FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Music

Zé's "[INSERT WORD] N*GGA" Is a Defiant Statement of Pride

"Play this around cis straight men."
Twitter/Desiree' Jones

Zé, the newest and weirdest in Atlanta rap, is back once again to give us some needed wisdom on what it's like to be self-assured, black, and gay. His newest track is called "[INSERT WORD] N*GGA," and that all caps key-smash of a title belies the song's typically relaxed, one-take nature. Zé's words are anything but, however, as he opens with "F****t n***a, I just said that cause you n***as say it" and admits "I hate that word but lately I feel I should just embrace it / 'cause I'mma be that f****t at the Grammys while you hatin'." His increasingly confident boasts as the song draws to a close ("You yellin' 'Zé, can I record?' because you want that fame") speak to that embrace of identity, no matter what word you put on it.

Advertisement

"'[INSERT WORD] N*GGA' is about owning your identifiers and reclaiming their title," Zé told Noisey over email. "I want everyone to know that you should always be proud of yourself, regardless if people speak ill of you. FATHERBONNET makes his first appearance on the song also. He's an alter ego, a more sensitive side of myself. Enjoy and play this around cis straight men." Stream "[INSERT WORD] N*GGA" below.

Phil is a Noisey staff writer. He's on Twitter.