Here are some facts about the state of this divorce that you may or may not know:
Kanye West has been on love lockdown since breaking his engagement with his longtime girlfriend, Alexis Phifer, back in April of 2008. After losing his mother and his girl in a matter of months, its no wonder 'Ye sounds so melancholy on '808's and Heartbreak.'
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Kanye West & Alexis Phifer: Six Years (on and off)
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1) Nas apparently earns much more than most people think. At $244,000 per month, Nas proves that a rapper doesn't have to make a hit to make a lot of cash.
2) Kelis earns a little money off her milkshake, but not nearly as much as Nas. Kelis' reported income is $13,000 per month, which is still pretty good compared to most people.
3) Kelis wants $17,225 per month for child support. I expect to soon see a baby with 24-inch spinners on his diamond-laced baby carriage. That's a hell of a lot of money.
4) Kelis wants another $72,728 per month in spousal support. She can make quite a few more milkshakes with that much money.
5) Kelis also wants back child support of $29,522. Her lawyer did some digging into Nas' assets, and expects him to pay up for the baby.
6) Kelis is also asking for $281,571 in back spousal support. From the looks of things, Nas might need to find a way to make another hit record.
The most recent episode of Financial Lovemaking is below. Enjoy!
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of "Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with Your Partner in Ways that Feel Good." To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered directly to your email, please click here. 

Comments: (10)
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By: Ellie on 9/11/2009 3:40PM
I'm all for the non-custodial parent, usually the Dad, having to pay REASONABLE child support but this woman is nuts. Even for what she thinks her "living status" ought to be she is nuts. The Dad should probably be responsible for 50%, since he does have the means and that means she should supply the other 50% or about $8,612.00 of what she thinks her child is entitled to(if she does get the full amount requested,she should be forced to place 50% of it in a documentable fund for the child's education). I'm curious as to what a child does with kind of money and you can almost bet that Mom won't be planning and saving for college; she's saving college for that court battle farther down the line.
As for spousal support, she should get ZERO!!! She is young and should go to work like all the other single mothers and with her child support, she can afford top-knotch child care. If Milkshake was the only hit she had in her, then maybe he should pay spousal support for a few years to get her retrained in something useful.
While Dads/non-custodial parents should pick up their child care responsibilities, they should not be milked to death and pauperized. Women who have the means to care for their children need to stop using their children as blunt objects to beat men about their heads to get more and more. The courts should set a REASONABLE amount because the non-custodial parent does have a responsibility. These kinds of grasping women make it so difficult for other women.
Of course, if they weren't entertainers, we wouldn't be having this discussion; most couples don't even have that kind of money to fight over.
There are no guarantees in life. She was not guaranteed a successful marriage and should not be guaranteed the right to try and pauperize her ex-husband. He should pay reasonable child support and no spousal support or a few years at most; she is young,GET A JOB!
I am a woman who has seen too many men who try to fulfill their responsibilities, get destroyed by grasping womem with a score to settle, for much less money. Two people made the child and two people should support the child.
Get a job Kelis!!!
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By: robert on 9/11/2009 5:38PM
this in a court room, isnt justice at all. this is murder. one question, why? i dont know any good and decent parent that needs that much money from the other parent unless their using it to feed their own personal habits. and far as spousal support, this is 2009 not 1409, GET A JOB, we educate ourselves to better ourselves, by mooch'n off someone else and not producing your own makes whoever doing it look bad. now for a couple of years probably ok because then its as though they've got a wealthy sponsor to sponsor them to do better in life and help train them for whatever job they'll be able to do. this sounds almost like teaching a child. i could go on but to end this kelis grow up and get a job quit using the courts to get filthy rich, earn your spot in the spot light. what can this all possibly telling your kids about mommy,( she's greedy, spiteful)
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By: tina on 9/11/2009 9:01PM
That is outrageous!!! It is so sad that so many of our black women fall into the setup, which is to bring down every black man possible. We as women need to start considering, really considering the relationship we want our kids to have with their fathers because there could be a lot of bad blood behind this and sometimes the child suffers. See that's exactly what "they" want, just another way of taking our men out and separating us from our men, our kids from their fathers.
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By: nyc5055 on 9/13/2009 3:18PM
It's cheaper to keep her.That woman is just down right greedy.I've never had a problem with paying child support but these courts are all run by women which I think is a conflict right there.They don't consider your bills and could give less than a f**k about your survival.What does a child need $13000 a month for?
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By: LadyJNewYork on 9/14/2009 2:15PM
Kelis is just being greedy and still feels "scorned" by NAS, she really should be ashamed of herself asking for that kind of money, WTF.
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By: ITCHICK68 on 9/14/2009 2:30PM
I find it very interesting that so many people even care about this. First, as a Black woman, the only person that can make me look bad is me. I don't know Kelis or Nas. Secondly, Nas isn't exactly a spring chicken. What celebrity gets married without working out the iron-clad prenuptial agreement that details issues regarding separation, child-support, etc? I mean, how naive could he possibly be? Last, I am sure that with my meager means, I can only imagine what the expectations of a celebrity child would be, but if that sweet 16 show on MTV is any indication, that 17K a month in child support is only the tip of a very large iceberg. Also, since I have no idea what happened in their marriage, I have no idea what could have brought either party to such an acrimonious place. Just in case you fellas are wondering, I wasn't mad a Kevin Federline when he wanted that 30k from Britney either. LOL...
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By: roy on 9/17/2009 2:16PM
how do u ask for back child support, when the baby is not born yet? she makes 13000 and want more now thats socialism.
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By: Dee on 9/18/2009 10:10PM
You can asked for what ever you want in a suit, but wether you receive it depends on the judge, and the defendent's means to provide it. What ever her reason's she knows why she is asking for it. Marriage is suppose to be until death do us part, and like the saying goes, it is cheaper to keep her. So he could have chose to keep her and his money.
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By: catgirl on 9/21/2009 10:43AM
This is crazy. She wants the money to make sure she is able to keep up with her gf's and shop, get her hair colored and her nails did. I thought this sister was a true Queen, but she is tripn and yes she is being greedy. Thsi is a bad reflection on herself as well as sisters. We already have so many issues with each other when it comes to relationships. Im sure Nas does not have a problem taking care of his child. Im sure he wants his child to have the best, but what this sister is trying to do is hurt him finacially.
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By: kiki on 9/25/2009 7:56PM
kelis is sick and Nas is a good man and does not deserve to give her even half of what that trick asking,yes Nas of course needs to provide dfor his child but she wants it more to continue in that lifestyle she wants to live. I hope he gets treated right through this tough financial time and not get sucked dry!! Love you NAS
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