AceShowbiz - Rapper Nas has fired off an angry email to label bosses at Def Jam, accusing them of treating him like a "slave" and disrespecting him by stalling the release of his forthcoming "Lost Tapes" album. The "I Can" hitmaker, real name Nasir Jones, proudly announced via his Twitter blog in September that he was preparing a sequel to his critically acclaimed 2002 disc "The Lost Tapes".

MTV News claimed the album would hit music retailers on December 14, but the project failed to appear on Def Jam's official schedule for winter releases, prompting rumors of a secret dispute between Nas and his label executives. Now the fall-out between the two parties has gone public after an email sent from Nas to Def Jam heads, including Antonio 'L.A.' Reid, leaked online.

In the email, titled Put My S**t Out!, the rapper slams his bosses for failing to "understand" the hip-hop industry and neglecting the needs of his fans. He writes, "With all do (sic) respect to you all, Nas is NOBODY's slave. This is not the 1800's, respect me and I will respect you."

"I won't even tap dance around in an email, I will get right into it... The #1 problem with DEF JAM is pretty simple and obvious, the executives think they are the stars... To the consumer, I COME FIRST. Stop trying to deprive them! I have a fan base that dies for my music and a RAP label that doesn't understand RAP. Pretty f**ked up situation."

" 'Lost Tapes' is a movement and a very important set up piece for my career as it stands... It's smart and after 5 years it's still ahead of the game. This feels great and you not feeling what I'm feeling is disturbing. Don't get in the way of my creativity."

"WE ARE GIVING THE PEOPLE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. Stop throwing dog s**t on a MAGICAL moment. This is a New York pioneers ALBUM, there ain't (sic) many of us. I am ready to drop in the 4th quarter. You don't even have s**t coming out! Stop being your own worst enemy."