Podcast Summary: Digital Social Hour

Episode: “Digital Nas: ‘I Wish I Never Became Famous.’ The Dark Side of Success” | DSH #1694

Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Digital Nas
Date: December 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Digital Social Hour features an unfiltered, deeply personal conversation with renowned music producer and artist Digital Nas. The discussion centers on the unexpected burdens of fame, the darker side of the music industry, personal regrets, and Digital Nas’s plans to step away from the spotlight despite ongoing success. Digital Nas speaks candidly about his disillusionment with the industry, recent traumatic experiences, and why he no longer aspires to celebrity status.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recent Work and Career Direction

• Album Release: Digital Nas reveals he just dropped a new album, Suffering from Success (00:02).
• Retirement Plans: He plans to release three more albums before retiring from solo work altogether (00:17, 02:18).
• Reason for Bowing Out: The toll of fame, negativity, and envy have made him weary of the industry.

Digital Nas [00:17]: “No. I wish I would have stayed in school and, like, finished law school. I don’t want to make music no more. Like, that’s why I’m dropping these three albums and I’m a retire.”

2. The Downside of Fame

• Unexpected Costs: Digital Nas discusses the envy and negative energy that comes with success, which he hadn’t expected before fame (00:09, 02:03).
• Regret: He openly admits he wishes he’d never become famous and would rather maintain a background role as a bassist in a band (00:27, 02:30).

Digital Nas [00:43]: “Bro, I just got sucker punched. I filed a police report. I thought I got stabbed. Got punched twice at my booth. … My day is all right. It’s going all right.”

• Dislike for the Spotlight: He never enjoyed being the center of attention, preferring the producer’s life (00:32–00:39).

Digital Nas [00:32]: “No. That’s why I was a producer.”

3. Toxicity of the Music Industry

• Industry Warnings: Nas cautions aspiring musicians against entering the business, citing it as one of the “dirtiest industries” filled with “leeches” (02:54).
• Personal Experience with Betrayal: He found out his managers were secretly taking 20% commission instead of the agreed-upon 10% (04:04).

Digital Nas [04:04]: “Yeah, like, I found all my managers charged me 20% the whole time when we agreed on 10.”

• Financial Success Doesn’t Equal Happiness: Despite making significant amounts from major albums, including work with Kanye West, money has lost all meaning to him (06:04).

Digital Nas [06:04]: “Yeah. I don’t. I don’t really know what money is at this point. It’s like water. It’s like drinking water. It’s like, wake up. Spend 100 grand.”

4. Violence and Security Concerns

• Recent Assault: Nas recounts being randomly attacked at ComplexCon and details the trauma and vulnerability that comes with fame (00:43–01:14).
• Constant Surveillance: He shares the invasiveness of fame, including being followed and photographed at hotels, requiring him to travel with security (07:13–07:32).

5. Artistic Integrity and Legacy

• Love for Music: Despite all the drawbacks of fame, Digital Nas affirms his enduring love for music and creating (06:34–06:39).
• Advice to Fans and Future Artists: Rather than idolize him, he tells young fans to “look up to Jesus Christ” and not pursue the music industry naively (02:44).
• Background Work & Songwriting: Nas underscores that some of the highest-earning people in music are writers and producers, and he’s content to stay in those roles (04:56).

Digital Nas [04:56]: “No. You can make a lot of money for publishing, writing background. Most. Most people who make the most money are writers. Really.”

6. Major Collaborations and Achievements

• Notable Work: He contributed significantly as a writer and producer on Kanye West’s last six albums, including Donda, Vultures, and others (05:10, 05:20).
• Collaborations with Lil Yachty: Nas started with Yachty but no longer collaborates with him (05:33).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Regret and Fame:
  • “I wish I never became famous.” — Digital Nas [00:17]
  • “I don’t want to make music no more. That’s why I’m dropping these three albums and I’m a retire.” — Digital Nas [00:17]
• On Fans and the Spotlight:
  • “I’m about to be a bassist of a band. Play the background because I don’t like fans.” — Digital Nas [00:27]
  • “No. That’s why I was a producer.” — Digital Nas [00:32]
• On the Industry:
  • “A lot of leeches there.” — Digital Nas [02:54]
  • “It’s one of the dirtiest industries. Right.” — Sean Kelly [02:57]
• On Money:
  • “I don’t really know what money is at this point. It’s like water.” — Digital Nas [06:04]
  • “When you were younger, though, that was what you worked for, right? Money.” — Sean Kelly [06:17]
• Advice to Fans:
  • “I tell them, look up to Jesus Christ.” — Digital Nas [02:44]

Key Timestamps

• 00:02: Digital Nas announces new album Suffering from Success
• 00:17: Nas reveals regret over pursuing fame; wishes he’d stayed in school
• 00:43: Describes being attacked at ComplexCon
• 02:18: Reiterates plans to retire and play bass in a band
• 02:54: Warns about the music industry’s dark side
• 04:04: Finds out about his managers scamming him for years
• 04:56: Explains that background writers and producers make the most money
• 05:10–05:33: Outlines major credits with Kanye West and Lil Yachty
• 06:04: Shares feelings of money’s insignificance
• 07:13–07:32: Details invasiveness of fame and constant need for security
• 08:09: Ends with a note on honesty and being real

Conclusion

In a rare, brutally honest interview, Digital Nas lays bare the heavy personal costs of success and the toxicity of the music business. Despite massive achievements, he encourages listeners to think twice about pursuing fame, values anonymity, and is now seeking peace away from the limelight. This is a sobering listen for anyone starstruck by the music industry — and a must-hear for those seeking the real, unfiltered perspective of a major artist.