Nas may be on tour promoting Distant Relatives, his collaboration album with reggae star Damian Marley, but it's the rapper’s close relatives that keep him going. In an interview with AOL's Boombox, the Queensbridge rapper talked about the joys of fatherhood.
"My kids are my everything. I got the best kids in the whole world," the proud father said.
"My daughter is at the age where she can call me up and tell me what she thinks about Beyonce's new video and what she thinks about Wiz Khalifa and we can talk about it all. My son is walking and talking and he's no joke. I got the best kids in the world. I walk around everyday very blessed."
Nas seems to be channeling the positive energy into his new solo album, which he recently said is coming from a happier place than 2008's Untitled.
""I love life," Nas said. "What else am I going to do? There's nothing that gives me the charge that I get making music. I do a lot of other things on the low, but I'm mostly proud of the music."
The album doesn't yet have a title or release date, but Nas said he'll be working with longtime producer Salaam Remi as well as some new producers. As for his recent work in the studio with Odd Future crooner Frank Ocean? Nas was coy.
"We were working. I like Frank Ocean. He's a really great new artist," he said. "We were just working; we will see what happens with the music."
Nas and Marley will play dates at Chicago's “Lollapalooza,” New York's “Summerstage” and Austin's “Austin City Limits” later this summer.

(Photo:  Isaac Brekken/Getty Images)