Nas stopped by Tim Westwood’s BBC Radio 1Xtra show during his trip across the pond. In the spirit of his upcoming album Life Is Good, the hip-hop vet kept it positive as he opened up about his failed marriage to Kelis (“Marriage is expensive”), Nicki Minaj’s Summer Jam scandal, and the state of hip-hop.
He told Westwood that he would like to collaborate with Azealia Banks and shouted out A$AP Rocky, Meek Mill, Drake, and Lil Wayne.
He also remembered his friend Amy Winehouse, who he posthumously collaborated with on the track “Cherry Wine.” Hear what the Don had to say.
On Nicki Minaj vs. Hot 97: “I was just happy to see them work it out. Hot 97 and hip-hop artists, we all one family. I feel she was right to resolve it and let’s just get along.”
On the state of hip-hop: “I like it right now. Artists today are going for it. They’re not letting the culture die, so I’m happy about that.”
On the death of Amy Winehouse: “I was devastated ’cause she was so full of life. I still can’t even believe it. We all know she was going through a lot, but she just had a big spirit, so love to Amy.”
On why his marriage fell apart: “Money was never a thing. Money is money, it’s material. Love is real. Money isn’t. At the end of the day, that didn’t matter. It wasn’t like she came at me like that. The way it came out in public was like that. It just went wrong in a lot of areas.”
On his love life: “I still will marry again. If I get hit by that love, I’ll still do it again. It’s just life. You live and learn and you grow.”
On Kelis: “Shout out to Kelis. She’s an amazing woman and that’s the mother of my child and she’s great and everything is good.”