‘Hip-Hop Artists Are Scared To Visit Africa’ – Nas

By Damilola Olaoye

‘There have been a lot of lies told to American people about what’s going on in Africa‘, African-American rapper, Nasir ‘Nas’ Jones recently said at a press conference held in the US.

The bestselling rapper says his colleagues do not like to visit Africa because they are afraid of the ‘dark continent.’

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The award winning rap veteran disclosed that his growing up times was when Jamaican singer, Bob Marley was talking about ‘African Unity’ and that got him interested in his roots. Sharing his experiences on his visit to Africa, he said that the horror stories about Africa is out of this world and pointed out that African – Americans and Africans do not communicate, don’t see a reason to talk and do not get along.

‘I think it’s up to Africans to show us that when we come there, we will be alright. I’ve been in Nigeria and it also made me cry when I saw the living conditions of people there and there’s no connection…’, Nas said.

Nas visited Nigeria when he attended the 2008 edition of the Soundcity Music Video Awards (SMVA) to present the award for the ‘Best Hip-Hop Video’.

Furthermore, he called the attention of hip-hop artists who are largely African Americans saying that they have a role to play in changing the current status quo of the African continent.

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He raised questions about why rock stars like Bono seem to do so much in Africa and hip-hop artists are not. He then encouraged hip hop artists to also do notable things as such, in his words, ‘hip-hop needs to start raising some voices’.

Nas who is born to a Nigerian father Olu Dara Jones, is gearing up for the release of his 10th studio album ‘Life is Good’.