Yes, THAT word. This week hosts Dope KNife and Linqua Franqa discuss the etymology, usage, and controversy around the N-word, from the word's early advent in the Mountain Man Lexicon in the 1800s to its appearance in newspapers across the country in response to Booker T. Washington's White House visit at the turn of the 20th century to the battle between Nas and the NAACP over the title of Nas's 2008 album. The hosts allow the rap canon to weigh in as well, surveying discussion of the word on tracks from NWA's Niggaz for Lyfe to indie lyricist AllOne's Rush Hour '98.

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