Rapper Nas owes the Feds big

Controversial rapper Nas has another battle to fight these days. In addition to a very public divorce with soon to be ex-Kelis, Nas has landed himself in hot water with the IRS.

Nas, who has already been ordered to pay Kelis $44,000 per month in child and spousal support, plus attorney's fees and other costs, has apparently not been making payments to the IRS. The result, according to gossip site, TMZ, is that a federal tax lien has been filed against Nas for an astonishing $2,584,206.31. Reportedly, Nas, born Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, has not paid his federal income taxes for 2006 and 2007.
Those years were good for Nas on the career front. After ending his highly publicized feud with Jay-Z, Nas went on to sign a label deal with Jay-Z's Def Jam Records in 2006. His first album with Def Jam, Hip Hop Is Dead, featured work from will.i.am, Kanye West and Dr. Dre and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The following year, Nas released a greatest hits compilation and began talks for a merchandising deal with Fila, which he landed in 2008.

His success did not go unnoticed, at least by the IRS. A tax lien gives the IRS a legal claim to a taxpayer's property as security for an existing tax debt. Prior to filing a lien, there's an assessment of tax liability. The IRS then sends a demand notice for payment. If payment isn't made in full, a lien will be filed and becomes a matter of public record.

As of today, Nas has not released a statement regarding the tax liens or expected payments.