B-sides: Nas in the land of the Muppets

Nas - big fan of the Muppets. (Left to right: Kyle Gustafson /TWP; Henson Company)

By Sarah Godfrey

The long-awaited Nas/Damian Marley collaboration “Distant Relatives” is out today. Back in December, I talked to both artists about the hip-hop/reggae fusion project. One of the things Nas mentioned that didn’t make it into the piece was the surreal experience of recording at Henson Recording Studios -- a part of the Jim Henson Company lot in Hollywood. Here are some excerpts from the interview.

Nas on his love for the Muppets: We were at a great studio, Henson Studio -- Jim Henson, the guy who did the Muppets. Yeah, we were in that studio... I don’t think they were too familiar with how hip-hop artists roll -- I didn’t see any other ones in there. I don't think there were any others there, but the whole vibe of it there is magical because of the whole Muppets thing. Jim Henson was an amazing genius. I acknowledged that when I was a kid, so being there doing hip-hop stuff was strange.

On the big names Nas ran into at Henson Studios: Me and Oliver Stone would be in a session listing to music, chillin'... Joss Stone was in there. And Mick Jagger was in there vibin' out with Damian to the album.