Nas and JAY-Z are once again on opposite sites of a battle, but this time it’s not over rhymes or respect.
On Thursday (February 29), the Queens rhymer threw his hat in the ring with Resorts World Casino New York City’s new $5 billion proposed expansion plan, which would heavily impact the casino’s southeast Queens location.
Nasty Nas appeared at an event on Thursday (February 29) with gaming executives, local politicians and celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson to explain the plan, which is meant to entice New York City into giving Resorts World one of its three downstate gaming licenses.
The company currently only has a so-called “racino” license, which allows betting via slot machines in addition to horse races.
At a reception, Nas said: “It’s an honor to be here, to be a part of this with Resort [sic] World, realizing the future, seeing what this can be and what it will be.”
He also shared a video on Instagram promoting the proposal along with the caption: “This is an ambitious project that will give new opportunities to the hard-working families who call Queens home, attract top-tier talent, and build up the next generation of leaders. Clearly, with this project, the world is ours.”
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Although Resorts World, because it is an already-existing racino, is generally considered to be in a good position to receive one of the three NYC licenses, there is stiff competition — including from Nas’ former rival JAY-Z.
Hov is among the investors in a competing proposal to open a casino in Times Square.
The Brooklyn-bred billionaire joined forces with SL Green and Caesars Entertainment in a bid to erect a swanky, boutique-style casino at 1515 Broadway office tower, which is already owned by SL Green, NYC’s largest commercial landlord.
As part of the partnership, JAY-Z and his team will oversee entertainment programming at 1515 Broadway, as well as at SL Green’s six other properties in Times Square.
The Nas-backed Queens plan, meanwhile, “will include a New State-of-the-Art Entertainment Venue, Greenspace, Luxury Hotel, Conference Center, and $50 million Genting Innovation Campus to House Kenny ‘The Jet’ Smith Academy, Community Healthcare and Wellness Center and Queens STEAM Institute,” according to Resorts World.
The proposal also includes an “Aqueduct Park that would include 3,000 units of workforce housing, more than 50 acres of new and dedicated park space, and new transit connections to JFK and Manhattan.”
Other entries in the race for the licenses include the area’s other existing racino in Yonkers (along with Resorts World, rumored to be a near-certainty for one of the three licenses), as well as a casino near the existing New York Mets stadium, an effort spearheaded by Mets owner Steve Cohen.
There is also another in Hudson Yards in Manhattan, one in Coney Island, one near the United Nations and more. The final decision may not come until 2025.
