Music

Nas Addresses His Doja Cat Controversy: ‘People Do It All The Time’

Getty Image ‘I don’t really know the world that these stars live in anymore,’ he admits. …

In a new interview with NME, Nas addresses the controversy that followed him name-checking Doja Cat on his comeback single, “Ultra Black.” He previously spoke on the line itself, claiming that he didn’t feel it was a diss during an interview with Power 106, but during this new interview, he talks about being caught off-guard by the controversy and how out-of-touch he feels with modern social media.

“Well, I’ve been away, so, of course, I mention someone’s name that’s popular and people are gonna talk about it,” he replies. “I hear people do it all the time but no one makes a big deal of it. Maybe it’s because I don’t put out records a lot, so they’re like, ‘Whoa!’ I don’t really know the world that these stars live in anymore. I’m rapping the same way I did when I was on the block, but now there’s a new world and what I say can take off with social media and I can’t do anything about it.”

“Ultra Black” drew a backlash from fans due to its line referencing Doja Cat’s recent chat room scandal. “We going ultra-Black, the opposite of Doja Cat,” he rhymes. Fans interpreted this as a derogatory comment toward the “Say So” singer, who had just been accused of participating in a white supremacist chat room at the same time as an old track of hers titled “Dindu” — a slur against Black people — resurfaced online. Doja apologized for the song but also defended her chat friends from accusations of racism.

Doja Cat herself responded to Nas’ line a couple of times since. Initially, she sarcastically told fans during a live stream “I am so offended and upset about this song” before noting that her anticipated single “N****s Ain’t Sh*t” is an unintentional acronym for “Nas.” Ultimately, she said that she will never beef with Nas — however, I propose as a counterpoint: “N****s Ain’t Sh*t” remix, featuring Nas. Think about it, guys.

Check out Nas’ full NME interview here.

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Artist Spotlight

“Summer Is Gone” by Anjalts is an ode to fading romance”

“Summer Is Gone,” a pop song by Anjalts, is thoughtful and emotionally very clear, and it feels like the last golden hour before fall truly sets in. The song is a melancholy reflection on the changing seasons and a fading romance. It has both a sting and warmth, drawing you toward some space of reflection that feels cinematic.

The production of “Summer Is Gone” sounds bright like a half-forgotten memory you can almost reach out and touch, but can never fully revive. Anjalts, a solid producer and storyteller, delivers quiet emotion, and the performance allows you to attach your own memories while maintaining its specific roots.

The song, the production, and the mood all connect so well that it feels like the seasons are changing. But beneath that ease is a deeper emotional current, a quiet awareness that something beautiful has stopped. As a prolific songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Anjalts continues to prove versatility with diverse styles and artistic vision. “Summer Is Gone” also touches on growth, reflection, and memories that follow us. It waits to remind us, touch us, that there is still ugliness or beauty to remember in the ending.

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Artist Spotlight

Luke Panayiotou crafts intimacy and discovers love and purpose on “Am I In Love Again?” EP

“Am I In Love Again?” by Luke Panayiotou arrives as a quiet confession after years of silence, an intimate, self-made EP that’s his first release after a five-year hiatus, and it sounds so honest. This 3-song, 12-minute project is a reintroduction, and everything was written, performed, and arranged by the artist.

And since the EP combines acoustic, folk, rock, and ambient singer-songwriter sounds, it has a natural, personal feel. The recording was done at Oscillate Recording Studios in Knutsford/ Manchester with a warmth that allows Panayiotou’s vocals to shine through. The most emotional song on the EP is the title track, “Am I in Love Again.” It quietly examines falling back in love, the short bursts of overwhelming emotion that help you remember why you fell for someone in the first place.

“Back Around” tells a more contemplative story of perseverance. It’s about setbacks and the quiet resolve to continue, even when it feels like you’re on the verge of success. “Wherever I Go” is a triumphant end to the EP. Its upbeat, unifying energy celebrates connection, romantic, platonic, or otherwise. It accomplishes this by casting loyalty and presence in a more favorable light.

Panayiotou defines every aspect of “Am I In Love Again?,” from the songs to the cover art. This lends the work a cohesive artistic vision that feels both personal and enveloping. This EP shows that sometimes you need to take a step back to step forward with clarity and purpose.