Nas is brushing off the fan chatter linking his latest business win to his old rivalry with Jay-Z. The rap icon’s partnership with Resorts World for a $5.5 billion Queens casino project recently gained unanimous approval from New York City’s Community Advisory Committee, the same group that denied Jay-Z’s Times Square casino bid backed by Roc Nation, SL Green, and Caesars. As fans online turned the development into a playful “Ether vs. Takeover” rematch, Nas made it clear he’s not feeding into the hype.
“It is just a thing that some people are going to talk about,” Nas told Rolling Stone. “No one has any control over things like that. I still study Rakim and Big Daddy Kane. Some rap fans just like to go off on those things from time to time. That’s it.”
Even Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. couldn’t resist joining the fun, joking, “There’s a theme in Queens, and I know that Nas was a part of this: Queens get the money. Sorry, Jay-Z, we win again.”
With Resorts World’s plan now awaiting approval from the State Gaming Commission, the Queensbridge native’s project is on track to become one of the largest casinos in the country, spanning 350,000 square feet. The site will also include a 7,000-seat entertainment venue and a sports complex spearheaded by NBA champion and Queens native Kenny “The Jet” Smith.
Expected to open in July 2026, the casino is projected to create over 24,000 jobs and generate $1 million in new revenue within its first year. While fans continue to fuel the nostalgia of his legendary rap beef, Nas seems focused on the future — and on building something monumental in the borough that raised him.