Although comedian Tracy Morgan and rapper Nas are pals, they share a deeper bond that they have been unaware of for decades. They have the same DNA.
The comedian revealed the news on the “Connect The Dots” podcast, saying he and rapper Nas uncovered a familial connection during an upcoming episode of the PBS series “Finding Your Roots.”
The 55-year-old comedian claimed the deeper connection surprised him given how long they had been pals.
Morgan and rapper Nas have yet to respond to TODAY.com‘s request for comment on the reported familial connection, but Morgan revealed that their relationship will be revealed by genealogy experts in an upcoming episode of the PBS series “Finding Your Roots,” which will 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, also known as Nasty Nas and Escobar, received critical praise for his debut album “Illmatic” in 1994 and won his first Grammy in 2021 for “King’s Disease.”
Morgan detailed his longtime acquaintance with Nas on the “Connect The Dots” podcast, even before learning their familial link. He alluded to their work on ‘One Mic,’ a Comedy Central event devoted to Nas’ late mother.
He also described Nas’ emotional reaction to discovering about their close familial relationship.
“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 went on to say that after uncovering his genealogical connection with rapper Nas on an episode of “Finding Your Roots,” he learned of his ancestors’ forced migration to the United States via 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.”