The original Nas vs. Jay-Z battle may have been decades ago, but it looks like a new one emerged – and it’s not music related.
Nas’ bid to build a casino at Aqueduct Resorts World in Queens took a step forward Thursday (Sept 25).
The “Illmatic” rapper learned that he won the casino race when a board unanimously voted that Resorts World Casino can expand with a $5.5 billion integrated resort in the borough, making it the largest in the country.
Along with a state-of-the-art casino and 30 eateries, Resorts World will open a 7,000-person capacity entertainment venue to bring concerts, games and events to the area.
According to Covers, NBA champion Kenny “The Jet” Smith will help bring a sports and media complex to the Resorts World campus.
The Resorts World project hopes to bring 24,000 new jobs to Queens and $1 million in new revenue during its first year of operation.
“There’s a theme in Queens and I know Nas is a part of it,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “Queens gets the money!”
“Sorry Jay-Z. We win again,” the borough president quipped. “I just had to rub it in.”
The news arrives after Jay-Z’s Caesars Times Square bid was flatly rejected last week.
Jay-Z’s bid had to start with a proposal scratch — and couldn’t overcome ferocious opposition from the Broadway League, which represents theaters and Manhattan West Side residents.
A six-member state community advisory committee nixed the idea in a 4 to 2 vote last week.