By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Jan 17th 2010 12:52PM
Filed under: Celebrity News, News
The rapper Nas is having some trouble in child support court, as his ex-wife Kelis has held him in contempt for non-payment of child support. According to TMZ, Kelis and her attorneys state that
Nas has refused to pay child support or spousal support since December 1, and owes more than $55,000 dollars.
Reportedly, Nas also owes Kelis' lawyer $35,000.
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Kelis Pictures
(L-R) Estelle and Kelis attend the opening gala at the Hair Rules New York Salon on September 15, 2009 in New York City. Hair Rules New York Salon Opening Gala Hair Rules New York Salon New York, NY United States September 15, 2009 Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com To license this image (58370591), contact WireImage.com
Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com
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Whats Kelis Up to Now?
(L-R) Estelle and Kelis attend the opening gala at the Hair Rules New York Salon on September 15, 2009 in New York City. Hair Rules New York Salon Opening Gala Hair Rules New York Salon New York, NY United States September 15, 2009 Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com To license this image (58370591), contact WireImage.com
Whats Kelis Up to Now?
(L-R) Kara Young, Erica Reid and Kelis attend the opening gala at the Hair Rules New York Salon on September 15, 2009 in New York City. Hair Rules New York Salon Opening Gala Hair Rules New York Salon New York, NY United States September 15, 2009 Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage.com To license this image (58370606), contact WireImage.com
Whats Kelis Up to Now?
Singer Kelis attends the 8th Annual Four Seasons Of Hope Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on June 16, 2009 in New York City. 8th Annual Four Seasons Of Hope Gala - Arrivals Cipriani Wall Street New York, NY United States June 16, 2009 Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com To license this image (16841565), contact WireImage.com
Whats Kelis Up to Now?
Singer Kelis attends the 8th Annual Four Seasons Of Hope Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on June 16, 2009 in New York City. 8th Annual Four Seasons Of Hope Gala - Arrivals Cipriani Wall Street New York, NY United States June 16, 2009 Photo by Jemal Countess/WireImage.com To license this image (16841564), contact WireImage.com
Whats Kelis Up to Now?
NEW YORK - JUNE 16: Recording artists Estelle (L) and Kelis attend Samsung's 8th Annual Four Seasons Of Hope Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on June 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Estelle;Kelis
Whats Kelis Up to Now?
NEW YORK - JUNE 16: Recording artists Estelle (L) and Kelis attend Samsung's 8th Annual Four Seasons Of Hope Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on June 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Estelle;Kelis
Whats Kelis Up to Now?
NEW YORK - JUNE 16: (L-R) Recording artist Kelis, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics America, CS Choi and New York Jets Cornerback Darrelle Revis attend Samsung's 8th Annual Four Seasons Of Hope Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on June 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CS Choi;Kelis;Darrelle Revis
Whats Kelis Up to Now?
NEW YORK - JUNE 16: Recording artist Kelis (L) and President and CEO of Samsung Electronics America, CS Choi attend Samsung's 8th Annual Four Seasons Of Hope Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on June 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CS Choi;Kelis
Whats Kelis Up to Now?
NEW YORK - JUNE 16: Recording artist Kelis (L) and President and CEO of Samsung Electronics America, CS Choi attend Samsung's 8th Annual Four Seasons Of Hope Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on June 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CS Choi;Kelis
Whats Kelis Up to Now?
NEW YORK - JUNE 16: (L-R) Recording artist Kelis, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics America, CS Choi and New York Jets Cornerback Darrelle Revis attend Samsung's 8th Annual Four Seasons Of Hope Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on June 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CS Choi;Kelis;Darrelle Revis
Whats Kelis Up to Now?
If this is the case, Nas should be careful. Being held in contempt of court and/or not paying child support can land you in jail. At the same time, the fact that Nas can be over $50,000 in arrears after one month is a reminder of the magnitude of the support he is being asked to pay.
There is the other truth that sometimes, artists are not as wealthy as we are led to believe. Every rapper is expected to rap about how much money he has, but some of them don't have nearly as much dough as the public thinks. Hopefully, Nas has the money to pay this bill, so he won't be added to the long list of A-list rappers to spend time behind bars in recent months.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (12)
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By: jeromequigley on 1/18/2010 3:36PM
Wow Dr. Watkins!! Way to minimize his obligation to take care of his child. Could he be making less than it seems, sure. But as a father he should be laying out his finances to her lawyer to show what he is making and how much he can pay, then pay it!! Having been raised by a single mom w/3 kids and my father only paying measley amounts for the 1st year and then nothing after that, I do feel strongly about men taking care of their children whether they are w/the mom or not. Having been through that myself I waited to have kids (that means making sure to use protection to prevent having a child before I was ready) till I found the woman I wanted to marry and then we had our son! I don't miss a thing w/him. I really should be working a 2nd job to help make our finances better but I worry about not only the time it takes away from being there for my son, but the extra pressure that it puts on my wife! But that is my decision based on what I went through. But I was not going to be one of those people who talks about how bad my childhood was and then turn right around and do the same thing to my child. Never can understand how people seem to never learn. But not impressed by your article at all. Not that he should be blasted but he should be wanting to do everything needed to take care of his child!! You surely are not going to hold him accountable by this article!!!
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By: North Cack on 4/13/2010 5:09PM
Why should ANYBODY on the face of this earth pay 55K in support? Does it take that much money? This is complete BS and anyone who says Nas should pay 55K a month has issues. Kelis is NOT responsible for Nas's success period. Yes, Nas should support his kid, but how many baby wipes and pampers do you need per month? The system doesn't make sense at all. What's the maximum amount in support one person can pay and what is that based on?
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By: jay on 8/20/2010 9:44PM
DUDE while I UNDERSTND YOUR Pain my dad was peice of work as well. I fail to see the reason for your passion in this case. We are talking about 2 kids under age 5 and a 50k nut every month. This has nothing to do with sustainance at all. This is pure excess with the children as instrument of consumption. If this were real world case i might(would) agree with you wholeheartedly about his obligaions. In this case, the player is being pimped
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By: sherridina on 1/19/2010 11:42AM
If Nas can't pay that amount then he needs to show proof stating that he can't pay it. Stop babying these brothers.
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By: kingdavidlives on 1/19/2010 1:37PM
I am married and hope to never divorce. Here's the question I have: Why do the men have to pay for the woman's attorney when getting divorced? This article states that Nas owes her lawyer. Also, I watch a show called Two and a Half Men. The character Alan on that show always had to pay for his ex-wife's attorney fees. What's up with that?
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By: john on 1/21/2010 6:48AM
Female genderism and favoritism has control of all systems of American justice and policies making and decisions making. Males were favored over females in extreme conservatism and in this age of extreme liberalism females are favored over males.You would think that educated people who understood the dangers of past extreme laws, patterns, experiences, and their affects would have never allowed the new development of extreme laws and policies based on the female gender. What fools are men and women who claim to love each other to want to enslave one another based on gender.
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By: jake on 1/19/2010 2:45PM
damn that sucks for nas.and they right i read he only makes about $200-300,000 G's a year. Not has much has everybody would think!
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By: Kim on 1/19/2010 3:21PM
I believe that the judge shouldn't have made him pay that much because Nas hasn't put a record out in a while shouldn't it go by his Finances than him being a star?
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By: BG on 1/21/2010 1:15AM
This is where the entire judicial system needs cleansing. I escorted a friend to the court for a child support case, the judge ordered him to pay a huge sum a month based on the judge's visual evaluation of him. "You can get a job" he said. The guy is undergoing a daily dialysis, he is diabetic also. And you know what, the child is not his biological child. According to the court, he is a DeFacto parent. The guy hesitated to put up any excuse because of the intimidating nature of the court plus, he doesn't want his illness out there. I have listened to women who says 'Men should know better when they are having sex' And I say: 90% of people are not having sex for procreation reason. As we read, a young teenager is having sex somewhere and I will not believe they have plans that a child comes out of it. To Dr. Watkins, what you can do for black people is not to hold the President responsible for Black peoples problems. Call on our AG Mr. Holder and ask him what he has been doing since appointed to cleanse the judicial system of some stupid laws that will forever continue to entrap the Black race.
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By: zo on 1/19/2010 11:57PM
Please. There isn't any just reason why someone should have to spoil their kids just because they are well off. $55,000 a month is many times above and beyond what most children need. That amount has nothing to do with what a child needs and ALL TO DO WITH WHAT A CHILD OR THE CUSTODIAL PARENT WANTS. I am all about parents being held accountable to supporting their children regardless of the gender. This isn't about support. This is about one's philisophical opinion and a slight touch of greed.
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