Nas

Nas And Google Invest $20 Million Into A South African Video Game Publisher

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Nas never really struck me as a gamer, but he has been a shrewd investor over the past couple of decades, so his investment in South African mobile game publisher Carry1st actually makes perfect sense. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Nas joined venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Google, and League Of Legends developer Riot Games in raising $20 million of financing for Carry1st, which is known for publishing Tilting Point’s SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off. Carry1st is based in Cape Town and looking to expand on its 96 percent monthly revenue growth, moving into games development and pro gaming.

Cordel Robbin-Coker, co-founder and CEO of Carry1st, said in a statement, “We’re excited to partner with this world-class group of investors who, in addition to capital, bring expertise across gaming, fintech, and web3. In 2021, we launched multiple games and digital commerce solutions achieving really strong growth. Together we can accelerate this growth and achieve our goal of becoming the leading consumer internet company in the region.”

Nas’ other recent investments include involvement in cryptocurrency and NFTs, which he’s used to split streaming rights to two of his recent songs with fans, and Audius, an artist-driven streaming platform. Of course, he’s also got his label and media company, Mass Appeal, which has released projects from Nas himself, Boldy James, Dave East, Run The Jewels, and more. If his latest bet pays off, he’ll have a toehold in a whole new arena (shooter, boom), becoming a legend in the rap game and video game worlds.

Explore the History of the Hip-Hop Remix

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Read about how the hip-hop remix was created. Continue reading…

Pete Rock Plans To File A Lawsuit Against Nas For Unpaid Royalties From His Work On ‘Illmatic’

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Pete Rock and Nas are at loggerheads. The producer has revealed his plans to file a lawsuit against the rapper for unpaid royalties from his work on his classic album Illmatic. According to Complex, Rock claims that he hasn’t been paid for contributing to the album since its 1994 release, despite having production and writing credits on “The World Is Yours,” one of the biggest songs from the album. “Nas and his people have stonewalled me since 1994,” Rock said about the matter. “My New Year’s resolution is to be compensated for my hard work on Illmatic.”

Rock’s legal team says he signed a contract that gave him a right to a portion of the royalties from “The World Is Yours,” and they now predict that the amount owed is in the millions of dollars. They also say Nas failed to uphold his end of the deal, despite numerous requests from Rock to be compensated. The lawsuit will be filed later this month, according to Complex.

In addition to being one of the more popular cuts from Illmatic, “The World Is Yours” has also been sampled in nearly 100 songs, including records by Eminem, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Mac Miller, Rick Ross, and more. Nas and Rock were last paired together on “The Art Of It” and “Queensbridge Politics,” which appeared on Nas’ 2019 compilation album The Lost Tapes 2.

Rap Report Card From the 1990s Grades Jay-Z, DMX and More

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Cordae Reveals The ‘From A Bird’s Eye View’ Tracklist With Features From Eminem, Freddie Gibbs, And Nas

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After releasing his “FABEV Freestyle” to continue hyping up his new album, Cordae has revealed the star-studded tracklist. When From A Bird’s Eye View drops this Friday, fans can expect to hear features from rap icons such as Eminem, Lil Wayne, and Nas, as well as contemporary faves like Gunna and Lil Durk. The album also reunites the 24-year-old Maryland rapper with Stevie Wonder, with whom he previously collaborated on the 2020 single “Can’t Put It In The Hands Of Fate.”

From A Bird’s Eye View is the long-awaited follow-up to Cordae’s Grammy-nominated debut album, The Lost Boy. Previously released singles include the flex rap “Super” and the Lil Wayne-featuring “Sinister.” Although it will be his first full-length album since 2019, the former YBN member did drop the Just Until EP in April of 2021 to hold fans over until his new album. He also started his own record label, Hi-Level Productions, although he hasn’t revealed any artists or projects from it just yet. Cordae will support the album with a tour beginning in February.

In addition to his reunion with Stevie Wonder, From A Bird’s Eye View will also pair Cordae once again with lyrical mastermind Eminem, who recruited Cordae and Jack Harlow for the remix to his own 2021 single “Killer.”

From A Bird’s Eye View is due 1/14 via Atlantic. You can pre-save it here.

XXL Awards 2022 – The People’s Champ Nominees

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The People’s Champ category is where you get to crown your favorite artist as the winner. These rappers have leveled up in their own major way. Vote once per hour until the polls close on Fri., Jan. 14 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
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XXL Awards 2022 Nominees Revealed

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It’s officially awards season around here. The XXL Awards 2022 nominees have arrived. Continue reading…