Comedian Tracy Morgan and rapper Nas may be friends, but a deeper connection holds the two together, which they had not been aware of for decades. The two share the same DNA.
Making the revelation on the “Connect The Dots” podcast, the comedian said he and rapper Nas discovered a familial connection during an upcoming episode of the PBS series “Finding Your Roots.”
The 55-year-old comedian said he found the deeper connection surprising given that they have been friends for a long time.
Both Morgan and rapper Nas have not yet responded to TODAY.com‘s request for comment regarding the reported familial connection, but, Morgan revealed that their relationship was made known by genealogy experts on an upcoming episode of the PBS series “Finding Your Roots,” scheduled to air in January as part of the show’s 10th season.
“I turn the last page, and guess who’s sitting there?” Morgan said during the podcast. “Nas. Me and Nas are third cousins on my mom’s side.”
Rapper Nas, known by various stage names including Nasty Nas and Escobar, achieved critical acclaim with his 1994 debut album “Illmatic” and won his first Grammy in 2021 for “King’s Disease.”
Morgan, discussing their longstanding friendship on the “Connect The Dots” podcast, recounted his close bond with Nas even before discovering their familial connection. He alluded to their collaboration on a Comedy Central show called ‘One Mic,’ dedicated to Nas’ late mother.
He also shared Nas’ emotional reaction upon learning about their profound familial link.
“I called him up, and I say, ‘Yo Esco,’ he said, ‘What up Trey?’” Morgan recalled. “And I said, ‘I just did ‘Finding Your Roots.’ Me and you related.”
The comedian said both of them couldn’t hold back their tears when they learned that they share similar DNA.
“He started crying, I started crying,” Morgan recalled. “And I said to him, ‘If you ever need me, I’m there, Cuz.’ He said, ‘Cuz, if you ever need me, I’m there.”
Morgan added that in discovering his familial connection with rapper Nas on an episode of “Finding Your Roots,” he found out how his ancestors settled in the United States due to forced displacement through slave ships.
“They went back 400 years on my father’s side and 400 years on my mother’s side. I thought I was big in my life till I found out what my great, great, great grandmother did,” Morgan continued. “My great, great, great, great, great grandfather’s name was Abraham Mack. I know the name of the slave masters who owned us, I got it right here on my phone and the slave ship.”
He stressed the importance of understanding one’s roots. “You need to know who you come from before you leave this earth. Know who you are and where you come from. Knowledge itself. I did a lot of crying. And no matter who you are, you’re gonna break down.”
