Hip-hop magazine Mass Appeal announced it's return to the print game earlier this year, after taking a five-year break. The magazine, which started back in 1996, featured Nas on their 2001 cover. Now Nas is returning to Mass Appeal, however this time with a much greater stake in how the mag performs.
Forbes reports that Nas has invested in Mass Appeal with a "six-figure" sum. The veteran New York emcee said of the investment, "I always liked what they represented." He continued, "they invested into the culture … I saw their vision for what they planned and I thought I could add value across the board."
Along with investing in the publication, Nasir will serves as Associate Publisher. Nas explained that he was disappointed with the lack of options on newsstands for hip-hop lovers. He considered starting his own magazine, but decided it'd be better to work with an already-existing brand.
"Mass Appeal has a legacy and respect," Nas said. "It already has a foundation … I just feel like I can add on because I can lend my kind of cultural expertise and my professional acumen, and develop the business."
Nas, who has never been much of a business man like his rap counterparts Jay-Z & 50 Cent, said that he knew somewhere down the road he'd get into that side of the music industry. "I knew that this was down the road," Nas said. "I didn’t care to interrupt me being a creative musical artist … I said I’ll be more of a businessman down the road. I’m down the road now."
Look out for Mass Appeal's come-back issue on newsstands, which features Earl Sweatshirt on the cover.
