Nas Following Zayn Malik’s Path for Art, Hints of a South Asian Collaboration Surface

Published 08/12/2024, 8:47 PM EDT

via Imago

The world of music is ever-changing, allowing national boundaries to blend seamlessly through the universal language of a symphony. Once, language barriers divided music by dialects, but it quickly became clear that music itself is a universal language. In recent years, these barriers have continued to erode, with artists like Zayn Malik bridging cultures through South Asian collaborations. Now, in a new development, American rapper Nas appears to be following Malik’s lead, with hints of another South Asian collaboration emerging.

The East Coast hip-hop artist is a favorite in America and is on track to become a South Asian favorite, much like Malik.

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Last year, Zayn Malik released a standout South Asian collaboration, ‘Tu Hai Kahan,’ with the Pakistani music group AUR, achieving a notable distinction that Nick Jonas aimed for with his South Asian debut, ‘Maan Meri Jaan.’ Now, it seems Nas is also looking to explore a South Asian collaboration. Pakistani artist Talha Anjum recently posted a screenshot of a video call with Nas on his Instagram story, suggesting that “something’s brewing.”

“Just got off the call with Nas, King of NY,” Anjum shared on his Instagram story. For those who may not know, Anjum is a Pakistani rapper, songwriter, and lyricist from Karachi. He gained prominence as a member and co-founder of the hip-hop band Young Stunners, alongside Talhah Yunus. Anjum first rose to fame with the track ‘Burger-e-Karachi’ and for him, connecting with Nas represents a significant milestone, especially after referencing the ‘Illmatic’ rapper in his song ‘At The Top’ from his 2023 album, ‘Open Letter.’

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While the specifics of the rumored collaboration are still undisclosed, the Pakistani rapper’s manager celebrated the news as a climactic moment.

Talha Anjum’s speculative collaboration with Nas is a full circle moment

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From naming Nas in his lyrics to pursuing a collaboration with him, Talha Anjum’s journey to international recognition is a tale of musical achievement. This development is a personal milestone for Anjum, and a chance to bridge cultural divides. His manager, Alina Naghman, chose to celebrate this moment, sharing on Instagram her story that it represents a testament to her mission to “redefine what it means to be a Music Manager in Pakistan.”

“It’s all about CREATING A GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR PAKISTANI MUSIC” Naghman wrote in celebration of Anjum and Talha Yunus. For the manager and the artist, this represents a defining moment for their vision of global excellence, bringing them a step closer to the bigger dream. While it remains to be seen if it will match the impact of Zayn Malik’s Pakistani collaboration, it is undoubtedly a significant milestone in the musical landscapes of both America and Pakistan.

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What do you think of Nas following in the footsteps of Zayn Malik with a potential collaboration on the horizon with the Pakistani rapper, Talha Anjum? Let us know in the comments below!

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Anushka Bhattacharya

1096 articles

I'm Anushka Bhattacharya, an entertainment journalist at Netflix Junkie. Armed with a degree in literature, I once wielded my words to catalyze change within society through my work with NGOs. However, as I stumbled into the exuberant hole of crime thrillers and documentaries on Netflix, it was love at first sight and pushed me into entertainment journalism.

Edited By: Itti Mahajan

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