Def Jam Rapstar Developer Discusses Use of “The N Word”

Language is a tricky thing. You can use it in many different ways, and a lot of the time what you’re saying has more than one meaning depending on who you’re talking to. “The pen is mightier than the sword” comes to mind.

I didn’t even know that Def Jam Rapstar existed until I saw this interview excerpt up on Destructoid. As I’m sure you know Hip-Hop music isn’t known for ‘”ahem’” tasteful lyrics. Often times you’ll hear more swears and misogynistic comments than you will other words. Who am I to judge though? Maybe that’s exactly how these artists felt they needed to express themselves.

This brings me back to the interview, and a quote from Jamie King, the Chief Creative Officer officer for the game, had this to say about the n-word, specifically:

We don’t have ownership, as [white people], of that word. I think that word does come up, and that is perhaps a word where, with the radio edits, there is an opportunity to not say it.

I’d just like to point out how ridiculous claiming or attributing ownership of a word is. Claiming ownership of a word is kind of like breathing someone else’s air. Unless you’re in a vacuum, in a spacesuit with an air tank on your back, and someone is poking their breathing apparatus into your air tank, then it’s actually stealing. I don’t think there’s a situation that’s remotely similar to the spacesuit in a vacuum that’s analogous to the whole word ownership situation, so please, stop doing this.

Speech is free. If you don’t feel comfortable using the word in your game that’s fine, but don’t blame it on ownership of the word. You could’ve said “Oh, well, the word has a negative connotation, so we don’t think you should say it, but the space is still there if you really really want to say it.”

To be fair to the guy, I’m sure he was just trying to make good conversation. I know when I talk to people I say stupid things that would probably come back to bite me later. Yes, he probably could’ve been more careful while speaking, but sometimes it just happens, and you have some verbal diarrhea. Think before you speak, folks.