Archive for the 'Nas' Category

Who knew he had it in him?!

Rapper Nas wants to bring some new music to his fans. He has the desire. He has the talent. But it seems he doesn't have the support of his record label, Def Jam Records, and they are standing in the way of putting out his new material.

Perhaps they are hearing something on the record that Nas isn't. (Like, its awful.) Or perhaps they simply have better rappers to promote. But whatever the reason, Nas has had enough and he sent out this email to his studio execs telling them exactly how he feels.

Nas writes:

From: Nas
To: LA Reid, Steve Bartels, Steve Gawley, Michael Seltzer, Joseph Borrino, Chris Hicks
Subject: PUT MY SHIT OUT!

Peace to all,

With all do respect to you all, Nas is NOBODY’s slave. This is not the 1800′s, respect me and I will respect you.

I won’t even tap dance around in an email, I will get right into it. People connect to the Artist @ the end of the day, they don’t connect with the executives. Honestly, nobody even cares what label puts out a great record, they care about who recorded it. Yet time and time again its the executives who always stand in the way of a creative artist’s dream and aspirations. You don’t help draw the truth from my deepest and most inner soul, you don’t even do a great job @ selling it. The #1 problem with DEF JAM is pretty simple and obvious, the executives think they are the stars. You aren’t…. not even close. As a matter of fact, you wish you were, but it didn’t work out so you took a desk job. To the consumer, I COME FIRST. Stop trying to deprive them! I have a fan base that dies for my music and a RAP label that doesn’t understand RAP. Pretty fucked up situation

This isn’t the 90′s though. Beefing with record labels is so 15 years ago. @ this point I just need you all to be very clear where I stand and how I feel about “my label.” I could go on twitter or hot 97 tomorrow and get 100,000 protesters @ your building but I choose to walk my own path my own way because since day one I have been my own man. I did business with Tommy Mottola and Donnie Einer, two of the most psycho dudes this business ever created. I worked well with them for one major reason……. they believed in me. The didn’t give a fuck about what any radio station or magazine said….those dudes had me.

Lost Tapes is a movement and a very important set up piece for my career as it stands. I started this over 5 years ago @ Columbia and nobody knew what it was or what it did but the label put it out as an LP and the fans went crazy for it and I single handlely built a new brand of rap albums. It’s smart and after 5 years it’s still a head of the game. This feels great and you not feeling what I’m feeling is disturbing. Don’t get in the way of my creativity. We are aligned with the stars here, this is a movement. There is a thing called KARMA that comes to haunt you when you tamper with the aligning stars. WE ARE GIVING THE PEOPLE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. Stop throwing dog shit on a MAGICAL moment.

You don’t get another Nas recording that doesn’t count against my deal….PERIOD! Keep your bullshit $200,000.00 fund. Open the REAL budget. This is a New York pioneers ALBUM, there ain’t many of us. I am ready to drop in the 4th quarter. You don’t even have shit coming out! Stop being your own worst enemy. Let’s get money!

-N.Jones

Wow! He's fairly sure of himself, dontcha think?

We have to wonder though: if the music is as innovative as he says it is, why would the studio put a hold on it? Sure, they have to sell what they think will make them the most money, but Nas isn't wrong. He has a fan base. They'd eat it up.

So either the Def Jam execs really are screwing with him or they are trying to hide him from the fact that he is not as amazing as he thinks he is. Why are we getting the feeling it might be the latter.

Some letter though! Didn't hold back on any punches!

[Image via WENN.]

Back to her old tricks we see!

Amy Winehouse was spotted in London partying with rapper Nas for Damian Marley's birthday in London and she looked like a hot mess!

What gives, Wino? Where's that boyfriend of yours?

He seems to keep you on the right track!

[Image via XposurePhotos.com.]

And we're sure they're pissed!

After falling behind on spousal support, Nas has finally set up a payment plan to cover Kelis' mortgage.

He owes her almost $300,000 and about $53,000 comes from those house payments. So, he has agreed to pay $14,229.61 per month until the mortgage is up to date.

But it may not last long considering he's gonna sell it!

If Nas' paying that much, we wonder how much he's $helling out for the baby!

[Image via WENN.]

And he's getting some help from his friends!

When Sony Music Chief Creative Officer Clive Davis suggested that Carlos Santana take on legendary songs, the famous guitarist had second thoughts. -

He said:

"I was like, 'No, I don't know if I want to do this one, Clive. This one's a little challenging.' And he would stay on the phone for at least 45 minutes to an hour, three times in one year, and I was like, 'Oh, lord…' But then I started realizing that someone with that intense passion of commitment couldn't be wrong, so I had to trust him. And it was incredible."

The untitled album is due out in September and the track list sounds amazeballs! Collaborations include Rob Thomas on Cream's Sunshine of Your Love, Joe Cocker on Jimi Hendrix's Little Wing, Scott Weiland on the Rolling Stones' Can't You Hear Me Knocking, Chris Daughtry on Def Leppard's Photograph, Chris Cornell on Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love, Papa Roach's Jacoby Shaddix on Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water and Nas on AC/DC's Back in Black.

He added:

"What I brought to the table is my heart, knowing that I complement, I don't compete. I brought my heart, trusting that there's enough in me of purity and innocence and genuineness that I couldn't possible, excuse the expression, fuck it up. I know Eric (Clapton). I know Jeff Beck. I know Jimmy Page. And they know me. I have supreme certainty and confidence that they're going to say, 'Hey man, I love what you did with my song."

Sounds incredible. We can't wait!

[Image via WENN.]

It's official!

According to documents filed on Friday, Nas and Kelis are legally divorced!

Well, that one took forever!

Congratulations??

[Image via WENN.]

Ouch!

Deadbeat Dad Nas is paying what he OWES Kelis, whether he likes it or not!

The couple split at the beginning of 2009 and have been in and out of court throughout the year because apparently Nas doesn't feel like dishing out the $$$ to his babymomma in child and spousal support payments.

Yesterday, however, the judge ordered that the rapper pay girlfriend over $290,000 in backdated payments, including an immediate payment of $47,249 in child support, $40,454 in spousal support, $155,787 in Kelis' legal fees, and $48,549 in accounting costs!

If that weren't bad enough - for him! - his monthly spousal support payments were jacked up to $10,000 a MONTH!

Uh-oh! Time to cut another record, Nas!

Looks like you're wallet just got a MASSIVE dent in it!

[Image via WENN.]

Nas and Kelis are far from friends after their marriage of four years ended! And it just escalated after he was ordered by the court to pay $51,000 per month to his baby momma for child support.

The rapper has finally broken his silence about the situation in a new, unreleased verse from his Strong Will Continue collaboration song.

He raps:

"How in the hell am I supposed to stay comfy/ When I pay child support, alimony monthly.

So I've stuck with some married women so fine, cheating while their husband rushing on the 40-yard line/ Wonder if this is what my ex did the whole time."

Ouch! We're sure Kelis is crying all the way to the bank!

[Image via WENN.]

Is Nas a deadbeat dad? It sure sounds like it!

Kelis is asking the judge to take Nas into court and ask why he shouldn't be held in contempt of court because he is majorly behind on his child support payments!

Nas is in the hole $56,911.50 in child and spousal support and he has been refusing to pay any since December 1.

Not cool, Nas! Take care of your kiddies!

[Image via Michael Wright / WENN.]