NAS - DEF JAM: 'WE'RE BACKING NAS ALL THE WAY'

LATEST: NAS' record label DEF JAM have 'no issue' with the rap star's controversial plans to name his new album NIGGA, the label's chairman insists. Def Jam chairman Antonio 'L.A.' Reid has trashed reports that his company isn't supporting Nas' decision to title his December (07) album Nigga - hailing the moniker "smart". He tells MTV.com, "We support everything our artists do, everything! We stand firmly behind and beside our artists with pride and with pleasure. "Anything Nas wants to do, I completely stand beside him. Nas is prolific, he's prophetic, he's a genius, an amazing artist of respect. So, while I'm not sure exactly all that (the title) entails, I know it's smart, so I stand behind him. That's real." The Hip-Hop Is Dead star announced his intentions to test race issues with the new album earlier this month (Oct07) - but bosses at Def Jam were believed to be anxious about the controversy it could spark.