Nas Fun Facts, Quotes and Tweets

16^th February 2015

Fact: Rapper Nas made a surprise appearance at the NBA All-Star Game in New York City on Sunday night (15Feb15). The One Mic hitmaker joined Christina Aguilera for a rendition of Jay Z and Alicia Keys' hit New York State of Mind to kick off the annual basketball showdown.

8^th October 2014

Fact: Hip-hop icon Nas has given rising rapper Bishop Nehru a big boost by signing on to executive produce the newcomer's upcoming solo album. The young Mc is signed to Nas' Mass Appeal Records imprint.

24^th April 2014

Fact: Rapper Nas has recruited hip-hop group The Roots to perform with him at the Boston Calling Music Festival in Massachusetts this September (14). The artists will join the likes of The National, Lorde, The Replacements and Neutral Milk Hotel on the bill for the three-day event, which will take place at the city's historic City Hall Plaza.

16^th April 2014

Fact: Rapper Nas will mark the 20th anniversary of his debut album Illmatic by performing the record in its entirety during his first ever show in Ibiza on 9 July (14). He previously performed the same feat at California's Coachella music festival on Saturday (12Apr14).

16^th April 2014

Quote: "Modern Family, that girl, Sofia Vergara, I need her. Walking Dead. House of Cards is my s**t." Rapper Nas reveals his favourite Tv shows, including a crush on Colombian beauty Sofia Vergara.

24^th February 2014

Quote: "I like that the Grammys nominated me. I know the hugest platform for music is the Grammys, it matters... but something that huge is never gonna get it right. So it's Ok. It gives me the opportunity to wear a nice suit on a red carpet." Rapper Nas on scoring 13 Grammy Awards nominations without a single win.

15^th September 2013

Quote: "I just recently heard of her. I don't know her, but God bless her, whoever she is. Much love to you!" Rapper Nas confesses to E! News that he barely knows who pop superstar Miley Cyrus is, despite the singer's headline-grabbing antics in recent weeks, including a controversial performance at the MTV Video Music Awards last month (Aug13).

9^th June 2013

Fact: While in New York City ahead of his performance at the Governors Ball on Sunday (09Jun13), rapper Kanye West celebrated his 36th birthday at Ms. Lily's on Saturday night (08Jun13) with his celebrity pals Jay Z, Beyonce and Nas. Noticeably absent was the Stronger hitmaker's girlfriend, mum-to-be Kim Kardashian, who is in Los Angeles and unable to fly due to her pregnancy.

6^th June 2013

Fact: Justin Timberlake, Jay Z, Nas and Timbaland have hit the recording studio to work on new music. A photo of the stars laughing and drinking together around a keyboard was posted online on Wednesday (05Jun13) by Lenny S., an executive at Jay Z's label Roc Nation, alongside the caption, "Jay x Jt x Nas x TIMBO Rat Pack s**t. For some this is 'Work'... For us it's just Fun."

22^nd February 2013

Fact: Nas is among the first wave of acts announced for Britain's Glastonbury festival in June (13). The rapper will headline the newly-named Dance Village during the iconic summer event, which kicks off on 26 June (13).

7^th December 2012

Tweet: "Amy up for another Grammy. Our lovely girl Still up there with the best." Amy Winehouse's father Mitch celebrates his late daughter landing a nomination for her track Cherry Wine with rapper Nas. The pair scored a nod in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category on Wednesday (05Dec12), when the shortlist was announced.

14^th August 2012

Fact: Rapper Nas had prime tickets for Team Usa's Olympics basketball finale with Spain thanks to sportsman pals Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. The two basketball greats handed him hard-to-come-by courtside tickets for the Sunday (12Aug12) showdown in London - and then he joined them for their after-game party.

2^nd August 2012

Quote: "My favourite show right now is Girls. I don't know where this girl Lena Dunham came from, but she's amazing!" Rapper Nas is a big fan of the new TV comedy drama, which is set in New York.

11^th June 2012

Quote: "I would slap the s**t out of somebody for Gwyneth Paltrow. She’s the homie, she’s cool. Gwyneth gets a pass. Real people get a pass. We know what this s**t is. We don’t interrupt Italians when they say 'Wop' to each other. They gonna punch you in the mouth if you interrupt that. Don’t interrupt us. We pick and choose... Gwyneth Paltrow is a real n***a, that’s my homie. That’s how I’m on it. Some people get a pass." Rapper Nas defends Gwyneth Paltrow against criticism she received for using the 'N' word in correspondence last week (ends08Jun12).

7^th June 2012

Quote: "I'm taken aback by the beauty of women. There was a time when I only saw big breasts and thick a**es. Now I see the beauty in the subtleties... The aesthetics have changed for me." Rapper Nas has developed a deeper appreciation for the opposite sex.

7^th June 2012

Quote: "Michelle Obama is the most beautiful woman on the planet. She cares about people... You can feel her sincerity." Rapper Nas is a big fan of America's First Lady.

20^th March 2012

Quote: "Part of me didn't want to do the song... It's a bittersweet feeling to do something with her now that she's not here. I'm happy... the sweet part is that we do have the music, fans have new music from her." Rapper Nas was unsure about his duet with Amy Winehouse appearing on the late singer's posthumous album, but was eventually happy to have it included.

19^th March 2012

Fact: Rapper Nas performed his 1994 debut album Illmatic in its entirety during his set at the South BY Southwest festival in Austin, Texas on Saturday night (17Mar12). The Moody Theater set featured guest appearances by producer Pete Rock and DJ Premier.

15^th September 2011

Tweet: "Special shout out and love goes out to a Angel we all lost ... The world lost. A real musician, true artist. Amy Winehouse.... Happy Bday Sis! Poppin champagne 4 u (sic)! I got another angel watching my back now. I'll try to hold it down out here...!" Rapper Nas toasts his late friend on their birthday on Wednesday (14Sep11). The I Can hitmaker turned 38, while Winehouse would have turned 28. She died in July (11).

21^st January 2011

Quote: "I’m really proud (of him), and not proud because he is an icon in the hip-hop world, I’m proud of him because he’s a good son with a good talent that I respect and his family respects. (Our) whole family expected him to be that way no matter what he did. Even if he was a garbage man, we would have been just as proud." Jazz musician OLU DARA would be honoured to call rapper Nas his son regardless of his career choice.

5^th January 2011

Quote: "I look at Michael Jackson, and before he passed away, I can only imagine the pressure he had to live up to for the next moonwalk. And the reality is physically, he wasn't able to live up to that. I would have loved to see him come up with the next level, without even dancing, just using his creativity. It's all about evolving and that's what I want to do, evolve." Rapper Nas sympathises with the pressure MICHAEL JACKSON faced to live up to his icon status.

6^th October 2010

Quote: "Excuse my language but hell yeah! My content, I'm on the same style. I can't change for nobody." Rising rapper WAKA FLOCKA FLAME wants to show off his talents on a joint track with rap veteran Nas.

20^th May 2010

Quote: "I was always surprised when someone knew my dad. I can't imagine being Damian. Bob being my dad would just be a whole other level for me." Rapper Nas, whose father is jazz star dad OLU DARA, is astounded by how humble reggae star Damian Marley is considering his father is music legend Bob Marley.

16^th December 2009

Quote: "I don’t give a s**t what people say about my divorce. At the end of the day it’s my life.” Kelis remains defiant over her recent split from husband Nas.

9^th July 2009

Quote: "They say when ur (sic) pregnant if you have heartburn it's 'cause the baby has hair. I think he must have an afro 'cause this is ridiculous!" Rapper Nas' pregnant estranged wife Kelis is in pain as she approaches her due date later this month (Jul09).

8^th April 2009

Quote: "I like real dudes so when I get a call from Jada, it's an honour." Rap icon Nas explains his decision to make a rare guest appearance on pal Jadakiss' new album The Last Kiss.

3^rd July 2008

Quote: "His movie has an incredible message. He gave me a better understanding of his people (Jews) and of the Palestinians and all that bulls**t going on - by making fun of it." Rapper Nas was enlightened by Adam Sandler's comedy DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN.

25^th June 2008

Quote: "A lot of rappers are not what they say they are. It's a gimmick. Real men have children. We have nieces, nephews, little cousins, little sisters." Nas insists rap fans shouldn't believe their idols are all gangsters.

6^th February 2008

Quote: "They had to expect the least a n**ga like Nas could do was make an album called NIGGER." Rapper NAS insists people shouldn't be shocked by the controversial title of his forthcoming LP.

2^nd December 2007

Fact: One of the tracks on rapper Nas' controversial new album NIGGER is titled FEAR OF THE BLACK MAN'S D**K.

29^th November 2007

Fact: Rapper Nas has recruited super-producers Jermaine Dupri and Sean Combs to help him complete his controversial new album NIGGER.

27^th November 2007

Fact: Rapper Nas' controversially-titled album NIGGER has been pushed back by one month. It will now hit stores in February (08) - the same time African-Americans celebrate Black History Month in the U.S.

29^th October 2007

Quote: "It's like talking to your child about sex. It's hard, but it's important." Rapper Nas insists he won't be swayed from calling his upcoming album NIGGER.

24^th October 2007

Quote: "Nas sucks. It's nonsense, man. That's a stupid name. It doesn't make sense. Why would you title it that?" 50 Cent slams rap peer Nas over his plans to title his next album NIGGA.

27^th February 2007

Quote: "JAY-Z made a better boyfriend than Nas. He was more attentive. He was always calling. He wanted to spend time... I loved him." CARMEN BRYAN compares her ex-fiancee Nas with former boyfriend Jay-Z.

8^th January 2007

Fact: Rapper Nas' new album HIP HOP IS DEAD features one track that was produced by basketball star Chris Webber, a former boyfriend of retired model Tyra Banks.

19^th October 2006

Fact: MILKSHAKE singer Kelis and her husband, rapper Nas, have spent $36,000 (GBP20,000) on his-and-hers removable gold tooth caps. His upper grill reads 'Nasty' while hers reads 'Tasty'.

25^th July 2006

Quote: "In the beginning, my thing was always military wear. It's comfortable and it fits right. I think Fidel Castro does it well. It doesn't matter who Fidel is going to meet, he's always wearing his uniform." Rapper Nas talks about his quirky fashion hero.

3^rd May 2006

Quote: "I love to cook and my husband loves to eat. We make a great team." R+B star Kelis, who is planning to reveal all about the dishes she serves up to husband Nas in a new cookbook.

18^th February 2006

Quote: <p>"You can't sign an artist of Nas' stature. You can only partner with him." Rap mogul Jay-Z on his decision to team up with former arch-foe, NAS, at Def Jam Records. </p>

2^nd January 2006

Fact: <p>Rapper Nas will feature on his wife Kelis' forthcoming album THE PUPPETEER, which is due for release early this year (06). The star also appeared on Kelis' 2005 hit IN PUBLIC. </p>

30^th December 2005

Fact: <p>Damian Marley teams up with rapper Nas on his forthcoming single ROAD TO ZION. </p>

23^rd August 2005

Fact: <p>Bobby Brown is making a musical comeback of sorts by guesting on DAMIEN 'JR GONG' MARLEY's new reggae album WELCOME TO JAMROCK. The release from Bob Marley's youngest son also features guest performances by rapper Nas and The Roots. </p>