Since tragedy struck in Charleston, South Carolina, involving the shooting and killing of nine people by white supremacist Dylann Roof, hip hop has been outspoken about the situation. From Fashawn to Trey Songz, there has been a wide range of opinions regarding the 21-year-old who sought to start a race war.

Last night, Nas, who is known to speak his mind on injustices and political issues, talked to VIBE on the red carpet during the premiere of Fresh Dressed in New York City. When asked to shed some light on the Charleston shooting, Nas was candid with his response and felt that racism is bringing down America.

“Mental illness is something that I wish we could detect earlier on — from birth,” Nas says. “To detect that, and maybe vaccinate that at birth, so we don’t have to worry about who’s who. Who are we, walking around? Who are the people that we are living around us that are sick? That really need help… We have to live our life in this zoo. How do we heal the people that are mentally ill today? How do we make them more respectful of each other no matter what race they are?

The Life Is Good rapper added that racism has been an ongoing problem and that there doesn’t seem to be an end to racial tension. “Racism is rotting America. It’s been rotting America since its inception. So this is a very serious time that we’re moving into in 2015.”

Roof has confessed to killings in Charleston and is currently detained for further investigation.

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