Nas reveals he battled COVID-19

iStock/Lubo Ivanko

Nas celebrated his 48th birthday on September 14, and he says he’s grateful to be healthy now after contracting COVID-19 in October 2020.

“This is the first time [I’m] mentioning it,” he tells Ebony. “It was mentally and physically hard. It’s just today’s world, with chemical warfare, crazy politics, racism, food shortages, police malpractice, Black-on-Black murder. The human spirit is being tested.”

The rap icon is appreciating life more now. For his new “Brunch on Sunday” video, he dined with Los Angeles Lakers basketball stars LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, and Swizz Beatz, as well as his 27-year-old daughter, Destiny. They appear in all-white in the clip shot on the rooftop of the luxurious Catch restaurant in L.A.

Meanwhile, with a series of lucrative investments, including Coinbase cryptocurrency, Nasir has become known for his financial success.

“I got people that stop me in the street to ask me about investment tips more than music,” he reveals. “I met another Black man named Nasir; he’s doing his thing. He told me how I’m inspirational to him in that world of investors and fundraising.”

The Illmatic rapper, who dropped out of school in the eighth grade, is now focused on providing funding to assist others.

“Hip hop has created more Black millionaires than any other industry in America,” Nas comments. “Being able to invest in start-ups and invest in people’s futures…that’s what America is all about.”

As he looks back at his 30-year legacy, Nas hopes to be as highly regarded as his idols.

“I just wanna become as great as the ones I came up thinking were the greats,” he says. “Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, LL [Cool J], Slick Rick, Ice Cube — the list goes on.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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