Niggytardust: What was Saul Williams Thinking?

Written by Rizoh. Posted in Gumbo

Published on November 06, 2007 with 30 Comments">30 Comments

niggytardust.jpg

A month ago I posed the question, “Should rap artists attempt the Radiohead route?. Renowned poet and musician Saul Williams responded by releasing his latest effort, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggytardust, with an open-ended pricetag. I know you’re probably thinking, “Oh cool, another free CD for me to rip and burn.” While it’s easier to under-appreciate art when it’s readily available on the ‘Net, many of us may never know how much effort some of these guys normally invest on their projects (and I’m not talking about Boo Boo). So, I commend S.Williams for taking a chance.

That said, I’ve yet to listen to Niggytardust (what kind of a lame ass title is that anyway?), but I know from past experience that Williams is talented at something other than writing a 10-page epistle to Oprah. Head on over to Saul Williams’ site to purchase download your own 192kbit/s or 320kbit/s mp3 copy of Niggytardust. Then let me know if it was worth the effort.

Rizoh

Rizoh is the most powerful man in all the lands. He lives in Houston where he earned a BS in Nerf Herding. He's the founder of The Rap Up, the editor of Roc4Life.com, and is in the Grammy-awaiting band Pervertable Disciples.

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  • http://www.wildstylefm.nl J to the AAP

    “That said, I’m yet to listen to Niggytardust (what kind of a lame ass title is that anyway?), but I know from past experience that Williams is talented at something other than writing a 10-page epistle to Oprah.”

    He was right on the mark with that epistle though. I think the title is a play on David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust character. It might work nicely as a concept for an album, not so much as a title though.

  • http://www.wildstylefm.nl J to the AAP

    “That said, I’m yet to listen to Niggytardust (what kind of a lame ass title is that anyway?), but I know from past experience that Williams is talented at something other than writing a 10-page epistle to Oprah.”

    He was right on the mark with that epistle though. I think the title is a play on David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust character. It might work nicely as a concept for an album, not so much as a title though.

  • http://smartandangry.blogspot.com Bobojojo

    Ziggy Stardust, homage to david bowie

  • http://smartandangry.blogspot.com Bobojojo

    Ziggy Stardust, homage to david bowie

  • http://jody-macgregor.livejournal.com Jody Macgregor

    Fuck, yes. This album’s great, I haven’t heard anything else like it all year. Lyrically, Williams’ is at the top of his game.

    “I swear / I used to pray to change back the year / when niggers spoke of motherships with space helmets for hair. / Well, now what have we here? / Thugs and poets, ah yeah. / What we seem to have in common is we’re common as air.”

  • http://jody-macgregor.livejournal.com Jody Macgregor

    Fuck, yes. This album’s great, I haven’t heard anything else like it all year. Lyrically, Williams’ is at the top of his game.

    “I swear / I used to pray to change back the year / when niggers spoke of motherships with space helmets for hair. / Well, now what have we here? / Thugs and poets, ah yeah. / What we seem to have in common is we’re common as air.”

  • http://gaccuworld.blogspot.com Antonio

    I did download the album, and for a white boy like me it sounds really good.
    I am not sure the industrial beats will be something traditional rap fans will be able to understand and like.
    It deserves a download, anyway.

  • http://gaccuworld.blogspot.com Antonio

    I did download the album, and for a white boy like me it sounds really good.
    I am not sure the industrial beats will be something traditional rap fans will be able to understand and like.
    It deserves a download, anyway.

  • http://www.virb.com/godfaz.com Godfaz

    This album is AWESOME !!!

    I make industrial hip-hop for years and this album is a great step forward for people to know this kind of music.

    Massive respect to Reznor and Williams !

  • http://www.virb.com/godfaz.com Godfaz

    This album is AWESOME !!!

    I make industrial hip-hop for years and this album is a great step forward for people to know this kind of music.

    Massive respect to Reznor and Williams !

  • http://differentkitchen.blogspot.com/ ian

    Yeah, Rizoh, how do you call yourself a music fan and not recognize the inspiration behind his album title??

  • http://differentkitchen.blogspot.com/ ian

    Yeah, Rizoh, how do you call yourself a music fan and not recognize the inspiration behind his album title??

  • hook

    It’s more like a Nine Inch Nails album featuring Saul Williams.

  • hook

    It’s more like a Nine Inch Nails album featuring Saul Williams.

  • http://highsnobiety.com Tiro

    I would be offended if Nas named his album Niggytardust….is that wrong??

  • http://highsnobiety.com Tiro

    I would be offended if Nas named his album Niggytardust….is that wrong??

  • SomeOne

    Yo Riz, i downloaded the album for $5 i thought it was pretty decent and i support Saul. How is Nas calling his LP “nigger” get a pass but here we are discussing Saul shit….damn!

  • SomeOne

    Yo Riz, i downloaded the album for $5 i thought it was pretty decent and i support Saul. How is Nas calling his LP “nigger” get a pass but here we are discussing Saul shit….damn!

  • yaboy

    title is ode to david bowie, as mentioned above…

    i downloaded the cd yesterday and while its not something I would typically listen to, i find it intriguing…

  • yaboy

    title is ode to david bowie, as mentioned above…

    i downloaded the cd yesterday and while its not something I would typically listen to, i find it intriguing…

  • Glazz

    Be embarrassed that you didn’t recognize the Bowie reference, good grief!

  • Glazz

    Be embarrassed that you didn’t recognize the Bowie reference, good grief!

  • http://www.therapup.net Rizoh

    So, knowing the reference makes it a great title? Where’s the logic in that?

  • http://www.therapup.net Rizoh

    So, knowing the reference makes it a great title? Where’s the logic in that?

  • http://rockthedub.blogspot.com khal

    well its not just a play on the title, from what i understand. David Bowie’s spaced out alter-ego was Ziggy Stardust, complete with wild stage show and such. In doing like 2 mins of research, I’ve seen that Saul Williams has used the Niggy Tardust name as an alter-ego of sorts for himself. I even saw somewhere that Saul is going to be tour in support of this download with a full Niggy Tardust stage show, and perform “in character”.

    I told myself I was gonna pre-order this, then buy it, but I have not done either. Kind of on the fence. But Riz, if you break down the Ziggy Stardust shit, I would assume that Saul has tried to create this album in that vein. Trent Reznor is a big Bowie fan, too.

  • http://rockthedub.blogspot.com khal

    well its not just a play on the title, from what i understand. David Bowie’s spaced out alter-ego was Ziggy Stardust, complete with wild stage show and such. In doing like 2 mins of research, I’ve seen that Saul Williams has used the Niggy Tardust name as an alter-ego of sorts for himself. I even saw somewhere that Saul is going to be tour in support of this download with a full Niggy Tardust stage show, and perform “in character”.

    I told myself I was gonna pre-order this, then buy it, but I have not done either. Kind of on the fence. But Riz, if you break down the Ziggy Stardust shit, I would assume that Saul has tried to create this album in that vein. Trent Reznor is a big Bowie fan, too.

  • http://myspace.com/ghetaway2 Trip

    check out Karmaloop.com, they have Artful Dodger, LRG (the Jason Hoodie!!), fresh Jive, them supra high tops, and all kinds of stuff for both men, and wemon. when you check out across from where you put in your address in the lower right hand corner you’ll see a box that says REP CODE, put in CX16629 to get 20% off the first order, then 10% off every other one, there’s a trick though…you check out with your e-mail address which is where they send the order confirmation to, so if you use a different e-mail address everytime you check out, you’ll keep getting 20% off!!! check it out (myspace.com/ghetaway2)

  • http://myspace.com/ghetaway2 Trip

    check out Karmaloop.com, they have Artful Dodger, LRG (the Jason Hoodie!!), fresh Jive, them supra high tops, and all kinds of stuff for both men, and wemon. when you check out across from where you put in your address in the lower right hand corner you’ll see a box that says REP CODE, put in CX16629 to get 20% off the first order, then 10% off every other one, there’s a trick though…you check out with your e-mail address which is where they send the order confirmation to, so if you use a different e-mail address everytime you check out, you’ll keep getting 20% off!!! check it out (myspace.com/ghetaway2)

  • http://www.nationalhoboconvention.com tom

    this record is the best thing i’ve heard all year. the sound is different, way ahead of its time. support this guy, he deserves it.

    -tom

  • http://www.nationalhoboconvention.com tom

    this record is the best thing i’ve heard all year. the sound is different, way ahead of its time. support this guy, he deserves it.

    -tom