After almost six years of marriage, Kelis has filed for divorce from Nas, it was officially announced today.


“I can confirm that she has filed for divorce,” Kelis’ publicist told VIBE. “We request the media to respect her privacy during this very difficult time.”

At around 3:45 p.m. PST on Thursday, Kelis’ attorney Laura Wasser filed final divorce papers on behalf of her client, citing verbal abuse and infidelity.

The high-profile hip-hop couple announced in February that they were expecting their first child. Kelis is currently seven months pregnant and the baby, a boy, is due this summer. “I wanted to let ya’ll know from me personally that I’m having my first SON!!!!!” Nas blogged earlier this year.

Nas, 35, and Kelis, 29, first met at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ MTV Video Music Awards after-party in 2002. After dating for two years, the pair married in Atlanta on July 28, 2003. They collaborated on several tracks including “Blindfold Me” off 2006’s Kelis Was Here and “Not Going Back” from Nas’ album Hip Hop Is Dead.

When asked how she overcomes high divorce rates among young couples, Kelis told Rap-Up in 2006, “I really don’t. Whatever happens, happens. It’s life.”

But she also reflected on happier times. “I love my husband, we have a great life. I knew before I met him that I was gonna marry him, I knew when I met him, I knew when I married him, and I know today,” she revealed to Rap-Up. “He helps because he’s my best friend more than anything. He’s like someone who I trust with everything equally.”