Kelis Wins $51,000/Month Support From "Cash-Strapped" Nas

LOS ANGELES — A judge ordered Nas to increase his payments to his soon-to-be ex-wife, Kelis, and their infant son to $51,101 a month Wednesday.

The ruling came after two days of testimony about the musicians, during which both were portrayed as cash-strapped. Nas had been paying Kelis nearly $40,000 a month since July.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David S. Cunningham III issued his ruling after hearing detailed testimony about the musicians' finances, recording deals and significant tax debts. Nas and Kelis both were in court and testified Wednesday.

Nas' attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said after the hearing that the rapper benefits from the changes. Nas, whose real name is Nasir Jones, will no longer have to pay $13,000 a month for the former couple's Los Angeles home.

Kelis, who real name is Kelis Rogers, has been living at the Los Angeles home with the couple's son, Knight, in recent months and has installed recording equipment at the house.

Her attorney, Laura Wasser, said she was "thrilled" with the ruling.

Rogers recently signed a $175,000 contract to make new music with Interscope records, although her attorneys argued most of the money went to Rogers' former managers and she received only about $50,000. Rogers, who gained fame for the song "Milkshake," downplayed her new music, telling Jones' attorney that the only song she'd recently made debuted on Twitter.

For his part, Jones said he didn't expect to release a new album in 2010. New albums create an influx of cash for musicians, who receive a spike in royalty payments and touring proceeds, accountants for both musicians testified.

Jones, considered one of rap's most popular and talented artists, released his last studio album in 2008.

He owes his current manager up to $700,000 and owes millions to the Internal Revenue Service, according to testimony Wednesday.

Rogers hasn't filed a tax return in years, which made calculating her income difficult.

Comments

[Niasia]

02:10 PM on 12/11/2009

ok how do oyu not file taxes in years? I owed the IRS $1900 and they came after me! That being said this is ridiculous. How abotu she get a job. Child support is one thing but 50K to someone who you ar eno longer with?!?! That is just outrageous!

[swan1]

10:59 AM on 12/11/2009

Some women hit the jackpot with their "womb".

[MissVirginiaVoter]

10:47 PM on 12/10/2009

Two words

He cheated.

[hulagirrrl]

05:47 AM on 12/11/2009

They both did and are, they are not paying their taxes, they are cheating their country.

[GoDogGo]

07:40 PM on 12/10/2009

How is $600,000 a year, tax-free, ever justified?

Successful artists -- particularly in hip-hop -- have notoriously short careers. They make a bundle over two-three years, maybe, then a little trickle after that in residuals, followed by...zip (I've seen the checks). I think as more people's income reflects this model (as is the case in some regions of the country), courts will have to take this reality into account.

[Kaili Fleischman]

07:21 PM on 12/10/2009

Nas should have known she was a hood rat. She always been broke. Now she has a definite paycheck.

[Hartwell]

06:51 PM on 12/10/2009

This is so crazy. I get having to pay up a certain amount when you are rich. But if she was already getting 40,000 a month why increase to 51,000 or whatever. This is a prime example of how spoiled people are and this idea of entitlement. I mean you just had to get that exta 11,000? 40,000 is way more than the average person could ever dream of having. Sometimes you need to just step back at look at what you are doing. If I am getting 40,000 a month that is big, why go in and make the relationship between you and the other person worse. That is already a hell of a lot of money.


http://www.semiimportant.blogspot.com/

[dct1999]

06:42 PM on 12/10/2009

This is exactly why many men do NOT get married. Alimony should be paid for two years max. Child support is a different matter altogether.

Oh, and both of them need to pay their gotdayum taxes.

[GoDogGo]

07:44 PM on 12/10/2009

Hate to admit it, but you're right. I've seen so many successful people around me literally bankrupted by their ex's (men AND women). Sometimes I think I'd have to be a fool to get married.

[jessicajuliette]

05:51 PM on 12/10/2009

if you have a rich mother or father, as a child you are entitled to live in a lifestyle they can affrod..

the guy at Dairyqueen probably cant cough up this kinda cash, but wealthy people do...

Nas had every opportunity to demonstrate to the court what his financial abilities are, apparently he and his legal team somehow demonstrated this was what he could do...

THE WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE ENTITLED...

SHE IS NOT A GOLD DIGGER, I THINK SHE DID LOVE HIM...

as Donald Trump's wife replied when asked if she would be marrying him if he weren't rich, she replied, "and would he be marrying me if i weren't beautiful?"

[skippyB]

05:22 PM on 12/10/2009

Good, she can send the son to Harvard or Williams or wherever he wants to go. I'm sure she'll pass on to him great values and make all the sacrifices any good parent would make. What a nice family.

[veritas88]

09:59 PM on 12/10/2009

Williams? come on now....it's a good school, but not really worth it. Harvard or Yale, OTH, yes.

[SteveS]

04:09 PM on 12/10/2009

That's one expensive milkshake.

[Kendall Hawley]

02:30 PM on 12/10/2009

Sheesh, you people are so judgmental. I know People magazine leads you to believe you have the full story, but unless you know them you do not.

Laws definitely need to be reformed to be more fair to both sides, but I have known quite a few women in my time who have been left with nothing by the system and are raising children completely on their own. Each situation is different. You are not the judge, nor do you have access to the evidence they did so calling her a golddigger or him a deadbeat dad is unfair.

I don't have any more insight into this situation than any of you do but wake up and realize the personal attacks in these situations are really misplaced.

[rocketdog56]

04:19 PM on 12/10/2009

Anyone who doesn't pay their taxes is a deadbeat, that is not cool. They should throw the book at them for that.

[nippyfan]

02:08 PM on 12/10/2009

Shouldn't have married her if he wanted to cheat. He cheated while she was pregnant with his child. Ger a second job Nas. It seems men have to be hit where it hurts to understand the betrayal...in the pocket.

[teron678]

01:35 PM on 12/10/2009

She take my money, well I'm in need
Yeah she's a triflin' friend indeed
Oh she's a g0ld d!gger way over time
That digs on me

[mypov123]

03:41 PM on 12/10/2009

LOL

[1UnknownSoldier]

12:42 PM on 12/10/2009

Pre Nup, Pre Nup, Pre Nup, and then Post Nup, Post Nup, Post Nup

[NYCannibal]

01:46 PM on 12/10/2009

And if you are Tiger's Elin, there's possibility of a Mid Nup, Mid Nup, Mid Nup

[Flissss]

12:27 PM on 12/10/2009

Just another reason to never get married.

[CaliGrown78]

01:48 PM on 12/10/2009

100% Agreed!!!