Nas Can't Afford Kelis' Home: Plans to Sell Soon

The divorce between the rapper Nas and his wife, Kelis, has been an interesting and fascinating tale of intense love and bitter anger. They say there's a thin line between love and hate, and no one shows this better than Nas and Kelis. Well, the story took another turn, as it was recently reported that Nas plans to sell the home that is currently being occupied by Kelis, primarily because the mortgage payments have just been too much. Well, you can't say that you aren't surprised.

Reports are that Nas is $52,989 behind in his payments and owes his wife a little under $300,000 in spousal support. His attorneys issued a plan allowing him to double up on mortgage payments in order to catch up. Nas' decision to sell the home occupied by Kelis is the latest in a string of celebrity financial problems brought on by the recent recession. The rapper Chamillionaire publicly boasted about how he strategically defaulted on one of his homes in order to avoid paying the mortgage. Also, in terms of celebrities getting financially hammered by divorce, the latest blockbuster has been the reported $750 million that Tiger Woods' wife, Elin, is expected to receive when the divorce papers are signed this week. Most shocking is that Tiger isn't even worth $750 million, which would mean that he would end up making payments just to get out of a bad relationship.

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BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

9) Jay-Z
When you're not too busy trying to keep track of his many business ventures, one realizes that this Rocafella mogul has helped to define hip-hop for nearly two decades now. Hardly ever seen outside of a suit nowadays (unless on a beach), it's clear from his high end wear that he may make a dollar or two... yeah, we'd jock him too.

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BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

20) John Legend
This low-key singer has been a fashion maker ever since his 2004 debut, 'Get Lifted.' No stranger to pastel and cream-colored suits, Legend stays smooth. A little mild, but smooth no less.

BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

19) Ryan Leslie
The 'Addicted to You' producer and singer is finally gaining some recognition with his singles blazing the airwaves. With his slim custom suits and always-present shades, Leslie is quickly creating a defining look for himself.

BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

18) Ne-Yo
With the list of people he hasn't written for shrinking every day, Ne-Yo has sky-rocketed to the top of the music world. Ne-Yo visually plays the part as he can regularly be seen with his hat to the side and in some fashionable duds.

BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

17) Idris Elba
This London-born actor best known for his portrayal of HBO's critically acclaimed show, 'The Wire' and Tyler Perry's Film, 'Daddy's Little Girls' making his name in Hollywood. Seemingly always on, Elba can rock a suit better than most. Someone must have told him that the ladies are suckers for a guy in a suit.

BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

16) LL Cool J
The ladies have been loving cool James for some time now. Whether it be rapping or acting, LL has managed to stay relevant through hip-hop's many changes. And whenever he is caught at that rare moment with a shirt on, he is as fashionable as they come.

BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

15) Will Smith
What would it look like if the biggest actor in Hollywood didn't dress well? Well, fortunately Will Smith doesn't have to answer that as the box office king remains on point with his family man swag, with Jada and the kids, usually not far away.

BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

14) Lewis Hamilton
British racer Lewis Hamilton is making a name for himself in style department, when he's not winning F1 races. At only 23, Hamilton has already been seen jet-setting with the likes of Naomi Campbell and Nicole Scherzinger to name a few.

BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

13) Prince
Releasing a record almost every year for three decades has not seemed to slow down Prince or his style. Being a fan of purple, teal and the like has only seemed to enamor ladies more to 'the Artist.'

BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

12) Jamie Foxx
In a few short years, Jamie has seamlessly made the transition from a funny actor to a Hollywood heavy hitter. Hand in-hand with his elevated movie status, his style has definitely taken an upswing fitting of any superstar. We're guessing he may hold off on 'Booty Call 2.'

BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

11) Blair Underwood
Never venturing too far from a shirt and tie, the 44-year-old Underwood never disappoints either. A veteran of playing a doctor on television, his style and bright smile have been making audiences seeking the doctor for years now.

BVs 20 Most Stylish Brothers

The teachable moment in all this is that when you are a celebrity, your income is not consistent and highly volatile. Therefore, the idea of forming lasting financial commitments, such as high mortgages and several car notes, is incredibly risky. By doing this, you are enslaving yourself to your income and find yourself needing your next gig in order to survive. To some extent, while celebs make quite a bit of money when times are good, they are actually more vulnerable than the rest of us, since their revenue streams can dry up very quickly. Nas' current financial situation is a perfect case in point.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book "Black American Money.' To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here.

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