Nas and Rakim plan to work on an album together

By: Yves Erwin Salomon

Nas and Rakim are currently working on new albums, and it looks like the two super rappers will collaborate in the near future. MTV.com reports that they decided to work together while doing a recent interview. Rakim said, "Me and Nas, we been talking about this for a long time. Our people around us been talking about it and the whole world (has been talking about it), but it's about time, man. We gotta do a joint together, man. We gotta do a joint." Nas agreed and the two exchanged numbers.

Rakim added, "Hopefully we'll find the right chemistry and right track -- because you know (Nas) as well as me, we not going to do it if don't make sense. (It's gotta be) on and poppin'. I just wanted to get that out of the way, because it's (been) a long time coming."

Rakim is currently working on a new album called The Seventh Seal, which he will release himself. The rapper is hoping to distribute the project through a major label.

The veteran rapper explained his decision to release the project independently. He said, "I just wanted to feel free with the way I like doing what I do. It's hard to do an album where Rakim is pleased, the label is pleased and the world is pleased. I figured (going the independent route), I could do it because I know what the world wants. Hopefully, I'll be able to give it to them."

Nas and Rakim have worked together in the past. The two were featured on Alicia Keys's "Streets Of New York," but the song was never officially released commercially.