Nas has remained particularly quiet in recent memory, save for issuing a multi-part series on Instagram during which he broke his silence regarding the allegations of domestic violence his ex-wife Kelis made earlier this year. Now, after issuing a seemingly out-of-character but definitely overdue statement on the serious matter, the veteran rapper is now returning back to the spotlight, this time to keep it all business and talk shop about his career.
During a recent episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Nas and the famed host talked shop about the former’s latest album, Nasir, and what the recording process was like with Kanye West, among other subjects related strictly to music.
To kick off the rare television appearance, Nas began by diving into his love for hip-hop, briefly commenting on how much the genre has evolved over the years.
“I love hip-hop,” he shared, touching on how he has grown up alongside the genre. “I’ve loved it since I was a kid. It’s still like a dream and it’s still fresh to me. I still feel the love for it. I love the art of it. More than anything, I love the artform. That’s crazy [for hip-hop to be so popular now]. I remember when it was considered not even music. To see what it is today, I knew it would be that.”
He then goes on to get specific about certain influences early on his career, before revealing that same love for rap is exactly why he hasn’t hung up the mic just yet.
“I loved Jackson 5. I loved Rick James. I loved James Brown. Lots of different cool cats,” Nas continued. “Even if I did, like, a suburban life album, somebody would like it because there’s a world there that’s not being catered to. I think that might work; I got the fire underneath me.”
Elsewhere throughout the conversation, Nas reveals a bit of insight as to what it was like recording in Wyoming, outside of his normal environment in New York.
“The people are great,” he explained. “One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to. It was the last place I thought I would record an album but we were there and nobody bothered us. It was a good time. Kanye is the kind of guy who needed to be away from everything when he was recording, I guess. He said it to me and I was like, ‘I don’t know. I’ve never been there.’ But once I got there it was a great experience. It was Jackson… I saw the mountains.”
To accompany the interview, Nas also performed a track off his recent album, “Adam and Eve.” Check it all out in the video above.