May 1, 2009: Hate Me Now?

Kelis files for divorce from fellow rapper Nas -- while pregnant with his son.

by Jeffrey Cottrill

Hip hop may not quite be dead yet, but Nas' marriage appears to be.

His wife of four years, rapper Kelis, filed for divorce on April 30, citing irreconcilable differences. Divorce attorney Laura Wasser, who submitted the petition for Kelis, has also represented Britney Spears, Stevie Wonder, and other celebrities in the past.

"I can confirm that she has filed for divorce," a representative for Kelis, 29, told VIBE magazine. "We request the media to respect her privacy during this very difficult time."

More information on divorce and child support: How Child Support Is Paid Now He/She Wants Time With Our Children? Broken Homes -- Broke Single Parents Reform for the Children's Sake When Your Ex Won't Pay

What may complicate the impending divorce is the fact that Kelis is currently seven months pregnant with the couple's first child, a boy. BANG Showbiz reported that she may be seeking both child support and spousal support from Nas.

The couple first met at P. Diddy's after-party for the MTV Video Music Awards in 2002. They became engaged the following year and married in a small Atlanta ceremony in January 2005. During their relationship and marriage, the two rappers made cameos in each other's recordings: Nas rapped on Kelis' 2003 song "In Public", while Kelis appeared on the track "Not Going Back" from Nas' 2006 album Hip Hop Is Dead.

Nas, 35, has a teenage daughter from a previous relationship; he also had a brief past fling with Mary J. Blige.

Kelis, whose full name is Kelis Rogers, released her first album in 1999 and has two untitled albums currently in the works. Her hits include "Milkshake", "Trick Me", and "Bossy".

Nas (full name Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones) began his hip hop career with the critically acclaimed 1994 album Illmatic. Among his best-known singles are "Street Dreams", "Hate Me Now", "Oochie Wally", and "One Mic". He is currently collaborating on a new album with reggae star Damian Marley (the son of Bob Marley), which is set for release this spring.

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