previous plan to call his upcoming album "N*gger."
"It's important to me that this album gets to the fans," the singer said in a statement. "The people will always know what the real title of this album is and what to call it."
Nas, born Nasir Jones, announced his plans for the original title last year. It came on the heels of the public outcry that resulted when CBS radio host Don Imus made derogatory comments about the Rutgers University women's basketball team.
The New York City native has since found himself in the middle of his own controversy. He has admitted to being pressured to change the title, due to challenges promoting and distributing his new release. He also also been called out publicly, most notably by the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
"The title using the 'N' word is morally offensive and socially distasteful. Nas has the right to degrade and denigrate in the name of free speech, but there is no honor in it," Jackson previously said in a news release.
"Radio and television stations have no obligation to play it and self-respecting people have no obligation to buy it," Jackson continued. "I wish he would use his talents to lift up and inspire, not degrade."
The star's last release was 2006's "Hip-Hop Is Dead," which has sold 757,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.
His untitled project, which will be his second release under Def Jam, is due out on July 1.
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