Nas and his ex-wife Kelis have reportedly been embroiled in a bitter custody battle over their 8-year-old son Knight that was only recently settled. In a new (and rare) interview with Hollywood Unlocked, the “Milkshake” singer opens up about what she alleges was a violent relationship with her ex-husband.
The couple married in 2003 in a lavish ceremony — although she says they’d already gotten married prior — and the divorce was finalized in 2010.
“We had like really intense highs and really intense lows,” the 38-year-old says. “It was never normal. The intense high would be like money was rolling in. We were young, too. I was 22 when I met him. I was a baby. We were drinking too much, smoking too much — we were too much. We were spending too much. We were balling out of control. It was all just too much. We lived hard and so because of that when that comes down, it goes really low. As low as possible. So, it’s hard ’cause there’s no balance. There’s no normalcy.”
As the conversation continued, Kelis started to unravel what went allegedly on behind closed doors. Although she says she was young, naive and madly in love, she admits she “took a lot” of unacceptable behavior.
When asked if she was referring to Nas’ infidelity, Kelis replied, “That was the straw that broke the camel’s back but that wasn’t it. I didn’t file for divorce because he cheated. He’d been cheating for two years and I knew that. It was because on top of all the other stuff, then you’re going to cheat? Ok. This is too much. It was really toxic. I was pregnant and at 7 months pregnant, I was terrified.”
One of the Harlem native’s most disturbing accusations was that their marriage was soaked in alcohol — which she dubbed the “Patron era” — and would often lead to physical violence. She says Nas would black out and not remember the night before.[apple_news_ad type=”any”]
“It was really dark,” she says. “There was a lot of drinking, and a lot of mental and physical abuse. We would fight. I never just sat there but we would definitely fight. I’ve waited nine years to say anything. The amount of airing out I could do — and I’ve chosen not to — our kids will find out. They’re finding out now. I’ve never painted myself as a saint. Did he hit me? Mmmhm. Did I hit him? Mmmhm.”
She continued, “It was because he would black out. He would drink too much. He will never admit it. But he drank too much. There were times when we would party and I’d drink with him but he would keep drinking. We’d have the worst night ever and we would wake up the next day, and it’s like it never happened.” Embed from Getty Images
To make up for it, she says Nas would buy her expensive gifts and while she says she liked the gifts, she knew their marriage was in trouble. In 2009, when the news broke Chris Brown had physically assaulted his then-girlfriend Rihanna, Kelis says she felt humiliated by her own situation.
“Something reminded me of Rihanna,” she explains. “I remember so clearly when the pictures came out with that whole thing that happened with her and Chris Brown … I had bruises all over my body at the time. That day, I remember being in Atlanta, sitting in kitchen … and I wasn’t ready to walk, so I didn’t say it … Seeing her, the way she looked and then looking at myself, I was embarrassed. I wasn’t ready for that move … I thought I could love past this.”
Although the battle over Knight is reportedly resolved for now, TMZ reported Nas is accusing Kelis of violating the terms of their agreement earlier this month.
Kelis insists the Illmatic legend is obsessed with his image and will never change.
“He was angry and he was dark, and he’s always been that way,” she says. “To this day, that man is exactly the man I married. He has changed not one iota. I changed … What you take at 22 and what you take at 28 are very different.”
never trust Leo females.
I don’t believe a word of it.
Yeah it’s kind of one sided. From her interpretation, Nas is a mad alcoholic who beats women for no reason. I believe some of what she’s saying though.
Bitches aint shit but hoes and tricks…..just wow. Lets put this into perspective and see how vindictive a female can be. Nas gets $40 mill from that door bell investment that amazon bought. 2 weeks later kelis files for more child support and I copy and pasted a quote “Kelis says Nas is doing way better now than he was when the judge ordered him to cough up the $8k monthly support, so he’s more than able to foot the bill for various expenses.” Now all of sudden Nas was beating your ass when yall was married but you never mentioned shit when you filed for divorce and child support the 1st time. How convenient Kelis and btw $8k isn’t enough for an 8yr old? Nas please find the most vicious lawyer that can shred Kelis credibility to pieces cause I cant understand how an 8yr old needs more than $8k per month to get by.
Nope.. not going for it.. In relationships it takes 2 to tango. I’m not saying her interpretation of the relationship is wrong, I’m saying what part did she play, because all I read is Nas is wrong for this, Nas is wrong for that. There are two sides to a story and it’s perfect timing she’s coming out with all of this now that they are in a custody battle and she wants MORE child support.
She’s a liar who is trying to ruin his career because she doesn’t have one anymore. Not feeding into her bs.
Typical bitter, greedy ex-wife tactics. Extortion through public humiliation. She wants more money. Get a job!!!
Yeah cause the bitch definitely CAN’T sing worth shit.
“Uhh Uhh Where am I going?
Where am I? Yo it’s ill
Yo my wife’s tired of fucking me
Life tries ducking me
Luckily I find ’em just at the right time
Mack in my right arm Tequila bottle in
My left arm like Cristian
Watching my life go keeping myself in
Wolves in the night yo hells men
Two revolvers I can let twelve spin
Hop in my Benz push it to the limit
Buck sixty who wit’ me? My (?) to well
Twisted blunts and inner conscience
Telling me that I ain’t shit
No matter how much cash I sit with
Still gotta ask the lord for forgiveness“
“I’m drunk by myself, gun under my seat
I don’t want none of my peeps caught up in none of my beef
I’m a ride to the end of the road if I have to
Praying no car speeds by for me to crash to
Steering wheel in my hand
Trying to hold it steady
Anything in my way is dead
Cause that’s the way I feel, I am already
When I’m drunk by myself alone in the zone
Drunk by myself”
Underrated track off lost tapes
I believe her, but like EVERYONE else says, what’s his side of the story? Don’t paint him to be the bad person. He can come out and say his side, and she’ll look like the bad person.
Wasn’t his side of the story LIFE IS GOOD?
“That was the straw that broke the camel’s back but that wasn’t it. I didn’t file for divorce because he cheated. He’d been cheating for two years and I knew that. It was because on top of all the other stuff, then you’re going to cheat? Ok. ” Who wrote this ish? Lmfao!!
This bitch LYING, ain’t worked a damn day in 15 years thanks to Nas and she still resorts to this type of shit, washed up talentless hoe
Based on what you say Nas is essiantially her meal ticket, so why would she risk that if harm to his public image/career harms her as well
It’s called “Court Order”…there is nothing NAS can do about it.
because she is losing the battle and wants to get him back, if you get married and move on your new husband is responsible for your life, all nas wanted was to see his son, he tried to work it out with her and then decided to go public because he knew he was taking her to court with it becoming public, she realizes she is about to lose the case, with her not getting the money because A. she can earn her own. B. she moved on…. with I’m sure the judge telling her that plus now that it is out there she looks bad so how do you get him back make him look bad. If I met a better person than the one I was with, then what happened in the past is the past, I found my happiness somewhere else so obviously it wasn’t meant to be, when you are in a not right for you relationship things are not going to be rosy, that’s just the way it is, clearly this the case for her and Nas with it being let the past go enjoy the love you have now and let Nas find his way with it being another woman’s issue if it becomes one for her at all, cause he might have grown from his mistakes or he might even need to go through a few things before he gets it right. Unfortunately for him with women throwing their panties at him the way they do, that is going to hard because he doesn’t have to work it out he can just move on to the next chick. I personally feel that Kelis had a child with Nas to get the check, he filed for divorce first with him only staying because she got pregnant, she has always been mad that things got reduced based on him showing that she can make her own money, and she probably played with visitation because of it. That is why she wanted more money with this current case with the judge telling her no…..and why she is doing what she is doing now…..cause the girl is married to someone else with it being if he is a real man, and things keep up he will leave her too
I don’t necessarily discredit what she’s saying but it’s convenient to make the accusations by saying he wouldn’t remember and would deny it. Just a thought
Dumb hoe! Nas will be on top once the album drops. King Hov needs to stop his cheating ways or Nas might take Beyonce. I dont know but King Hov never paid or shouted me out for all the support I give him. I dont even know why I call him King Hov anymore
Good lord you are a fucking idiot.
Damn kid, you take retarded to another level
You finally stop sucking the same old Dick! Congratulations… there many more rappers out there for you. Try that punk ass Kanye!
She’s the reason that I will never wife a stupid bitch.
Damn it nas just if you woulda agreed to the higher child support payments she woulda shut up
Here comes the money run….Let me guess, got a book coming?
Nas album done
Yeah, but at the end of the day Nas is still the G.o.a.t and Kelis is a gold digger
Kelis her albums were always better than Nas’s ones so, quit the dickriding on Nas’s dick fanboyz. Nas kept his head low since the break up for a reason, if he a man he should apologize and pay for their kid. Kelis always was and is someone who says things how they are. Nas always someone who hides his face behind a mask, cuz his dick is stuck between his skinny legs.
Kept his head low? He made an album with a theme of it being about the divorce… Where have you been?
Her story doesn’t seem true at all. If he was a beater then his daughters mom would have said it in her book as well and he would have had a good relationship with his daughter as well so a wife beater I doubt that. Coming out of no where with all of this means a book is coming that’s my thought. Just put 2 and 2 together. Think about it.
I like Nas as an MC and there is no doubt he is one of the greatest who ever touched the mic…but Nas ex-wife carmen bryan told the exact same story bout him being abusive. So maybe what Kelis is saying is true…
Nas should have never married Kelis’s crazy ass.
Horseshit Kelis. You just mad your cooking show has flopped so now you talkig this MeToo bullshit, so you can get some sympathy endorsements and Hollywood invites.
Kelis, we all understand now! You are broke again. Your lawyers has stated something to you last week or today about you are not getting anymore money from Nas. Bitch go get a job! You women kill me with that shit… how many gifts and money Nas has giving your broke ass? How much? Tell that story! And Nas…if you are doing this shit cut that shit out and grow the F up.
I know there are trolls and children posting on here but reading through these comments reminds me that the majority of you ni**as should have stayed in slavery. No critical thinking skills or objectivity whatsoever, just female headed household by-products getting emotional and blaming women.
Nas is one of the greatest poets in history, however this is the 2nd time this accusation has been made by his long term partners. That’s very suspicious at the least as many other Black male entertainers have NEVER been accused of abuse. Hope the kid can move on and be a respectful man.
She wasn’t a saint either. Move on with the chatty patty tell all crap kelis. Aren’t u married again now. Now every chick wants to be on the MeToo bandwagon smh
Her music career has collapsed and she’s still bitter
When was it ever on? I knew her for being half naked a couple of times I saw her on BET more than any music she had. That Milkshake song was dumb as hell and was part of the beginning of the chasm that music fell into and hasn’t recovered from since that era of shit like that, Laffy Taffy, etc.
But Kelis, how many times did you cheat on him?
Why do this all of a sudden when he has an album coming and just got a Billion dollar deal with Amazon?
Did you report it to the cops when it happened?
F outta here!!!
Maybe it’s true, maybe it’s not, I DON’T CARE. All I know is: Nas album done.
Son’s about to release and album and get that money. Girl move on! Notice Nas ain’t said anything bad about you ever since! Only on Life Is Good did he address your marriage. “Did he hit me, hmmm, did I hit him, hmmm” y’all were too much for each other, case closed!
Another wifebeater so sad. We all knew that Nas wasnt a gangsta but ab wifebeater?
Reply to matew_11
Shut TF up!! NaS is GOAT, Kelis is Trash
WURD!
Kelis got ethered
Nas was her come up. She wanted to be his Beyonce. It didn’t work out so she got pregnant and divorced his ass for that child support money. Gold digger at its finest.
More fkn sh– that doesn’t need to be for public consumption. Go to the police or stfu.
Nas waiting to release his album when his children are adults so he doesn’t have to give half of it to Kelis?
Kelis has a history of mental health issues… i dont find her as a credible source, as we should always respect and believe a woman when such information is announced, i have to apologize because unfortunately i have a hard time believing these accusations due to her character traits.
*sidebar*
didn’t Nas have video of you cheating on him on his couch with Pharell? (if this is false i apologize)
Something tells me that Kelis is the type of chick that gets in a man’s face and shit as much as anything. Just a hunch.
It sure doesn’t surprise me with the community on this site, but it never ceases to disgust me how many heads refuse to believe that Nas would beat on women, even when he himself admits it (‘The Don’). And then all *applaud* him for beating his wife. Wow. Fucking assholes.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people believe the words of a gold digging hoe 9 years after the supposed fact. She wants more alimony and child support and custody of their son, Knight. She’ll say whatever to paint herself in a better light and make Nas look bad.
Let’s not forget she was caught naked in bed on video with some dude that was trying to extort Nas.