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By Zachary Swickey

Rap icon Nas is one of the only hip-hop stars who had the honor of collaborating with Amy Winehouse before her unexpected death earlier this year, and he now recalls the experience as “bittersweet.”

Amy Winehouse’s (first and likely only) posthumous album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, was released earlier this month and features their joint-track, “Like Smoke.” During a video interview with World Star Hip Hop, Nas states that he was pleased with how the song came out, but that it serves as a poignant reminder of her death.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling to do something with her now that she’s not here. I’m happy… the sweet part is that we have the music, fans have new music from her,” he explained. “It’s new because they’ve never heard it. The bitter part is that she’s no longer here to really give it to us and to really live her music and for us to see her smile and hear her voice,” he continued.

The rapper also recalls his fond memories of hanging with the songstress in the studio, saying, “She was hilarious, man. She would make you laugh. To her, music came so easy. To everyone else, I guess around her, I don’t know this but I’m assuming that they wanted her to put out a new record.” Read More...

Tags Amy Winehouse, Nas

By James Dinh

It’s almost been five years since the release of the Amy Winehouse’s much loved, Grammy-winning album Back to Black. Winehouse dropped the album in late-October 2006 and we’re still learning tidbits about the 11-track collection that earned the late songstress worldwide superstardom. Songs like “Rehab,” “You Know I'm No Good” and “Back to Black” captivated fans across the world with Winehouse’s blend of retro soul, contemporary R&B and husky vocals, but it was another tune on the LP, “Me & Mr. Jones,” that allured a particular listener: Nas.

One of the many album standouts, “Me & Mr. Jones” follows the late British singer’s tale of a fallen relationship as she sways back in forth defending and disregarding her lover. “I could swear that we were through,” she sings, before irresistibly confessing, “Nobody stands in between me and my man 'cause it's me and Mr. Jones.” Even with subtle hints tossed throughout the Salaam Remi-produced song, there never was confirmation as to the identity of Winehouse’s mystery Mr. Jones until today. Read More...

Tags Amy Winehouse, Nas