"NiggyTardust," the lyrics for which were adapted from poetry in Williams' 2006 book "The Dead Emcee Scrolls: The Lost Teachings of Hip-Hop," was released in November. Williams collaborated with Nine Inch Nails [ tickets ] frontman Trent Reznor on the album, which late last year was available online for free (or for a $5 contribution). According to Reznor, the album had been downloaded 154,449 times as of Jan. 2, with 28,322 choosing to pay $5 for it.

"'The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!' is the lovechild of Trent and me," Williams said in a press release. "The NiggyTardust concept sets me free to do more on stage with costume, etc. than one might expect from a regular Saul Williams show. It allows me to put my theatre training to use.

"I've also thought long and hard about all the discussion surrounding racial epithets etc. and chose this title as a means of furthering the dialogue while also showing how creativity will outlive and outshine hatred of any kind."

"Saul's music is in more peoples' iPods than ever before and people are interested in him," Reznor wrote in a recent posting on his website. "He'll be touring throughout the year and we will continue to get the word out however we can."