Mos Def banned the use of the 'N' word on the set of his new movie Next Day Air in a bid to urge his co-stars to use less controversial terms to "express" themselves.

The rapper/actor stars alongside Donald Faison, Mike Epps and Wood Harris in the funny crime caper, about a drug shipment which is delivered to the wrong address.

And Mos Def convinced his African-American co-stars to make sure language in the film and on the set was respectful at all times - by outlawing the racially-charged word.

Harris says, "It was something that was very important to us. It was our way of making a statement that we can express ourselves without using the N-word. But it wasn't just in the movie that we banned the word. We also banned it on set. No one could say it. At first it was difficult, but we really stayed on top of each other. By the end of... filming, I don't know if it was something that even came up. We just didn't say it, and had no desire to. I hope that other people will start trying to find new ways to express themselves as well."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)